PCSR INFO 6-14-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The summary of "Referenda Required for Adoption and Amendment of Local Govern- ment Comprehensive Land Use Plans," spon- ted by a political action committee, Florida metown Democracy, begins this way: "Pub- IC participation in local government compre- hensive land-use planning benefits Florida's natural resources, scenic beaury and citizens." The state attorney general asked the court for an advisory opinion on whether the proposed ballot tide and summary-particularly the first sentence, referred to above--conformed to state law. The court noted that Florida law requires that they state in "clear and unambiguous lan- guage the chief purpose of the measure." It pointed out that voters only see the title and the summary, not the actual text of a proposed amendment. Therefore, an accurate, objective, and neutral summary is essential. Inaccurate and misleading Opponents objected to the first sentence- which declared that public participation ben- efits natural resources and scenic beaury-as a misstatement of the substance of the amend- ment. They also noted that comprehensive land-use plans involve much more than envi- ronmental and aesthetic components. The court agreed that it was inaccurate, Ang that the summary should advise voters ~he legal effect of the proposed amend- ment, not make "editorial comment." The first sentence was also misleading, the court continued. If the proposed amendment were adopted, there would be a substantial number of referendums every year involving issues other than "scenic beauty" or "natural resources." James Lawlor U.S. The decision encouraged many neigh- . that long postponed improvements to community would finally move forward. A firm commitment from the team has been a long time coming. More than a decade ago, the team's former owners indicated that they might leave the 1912 Boston icon. Support for that move came in 1999 from the state, which backed a $312.5 million aid package to build a new park in the same neighborhood. A firm conHnitnH~IJJt has been a lon~!: time coming. A decade .1gO~ the team~s fornJcr own- ersindieated thelt thev might leave the1912 Boston ieon. But a grassroots campaign to keep the team at the historic park eventually swayed public opinion. Key to the movement was a design charette, led by Chicago architect and urban baseball stadium expert Philip Bess, that gen- erated innovative ideas for modernizing the ballpark and increasing capacity while pre- serving the existing footprint. Then in early 2002, new Red Sox owners hired Janet Marie Smith, an architect and planner who had worked on Camden Yards in Baltimore and Turner Field in Atlanta, to lead a design team charged with saving the park. Bright future Neighbors and city officials are opnmlStlc that the Red Sox decision will trigger neigh- borhood improvements. Government, com- munity groups, the Red Sox, and a variety of institutional neighbors seem committed to cooperating on traffic, parking, and transit issues, and interested parties are privately dis- cussing potentially controversial development above the nearby Massachusetts Turnpike. While stakeholders bring sometimes com- peting interests to the table, community planning exercises have established a para- digm for improving the neighborhood, par- ticularly along the rundown Boylston Street corridor. Working with residents and ur- ban designers, the Fenway Community De- velopment Corporation designed a mixed- use urban village with rental and for-sale housing, businesses, and improved land- scaping. A four-year, city-run community planning process resulted in zoning changes, including new height, bulk, and use guide- lines, that support the urban village vision. "We have an incredible opportunity," says Randi Lathrop, the Boston Redevelopment Authority's deputy director for community planning. Developers recognize that, too; a American Planning Association 47 576-unit housing project with ground-floor retail is under construction and a condo- minium project has been proposed, she says. Having new zoning in place makes it more attractive for business, Lathrop adds. "We're looking at cafes and restaurants, not just sou- venir shops." An urban village is something that the Red Sox can support as well. "We're a neighbor- hood ballpark," Smith says, "and we'd hate to spend time renovating Fenway only to find we don't live in a neighborhood anymore." James B. Goodno Contributing ediror Jim Goodno is a third-genera- tion Red Sox fan. Based on the principles of English Garden City planning, both communities were de- signed by Clarence S. Stein and Henry Wright in the late 1920s. Their goal was to promote social reform and better housing for middle- income Americans. Twenty-four sites were named in all. The full list of National Historic Landmarks is at www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/.