I envision a world where developers meet with citizen groups and neighboring property owners early on in the development process.
I envision a world where local governments actively seek direct input from the community prior to developing new ordinances and voting upon controversial projects.
I envision peaceful commission/council meetings where all the kinks have been ironed out prior to public meetings so that all that is left is the standing ovation, the words of commendation for the cooperative effort and the pounding gavel signifying the end of the meeting.
An article in The Florida Bar Journal reminds me that others have this same vision. Dana L. Brown, the environmental enforcement administrator for the City of Jacksonville, Environmental Quality Division, and Lee White, a recent graduate of Florida Coastal School of Law, have written an article entitled “Noise: A Land Use Dilemma? A Case Study of the City of Jacksonville” which demonstrates that the City of Jacksonville, Florida wants to be proactive rather than reactive in its approach toward noise issues.
How refreshing. You see, we don’t seek world peace or cats and dogs living together in harmony, just a little bit of effort, discussion and perhaps some facilitated negotiation or mediation on the front end to avoid the fight and ugliness at the back end.
Is that asking too much?