Growth is no stranger to Florida. The state is a magnet for snowbirds, immigrants and sun-seekers. But will too much growth crowd out what people come here for to begin with?
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This week Florida Matters tackles the issue of balancing development with protecting the state’s environment and quality of life.
WUSF reporter Steve Newborn hosts this episode to expand on a story he recently reported with the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting about the Four Corners area.
This area of Central Florida is where Polk, Osceola, Lake and Orange Counties meet. Home to Interstate-4 and Walt Disney World, it has become a hub for development.
The Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition team recently chose Four Corners as the site of their latest trek, which was completed in April 2018. They wanted to highlight how growth in the area is threatening to cut off the Everglades from the rest of the state, which could pose serious challenges to water and wildlife.
Carlton Ward Jr., renown nature photographer and co-founder of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, talks about those efforts.
Ward has spent the past three years studying the Florida panther, an endangered species he said will remain endangered unless the state invests in more land conservation.
Paul Owens, president of the environmental group 1000 Friends of Floridaand opinions writer with the Orlando Sentinel, also joins the discussion.
1000 Friends of Florida recently published its Florida 2070 Report, which maps out potential future scenarios for the state depending on how population growth, development and conservation are managed in the coming decades.
This first map depicts Florida in 2010 and serves as a baseline for future projections. Green areas are protected lands, while red areas are developed.
1000 Friends of Florida created the map below to show what Florida could look like in 50 years if development continues at its current pace without proper management. About half of Central Florida could be paved over by 2070 according to what the group calls the "worst-case scenario."
But the group said the map above doesn't have to be Florida's future. 1000 Friends of Florida created a second map to show an alternative scenario, one that involves responsible development over the next several decades and conservation efforts.
The plan involves “smart growth” – how efforts like urban infill and building up instead of out could potentially benefit developers and conservationists alike.
For developers, higher density projects could make it easier to turn a profit than by building large single-family homes. And if they work with conservationists to protect land on their developments, panelists said everyone wins.
However, the panelists said limits need to be put in place so as not to tarnish traditions in communities that may not want to knock down a historic home to build a skyrise apartment building.
Paul Owens said growth management is an economic issue as much as it is an environmental one. He argued Florida's tourism industry could suffer, as could its current economic boom, if traffic congestion and unattractive scenery destroys the Sunshine State's quality of life.
WUSF invited representatives from local development companies on the show, but none could attend.
Florida Matters is now a podcast, it's another great way to listen whenever it's convenient for you. Find this week's podcast here and subscribe for future episodes.
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