Former APA Florida President Melissa Zornitta on How Planners Can Correct Historical Disparities

Former APA Florida President Melissa Zornitta, FAICP, answers this question: How can planners fix historic disparities in communities?
50 YEARS OF GROWTH MANAGEMENT IN FLORIDA
It's been 50 years since Gov. Reubin Askew signed the Growth Management Law that would lead to a slew of land, water, and resource management laws intended to harness sprawl and protect the natural resources that attracted millions of tourists to Florida annually.
Fearing to repeat the mistakes made by other Sun Belt States, Florida enacted statewide zoning standards and then created task forces to address the pressing needs throughout the state: fires, droughts, Disney, and a significant resident influx.
We are going to take a look at the beginning of structured statewide growth management by re-examining the establishment and implementation of the 1972 law and recapping companion laws that followed set in the context of the times. Follow through the 1990s historical events that continue to shape planning - including Hurricane Andrew and pivotal legal challenges.
Then we will discuss the 2011 Community Planning Act and how it has set in motion a prioritization of our economy above all else and focus on how localities are pivoting to ensure responsible growth.
In September we will discuss the changes in the political atmosphere at the varying levels of government throughout Florida as well as the inspect how COVID pandemic has changed the way planners approach their duties. The game has changed; how do we adapt?
Now that we know the history, we can review who and what was left out of the conversation, and the implementation of the policies that followed. What is needed and what can we do to course-correct?
Finally, we will recap where we have been, what has changed in 50 years, and where are we going. With innovation and new technologies available, the future of planning is limitless. How do planners envision the next 50 years of planning in the Sunshine State?
Go to florida.planning.org/50
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About APA Florida:
The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Florida) is a non-profit organization of professionals, students, and allied professionals providing vision and leadership for the future development and redevelopment of Florida communities. We are the state affiliate of the American Planning Association and have over 2,600 members, making us the second largest APA Chapter in the country. In Florida, as well as nationally, we have a membership that is diverse in expertise and focus. APA Florida members work both in the public and private sector; for Federal, state, and local government; for firms both large and small; in long-range planning and development review; in master planning, as well as site planning; in transportation planning, land use planning, environmental planning, design, and in many other capacities.
APA Florida is a membership-guided organization, with twelve Sections geographically located around the state. The Executive Committee is made up of twenty-two members, elected by the membership as a whole or by an individual Section, who graciously volunteer their time for a two year period to help APA Florida provide a wide range of services to its members.