To the Editor:
As the retired 20 year Growth Management Director for Brevard County, land use planning, zoning, development standards & plans review, housing, building permits were all under my supervision. I cite that list to provide credibility to my comments, some of which might be controversial.
I am appalled at how development is being approved in Marion County. It never ceases to amaze me that a local government would allow one of its major reserves to be destroyed – it’s forests, it’s trees! One of Marion’s most beautiful resources are its deciduous forests and majestic oaks, all of which are being destroyed, one after another!
In Brevard County, we sought to preserve our natural resources by instituting a Landscape Ordinance that required all trees be retained, unless found to be in a approved ROW to be dedicated, or later within the footprint of a dwelling. The natural contours of the land, including its drainage ways. were required to be maintained. Associated with that, I find there appears to be an obsession with acres & acres of detention areas, which is quite unbelievable. It’s almost like Marion County is preparing for a biblical flood!!
My observation is, the detention areas appear to far exceed what is needed for a 100-year storm! When was the last time anyone ever saw any water ponding in these defrosted! Requiring these humongous detention areas is a policy that also is destroying the forest resources I spoke of!
I could go on, but what I’d like to share is, in Brevard we attempted to blend all new housing into the natural environment. Developers initially objected, but once new compliant developments took place, suddenly they found that those trees & naturalness actually augmented their profit – as more value was created.
Lastly, how are these developments being approved, because they seem to be seriously in violation of the State concurrency requirements. That is, no development should be approved that will cause the excessive stress on public infrastructure, i.e. roads, sewer, potable water, police & fire protection, etc. As it appears now, just about every major highway and collector roads are maxed out, yet a substantial amount of approved development has yet to even be constructed. Highway 200 is pretty well maxed out already at critical period of the day; this does not bode well for the near term as more housing comes in line.
It seems to me that Marion County needs to seriously review their development standards because the functionality of the natural lay of the land and its beauty is being destroyed right before everybody’s eyes, not to mention the County to provide minimum services – and we all know it.
Gary Ridenour
Ocala