Concurrency?

 

As I stated in a recent meeting, and as I prominently featured in my NEXT4Escambia plan as I ran for re-election last year, I will be bringing the topic of concurrency forward at an upcoming meeting for discussion among my peers on the Board of County Commissioners.

As a local school board member here for 10 years , I supported the concept of concurrency and voted for it on several occasions until it was watered down to a point that it was ineffective and meaningless--at which point I voted against it on principle.

I have no idea, whatsoever, where my counterparts on the BCC stand on this isssue--so at the first meeting where this is brought the topic will be brief, factual, historical and then I'll attempt to ascertain from my peers what their appetite is for moving forward with having staff bring recommendations.

This initial discussion will likely occur at the first meeting in May.

Jim Little from the PNJ called me about this topic about a week ago, and we had a really good conversation.  His article derived from that discussion is online today and will more than likely make it to the printed paper in the next few days.  It is a good article and captures the essence of our discussion.

I agree with those in the homebuilding community who believe that we can do more with the LOST funds we already have (for which they lobbied and assisted in campaigning for when the referendum(s) were put before the voters)--and it is for that reason and others that I generally oppose impact fees across the board for the county in favor of intelligent, well thought-through concurrency. (Although I will support impact fees and an enhanced MSBU/and or a TIFF on our soon to be developed OLF-8 property---as it now appears it will be largely retail and residential which will reduce our opportunity for and the size of a Triumph Gulf Coast jobs grant).

So we shall see where the concurrency discussion goes in May.  It may be something that sparks interest or it may just fizzle......