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Comprehensive Plan Economic Development Element • Hospital/Medical Properties In addition to business/industrial parks, the County contains two hospitals with developing medical areas surrounding them. The two hospitals within the County are the Indian River Medical Center and the Sebastian River Medical Center. Located at the north end of the County just north of the Roseland Road/U.S. 1 intersection, the Sebastian River Medical Center is a 129 bed general medical/surgical hospital. It is part of the County's U.S. 1 and Roseland Road commercial/industrial node. In 2006, that node was 55% developed with commercial uses. Overall, there is an opportunity for additional commercial and medical growth in this node. The Indian River Medical Center is a 335 bed not for profit hospital located on 37th Street between U.S. Highway 1 and Indian River Boulevard. In 2006, the hospital opened a new heart center affiliated with the Duke University Health System, a world leader in cardiac care. The hospital is part of County's U.S. 1 & 37th Street Medical commercial/industrial node. In 2006, that node was 48% developed with commercial and medical uses. Development Regulations The principal land development regulation which affects economic development is the county's Comprehensive Plan. Together, the plan's future land use, transportation, infrastructure, and capital improvements elements all impact the economic future of the county. Starting in 1985, state law mandated that all development be consistent with local government comprehensive plans. This shifted the emphasis of the development management process from zoning to the Comprehensive Plan. In addition, several other changes occurred in the process. One of the most important was that plan amendments were limited to twice a year. Another was the requirement for local governments to control sprawl. According to state requirements, each plan must include an allocation of land for a reasonable period in the future. That land was then to be included in the development of the plan. To implement its comprehensive plan, the county adopted a set of land development regulations (LDRs). These LDRs are the basis of the county's project review and permitting systems. As structured, the county's permitting process is automated from the initial application through permitting and certificate of occupancy. As part of its regulations, the County has eight separate impact fees that it charges to new development. Those impact fees are for Emergency Services, Correctional Facilities, Public Buildings, Law Enforcement, Libraries, Solid Waste, Parks and Recreation, Public Education, and Traffic. Total impact fees for those eight categories range from $7,519 to $10,195 for a single Community Development Department Indian River County 25