Yet, we find only more traffic congestion, school crowding and packed prisons. Every day we lose 450 acres of forest and 410 acres of farmland. This in a state with a landmark growth management law. In 1985, the Florida Legislature attempted to bring growth, environmental protection, education planning and infrastructure into a single strategic statewide policy. Each of the 430 cities and counties was required to have a land use map designating areas of infrastructure, housing plans, conservation areas and groundwater protection and other elements.
Maps show urban service areas where infrastructure is provided and growth is planned.
Many local governments used their plans to designate conservation and recreation lands or open space. To pay for land protection local governments turned to voters to seek approval of property tax increases to back land acquisition bonds. Approximately one million acres of land have been purchased under the auspices of Preservation 2000, much it designated by local government plans. The relationship between land protection bonds and growth management has been profound. In the fragile Florida Keys, growth has been limited to 200 units a year in spite of 25,000 vested lots.