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NOV 21 1993 1 5 PAEE-496 time to prepare development regulations for the area. In that interim period while the regulations were being prepared, the state would have the ability to review and challenge any development order issued by the County in the critical area even a permit for a single family residence. Once prepared, the state regulations would control development on the island, unless or until the County adopts and obtains state approval for revised development regulations for the critical area. Since the alternatives to approving the Hutchinson Island Plan have been delineated, it is now necessary to assess the impacts of the Plan upon the County. To do that, several characteris- tics will be addressed. These will include a discussion of the background and the process of plan preparation, an analysis of the content of the Plan, and a determination of the implica- tions of the Plan upon Indian River County. BACKGROUND The Hutchinson Island Resource Management Plan preparation process began with the identification of a potential problem on Hutchinson Island. That problem was one of rapid growth and intensive development on at least parts of the island. Coupled with the sensitive nature of the barrier island, this growth and development raised the question, of whether not the island should be protected by the state as an area of critical state concern. To address that issue, the Governor, as empowered by Chapter 380, Florida Statutes., appointed a committee composed of both local and state representatives. The function of the Hutchinson Island Resource Management Committee was to identify the fragile resources within the study area, determine threats to those resources, and propose a means to protect the re- sources and the viability of the barrier island system. The committee's major task was to prepare a plan to be implemented by all governments and public agencies having jurisdiction on the island which would reduce or eliminate threats to the viability of the barrier island's systems. Working with state and regional planning council personnel as staff, the committee prepared background analyses of the island, its resources, and its systems. The committee also identified major issues and problems and developed a set of policies and proposed implementation procedures. After meeting a number of times to discuss, refine, update, and amend the draft plan, the committee voted to adopt the Plan. In so_ doing, the committee established a strategy which, if imple- mented by affected governments and government agencies, will achieve the stated objectives of the Plan and eliminate the need for state control of growth and development on the island. -2- 4