RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT 



Richard RuBino 

 P.O. Box 2555 

 Tallahassee, FL 32308 



INTRODUCTION 



The coastal resources of Florida are one of its most valuable assets. 

 Most of the urban centers and a large share of its recreational resources are 

 along the coast. Florida has a valuable saltwater fish and shellfish indus- 

 try, an intracoastal waterway that provides protected routes for waterborne 

 transport of goods and supplies for industry and commerce, and a large elec- 

 trical generating capacity. Although coastal Florida is where most of the 

 State's economy is centralized, it also is Florida's most vulnerable 

 environment, and is where much of the expanding residential, industrial, and 

 recreational development is taking place. 



The competition between economic development and the natural environment 

 is heavy and the natural environment generally is the loser. The public 

 sector has attempted to save natural environments, but environmental losses 

 continue to mount. 



Because of the continuing population growth, new economic diversity and 

 expansion necessarily must develop. If Florida's future is to be secure, 

 growth and change must accommodate the natural environment. 



The high rate of population growth once was largely in south and central 

 Florida, but now Northwest Florida and other parts of north Florida also are 

 growing rapidly. The seven counties in Northwest Florida are Bay, Escambia, 

 Franklin, Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton. Rapid development is taking 

 place along the coast of these counties. 



This report describes the characteristics of residential development in 

 Northwest Florida, especially in urban areas, and the recreation-vacation 

 oriented residential development along the coast. It also describes the char- 

 acteristics of industrial development and its relationships with residential 

 development and to problems of the natural environment. In addition, the 

 report reviews public utilities, e.g., electrical power generating and distri- 

 buting systems that support both residential and industrial growth, and which 

 in some ways may be a threat to the natural environment. Domestic sewage 

 treatment capacities in the various counties are described. These areas of 

 concern are reviewed with particular emphasis on their capacity to support 



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