Market and economy, not developers, set the pace for home building, commercial construction

As farmland/pasture in Florida slowly but surely becomes a new housing development, there is always stimulating conversation, differing viewpoints and in some cases name-calling, such as greedy farmers, money-hungry developers and, of course, commissioners on the take or in someone's pocket.

I don't believe any of those allegations, and they should be relegated to the pasture.

Farmers sell land to anyone, not just a developer, offering what the farmer feels his land is worth. The farmer may be selling the land due to health, age or just the desire to retire here in paradise with the rest of us.

Developers provide jobs and homes to live in. If they couldn't sell the homes they build, they would build less.

However, commissioners' part in all this, it can be said, is both good and bad. Commissioners need to regulate growth in their county. It's part of their job and probably a yes vote is the easiest part of approving housing.

I do fault the commissioners in a big way for the seemingly lackadaisical attitude it appears they harbor toward making accommodations for the most important part of the development process and that is existing infrastructure!

Such as will Cortez Road, 53rd Avenue West and others be widened as the big new development is built out west of 75th Street West? New schools, etc.?

Meaningful mandatory impact fees on new buildings in our state should be state-mandated and should include an adequate amount of funds to cover newly required infrastructure needs that will arise due to the new growth.

The impacts of new residents and businesses should not be one that degrades the quality of life that the current residents of that area enjoy.

Since Florida is in a constant state of growth, school boards should by law not be allowed to opt out of impact fee collection. Let the education impact fee money build up and after 10 years or so any such fees can always be returned.

Michael Horning

Bradenton

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Market and economy, not developers, set the pace for home building, commercial construction ."