Contrary to columnist's suggestion, slow-growth advocates are pro-Martin County

From the Stuart News; January 31, 2010

The so-called “anti-Martin County” group referred to by Rich Campbell (“Are slow-growth advocates anti-Martin County? The notion isn’t too far-fetched,” Jan. 14), is only the latest effort by development interests and their “friends” on the County Commission to label anyone opposed to the conversion of Martin County into something like Palm Beach or St. Lucie counties as being against all growth.

In fact, the core of responsible citizens opposing these damaging amendments are the very ones who labored long and hard to develop and adopt one of the best comprehensive plans in all of Florida. They are the ones who have been responsibly engaged over the long run in shaping Martin County — and they most certainly are not the ones seeking short-term financial gain regardless of the consequences.
Unlike the County Commission’s rushed and confusing effort to make major and fundamental changes to the comprehensive plan, the public Campbell assails spent years in discussion, debate and defense of policies that have served Martin County very well. The nature of the beast is that comprehensive plans are intricate, complicated affairs that take great and continuing effort to maintain their integrity and purpose.

That purpose is solely directed toward the majority view that Martin County’s economy, environment and quality of life can be maintained with reasonable, deliberate growth that puts the burden of change on developers, not the public, to demonstrate why changes are appropriate.

Given the opportunity to do so in a legal and public setting, members of this County Commission — even with backing from the Future Group — have not passed that test. In fact, what is being proposed is very damaging to the urban containment policies that are such a fundamental part of the comprehensive plan. Were those policies lifted, the only result would be what citizens see to the south and north.

Steadfast groups such as the Martin County Conservation Alliance, the Guardians of Martin County, and 1000 Friends of Florida have spoken out in opposition to the commission’s ill-advised plans to change the basic fabric of our community.

Martin County residents have spoken loudly and consistently for many years about controlled growth and development. They have seen the false promises made elsewhere — that growth and development, without proper controls, bring nothing but sprawl, added taxpayer costs and a loss of the special quality of life we all seek. Those false promises always are best sold to an uninformed and apathetic electorate. That is not the case now or in the future for Martin County.

It is long past a reasonable time for the County Commission to receive and understand this message. Failing to acknowledge this tide of informed opinion will lay the blame and accountability before the County Commission as never before.

Reed is a businessman and conservationist whose family founded Jupiter Island. He formerly served on the board of the South Florida Water Management District.

About Nathaniel Reed: Reed was the U.S. Interior Department undersecretary and has served seven governors. Mr. Reed is a former Board Member and Vice Chairman of the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy, and serves as emeriti on the boards of the Natural Resources Defense Council and 1000 Friends of Florida, which he helped form. Reed has served on the Board of the National Geographic Society since 1988. He is also an honorary board member of the Martin County Consensus.