SunSentinel Mention

January 17, 2020

Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP

President, Chen Moore and Associates

Last week: My family shopped at Searstown when they moved to Broward in the 1950’s. I’ve had cars fixed and bought corduroys there. But to see the number of “experts” weigh in on what that potential development would require to me is a bit crazy. I’m not affiliated with the development, but the “experts” within our readership need to understand how development works. Developers already do studies to show traffic and utility impacts. They already pay impact fees that pay for additional capacity which also pays for repairs to the existing system. Broken infrastructure is terrible, but development actually helps the problem.

Looking ahead: Next week, I’ll be taking the leadership of my firm on a retreat to “recession proof” our company as the possibility of an economic slowdown grows. I’ve read dozens of articles and recently heard in person the improving outlook of the economy of the State of Florida. Right now, the deficit for the state could be made up by either signing an agreement with the Seminole Tribe OR agreeing to tax internet sales. Doing both would be a windfall for the State. Let’s keep our eye on the ball as we review budgets and appropriations.

SunSentinel Mention

January 10, 2020

Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP

President, Chen Moore and Associates

Last week: I just want to thank the City Commission of Fort Lauderdale for taking swift action to repair the most critical elements of their sewer system while reviewing a potential slowdown in development activity with caution. We need all hands on deck for this situation.

Looking ahead: Next week, the Florida Legislature begins its 60 day sprint that must only end with a balanced budget. In my industry, I’m seeing so many bills that have impacts, minor and major, without much conversation with our actual industry in most cases. I’ll be attending the annual State of the Taxpayer dinner put on by Florida TaxWatch. This annual event celebrates the beginning of session, but also puts a reminder in Tallahassee that regardless of the impacts to individual professions, Florida TaxWatch is looking out for the interests of every taxpayer in the State.

SunSentinel Mention

January 3, 2020

Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP

President, Chen Moore and Associates

Last week: For the past several weeks, I’ve remained silent as letters to the editor have rolled into the Sun Sentinel suggesting that an end to development is the best suggestion to “fix” the water and sewer infrastructure issues in my native Fort Lauderdale and other cities in South Florida. As an engineer, I can assure the public that the problems we are experiencing are, by and large, not a result of new development, but rather the realities of infrastructure reaching the end of its useful life. Development is a chance (and funding source) to build replacement facilities and pipelines.

Looking ahead: Next week, I have the privilege of attending the dedication of the largest single-story building in the world as an ASCE’s Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The Vehicle Assembly Building is the large building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, designed to assemble the large pre-manufactured space vehicle components, such as the massive Saturn V and the Space Shuttle; and stack them vertically onto the Mobile Launch Platform. The future Space Launch System (SLS) will also be assembled there. What a great reminder of the significance, both altruistically and financially that the history and future of the Space Industry has to Florida.