Yesterday a circuit judge threw out the 2009 developer-backed law known as SB 360 that relaxed transportation and other requirements in targeted, high-density districts around the state.
In his summary judgment that rules in favor of cities and counties, 2nd Circuit Judge Charles Frances called the law unconstitutional. Critics had charged that the measure would transfer costs that would have been paid by developers to local governments that would be forced to pay for the roads and other public projects that growth requires.
Political observers might remember that for weeks before he signed the controversial bill last year, environmentalists and officials with several municipalities literally begged Governor Charlie Crist to veto the bill (When he signed it, he did so quietly, simply issuing a press release and forgoing any bill-signing ceremony).
This article appears in Aug 26 – Sep 1, 2010.
