Author name: bruce

Planning chief says “speculative” development requests filed

The head of Florida’s land-planning agency said today the state is being kept busy with speculative development proposals because of concerns about a proposed ballot initiative to require voter approval of local land-use plan changes. During a two-hour question-and-answer session broadcast over the Web, Department of Community Affairs Secretary Tom Pelham also fielded concerns about […]

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Obama vehicle announcement likely ends Fla. debate

President Obama’s proposal today for a new fuel-economy standard probably ends the debate over whether Florida should adopt California’s more stringent standard — if the Florida Legislature hasn’t already killed the issue here. As part of his initiative in 2007 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Gov. Charlie Crist directed the Department of Environmental Protection to

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Groups call for growth bill veto

Environmental groups are calling on Gov. Charlie Crist to veto SB 360, a growth management bill that critics say will weaken state oversight of new development projects. SB 360 lifts those traffic restrictions in designated “dense urban” counties with at least 900,000 people. The bill also removes the largest developments in those counties from a

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Growth bill holds “blockbuster,” DCA chief says

A Senate bill that supporters say will encourage growth in urban areas contains an “astonishing” provision that could prevent local governments from rezoning residential property, says the chief of Florida’s state land-planning agency. SB 360 allows local governments to waive restrictions on new development in specified “dense urban areas” with traffic congestion. Builders, environmentalists and

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Enviros say they’ll miss Crist as he announces Senate bid

Some environmentalists say they’ll miss Charlie Crist, dubbed by some as Florida’s “green governor” who he announced today he’ll run for the U.S. Senate. Environmentalists liked Crist’s environmental credentials when he ran for governor in 2006. But he won their loyalty in 2007 when he signed executive orders calling reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and

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Environmentalists find bright spots in gloomy session

In a legislative session marked by major environmental losses, environmentalists say there were a few bright spots among the bills that passed. The session was grim for environmentalists because no new money was provided for the Florida Forever land-buying program. And the House refused to consider Gov. Charlie Crist’s proposals to require utilities to use

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House speaker denies Crist energy bill rejected

The Florida House didn’t reject Gov. Charlie Crist’s environmental agenda during the Legislature’s 2009 regular session, House Speaker Larry Cretul said soon after the session adjourned sine die. The session ended today without the governor’s proposed renewable energy bill being brought up in the House nor his proposal for Florida to adopt California’s automobile emissions

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