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The language of good policy is made of science, sound facts, and common sense.

Things to Read

 

SunWest Harbourtowne

 

Potential Natural Resource Impacts Resulting from the Proposed Sunwest Harbourtowne (September 5, 2007). This report was prepared for the Gulf Coast Conservancy by the Preserving the Environment through Ecological Research (PEER, Inc.) in response to concerns that the proposed SunWest Development (then in the pre-application phase of a Development of Regional Impact (DRI)), would result in the loss of key black bear core habitat, and negatively impact other natural resources in the region. The report addresses four key issues:

  1. An overview of the proposed DRI.
  2. A brief summary of major agreements within the project area (the footprint of the DRI) on land use between the property owners and regulatory/municipal entities.
  3. A time line of events.
  4. A characterization of significant natural resources and potential impacts.

SunWest Harbourtowne: A Development that wasn’t supposed to happen (April 2008).
This factsheet with an aerial map provides talking points for those wishing to participate in action to preserve this area from development.

Understanding the DRI process. Download the information guide from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

Links to Visit

Hot off the Press

 

Florida 2060
Florida Population and Developed Land Projected to Double Over Next 50 Years

With close to 18 million residents in 2005, Florida already is overwhelmed with the ramifications of rampant sprawl, rapidly vanishing natural areas, and overcrowded roads. What will Florida look like in 2060, when its population is projected to reach almost 36 million?

To help address this question, 1000 Friends of Florida contracted with the University of Florida's GeoPlan Center to develop a "population distribution scenario" for the state. Read about it.

As part of this project, data was used to predict impacts on wildlife. The accompanying report, Wildlife 2060: What's at Stake for Florida is available on-line, and is a must read.