Prolific builder Pat Neal: Developers must help improve region's infrastructure

While there is a popular sentiment among some state residents that “Florida is full” in an attempt to discourage more Northerners from relocating here, the reality is growth is not slowing and there isn’t much anyone can do to stop it — short of closing the border.

Since a stop sign at the state line isn’t a likely option, it is more important than ever to better prepare for that inevitable growth.

As a homebuilder, my primary job is to build homes and create communities for that influx of new residents. But for all developers, we can’t stop by saying “if we build it, they will come” since the growth that fuels our businesses is also straining the current infrastructure. Changes are necessary to keep up with the growth, while continuing to be good stewards of the environment, representing a balancing act for every homebuilder in the region. In short, it’s time for all of us to work together, through public-private partnerships to affect that positive change.