Density's Deception

It is September 1, 2006

This blog begins. I am a central Florida Environmentalist and Polk County Planning Commissioner. I’ve been at this in one form or another since 1989. I would sure like to hear from all of you “out there” with your experience with land use and local zoning.

I hope that we come up with “Pearls of Wisdom” that help us all.

The old map of Florida is is is the way it used to be>
(Map is by Henry Tanner [1823] from the David Rumsey Collection)

As I get familiar with Blogs I’ll be more specific with my comments but for now, here is a gripe:

There is a lack of honest information when a person is trying to figure out just what kind of development is coming in across the street or just down the block. In most central Florida cities and counties you can look at the “FLU” (Future Land Use) Maps and it will tell you what density your neighborhood is “zoned” for. BUT THEN, if the developer is doing a Planned Development they get more density. An average of 1 unit per acre more. And then if they do thing inside the development that the municipality or the County wants they could get an additional unit per acre or more.

When their application comes in and when it is advertised you only know what the density of the land use is not what they are going to get.

At least they should be advertising what they are going to get.