Amendment 4, on the Nov. ballot in Florida, would put state-mandated growth plans before the voters, and could mean any change to a community's development plan would have to be approved by the masses.
Creators of the amendment have named it "Hometown Democracy," and as reporter Damien Cave notes, it is understandable that the ire of some Floridians has been raised. Florida has been a hotbed for builders and developers for decades. Cave notes, "Since 2007, local governments have approved zoning and other land use changes that would add 550,000 residential units and 1.4 billion square feet of commercial space, state figures show."
Builders and developers obviously see the amendment as detrimental to their business, as the supporters of the amendment are driven by an anti-growth stance. But cities are also very uncomfortable with the language of the amendment, which could make standard planning processes onerous and expensive:
"Opponents say that under Amendment 4, each tweak of a development plan - which every county and municipality must have in place under a state law passed in the mid-1980s, and which requires updating every seven years - would have to appear on the ballot."
FULL STORY: Florida Voters Enter Battle on Growth

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time
A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth
Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas
Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.
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.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions