I was reading my earlier posts, and there is one instance where I really was wrong, and that was the Colorado Avenue upgrade. While I am still not a fan of traffic circles, I think that the narrowing to two lanes, pedestrian crossings and center median have contributed much to the revitalization of the entire street from Federal Highway to Confusion Corner. Now, with the planned addition of public art to the avenue, this will really be a great introduction to downtown.

When the current sales tax initiative was first brought up, I supported a more limited ½ cent for a three- to five-year duration.  I now believe it should be a full cent for ten years. The county and city infrastructure is crumbling before our eyes. Without a prolonged and targetted income stream to address these problems, planning and implementation will not happen. Because of the uncertainty of future funds, only projects for the favored few will be done instead of projects for all of our benefit.  With the right language in the statute, we can make sure that the proceeds won’t be used for another Splash Park.

Here are a few things I did get right. The idea of a Customs and Immigration facility at the “county” airport should be, once and for all time, scrapped. The same oligarchy that is always crying against expansive and expensive government wants to have the tax payers pick up the bill for their convenience. Besides the separation of powers in our constitution which clearly leaves this function to the federal government, we do not need to vote ourselves one more unfunded mandate to pay.

The BDB still needs to be weaned from the taxpayer’s treasury. There is no earthly reason to continue to support an organization that business people themselves won’t support with their own funds. Business will organically develop when they believe that Martin County and its cities have expedited permitting processes, good schools and is a great place to live. The worst thing we can do is subsidize any business entity with the promise of jobs or tax revenue at some future date. It is the same crony capitalism that we deplore in Putin’s Russia.

I will continue to speak out and fight for the maintaining of our county’s Comp Plan. Sprawl happens when we allow the supposed benefit of building for building sake and the “they will come” mentality to overlook sound economic judgment. Within the Urban Service District, Stuart and the other municipalities are where new and repurposed development should be encouraged. At the same time, Martin County and Stuart need to come together in common cause. Stuart is not a step-child that needs the county’s permission to perform as a government. The commissions and their staffs, especially on the county side, need to operate for the good of all residents.

Now that development is heating up, we will once again face challenges to maintain the Martin County way of life and the “Old Florida” ambiance of Stuart. Developers will try to breach the four story height limit through seemingly innocuous means such as roof top entertainment. We need to toughen not only the granting of Special Permits but how often and how many can be given in any one year. Legitimate restaurants and other establishments that operate within the parameters and the spirit of the law should be encouraged. At the same time those that use a mechanism meant to foster one-time events (such as block parties) as their business model should be stopped from ruining an entire neighborhood’s tranquility.

Outdoor music venues need to erect soundproofing barriers around their areas and position their speakers differently to minimize sound being carried beyond the venue’s boundaries. There is no constitutional right to have music blaring to the detriment of others who live nearby. I want to encourage people coming Stuart to enjoy themselves, but there are responsibilities that businesses have to the community as a whole.

I also would like to see in Stuart a mandatory meeting by the Development Office between developer and the neighbors when any new projects come before the city. There are instances where the plan being presented is more advantageous in terms of density, parking and setbacks for the neighborhood than what the developer has “as right” to build.  If both sides are talking to each other there would be less chance that a good plan is misunderstood. A little advanced planning could go a long way to solving problems before the politics take over.