Local guest commentary: Growth management law isn’t good for Collier County

Members of the Collier County staff and I met with state Department of Community Affairs Secretary Thaddeus Cohen on Dec. 19 as a result of my letter to Gov. Jeb Bush expressing concern about the state’s new growth management law.

Cohen had expressed the desire to establish a more direct line of communication on this matter. We had a frank and detailed discussion of Collier County’s concerns with the new law; however, I have not yet received any reply.

Imagine my surprise when Cohen met with the Daily News editorial board Tuesday to denounce Collier County’s concerns with the state’s new growth management law.

I have the following comments concerning his published remarks:

-- “The growth management law has a chance to be beneficial to all of Florida.”

Of course it does. There are many positive aspects of the new law that would help local governments which have not been successful in providing adequate infrastructure. But what of those local governments (like Collier County) that have been more effective? Why must they be penalized? The challenges and needs of the 67 Florida counties are different. That is why a “one size fits all” growth management plan will not work.

-- “(The growth management law) needs time to work before changes are made.”

Sure. And while we wait for it to start working, Collier County roads will become even more gridlocked because the new law permits development to continue without regard for road capacity.

-- “(The new law) says everybody pays because everybody impacts the system.”

Translation: Growth should not pay for growth. Current residents should pay higher property taxes to fund growth even though they have already paid their impact fees.

-- “Under the new law, it will be easier to get funding for schools, water and road improvements.”

Where is this new funding? The state has withdrawn funds from Collier County while continuing to force unfunded mandates upon us. This is a shell game, with funds being provided with one hand while another takes the money away. Under this new growth management law, Collier County funding for roads has decreased over $20 million.

We can debate this law ad nauseam. Why don’t we just get to the bottom line? If this law is really about assuring adequate infrastructure (as its proponents suggest), why does this new law permit development to proceed even if adequate capacity does not exist on our roads? Why does this new state law require parks and recreational facilities to be available within one year of new development while roads can lag behind three to five years after development?

The solution is simple. Give local governments the flexibility to deny new developments until adequate roads, water and sewer exist. Infrastructure first ... growth second. This is the only acceptable growth management law.

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Fred Coyle is a member of the Collier County Commission.