[amgoldho]

We moved to West Boca Raton in July 1992 (yep just before Andrew) with our two daughters who were still in high school. We moved to Boca because of the school system. We lived in a subdivision of 7000 homes called Loggers Run.

Ok, During the first few years during the rainy season, there would be rain like clockwork and the thunderstorms would line up along I-95 and move inland. Water and rain was plenty. Then the building increased where we lived out towards the Everglades and between the turnpike and 441. Each year the rainy season seemed shorter and each year the starting point for the thunderstorms was further west until by the time we moved most of the rain was falling west of the turnpike. Water became and still is an issue. I talked to a person well versed in climate and he said if they keep building over the "open" land, water will become a serious problem. South Florida's water issue is greater than ours yet we with our own water system are on a form of rationing. To desalinate is a costly endeavor and guess who pays for it, the taxpayer.

Now we have a community that at buildout (2011??) we will have a population of 101,000+. With smart growth one takes into consideration the infrastructure, land use, etc. This developer is one of the best in this country. To plan out a community like this, is truly amazing and I truly thank him for that. At the same time one must consider the ramifications and the future quality of life.

If you have not been to South Florida, go there and see if you would like to live there.

Also this is a rural society not urban or suburban which makes this area almost unique. There are some beautiful horse farms, ranches which I hope never go.

I am more concerned about the quality of life for the future, not property values. Maybe I am an idealist, well so be it. Go take a ride in your golf cart and look at the open land and picture houses or whatever in those areas, could get a little suffocating.

Progress comes at what price?