HOMETOWN DEMOCRACY AMENDMENT AMENDMENT?

A Nov. 8 forum held by the University of South Florida’s Institute for Public Policy and Leadership focused on proposed amendments to the state’s constitution. Hometown Democracy has proposed a constitutional amendment that would give voters a say in every amendment to a city or county’s comprehensive plan. Critics, however, contend that the proposal would dramatically raise election costs and put hundreds of referendums before voters, as comprehensive-plan amendments typically involve changing only a couple of words. In addition to making it more difficult to build new roads and infrastructure, critics also say the amendment would hamper efforts to erect affordable housing and could worsen sprawl. But another amendment – one proposed by the Florida Homebuilders Association and the Florida Chamber of Commerce – has been proposed by Floridians for Smarter Growth, calling for voter referendums only when a petition against growth-management plans has been signed by 10 percent of city or county residents.

Source: Bradenton Herald (FL) (11/09/07) P. 1; Azzara, Nicholas
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