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At today’s BOCC meeting the commissioners will vote on wether to purchase a 6 acre parcel in the Old Palm City CRA for $4 million. It was recently purchased by investors for $2 million and appraised for $4.5 million. Both commissioners Ciampi and Heard are being proactive about bad development. They should both be applauded for the effort.
There is, however, a huge difference between the two approaches. Heard is attempting to influence the developers to build appropriate development that fits into the neighborhood but, more importantly, adds to the tax base. She is also getting pilloried by the community for this approach.
Ciampi, on the other hand, is spending tax dollars with no foreseeable tax revenue improvements and he is being celebrated for it.
The voters in Martin County pretended to make a big deal about fiscal responsibility at the budget hearings recently but, when it comes down to growth vs financial responsibility, it seems that Ciampi is making the political bet that the voters care more about no growth than they do about higher taxes.
It’s an unfortunate state of affairs and the voters have themselves to blame. They pretend to be fiscal conservatives until development appears in their back yard. The commissioners are simply reacting to their constituents but in very different ways.
A good way to determine if something is a good idea is if it is good to repeat it. Many things seem great in small doses but fail the large dose test. Drugs, for example, may seem harmless just once but are devastating as a habit. If a habit is not worth repeating then why do it at all?
Buying land to prevent development is like using drugs. It may feel good just once but it is an unsustainable habit. What good is doing something just once when you are the government unless it is to appease the voters? It can be argued that this land is “special” and in many ways it is but so are hundreds of other properties including many in Port Salerno that are proposed to be developed with as strong, or stronger, community outrage.
Commissioner Heard has time for her efforts to play out. She isn’t up for re-election for three years. Maybe Commissioner Ciampi feels he doesn’t have enough time to go back to the drawing board and to work with the investors to build something that fits into the community and adds to the tax base.
Commissioner Heard will certainly vote against this plan on the basis that it is fiscally irresponsible and she is exactly correct. Commissioner Ciampi will vote for this proposal because the community feels the proposal is incompatible and wants it stopped with any means necessary. Commissioner Hetherington is the most likely to join Heard in the fiscal responsibility camp.
I recommend to both commissioners Jenkins and Smith that this isn’t an either or vote. This can still be a choice about the approach. If the commissioners vote not to buy this property then I hope it is because they plan to work with the developer and to offer incentives so that the development fits into the community and adds to the tax rolls. It is more work but it is also a sustainable habit.
If the commissioners vote to purchase this property then hold onto your shorts because the residents of Port Salerno, a larger and better funded CRA than old Palm City’s CRA, with better reserves and better opportunities, will rightfully call for a similar approach. This $4 million decision will quickly become a $40 million dollar liability for the county or there will be a riot as the residents of Port Salerno ask why Old Palm City is so special and they are not.
It’s a damn good question and I hope Commissioners Jenkins and Smith ponder it deeply before they make their votes.
With Regards,
J. Corey Crowley
Chairman
Salerno Downtown Authority
772-333-4416
[email protected]
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