Master plans are out of compliance

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Master plans are out of compliance

County News

Friday, 08 October 2010 13:25

Osceola County has received notice of the Florida Department of Community Affairs’ intent to find the county’s three conceptual master plans out of compliance with state requirements.
The three plans, covering six of the county’s nine mixed-use districts, were adopted by the County Commission in August after revisions were requested by the state agency. The plans cover three areas: the Northeast District (an area south of Lake Nona near the Orange-Osceola County line), South Lake Toho (covering an area roughly east of Lake Russell and west of the Florida’s Turnpike on the south end of Lake Tohopekaliga) and east of Lake Toho (covering an area east of the lake and west of the turnpike, including the Toho Preserve, Tohoqua, Edgewater, Friar’s Cove and Bella Tara developments of regional impact).
Because they are a part of the county’s Comprehensive Plan, the state agency has the authority to review the plans and make a determination as to whether they comply with state statute.
“We are disappointed by FDCA’s findings, but they in no way weaken the county’s commitment toward sustainable land use planning,” Osceola County Manager Don Fisher stated in a press release. “It is not unusual for a regulatory agency to be cautious in approving new ideas and approaches. We will work to address the state’s concerns with the intent to bring the plans into compliance in as short a time as possible.”
The plans, county officials stated, are designed to help transform the county from a bedroom community for the Orlando metropolitan area to a regional economic center with a sustainable mix of jobs and housing. Consistent with this vision on how the county should grow, the plans establish compact, pedestrian-oriented communities that can be served efficiently with transit, thereby moving the county toward a more sound and sustainable future, the press release stated.
Approximately 114,260 jobs are anticipated to be accommodated by the plans, almost half of them within the Northeast District, which is near the emerging life sciences economic cluster at what is being called Medical City in Orange County.
Last month, the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association recognized the quality of the county’s efforts by presenting it with an Award of Merit for best practices for the plans.
The county’s next step is to resolve the state’s concerns so it can move forward with implementing the plans, according to the county press release.
For more information, contact the Osceola County Public Information Office at 407-742-0100.