[jghorton]

We moved to Florida about 45-years ago and gradually migrated from Tampa, to Kissimmee (Central Florida), to Melbourne ... and now Destin). In those times, life in those areas was significantly different than today (more of a family feel, much less traffic, greater sense of safety, etc). Early on, I also traveled extensively throughout the state. Coincidentally, job circumstances seemed to move us just ahead of major growth spikes.

I already knew that Destin was wall-to-wall traffic without enough bypass roads. But, about two years ago, we drove around the coastline of the state - and I was stunned! My thought was, "If they painted parking lines on the roads, it would seem like a large, organized parking lot surrounding the state ... instead of a large, disorganized parking lot!"

Florida zoning has always been notoriously inconsistent and money-driven. With almost 70 million annual visitors and 350K new annual residents, this factor has 'created a monster' around the Florida coastline. There is some truth to the idea that the interior of Florida, like California, is still desolate scrib, except for Orlando and Gainsville ... is still somewhat true, but, the reality is, everyone wants to live by the beach.

The "Should Florida have a moratorium on development, restrictions on population?" train has already left the station. The coastal areas are mostly in a tear-down and re-build mode, which has already produced water/view-blocking high rises along increasing stretches of the coastline. The notion of undeveloped, isolated, sand-between-one's-toes beach towns - is no more ... and getting the worms back into the can now - isn't going to happen, regardless of moratoriums.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by jghorton

We moved to Florida about 45-years ago and gradually migrated from Tampa, to Kissimmee (Central Florida), to Melbourne ... and now Destin). In those times, life in those areas was significantly different than today (more of a family feel, much less traffic, greater sense of safety, etc). Early on, I also traveled extensively throughout the state. Coincidentally, job circumstances seemed to move us just ahead of major growth spikes.

I already knew that Destin was wall-to-wall traffic without enough bypass roads. But, about two years ago, we drove around the coastline of the state - and I was stunned! My thought was, "If they painted parking lines on the roads, it would seem like a large, organized parking lot surrounding the state ... instead of a large, disorganized parking lot!"

Florida zoning has always been notoriously inconsistent and money-driven. With almost 70 million annual visitors and 350K new annual residents, this factor has 'created a monster' around the Florida coastline. There is some truth to the idea that the interior of Florida, like California, is still desolate scrib, except for Orlando and Gainsville ... is still somewhat true, but, the reality is, everyone wants to live by the beach.

The "Should Florida have a moratorium on development, restrictions on population?" train has already left the station. The coastal areas are mostly in a tear-down and re-build mode, which has already produced water/view-blocking high rises along increasing stretches of the coastline. The notion of undeveloped, isolated, sand-between-one's-toes beach towns - is no more ... and getting the worms back into the can now - isn't going to happen, regardless of moratoriums.

So where to next for you? Out of the state? Do you have a fav area of FL that you're eyeing?

[Enigma777]

Originally Posted by floridarebel

Either the NE lower their taxes, or FL stops being tax friendly, then the northerners will probably stop moving here. In the mean time growth is going to continue until FL has completed her transformation into a southern NY state. This has already happened in south Florida. It will only spread like a cancer through the whole state until there is no green space left anymore.

I guess you have not been to the SW of Florida which is basically the Southern Midwest. There as many migrants from the midwest as the NE in Florida. Are they fleeing higher taxes also? Or are you simply biased against northeasterners who are fleeing cold weather, just like midwesterners?

Maybe you can do something about their cold weather or our warm weather to 'stop the spread of the cancer'. And if northerners had never moved to Florida, it would be Georgia, full of Stuckys and Lums and much poorer.

[floridarebel]

Originally Posted by Enigma777

I guess you have not been to the SW of Florida which is basically the Southern Midwest. There as many migrants from the midwest as the NE in Florida. Are they fleeing higher taxes also? Or are you simply biased against northeasterners who are fleeing cold weather, just like midwesterners?

Maybe you can do something about their cold weather or our warm weather to 'stop the spread of the cancer'. And if northerners had never moved to Florida, it would be Georgia, full of Stuckys and Lums and much poorer.

If northerners stayed up north, Florida would be a million times better off.

Also GA is wealthier than FL.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by jghorton

We moved to Florida about 45-years ago and gradually migrated from Tampa, to Kissimmee (Central Florida), to Melbourne ... and now Destin). In those times, life in those areas was significantly different than today (more of a family feel, much less traffic, greater sense of safety, etc). Early on, I also traveled extensively throughout the state. Coincidentally, job circumstances seemed to move us just ahead of major growth spikes.

I already knew that Destin was wall-to-wall traffic without enough bypass roads. But, about two years ago, we drove around the coastline of the state - and I was stunned! My thought was, "If they painted parking lines on the roads, it would seem like a large, organized parking lot surrounding the state ... instead of a large, disorganized parking lot!"

Florida zoning has always been notoriously inconsistent and money-driven. With almost 70 million annual visitors and 350K new annual residents, this factor has 'created a monster' around the Florida coastline. There is some truth to the idea that the interior of Florida, like California, is still desolate scrib, except for Orlando and Gainsville ... is still somewhat true, but, the reality is, everyone wants to live by the beach.

The "Should Florida have a moratorium on development, restrictions on population?" train has already left the station. The coastal areas are mostly in a tear-down and re-build mode, which has already produced water/view-blocking high rises along increasing stretches of the coastline. The notion of undeveloped, isolated, sand-between-one's-toes beach towns - is no more ... and getting the worms back into the can now - isn't going to happen, regardless of moratoriums.

The only constant is change so no area of FL will stay the same over time. Some will take longer to change, but change they will.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by floridarebel

If northerners stayed up north, Florida would be a million times better off.

Also GA is wealthier than FL.

Northerns love Florida won’t change anytime soon.

[jghorton]

Originally Posted by BucFan

So where to next for you? Out of the state? Do you have a fav area of FL that you're eyeing?

We are committed Floridians and won't move any further north (in fact, we're too far North for me already). We moved North from the Central East coast in order to get nearer the grandkids in Destin. I've always liked the Brevard County barrier island (Indialantic, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor Beach) because it is growth restricted by water barriers and the AFB (however, no grandkids there). Even the growth restriction in Brevard is changing, since Patrick AFB has sold off a large chunk of previous base housing to developers. -- Still, the E.Coast barrier island, would be our #1 choice.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by jghorton

We are committed Floridians and won't move any further north (in fact, we're too far North for me already). We moved North from the Central East coast in order to get nearer the grandkids in Destin. I've always liked the Brevard County barrier island (Indialantic, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbor Beach) because it is growth restricted by water barriers and the AFB (however, no grandkids there). Even the growth restriction in Brevard is changing, since Patrick AFB has sold off a large chunk of previous base housing to developers. -- Still, the E.Coast barrier island, would be our #1 choice.

Yep we are moving to the East coast central and Cocoa Beach and Merritt Island were 2 places we considered.

[JBtwinz]

We are experienceing explosive growth in Saint John's County on the south bordering Jacksonville and in Nassau County in the north bordering Jacksonville.

Can't stop growth, it is a fact of life along with the fact that very few communities ever truly have the ability to plan or prepare for it..............unless you have your own carved out community like Disney

The sleepy little beach town of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island that we came to love thirty years ago is gone. Demolition (teardowns) are becoming pretty frequent along A1A and entry level below 200k on island is just about gone.

Off island the number of homes getting built is continuing to climb.

At this point the need for services, schools and roads is behind and like Saint John's County we will most like be putting up trailers at our schools and incorporating SPLOSH taxes to fund these things.

[Shizzles]

Originally Posted by expatCA

If enough people wanted the development of urban centers so they could live there, it would be happening. They don't want it. It seems the main group wanting it are Millennials who want to continue their college lifestyle. Live in small apts, go to bars and restaurants and worry about kids maybe in the far distant future. Party for now.

Actually, no. Urban spaces don't get built because of zoning. County boards are often appointed by the most zealous faction of homeowners who will scream at anything urban-esque being built in close proximity. That's why most development even back in the NE is greenfield. Cows don't scream.

Florida is either going to sprawl until the logistics make it unfeasible or it will choose to build up. Population controls are not coming to the United States in any form unless we cease to be one nation (don't even go there), and as long as NY/NJ/IL seek to mold themselves into socialist utopias people will continue to stream into FL one way or another.