My sister and brother-in-law, along with many others in our community, lost everything to the catastrophic floods that followed Hurricane Milton. This devastation was due, in large part, to the rampant overdevelopment in our area. Swamps and wetlands were filled in to make way for more buildings, and normal flood control mechanisms were drastically impacted.

Today, as you drive around our municipalities, you are likely to see that many houses are still abandoned, victims of the flooding now years ago. The rapid pace of construction in our region, authorized by our county commissioners, doesn't take into account the capacity of our existing infrastructure and water resources. It is leading to additional well fields being drained, and reducing the Floridan Aquifer's volume continually, which supports over 7 million people and irrigates thousands of aricultural fields.

Right now, the priority needs to be creating sustainable development initiatives that won't put our communities and natural resources at further risk. More constructions without upgrading traffic infrastructure or ensuring adequate water resources, will possibly yield more catastrophic results in the face of future hurricanes or other weather events, or everyday life.

That's why we need a building moratorium until our traffic infrastructure can cope with more development, and our water resources aren't threatened by excessive use or drained dry. We call on our policymakers to review all development plans carefully and to safeguard our resources and wellbeing. Please sign this petition to support a more thoughtful, sustainable approach to growth. Your signature is critical in ensuring our local environment, infrastrucure, and communities can thrive now, and in the future.