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Hernando Today

Steering Hernando County's Growth

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By MICHAEL D. BATES, Hernando Today

Published: January 11, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - What do you want Hernando County to look like in 50 years?

The organizers of "Reality Check" want to know. And they intend to get answers sometime this spring.

Those answers will help guide county commissioners and people who depend on such data as they plan for population growth.

So get ready for a massive publicity campaign starting sometime around the end of May. Roadside billboards, advertisements - the whole nine yards.

The campaign will be "very intense," according to Amy Maguire, project director for One Bay-Reality Check Tampa Bay.

"Reality Check" consisted of a series of workshops held in each of the seven counties that belong to the Tampa Bay Partnership.

A group of community leaders met at Silverthorn Golf and Country Club in October to determine the most pressing issues facing Hernando County as it meets the challenges of the future.

Divided into groups of about eight to 10 people, players used a giant map of the county to show where they think future growth will occur, based on demographics and economic data.

They considered transportation needs, regional land use, natural resources, residential and job growth. All the while, they couldn't lose sight of Hernando County's relationship with the rest of the Tampa Bay region.

Now it's the community's turn.

Maguire said the information from the Silverthorn meeting and others held in the Tampa Bay area is now being compiled and will be presented in a readable format so people can state what issues they find most pressing.

The format for gathering resident feedback is still being determined. But right now, it is likely there will be some kind of on-line polling. Maguire said kiosks could also be set up at local libraries for residents' input.

Prior to that, One Bay will hold a series of community forums to get the word out and gather additional data.

People will be asked to rank several growth issues, including the following:

How can the county improve its existing road network to make commuting easier?

How important is preserving "green" space and agricultural land in the county to prevent urban sprawl?

How vital is it that local government leaders protect the water supply?

Do most people favor a "city-center" concept of growth, which concentrates jobs and housing in proximity to one another?

How important is it to have community-based activities and commercial complexes within walking distance of residents?

Are you concerned about the effect of global warming?

All the while, residents will be encouraged to think regionally and how Hernando County interconnects with the entire Tampa Bay area.

Maguire said she was encouraged by the Reality Check meetings held last year because of the mix of people involved. The average age of participants was 47, which showed there is an effort by young people to plan ahead, she said.

Typically in other parts of the country, the average age of focus group members is in the low 60s, she said.

Betty Carlin, director of communications for the Tampa Bay Partnership, said the data will be sent to county commissioners and members of the local metropolitan planning organization.

Ideally, those officials will consider the results from the entire seven-county area and incorporate it into their comprehensive growth plans.

"We will combine all of that and come up with regional scenarios on how we should grow," Carlin said.

Water, Open Space Are Concerns

When asked which aspects of the environment they were most concerned about as the county grows, 36 percent of community leaders who attended last October's Reality Check workshop at Silverthorn identified water quality.

Another 28 percent said the loss of open space and wetlands was a major concern. Global warming received 18 percent of the vote.

In fact, the preservation of water proved to be a major concern among most participants: 57 percent said they were very concerned about having an adequate drinking water supply to sustain anticipated growth.

Other findings from Reality Check:

43 percent said there are not enough parks and open space areas in the Tampa Bay region.

51 percent said the county must retain the character of rural communities here and around Tampa Bay.

64 percent said cities and counties should adopt a regional strategy to guide future development.

42 percent disagreed with the statement that there is plenty of room in Florida and people shouldn't worry about cities spreading out as they grow.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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