Description of the Florida Land Use Initiative
One thousand people a day and growing. The increase in population of Florida will continue to spiral upwards, which presents new challenges for finding land to develop for these folks to live and work. Ag lands are perceived as the only area left in much of Florida, which is evidenced by the development initiatives already in place. Already in the state, new towns and cities are coming into existence or are already in the planning process. The Florida Earth Foundation (FEF), a public-private partnership with over 70 agency, university, industry and nonprofit partners, is launching a multi-year initiative that will invite Floridians to be a part of visioning what Florida will look like in the next 50 years and empowering people in creating a sustainable future for Florida as the state grows by the development of new tools for rural lands and development initiatives that help protect the integrity of the landscape, give options to land owners and provide space to accommodate Florida’s new citizens. The first year of the Florida Land Use Initiative will involve the following activities:
FLUI Forum Series – Beginning with the November 14, 2006 forum at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, Florida Earth will hold a series of forums that engage the public in the future of Florida. The initial forum, titled “Ag Lands, Development and the Future of Florida” acted as a springboard to begin the process of enrolling people in looking at what they want Florida to look like in the next fifty years. A minimum of three regional forums in 2007 will be used to approach this subject from a more focused prospective, giving attention to specifics that shape regional thinking. Dates for these regional forums are:
