Our Concern

The Threat...

For the past 6 years, the County Commission has yielded to the development industry. Thousands of new homes now sit empty, depressing the entire real estate market.

Developments

Large land owners have been lured in by the promise of a greater financial reward for building houses than growing citrus. In time, and without good growth management, our rural agricultural land will be transformed to housing and we will look like south Florida. The by-products of this rampant growth are more water shortages, traffic, pollution, crime, gangs, drugs, rising taxes and housing costs, and diminished farmland, habitat and quality of life.

Traffic

The Solution...

In a democracy, the best solutions to community problems come from its citizens. The IRNA brings organization and expression to such solutions. We are the strong, clear voice for citizens who oppose the South Floridazation of Indian River County.

As organized citizens, we have been and will continue to be a political force in local elections, endorsing those candidates who pledge to represent the interests of the vast majority of residents and their cherished lifestyle.
The IRNA will continue to monitor growth and development issues, presenting factual and in-depth information to the public and our elected officials

Join IRNA Today

By joining, you will support and strengthen this community based organization that is trying to preserve your quality of life. No one else has your interests at heart. By joining you will receive notifications of important issues that face our County and will be able to participate in the process. By joining the IRNA, you will be an active, informed participant in the events that will shape YOUR life style. Take a moment and join us here.

Similar to other counties on the Treasure Coast, Indian River County is experiencing unprecedented growth. Large tracts of land are being cleared of native vegetation and thousands of new homes are being built. Our County's infrastructure, environment, public services and facilities are beginning to feel the pressures of development, requiring greater road capacity, sewers, water, electric utilities, schools, prisons, and landfill capacity due to accelerated growth. Much of the cost of these improvements will fall upon local taxpayers.

To a large extent, the future of our county and it's municipalities will lie in the hands of our elected officials who may yield to the pressure from lobbyists and self interest groups. It's of particular concern that a simple majority of elected officials of any governing body can forever determine the character and density of our county, cities or towns. Although most of our elected officials campaigned on a platform of controlled growth, on occasion their vote has run counter to this pledge. For example, three members of the County Commission voted to deny County citizens the right to vote on any future relocation of the Urban Service Line (USL). If the USL is moved westward, it could increase the population of our county by three, five or ten times, even though they have repeatedly asserted that they oppose movement of the USL. Obviously such voting inconsistencies are deeply disturbing and a real threat to controlling growth.

If you don't share our concern just look as what's happened to South Florida.

Here's an aerial view of Fellsmere.

Fellsmere Arial View