Published on May 24, 2006 by the Orlando Sentinel

The myregion.org effort brings together leaders to look at the future -- and a 7 million population.

By Jay Hamburg

Sentinel Staff Writer

More than 20 municipal mayors from seven Central Florida counties met for the first time this week to discuss growth and transportation and to talk about how to work together on those issues in the future.

Monday's gathering was part of a yearlong effort by myregion.org to create a unified vision of growth in the area for the next 50 years.

With the area's population expected to more than double to 7 million people during that time, the community-interest group has tried to raise awareness of an impending crisis while seeking comments from elected officials, civic leaders and thousands of residents.

Mayors from the seven counties -- Orange, Seminole, Lake, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard and Polk -- plan to keep meeting regularly, said Shelley Lauten, director of the nonprofit group.

The region's residents, she said, must decide what sort of future they want for their children and grandchildren by providing a lasting framework to shape growth without depleting natural resources or ruining what makes the region attractive.

The group's final report -- to be released in about a year -- will not have the legal authority to enforce growth regulations. But the members hope to find shared principles that can guide the entire region. They hope to do so, Lauten said, through "trust and relationships as opposed to mandates."

Lakeland Mayor Ralph "Buddy" Fletcher said his growing city feels the congestion created by the growth of Tampa and Orlando.

"We have to do this regionally," Fletcher said of any proposed guidelines.

Oviedo Mayor Tom Walters said that if the group can find a shared vision for the future, it will help local officials apply the growth guidelines to projects. Having seven counties, 86 municipalities and several thousand residents behind a plan will give it more force. "It keeps us focused regionally," he said.

Walters said he would like to see a stronger regional emphasis on affordable housing so that more people can live where they work. He noted that only a few of Oviedo's 45 firefighters and emergency workers can afford to live in the city.

Jacob Stuart, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce president, gave the leaders an overview of growth trends and encouraged them to keep the area attractive.

"We are," Stuart said, "the envy of the world."

To sign up for public workshops or to comment on the process, go to the group's website: www.myregion.org.

Jay Hamburg can be reached at 407-420-5673 or jhamburg@orlandosentinel.com.