Coming soon! The East Central Florida 2060 Plan (a.k.a the new SRPP)

“What the heck is an SRPP?”

In Florida it stands for a Strategic Regional Policy Plan.

“Why should I care?”

Because it should improve the way East Central Florida looks and functions in the next 50 years.

“How so?” you say? Every community, every region, for that matter, has rules for growth and development. They are based on growth policies and values, whether we realize it or not. And the rules we have been using over the past 50 years counted on plenty of free capacity forever. Free capacity on our roads, free capacity in our drinkable water, free capacity of our planet to give us clean air.

And also, we relied on plenty of cheap and available energy (mostly oil) to fuel this lifestyle.

Problem, is, the world has changed. Our roads are mostly full. Our water is getting scarce, and more costly. We are about to be named as an EPA non-attainment area, which means our air quality is getting bad. And you know the true costs of oil.

What if we looked more like Charlotte NC, or Portland, Oregon? They have rail transit, which has quickly revitalized old neighborhoods into places that are now “hip” to live and work. This is a new market, the transit oriented development. It’s built within walking distance of rail stops. It has added billions in private investment and attracted tens of thousands of new jobs and residences to mixed use, multi story buildings near light rail or streetcar lines. And at the same time, congestion has been reduced.

It’s true.

This shift begins with policies, and that is where the East Central Florida 2060 Plan comes in. It is now open for viewing at this website by clicking here. And you can text us your comments by clicking here.

Cool! It’s full of pictures and maps and colorful examples of what works in other places in the world.

So take a look- you might get hooked- and tell us what you think this summer. The plan will be adopted, with revisions from folks like you, this fall.

And keep dreaming about a better east central Florida. Because, it’s coming.

SunRail - Commuter Rail Service for East Central Florida

December 16, 2009, marked the symbolic beginning of commuter rail service to Central Florida with the signing in Orlando by Governor Charlie Crist.

To read my entire article, SunRail - Commuter Rail Service for East Central Florida, please click here.

SunRail

Senate Bill 1212 was voted down in the Florida State Senate on May 1, 2009 with a vote of 16-23. With this vote, the Senate did not approve the liability language for SunRail. So, the “no” vote was not for the commuter rail itself, but the liability language for the “deal” with CSX.

The failure of Senate Bill 1212 left many disappointed and uncertain about the future of transportation and smart growth in Central Florida. Many view this outcome as the death of SunRail. However, because of Central Florida leadership and a strong push from the Federal Government, I have hope for SunRail and believe our Federal Government supports it.

SunRail is the future for Central Florida. Put another way, Central Florida has a poorer future if there is no SunRail.

Ironically, the money for the SunRail project is more secure now than ever. In the past two weeks, President Barack Obama has recommended to Congress $1.83 billion in funding for major transit projects that will create jobs and increase transportation options throughout the United States. More than $600 million of those funds are being recommended for new projects including SunRail. The spending plan, included in President Obama’s Budget submitted to Congress, announces recommendations by the Federal Transit Administration to invest $604.3 million in 10 new or expanding transit projects—five projects under the New Starts Program, which provides federal funding for major capital construction projects; included in these five projects is SunRail.

So stay tuned and stay positive!!! We need rail transit in Central Florida, and Sun Rail is our current best opportunity to start becoming a world class city!

Join me May 20 at Green Cities™ Florida!

I will be one of 60 speakers at Green Cities Florida addressing a wide range of sustainability focused topics. The subject of my presentation is “Transit Oriented Design and Central Florida's Sustainable Future,” scheduled at 2:30 p.m. on May 20. To see the full list of speakers, visit the following link:

http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009/speakers

The event, which takes place May 20-21, 2009 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, will bring Florida's top business, government, and community leaders together for two days to address the key elements that make up a city, such as: energy, tourism, finance, water conservation, construction, manufacturing, education, health care, and infrastructure. There are numerous opportunities for professional and social networking as well as 7 educational tracks designed to best prepare you for success in the new green economy.

If you are in government, business, or a student preparing for a career, this event is for you! Learn more about your business, your community, and Florida’s future.

Please join me at Green Cities™ Florida and when you register, make sure to enter the following discount code so you receive a special 25% off of registration: 619356. You can register conveniently online at: http://greencities.com/usa/florida/orlando/2009/register

I have listed some of the event highlights below for you to review.

See you at Green Cities!
~Phil



To register today and learn more information about the event, please visit http://www.greencitiesflorida.com/


Highlights

• May 20th at 9am – “Flipping the Switch” for the new 1 MW Solar Electric System atop the Orange County Convention Center with Mayor Richard Crotty, Mayor Buddy Dyer and Senator Lee Constantine.

• May 20th at 5:30pm – Ribbon Cutting and Opening Celebration for the Orange County Climate Change Education Center

• Professional and social networking opportunities with businesses and government

• Detailed information about professional development in the green sector

• Insight into environmental jobs and opportunities

• Showcase of sustainable products/services

• Certification courses and CEU workshops

• Roundtable discussions & interactive panels

• Detailed analysis of Florida’s share of the stimulus package and best practices for Florida business and government utilization

How Shall We Grow Update - Central Florida 2050

Many people have told me they really liked the 2006-07 “How Shall We Grow?” vision for Central Florida’s future, but they have not heard what is happening to make the vision come true. Is anything happening?

Yes!

What we need is a map to the better future, the Central Florida 2050 vision. Here’s how we propose to help make it happen.

Regional Planning Councils, by law, must adopt a set of general growth policies every 10 years. If they are truly effective, they will influence local comprehensive development plans and zoning, and create better communities. Quick!!! Can anyone name one truly effective growth policy from the 1997 ECFRPC strategic regional policy plan?

I thought so.

Keep it simple, stupid! And so we will.

The ECFRPC staff is working with stakeholder groups to derive simple, compelling policies everyone can understand to guide us to the 4C’s 2050 Vision.

You remember the 4Cs:
· Conservation of our most critical natural resources
· Promoting more growth in great urban Centers where we live, work and play
· Connecting centers with Corridors of mixed use multi story buildings with shops and stores on the first floor, offices, and apartments. These corridors would be served by transit such as street cars, light rail or bus.
· Saving Countryside from sprawl.

By doing this, we can:
· Save 2000 square miles from being unnecessarily urbanized between 2010-2050;
· Avoid significant ecosystem damage;
· Save $100 billion in infrastructure;
· Take the pressure off countryside so we still have natural lands and agriculture;
· Stimulate the economy by creating new centers of commerce!

And that’s what people wanted to see in the vision.

Are you interested? Would you like to help us make SWEETEAA? Sweet tea? What the heck is that?

SWEETEAA is the acronym for the chapters in the policy plan, Central Florida 2050:
Smart Growth and Design
Water
Environment
Energy
Economic Development
Transportation
Emergency Preparedness
Affordable Housing
Agriculture

If you are interested in helping create these policies, let me know, and I’ll get you connected so you can pitch in and help us achieve the Central Florida 2050 vision.

Thanks for tuning in! Check with me now and again; I’ll keep you posted on interesting doings in our sunny slice of paradise!