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In July 1994, several Wabasso property owners were concerned that growth pressures and the <br />potential for tacky commercial development were increasing in Wabasso. Based on those concerns, <br />citizens approached planning staff and requested assistance in establishing requirements to ensure <br />that future growth in the Wabasso Corridor would enhance the area's appearance and scenic <br />qualities. Together, planning staff and Wabasso property owners approached the Board of County <br />Commissioners regarding new policies for development in the Wabasso Corridor. In August 1994, <br />the Board directed planning staff to work with members of the Wabasso community and prepare a <br />Wabasso Corridor Plan. <br />Assisted by Urban Resource Group, a Vero Beach land planning and landscape architecture firm, <br />planning staff performed research, compiled information, prepared background material, and held <br />three community meetings in an effort to prepare a corridor plan. While the first two meetings were <br />successful in identifying community concerns and community desires, the third meeting was <br />unsuccessful. At that meeting, a small group of people opposed to the planning effort derailed the <br />meeting and effectively stalled the planning process. <br />Undeterred, a core group of Wabasso landowners circulated petitions within the community and <br />demonstrated overwhelming support for continuation of the corridor planning process. In response <br />to that indication of support, the Board of County Commissioners established a Wabasso Corridor <br />Plan Task Force to work with planning staff to develop a corridor plan. <br />Consisting of fifteen members, the task force met eight times from May 1995 through September <br />1995, including a field trip to the City of Port Orange. Through that process, the task force <br />reviewed background data and information, developed objectives, and considered regulatory <br />standards. Through compromise, consensus building, and balancing various interests, the task force <br />with staff's assistance developed the first Wabasso Corridor Plan. On November 21, 1995, the <br />Board of County Commissioners approved the first Wabasso Corridor Plan. <br />In 1998-1999, with the Board's approval, the Wabasso Corridor Plan Task Force reconvened to <br />evaluate expanding the original corridor plan boundaries and to modify certain development <br />standards. After several community meetings, the task force prepared a revised plan, which was <br />then reviewed by the County's Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC). The PZC recommended <br />that the Board of County Commissioners approve the revised Plan. On February 21, 2000, the Board <br />approved the revised plan that expanded the plan area boundary along CR 510 east to the Indian <br />River Lagoon. <br />In 2016, at the time of a rezoning within the corridor plan area to expand a Heavy Commercial (CH) <br />zoning district along the west side of US 1 north of 77th Street, area residents approached the Board <br />of County Commissioners regarding updating the Corridor Plan to address heavy commercial <br />rezonings and other additional community concerns. On April 12, 2016, the Board directed staff to <br />work with property owners and residents within the corridor area to update the plan. <br />In response to that directive several community evening meetings were held in Wabasso/West <br />Wabasso between August 2016 and February 2017. Through those meetings, staff gathered input <br />from residents and property owners for the plan update. As part of the update, a list of actions to <br />address specific community needs and concerns was developed and added to the existing corridor <br />plan. At the final community meeting held on February 6, 2017, staff presented a draft plan, <br />2 <br />P237 <br />