Plan Development Around Our Natural Resources

Plan Development Around Our Natural Resources

We noted with interest the recent call to arms from Roy Taylor, Citrus County's development director, to business leaders, asking for plans to attract industry to Citrus County. Every time the words "industry" and even "clean, light industry" are brought up, hackles of fear arise on the necks of not only environmentalists, but also retirees and others who have found a refuge in Citrus County from other industrial areas.

Often these groups seem polarized with little consensus as to how the county should develop in the future. We would like to speak to this issue, hoping we can find some common ground during consideration of this important matter.

First, we think we can and must all agree that the majority of people who came to the county to live did so because of its unique natural resources: climate, water, trees and rural or semi-rural atmosphere. Others came because of jobs: Florida Power, the building industry, financial institutions, government.

Those in the first group mainly feel the resources that attracted them should be protected and preserved. Overdevelopment, obviously, would destroy the very features that made them choose Citrus County as an ideal place to rear a family or enjoy retirement. Many of the second group feel that in order to succeed in their business endeavors, there must be more industry and more growth.

Florida is full of highly developed areas: the southeast coast, the Orlando area, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Sarasota and others. Many of us feel that those who want to live in metropolitan or highly urbanized areas have plenty to choose from. Those of us who want a different type of lifestyle should also have it available.

It has been our belief (and we think there are many who feel the same way) that Citrus County has unique natural resources that few, if any, other Florida counties possess. We have several beautiful, still relatively unpolluted rivers. Some of them are designated as "Outstanding Florida Waters." We have a lake/marsh system in the flood plain of the Withlacoochee River call Lake Tsala Apopka, which is unique among Florida lake systems. We have thousands of acres of forest and rolling hills in the ridge section, thousands of acres more of wetland wildlife refuges on the coastal side and miles of rolling, pastoral land in the southeast section of the county.

We have one of the largest concentrations of the endangered manatee anywhere, which is a major tourist attraction.

We have scores of flowing springs, some of the first magnitude. We have a state wildlife park within our borders, two state historical parks and thousands of acres of public land recently purchase by the state and the water management district, which will be used in a variety of ways to benefit the public.

We have 24 miles of state-owned former railroad right-of-way, which will be developed as a trail for hiking, biking and equestrian use and will tie into a statewide and national scenic trail system. And last, but certainly not least, we have the early stages of the development of the former Cross Florida Barge Canal Land as part of a 110-mile corridor from Inglis to Jacksonville and part of the state's Greenway program for recreation and conservation.

With such an abundance of natural assets, the most obvious and natural direction for Citrus County development and growth would be to make use of these assets as the foundation for this growth and development. In fact, the possibilities this could entail boggle the imagination.

To look into the future and see Citrus County 50 or 100 years from now, still devoid of the high-rise, industrialized, paved-over congestion of so many Florida communities, still scenic and beautiful with clear waters, shady streets and attractive neighborhoods, would be a dream come true for many of us. Think of how unique and appealing Citrus County would be then, as the overdevelopment of Florida, no doubt, would have continued in other areas.

It goes without saying that when a precious resource dwindles, it becomes more and more valuable. What a priceless heritage we could provide if our development plans headed in the direction of basing our economy on the protection and development of our natural resources as our "clean, light industry."

Isn't it logical to plan for the future growth and prosperity of the county by capitalizing on its most valuable assets that we posses in such abundance? Residential and commercial building would continue, many new businesses would start up and contribute to the economy, and residents could look forward to a continuation of their very enjoyable lifestyles without the prospect of their community turning into just another congested, crime-ridden, overdeveloped area.

Many of us have come to Citrus County feeling we escaped from just that unlivable situation. We feel we have the right and the obligation to try to be smart enough to plan our community so that this doesn't happen here.

We would urge those who will be meeting to make some important plans for the future of Citrus County to consider the advantages of planned development based on our natural resources. The choice of the name "Nature Coast" for a multi-county area that includes Citrus would seem to indicate that this idea has already been adopted by some members of the economic development community.

We always found it interesting to read the written comments left by visitors to the Homosassa Wildlife Park in recent years. Many of the visitors express appreciation for the natural experience the park provides, compared to the more high-key experiences of Disney World, Universal Studios and other popular attractions. There is a definite marker for the type of activities and recreation Citrus County is providing and could provide to even a greater degree in the future with proper, intelligent planning.

Protecting our beautiful county from the overdevelopment rampant throughout Florida is something many of us yearn to be able to accomplish. We are convinced that with a dedicated and united effort, this can be done while providing stable, continuing economic well-being for us all. Hank and Miriam Cohen live in Floral City. Mr. Cohen is a former Citrus County commissioner.