Planning and zoning

Has there ever been a development the Highlands County Planning and Zoning Commission didn't like? From their recent sessions the answer is that the commissioners are not crazy about small developments. The developments they like most are titanic.

Jim Brooks, a member of the commission, says that he "admires" developers big enough to build their own roads. This includes developments like Lake Placid Village, planned by Lykes. Brooks went on to say that whole new towns will improve the county's tax base. He made these comments at the hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 9.

Historically, the function of a zoning board is to protect property values for the benefit of residents. A policy that grows the tax base may not be best for most property owners. The Comprehensive Plan for the next seven years, which P and Z is almost ready to "transmit" to the county commission, strips development rights from most land owners to build new towns.

The Feb. 9 session was advertized as a "transmittal" hearing on the Comprehensive Plan to be transmitted for the approval of the county commission. However, the public had little or no opportunity to comment on the major ideas in the plan. Ideas such as urban growth areas and sustainable development communities had already been decided at earlier sessions.

Chairman Lew Carter said that it is difficult to know how to deal with people who come in "at the eleventh hour," when numerous hearings have been held on future development.

Is the taking of development rights from most landowners for the benefit of huge developments, new towns, a legal taking of property rights? This is among the issues that the public could not raise at the Feb. 9 P and Z hearing.

The investors who will benefit the most from this massive transfer of development rights do not live in Highlands County. When will the public have an opportunity to comment on the strategy behind the proposed Comprehensive Plan?

Dale L. Gillis
Sebring