The Central Florida region, with 86 cities and seven counties, faces development predicted to more than double its population. Three hundred political, business and civic leaders who see the region as a single entity have met to develop a shared vision.
An $850,000 planning effort to create a framework to guide Central Florida's growth during the next 50 years was initiated with the financial help of Florida's Department of Community Affairs on Wednesday, March 29th, amid news of several projects that could change the face of the area even before the group reaches a consensus. The planning process will seek public input via workshops that begin on April 27th, and will encourage public participation through a website at myregion.org.
The group will not take positions on local issues. "We cannot get mired down on one issue as we build this fragile framework," said Shelley Lauten, project director of myregion.org.
"One goal is to get the heads of the seven county commissions to meet regularly to share problems and solutions. 'Orange County may be making a decision that Lake County needs to be involved in, but there is no mechanism,' Lauten said."
"During the kickoff meeting, elected officials detailed growth challenges facing their area. 'The 800-pound elephant in the room is urban sprawl,' said Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty.
Osceola County Commissioner Ken Shipley said his county is preparing for projected growth by trying to direct it to new communities, rather than allowing large areas to grow piecemeal."
"Central Florida is the first region in the state to start a wide-ranging visioning project. But Seminole County Commissioner Brenda Carey said the time has come to act.
'We've been talking about these same issues for twenty years.'"
Thanks to Sheryl Stolzenberg
FULL STORY: How will we grow? A project kicks off to shape a regional strategy

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont