Florida's Growth Management Bill Gets Left Behind

"This was the year that many people -- including Gov. Jeb Bush -- hoped Florida would improve the growth management laws that are supposed to stop urban sprawl. Instead, the only significant growth management measures that passed out of the 2001 legislative session were a few special-interest exemptions that benefit big developers and a new program where taxpayers will end up paying rural landowners not to develop their property. The much-talked about growth management bill, which would have made communities deny new development when schools are too crowded, died in the session's last hours. Bush lobbied hard for the bill but was unable to get the Republican-controlled House to pass it." Items that were passed include several loopholes for large developments, including review exemptions for airports, petroleum "tank farms", and the state's largest landholder, much to the dismay of planners.