July 3, 2002

By Valli Finney

Contributing Writer

Home Towne News of Charlotte County

779 Tamiami Trail

Port Charlotte, FL 33948

As he sits in office in Murdock, Charlotte County Commission Chairman Mac Horton is surrounded by pictures of some of his grandchildren.

The native Georgian loves this area and has, for years, been involved in trying to keep it the pristine, laid-back Old Florida style, while recognizing the county is growing by leaps and bounds.

Growth, he says, is the single most important issue facing residents, even though the issue is multi-faceted.

Control is not a word in the commissioners' vocabulary when it comes to growth.

"I don't think you control growth," he said. "I think you manage it." Commissioner Mac Horton wants to better manage growth in the county.

He knows the county is going to grow in population, but wants to ensure that the growth is manageable while allowing the county to maintain its friendly atmosphere for everyone, including his grandchildren.

"What is Charlotte County going to be 20 or 30 years from now?" he asks. "What we do now is going to direct it."

He cites land use, a comprehensive plan, zoning and commercial building management as necessary to manage the growth facing residents.

And, while the area is facing a building explosion, he wants everyone to remember that parks and recreation are as important as all the commercial and business establishments.

"Look at 41 in Port Charlotte," he says. "All those strip malls."

That is one issue he wants to see tackled. The burly commissioner who has served area residents for more than 25 years doesn't want to see even more of the strip malls in place.

"In the 50s and 60s, if they (government officials) had simply insisted on green space or placing parking behind the buildings, we wouldn't have the problems we have now," he said. "To have growth come, which I know it is, we have to be prepared for it."

Horton cited as examples the problems now facing Lee, Sarasota and De Soto counties as those areas deal with even faster growth than Charlotte County is experiencing.

"The biggest concern I have is the water supply," Horton said. "How many people can we support?

Phosphate mining and agriculture are big users of potable water.

"But, the biggest drain is people because they use the water for irrigation needs," he said.

"Everyone wants a big, beautiful yard and tropical plants. Those take a lot of water."

Horton says the big push is on for xeriscape landscaping. And, he's all for it.

In xeriscape landscaping, native vegetation that requires little or no watering is planted. And, if native plants are not used, non-invasive tropicals that have adapted to Florida's tropical climate are planted. None of those need excessive watering either.

The former supervisor of the Englewood Water District knows how much water it takes to maintain the perfect yard. He's been involved with water issues since the late 1960s.

"I think we're heading in the right direction," he says.

The commissioners are on the fast track to dealing with water issues within the county.

"We're actually beginning to come up with alternative and additional resources," he says. "If we could just capture it (rainwater) and use it.

"It's not good for government to encourage growth unless we can provide basic needs," Horton said. "We can't live without water."

Charlotte County residents are good about conserving water, but strict enforcement of watering restrictions, when needed, helps too.

A first-time watering restriction offender gets a warning. Then, the offender gets a written citation.

"Charlotte County water consumption is one of the lowest in the state," he says.

The reason is not enforcement.

"I think it's the attitude of the people," Horton said.

And, those people, residents of Charlotte County, are the ones he relies on to help.

Neighborhood organizations are vital to the success of the county. They know what they want in their neighborhood and can help planning staff come up with a feasible, working plan for a particular area.

He would like to see more neighborhood groups formed.

"If you have a homeowners' group, they will work their blooming rear ends off," Horton said.

"We still have a good piece of paradise left," he says. And, he would like to keep it that way.

http://www.htnusa.com/stories/archive/70302/growth_management.htm