ADA ASSISTANCE: If you are a person with a disability who needs special accommodations in order to participate in this proceeding, please contact the County Administrator’s Office, by phoning (305) 292-4441, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., no later than five (5) calendar days prior to the scheduled meeting; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call “711”.

The Technical Document will be discussed at the Monroe County Planning Commission meeting on January 12, 2011 and at the Board of County Commissioners Meeting on January 19, 2011.

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; and Hurricane Evacuation Study and the Phased Evacuation Plan.

External Regulatory Compliance: Due to the environmental sensitivity of the majority of the land in Monroe County, its designation as a National Marine Sanctuary and the ACSC designation, this project includes extensive cooperative efforts with a wide variety of jurisdictional bodies, external agencies (such as Florida Department of Transportation(FDOT), U.S Army Corps of Engineers(USACE), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), U.S. Navy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Community Affairs(DCA).

Hurricane Evacuation: In Monroe County, evacuation clearance times are used as both an emergency management tool (moving people out of harm’s way); and for regulatory purposes (to control the rate of growth). [1] The South Florida Regional Planning Council is developing a Regional Hurricane Evacuation Model.  This modeling effort will provide important information necessary to ensure public safety and inform hurricane evacuation planning and land use policy.

Gather data and analysis, including population projections, level of service review, facility capacity needs and land use

The Project Team will then prepare a report outlining the changes from the existing document dating back to 1991. This report will also integrate additional studies performed since the last publication of the Technical Document.

Upon completion of the Technical Document Update, the public will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the various components of the report at public meetings and workshops. Please visit our Upcoming Meetings for more information on how you can become involved!

Phase One PDF

Some of the critical local issues for Monroe County will include issues such as the transportation impacts to its main road, U.S.1; strategies to balance growth and preservation of natural resources; water quality improvements; and hurricane evacuation requirements. The EAR will also identify necessary amendments to assure the plan reflects changing conditions based on up-to-date information.

The process will heavily solicit input from the public during the EAR process. Please provide your contact information and the Project Team will update you on the when and where of these important meetings as they are scheduled.

Phase Two pdf

The Comprehensive Plan Update will contain elements required by Florida Statutes such as :
Future land use;
Housing;
Infrastructure;
Conservation;
Intergovernmental coordination;
Transportation; and
Recreation/Open space to name a few.

This process is regulated by state statutes and will require extensive participation by the public to insure a thorough plan.

Phase Three pdf