On March 7, 2007, the Final Report on the recent How Shall We Grow? survey was released and the message is clear – the “folks” who live in Central Florida want a future that is very different than the path we are now on – when it comes to how we’ll handle our future growth.  In the final analysis, 86.5% of all participants said that the “current growth trend” was their “least preferred” scenario when asked about How Shall We Grow?

7,319 accepted surveys clearly show that survey participants believe of the four growth models, growth as provided by the current trend line is not desired. In the pie charts included in the report, the blue slice represents the percentage of survey responses rating that item first. Choice A was also called “Green Areas”, Choice B “Centers”, and Choice C “Corridors”.

38% selected Choice B–Centers as their most preferred growth model
31% selected Choice C–Corridors as their most preferred
27% selected Choice A–Green Areas as their most preferred
4% selected the Trend Model as their most preferred

To review the findings from the full report, please click here to download. To voice your opinion about the results, please visit the How Shall We Grow? blog or the Message Boards.

As a matter of record, the results from this community survey are the latest piece in a 15-month puzzle to Create a Shared Regional Vision for Central Florida.  Along these lines, creating regional strategies to support a Shared Regional Vision requires input from citizens, community leaders and elected officials.  Toward this end, from the very beginning, How Shall We Grow? has been all about seeking thoughtful input from the residents of Central Florida in an open and inclusive manner.

Over the last year, myregion.org has traveled throughout the seven counties of Central Florida and conducted more than 150 community meetings and presentations.   During these times of learning and sharing, we “talked with” and “listened” to over 10,000 participants – thinking together about how we view the future of our region.  From these gatherings, we developed the various growth scenarios that were presented to the community asking residents How Shall We Grow?

Concurrently, elected officials and leaders from across our region have been working on strategies needed to ensure implementation of a regional vision.  This project helped initiate the creation of the Central Florida Council of Mayors and the establishment of the Regional Leadership Council, comprised of the County Commission Chairs from each of the seven Central Florida Counties.  In addition, How Shall We Grow? has received, and continues to receive, input from and the support of the Central Florida Smart Growth Alliance and the Central Florida School Board Coalition.  And, too, How Shall We Grow? has enjoyed encouragement from, and participation by, the 100 members of the Board of Directors of myregion.org, working closely with a Technical Team of experts and planning professionals, guided by the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council.  All of these organizations and individuals have combined to help coordinate and support the collective efforts of How Shall We Grow? 

In addition, on February 23, 2007, myregion.org hosted the first meeting of the Joint Policy Framework Committee, which includes representatives of the Central Florida Council of Mayors, Regional Leadership Council and Central Florida School Board Coalition.  This group is responsible for refining the Regional Growth Compact and Regional Policy Framework that will be presented to the community on August 10, 2007.

Download the complete report of the Scenario Choices Survey, which also includes the final, certified results.  This information is also available on the myregion.org Web site and will become a part of the Final Report to be submitted at the conclusion of the 15-month community campaign, on August 10, 2007.

myregion.org - A Regional Development Program - is an organization of citizens and leaders from public, private and institutional sectors who have launched a program to prepare the Central Florida Region to compete more effectively in the 21st century while enhancing the quality of life of its citizenry.