Amendment 4 - Vote Yes

Amendment 4, called Hometown Democracy, empowers voters to control growth and abuses by developers within their own communities.


Amendment 4 is the result of too many developers being able to control local town governments in Florida by buying elections of local officials.


The state of Florida has some of the most lax development laws in America.


Why should Longboaters care about Amendment 4 on the November ballot?


To begin with we are currently paying the price for over-development in the Florida market as is reflected in  the selling price of our homes.


In a world of supply and demand, Florida is experiencing the consequences of unbridled development and too many houses on the market. Other parts of the country are not experiencing devastating property value declines; communities that have regulated growth for the benefit of their residents.


Amendment 4 simply says that the people of a community, not three of four commissioners who are in office because a developer spent a lot of money to elect them, should be able to decide whether a development, that requires changes in land use, should be allowed in their community.


Of course developers, builders, chambers of commerce and the real estate community are against Amendment 4. None of these people usually reside in the community they want to develop for profit.


Ask yourself if the above interested parties would object to Amendment 4 if no one made money building developments.


Amendment 4 is vital if we are to control tourism and tall structures on our island.


One need look no further than the tragedy that has destroyed Panama City Beach. A very few years ago PCB resembled our own low-density residential/tourism mix community. Then the developers were able to influence local elections, A group of pro-developer officials were elected. Now Panama City Beach is little more than seven miles of shoulder-to-shoulder 22 story condo-tels that are vacant and bankrupt. Buss-loads of college-age revelers are brought in on weekends to have a good time and help pay the bills.


If you do not believe that the same could happen here - think again - it can.


As I write this article several commissioners are hard at work rewriting our land use codes and Comprehensive Plan to make our community more inviting for developers.


Do you want to live in a community where tourism controls our economy?

Do you want to see buss-loads of young people using Longboat Key for their parties?


Do you want traffic grid-lock every time you leave your home?


If you would not want to buy a home in a tourist town then you may want to vote for Amendment 4 to protect the value of your property.


There are a few myths being promoted by the developers and real estate community.


Myth 1: Amendment 4 will require many expensive elections
Fact:    Votes are held at normally scheduled election time.


Myth 2: Amendment 4 will cause many changes to our Comprehensive Plan.
Fact:    Longboat seldom addresses lands use changes.


Myth 3: Voters will not be able to understand proposed land use changes on the ballot.
Fact:    Proposed changes must be clearly described in 75 words or fewer.

Myth 4: New residential developments bring in more tax revenues.
Fact:    It costs the counties $1.30 to pay for each $1.00 received from new development.

Remember that 80% of your taxes are collected by the county. Longboat taxpayers are subsidizing developers in Manatee and Sarasota counties which includes development within our community.

Link to Amendment 4 - Yes web site. http://floridahometowndemocracy.com/

Please be well informed when you vote. It's your wallet.