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Comprehensive Plan Introductory Element Introduction This Introductory Element provides much of the information and data used in the Indian River County Comprehensive Plan. As such, this element provides background information concerning the historical development of the county and information common to, and necessary for, the development of the individual elements of the plan. A brief overview of previous planning efforts in the county and the general requirements of this planning initiative is also included. Location Located on the east coast of Florida in the Treasure Coast Region, Indian River County is bounded by Brevard County on the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, St. Lucie County on the south and Osceola and Okeechobee counties on the west. The county seat of Vero Beach is approximately 135 miles north of Miami, 140 miles east of Tampa, 100 miles southeast of Orlando and 200 miles south of Jacksonville. (see figure 1.1) In addition to the City of Vero Beach, there are four other municipalities in the county: the City of Sebastian, the City of Fellsmere, the Town of Indian River Shores and the Town of Orchid. While nearly two-thirds of the population resides in the unincorporated portion of the county, more than 90% of the county's residents live along the coast within 10 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The land formation of the county is coastal lowland. Generally, lowlands are relatively flat areas with elevations of less than 25 feet above mean sea level. On the mainland area of the county, the key physical features are the St. Johns Marsh in the western portion of the county, the Ten Mile Ridge in the central part of the county, and the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in the east. Offshore, a barrier island extends the entire length of the county separated from the mainland by the Indian River Lagoon. The natural and physical features of the county are discussed in detail in the Conservation, Coastal Mana e� and Future Land Use Elements of the comprehensive plan. Planning History In Indian River County, early planning efforts were not as formalized as recent planning efforts, nor did those early plans have the force of law that current regulations possess. Those early endeavors were mostly undertaken by civic and business committees and sought solutions to individual problems or were confined to specific projects. Despite those early planning efforts, the first formalized land use regulation in the county did not occur until adoption of the 1957 Zoning Ordinance, which created districts, provided for the regulation of the use of land, and placed restrictions on the intensity of those uses. Community Development Department Indian River County 1