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Mission | Purpose
| Vision | Goals
Participants | Committees | Meetings
| Funding
2005 Activities | 2004 Activities
other related links:
The
Rural Lands Stewardship Program
Fact Sheets & Information Resources
Legislation
Report of the Governor's Growth Management Study Commission
2000-2001
Stewardship America
established the Rural Lands Stewardship Council in 2001 with funding from
the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation and
Cargill Dow to provide input and assist with
implementation of the Rural Lands Stewardship Program.
The council is now privately funded (see funding).
It is comprised of 30 individuals representing rural landowners, planners,
conservation interests, the Florida Association of Counties, the small
counties coalition, state agencies and the governor’s office (see members)
Mission
Communicate information about effective
rural planning techniques, approaches and tools to rural landowners, policy
makers and other stakeholders in Florida counties.
Purpose
-
Act as a convener and
coordinating council;
-
Bring together diverse groups with a
stake in the future of Florida’s rural lands – including private
landowners and agriculture and forestry interests; state agencies, water
management districts and regional planning councils; growth management
organizations; land use planners; conservation and environmental
organizations; and county associations and coalitions;
-
Provide a “neutral, non-judgmental” forum for discussing issues
affecting Florida’s rural lands; and
-
Serve as an advocate for techniques, approaches, planning tools,
educational programs and policies that gain consensus support of the
council.
Vision
A
diversified economy built upon:
-
a
strong agricultural foundation,
-
a
healthy natural environment, and
-
thriving
communities surrounded by extensive areas of open space
will
be an essential and integral feature of rural Florida through the 21st
century.
Goals
-
Promote rural economic development and diversification
-
Maintain the viability of agriculture and
other rural enterprises
-
Enhance regional environmental protection
-
Protect open space through the use of innovative incentives
-
Promote land use patterns appropriate to rural areas and allow for a
diverse range of rural land uses
-
Control rural sprawl and protect the character of rural areas, while
accommodating reasonable and sustainable growth
-
Allow all
landowners to economically benefit from development and to choose options
that offer future appreciation
PARTICIPANTS
List of Rural Land
Stewardship Council Participants: (1 page)
click
here
committees
Committee Structure,
Responsibilities & Membership: (3 pages) click
here
2005 ACTIVITIES
Ave Maria project sets precedent for
conservation - report from Naples Daily News on development of first
"new town" in Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Area - (4 pages):
click here
2004 ACTIVITIES
Rural Lands Stewardship Council
updates:
Key activities
in 2004 included:
- Bill drafted by RLSC members was
approved by Florida Legislature on April 30 to improve the
way in which the Rural Lands Stewardship Program works. Bill
makes Rural Lands Stewardship Program a "specifically
encouraged" designation on future land use maps for all
counties. For details, click here.
- Proposal to develop a
"vesting easement" was circulated.
This concept would provide a
new smart-growth tool for use in rural areas that are not yet part of a
Rural Lands Stewardship Area. The concept would
offer incentives to landowners to keep land in its current use and
compensate and encourage landowners to postpone the sale of land for
development. For details, click
here.
-
Ag Appropriations earmark in U.S. Congress
was explored as possible source of funding.
For details click
here (see Request #1 - Rural Lands Stewardship Program). It was
decided to not pursue these earmarks following conversations with House
Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), who suggested instead
that hearings be held in 2005 to explore use of Rural Lands Stewardship
Program in other states, and that legislation be drafted toward this end in
cooperation with delegations from other states.
Meetings
Report on December 2004
Teleconference
- Meeting Report: (12 pages)
click here
- Proposed Legislative Agenda for
2005: (3 pages)
click here
- Update - Ave Maria project sets
precedent for conservation - report from Naples Daily News on
development of first "new town" in Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship
Area - (4 pages): click
here
- Update -
Indian River Citrus League, Rural Lands
Committee: (2 pages)
click here
Report on June
2004 Meeting - involving water management districts in RLSP per
provisions in SB 2188
Report on
March
2004 Teleconference - ag group discussion re: Congressional earmark
to get federal funding for RLSP
Report on November 2003 Council
Meeting -
meeting and tour of Collier County Rural
Lands Stewardship Area and site of first "new town" for Ave Maria
University sponsored by WilsonMiller.
- Meeting Summary: (4 pages) click
here
- Draft Document: Guiding
Principles, Process, Tools & Examples to assist county governments
in developing Rural Land Stewardship Areas, click
here.
- Mission Committee Meeting 9-30-03,
click
here; resulted in development of statements of mission, purpose,
vision and goals (see above) adopted at November 10, 2003 meeting.
Report on August 2003 Council
Meeting - Includes:
- Meeting
Summary: (8 pages) click
here
- Committee Structure,
Responsibilities & Membership: (3 pages) click
here
- Attachment
#1 - Proposed Agenda for Regional Rural Lands Symposium for the Treasure
Coast (Nov. or Dec. 2003): (1 page) click
here
- Workshop Committee Report: (1
page) click
here
- Meeting location map: (1 page)
click here
Report on May 2003 Council Meeting -
Includes:
Report on
November 2002 Council Meeting
- Includes:
- Cover Sheet/Table of Contents:
(1 page) click
here.
- Meeting Summary: (6 pages) click
here.
- Overview of Collier County
Project: (3 pages) click
here.
- Email from Council Member Peter
Spyke, as follow up to meeting: (7 pages) click
here.
Report on April 2002 Council Meeting:
(5 pages) click
here.
| Further
Information:
We
are grateful to the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation for
its generosity in providing the funding to launch the Rural
Lands Stewardship Council and support its first year of work
(2002).
We also are
grateful to the Florida Department of Community Affairs
for the staff, facility and resource support it has
provided.
Addionally,
we are
grateful to the following Rural Land Stewardship Council members
for supporting the ongoing work of the Council in 2003 at
the $1000 level:
- EarthBalance
- Florida
Land Council
- Gunster,
Yoakley & Stewart, P.A.
- Small
Counties Coalition
- The
Nature Conservancy
- Treasure
Coast Regional Planning Council
- WilsonMiller,
Inc.
Wish to
learning more about the Rural Lands Stewardship Program and the
Rural Land Stewardship Council's work? If so, click
here.
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