During the last three months alone, myregion.org, through its “How Shall We Grow?” campaign, has received more than 3,500 individual comments from citizens, regional leaders and elected officials on the issues that they feel must be considered as we work to create an alternative future for our region. They have also offered a wide variety of suggested policy changes that would address specific growth issues.

Since the completion of the campaign’s Community Input Sessions in September, 2006, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, University of Florida and Renaissance Planning Group have used the gathered community input to create four potential futures for the region. These “scenarios” include one based on current trends, plus alternatives that have specific emphasis on key “themes.” These include preservation of the environment, a focus on multi-model transportation, and emphasis on town centers.

Though the specific future regional vision will not be recommended until mid-2007, it has already become very clear through the engagement of more than 9,000 citizens that most people are interested in a future for Central Florida that is different than what the current trend indicates.

Beginning in February 2007, a Policy Framework Committee consisting of the seven County Commission Chairs, seven City Mayors (one from each of the seven counties), and two members of the Central Florida School Boards Coalition, will begin meeting monthly to finalize a Regional Compact and Policy Framework Documents that will be presented as part of the final “How Shall We Grow?” Regional Summit in the summer of 2007.