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kPR i 4 1992 64 BOOK 86 N06E The goals, objectives and policies are the most important parts of the Comprehensive Plan. Policies are statements in the plan which identify the actions which the county will take in order to direct the community's development. As courses of action committed to by the county, policies provide the basis for all county land development related decisions. While all comprehensive plan policies are important, some have more applicability than others in reviewing rezoning requests. Of particular applicability for this request are Future Land Use Policies 1.12 and 6.3. - Future Land Use Policy 1.12 Future Land Use Policy 1.12 states that the Low -Density Residential land use designations are intended for residential uses (not to exceed 3 units/acre for L-1), recreational uses, public facilities, institutional uses and agricultural uses as permitted in Future Land Use Policy 6.3. In order to determine whether this request is consistent with Policy 1.12, it is necessary to first determine the request's consistency with Future Land Use Policy 6.3. - Future Land Use Policy 6.3 Future Land Use Policy. 6.3 .states that Indian River County shall permit the continuation of agricultural uses east of I-95 where they serve to enhance open space and green belt areas of the county. The subject property, when developed with agricultural uses consistent with the A-1 zoning district, will serve as an expansion of the existing active citrus adjacent to the north, west, and south. Therefore, the agricultural zoning of the property would be consistent with the intent of Future Land Use Policy 6.3. Based upon the determination that this request is consistent with Policy 6.3, it is staff's opinion that the requested A-1 zoning would also meet the intent of Future Land Use Policy 1.12. The staff also assessed this request policies in the assessment, staff the plan. comprehensive plan. determined that the with respect to the other As a result of this request is consistent with Potential Impact on Environmental Quality Agricultural operations are exempt from county native upland plant community set-aside requirements. As such, the proposed rezoning could result in a loss of approximately .8 acres (15% R 5.5 acres) of cabbage palm/oak hammock that would otherwise be required to be preserved under requirements applicable to the present RS -3 zoning of the subject property. While this loss of native upland vegetation will occur, there are corresponding and offsetting benefits associated with the proposed rezoning. Foremost among these benefits is the open space that will be provided by the agricultural use of the subject property. Because of these trade-offs as well as the limited amount of upland habitat that will not be preserved, staff feels that the rezoning will not result in any significant impact on environmental quality. Compatibility with the Surrounding Area Compatibility is not a major concern for this property. Being located in an area dominated by active citrus development, the site is surrounded on three sides by grove operations. With agricultural uses on adjacent properties, conversion of the subject tract to citrus production would represent a use compatible with surrounding property on three sides. CI7