State business leaders, including those from real estate and construction, are making a joint effort to encourage people not to sign petitions which, they say, could lead to a law that will severely restrict development.
If it the petition succeeds in getting the amendment placed before all voters, the “Vote On Everything” initiative, also known as “Hometown Democracy,” would require many steps in the approval process to be placed on the ballot for approval by the public.
“The amendment is unworkable, unrealistic and ridiculous,” said Doug Freeman, a spokesman for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is leading the effort to defeat the proposal.
“There would have been an average of 10,599 local referenda each year,” Freeman added. “There are safeguards in place. Neighbors and neighborhood associations now have significant leverage in the development approval process which involve multiple meetings and public hearings.”
The amendment is being proposed by a group that became upset over what they thought have been a series of behind-the-scenes negotiations by public officials to push through large developments. The group is now trying to get enough signatures to get the amendment on a statewide ballot, and have hired companies which solicit signatures by standing outside of large retail businesses, and which also use direct mailings.
Opponents say that the process would be greatly slowed by having to wait for an election, and also would drastically increase the cost of elections.
“Local governments will be required to hold expensive referenda on hundreds of proposals each year,” said Freeman.
The local associations all are having educational sessions for its members — for instance, the NAIOP meeting on Aug. 22 will have two speakers on the subject.