April 2000

By James Lawlor

Florida: Cooler heads may prevail. After saying it wanted to study possible revisions to the Growth Management Act during the 2001 legislative session, the administration of Gov. Jeb Bush suddenly announced last fall that it would introduce legislation to overhaul the growth management system in the 2000 session. A bill backed by the state Department of Community Affairs that would propose revisions to the Growth Management Act is expected to be introduced soon in the state house of representatives.

Meanwhile, state senator Tom Lee (R-Brandon), with the support of senate leaders, has introduced his own measure. Lee's bill, S.B. 758, would create a special commission—to include "growth management and planning specialists"—to review the growth management system and recommend changes. This one is more pleasing to the APA chapter, 1000 Friends of Florida, and other public interest groups. It is now awaiting floor action.

The chapter is keeping tabs on another bill, introduced in the house by Rep. J.D. Alexander (R-Winter Haven). H.B. 659 would expand the list of government actions that qualify as an "inordinate burden" under an existing state law, the Private Property Rights Protection Act. The bill would add to the list government actions that reduce housing densities to less than one unit per five acres, hampering large-lot zoning. Executive Director Marcia Elder says the chapter will try to work with Rep. Alexander to find a better way to address his concerns.

California: Time for an overhaul? A chapter task force has taken on a long-overdue task, reports Ted Commerdinger, AICP, chapter vice president for policy and legislation. The task force will spend the next few months studying possible revision of the state planning law and hopes to have a report ready by September. Commerdinger adds that Gov. Gray Davis's Office of Planning and Research has approached the chapter about holding a series of meetings on areas of mutual concern, including revision of the state planning law.

The chapter has also taken on the schools issue, notes legislative representative Sande George. It is the cosponsor, with the California League of Cities, of a bill that would require school districts to conform to school requirements of city and county zoning ordinances. The idea is to keep school districts from encouraging sprawl by locating new schools in undeveloped areas, or siting schools in unsuitable places. The bill has not yet been introduced.

George notes that all the takings bills introduced in 1999 are dead—at least for this session. Also dead is a billboard measure that would have added to the list of areas where old signs could be amortized and eventually removed. The good news, George says, is that the sponsor plans to come back with a new bill. The bill would allow amortization of billboards located next to residential areas and scenic highways, within redevelopment areas and business improvement districts, and areas that are part of the California Main Street Program.

Connecticut: Affordable housing. At least nine bills have already been introduced to implement the report of the Blue Ribbon Commission to Study Affordable Housing, which was delivered to the legislature in early February.

The chapter supports many of the commission's recommendations, reports legislative cochair Linda Bush, AICP. Among other things, the commission recommended that the state create a $20 million affordable housing incentive fund for municipalities, give priority for open space funds to municipalities that meet affordable housing goals, and increase technical assistance to municipalities.

On February 14, the chapter sponsored a workshop at the state capitol in Hartford for members of the legislature's Planning and Development and Environment committees. APA's Stuart Meck, AICP, compared current smart growth efforts with 1960s-era proposals to revamp the state's planning and zoning laws.

South Carolina: Growth summit. At press time, reports chapter president Michael Criss, AICP, plans were under way for "New Choices for South Carolina," a summit conference convened by Gov. Jim Hodges in Greenville. APA's South Carolina chapter was a sponsor of the event, along with several state agencies, major industries, the state association of municipalities, and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. Participants heard presentations on the social, environmental, and economic costs of unplanned growth, and on ways to minimize its negative impacts.

In early February, the chapter conducted its first legislative breakfast at the state capitol in Columbia. About a dozen chapter leaders and 35 legislators and staffers were present for the get-acquainted session hosted by Sharon Richardson, the chapter's secretary/treasurer and legislative contact.