Monroe County’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan Becomes Final with DEO Approval

The Monroe County’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan Amendment became final June 20 when the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity posted a Notice of Intent on the Department’s Internet website that found the Amendment “In Compliance.”

On April 13, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted the Amendment. Since a timely petition challenging the Amendment was not filed within 30 days after the adoption, the Amendment became final with the DEO’s “In Compliance” finding.

“The acceptance of our Comprehensive Plan by DEO is a huge accomplishment,” Monroe County Mayor Heather Carruthers said. “It took literally more than six years, millions of dollars and countless public meetings to craft this thorough roadmap of our County’s future. Our remarkable staff deserves the credit.”

The Comprehensive Plan evaluates just about everything that would affect the island chain, including: land uses, housing, conservation of environmentally sensitive land, transportation, ports and aviation.  The plan also includes infrastructure (water, sewer, solid waste disposal, drainage and groundwater aquifer recharge) and deals with recreation and open space, cultural resources, historic preservation and capital improvement planning for all County services.

The first major update in about 20 years began in 2009 with the gathering of new data and analysis; conducting an evaluation and appraisal of the existing Comprehensive Plan; and drafting new policies which incorporates input from the public and multiple agencies.

The BOCC had 16 public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code update projects, with endless hours of other committee meetings and staff work along the way.

“The new 2030 Comprehensive Plan reflects the community vision that will guide future growth and community development through the next 14 years,” said Mayte Santamaria, Senior Director of Planning and Environmental Resources that spearheaded the effort.

There are numerous changes, which resulted from public input, that positively affect the public. One is the comp plan’s new requirement that community meetings must be held before public hearings on many applications, including major conditional uses, text amendments, development agreements and map amendments. This emphasizes the importance of citizen participation as early as possible.

The new comp plan adds numerous positive point criteria opportunities (such as additional land dedication categories and higher points) within the ROGO (Rate of Growth Ordinance) process to provide applicants with additional strategies to increase their points, be more competitive and get a permit quicker.

The new comp plan also creates the County’s first Energy and Climate Element to establish policies to better address future policy and planning decisions associated with long-range climate change predictions.

The 2030 Comprehensive Plan is attached and can be found at http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/4606

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