New Vision "Journal"

(originally written 5/38/06)
Through my years of traveling to 10 other countries seeing different styles of life abroad as well as throughout the great beautiful United States, my most sincere concerns are about what the future of Florida has in store. The concept of developing yet another housing development, golf course or even condo saddens me greatly.

Not to be too overly-dramatic, the fact is: what will become of Florida if we continue on the "growth-YES-train". When is enough- enough? Why don't WE stand up and make a new trend? Just say NO to further land development and YES to protecting the Loop and other environmentally sensitive lands in Volusia County!

I was told when I arrived in Florida in 1989 that condo's would stop, that there were limits to how many, how tall, etc., and that the nature of Florida was it's appeal. Where are the natural settings going to? Take a look at I-4, do we need another gas station exit? Especially with high costs of fuel, many shut down and then what is left? A concrete station where a gas station once was?  An environmental waste. Developers come to Florida to make money and that is it. Period. They don't appear to care whether or not there are rural towns that fell to a low economy. Or that building that new home will lead to yet another traffic jam, accident, injured wildlife-another major Florida gift. Now don't get me wrong, I don't consider myself a tree-hugger, but what is the rush to build-build-build? Sure, it may be correct that growth is "inevitable," as Frank Bruno, County Council Member stated, but why let greed and fear that someone else may build it and make the money -ruin the most beautiful state in the US? What will be left in 50 years? A concrete slab on what once was Florida.

According to research, when the County Council voted to allow the "rezoning of Plantation Oaks and the John Collins property that there had not been adequate (or any) studies pertaining to hurricane preparedness, provision of water and sewer, impact on surrounding area, the golf course's impact (pesticides, herbicides, stormwater retention), a tree survey to identify heritage trees, biological reports and water resource studies." (source:Volusia/Flagler Environmental Action Committee). SO please take the time to make a growth impact study your PRIMARY goal now. Before it's too late.

If development IS inevitable, then buffer it. Protect the canopy trees over Old Dixie Highway in the Loop. Stop the new access road onto the outstanding byway.And whatever you decide PLEASE DON'T build another golf course! Florida has enough golf course, really!  I have ridden my motorcycle through the Loop for over 15 year. We always waved at the few neighbors who were there to greet us before we went to a near by restaurant to eat before completing the ride back through to home - which for me is beachside in the county. But the calming feeling you can get from just stopping off in the Loop and listening to natures sounds is more of a gain that any stock profit will ever give. Volusia once advertised through one of its Chamber of Commerce's "worldwide" as a bicycler/biker destination. Now you change your minds? Tourists is Florida's economy Always has been. Let it always be available for those who want to come VISIT FLORIDA. They bring so much money, leave their footprints in the sand and their tax dollars in the counties pockets. Why chase them away with a concrete block instead of the soft sand, wonderful fishing, tranquil beaches, lush landscaping of Florida's Nature?

And last and most importantly, what about the next generation? It seems that the lack of care for  a better quality of life and certain affects to the habitat will be gone. What will be left for our children and grandchildren? As defined in the Wikipedia Encyclopedia online, the concept of "Seven-generation sustainability: is the tenet that all decisions should be made with consideration for the effect they will have on the next seven generations to follow us." I do not see Volusia County doing this. With the over development of beachside condominiums etc it is plain greedy and not in the best interest for the generations that will be here after you and I area dead gone. Close your eyes and imagine what they will have? Concrete. A concrete Florida? Is that how you envision your great great grand children playing on in Florida? Concrete?

County Citizen since 1989