Planning Framework

Several important elements will influence the update of the County’s Comprehensive Plan:

Area of Critical State Concern Designation:
In response to concerns at the local and State level regarding environmental degradation, Section 380.0552(4), Florida Statutes designated the Florida Keys as an “Area of Critical State Concern” in 1975. Ratified in 1984, this designation has provided an additional level of development oversight in the county, including Department of Community Affairs (DCA) review of Comprehensive Plan Amendments, LDRs, Development Agreements, etc.

County Work Plan:
Of the original 65 tasks established under Rule 28-20 F.A.C., for the County’s Ten Year Work Plan (which included the creation and implementation of the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study), only a few remain to be fully addressed. The DCA recently noted in its de-designation analysis and report to the Governor, that, “…the 13 remaining tasks are critical to the protection of habitat and the health of the ecosystem of the Florida Keys.” 2 In addition to completion of the projects identified in the county’s Wastewater and Stormwater Master Plans, full implementation of the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study by the Growth Management Division remains a high priority work item for the County.

County Planning Studies and Programs:
To satisfy the requirements of the Work Plan and implement the goals, objectives and policies of the 2010 Comprehensive Plan, the County has adopted a Rate of Growth Ordinance system and other regulatory provisions; Livable CommuniKeys Plans; a Working Waterfronts Preservation Plan; a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and, as part of the HCP, an Incidental Take Permit for Big Pine and No-Name Key; developed the “Tier System” to replace the Habitat Evaluation Index previously used to determine a site’s level of environmental sensitivity; adopted stormwater and waste water plans, and a 10-year Water Supply Plan; a Hurricane Evacuation Study and the Phased Evacuation Plan; and made strides toward addressing the dearth of affordable housing County-wide, through regulations, including adopting an inclusionary zoning ordinance.

Other Agencies:
In addition to the county’s land development regulations, land use decisions are also governed by the regulatory constraints of other agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the FDOT, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Other federal, State, regional and local agencies also have plans and programs that impact development decisions within the County including, The NAS-Key West AICUZ Study, The Florida Keys Scenic Highway Corridor Master Plan; The Florida Keys Heritage Trail Master Plan, The South Florida Regional Planning Council Strategic Policy Plan, and The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority 20-Year Water System Capital Improvement Master Plan, among others.