Florida

Politics Allows Sensitive Lands To Receive Federal Flood Insurance

A Reagan-era "free market approach to conservation" that would deny federal flood insurance to sensitive lands is being undermined through the political process. Congress has granted two exceptions to the law for coastal areas in Georgia and Florida.

January 2, 2007 - AP via San Francisco Chronicle

A Density Too High

A traditional neighborhood development planned near St. Petersburg, Florida, is having trouble getting approved because its proposed density is twice as high as the city wants to allow.

January 1, 2007 - The St. Petersburg Times

Protests Over Preservation Plan In Miami

Marjory Stoneman Douglas saved Florida's Everglades, but was impoverished, blind and deaf in old age. Friends seeking to help persuaded the state to buy her property for a museum, letting her stay till she died; now the state wants to sell the land.

December 28, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

Gehry's See-Through Symphony

Architect Frank Gehry's design for a new concert hall in Miami Beach blends openness with the next-generation Internet.

December 19, 2006 - Bloomberg.com

The Demise Of Miami's Public Housing Czar

Rene Rodriguez, the once highly lauded director of the Miami-Dade Housing Agency, stands accused of taking from the poor to serve developer interests, as well as his own.

December 19, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Miami May Ease Downtown Affordable Housing Requirements

Struggling to meet its mandate that requires 15 percent of new units downtown to be affordable, the Miami Downtown Development Authority is asking officials to change the rules.

December 15, 2006 - Miami Today

Orlampa: The Merging Of Two Cities

A new world is emerging midway between Orlando and Tampa along Interstate 4. Some say as soon as 10 years, others, in 20 years, strawberry fields and pastures will be paved over and Tampa to Orlando will be one big metropolitan area.

December 13, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

Church Pins Hope On Downtown Growth

The historic Trinity Episcopal Cathedral looks to downtown Miami residential growth as a way to fill its half-empty pews.

December 2, 2006 - The Miami Herald

New Reserve For Florida As Fish Stocks Deplete

The state of Florida has approved a marine reserve area off it's west coast to help counter a recent warning that the world's seafood stocks would be depleted by 2048. The reserve will be the largest in the continental U.S.

December 1, 2006 - The Christian Science Monitor

Miami Looks To Build Downtown Ballpark

Despite a large gap in funding, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County are hopeful that a downtown Miami ballpark could be built for the Florida Marlins, adding to the synergy of the new performing arts center and American Airlines Arena.

November 24, 2006 - The Miami Herald

University of Miami To Build Affordable Faculty Village

As the cost of living continues to rise in southern Florida, The University of Miami is working with Duany, Plater-Zyberk and Company to design and build an affordable faculty-oriented village.

November 20, 2006 - The Hurricane

A Battle Over Growth In Palm Beach County

Palm Beach County residents, 1000 Friends of Florida and environmental activist Rosa Durando have filed paperwork with the State of Florida this week to challenge County land use amendment approvals, and gain standing to participate in negotiation.

November 18, 2006 - Palm Beach Post

When City Planners Oppose Elected Officials

What happens when the professional planning staff advising an elected board disagrees with the conclusions of the elected board, and is required to submit a proposal that the planners opposed to a state regulatory agency for approval?

November 16, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

Florida Approves Constitutional Amendment Limiting Eminent Domain

Sixty-nine percent of Florida's voters approved an amendment to the State's Constitution to limit government ability to take property for private development. How will this homeowner victory impact the revitalization efforts of cities?

November 15, 2006 - The St. Petersburg Times

Florida May Replenish Groundwater With Treated Sewage To Allow Growth

Broward County, Florida, is considering a plan to reduce a growing demand on Everglades water by replenishing groundwater with treated sewage. The plan is generating outcry from environmentalists who worry the sewage won't be treated enough.

November 4, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

Growing Pains For Davie, Florida

With 90,000 residents and growing, Davie, Florida is struggling to move beyond its rural roots.

November 1, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Storm Survivors Face Foreclosure Over Special Assessments

Condo owners and members of homeowner associations, who are already struggling to pay repairs on uninhabitable storm-damaged units and fighting with their insurance companies for compensation and temporary housing, now face possible foreclosure.

October 24, 2006 - Sun-Sentinel

Developer Plans To Sue City Over Eminent Domain

Builders of a proposed multi-billion dollar redevelopment project in Riviera Beach, Florida are considering legal action against the state and city after being told that eminent domain will not be used to acquire properties for the project.

October 19, 2006 - Sun Sentinel

Miami's Little Havana Gets Some 'Magic' Investment

Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds, headed by former NBA Star Magic Johnson, is investing millions of dollars into the biggest condominium development to date in the Miami working class neighborhood of Little Havana.

October 12, 2006 - The Miami Herald

Planning Commissioners Serving Developers In Palm Beach

This opinion piece from the Palm Beach Post accuses the county's planning commissioners of bowing to the desires of developers and showing little concern for the way the 'planned' land is to be used.

October 11, 2006 - Palm Beach Post

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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