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® - BOOK, 9� FAr,F DEC 7 t9 B 140 residential, recreational, conservation, and commercial and industrial land uses and their densities. The goals, objectives and policies are the most important parts of the comprehensive plan. Policies are statements in the plan which identify 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 --including plan amendment decisions. While all comprehensive plan objectives and policies are important, some have more applicability than others in reviewing plan amendment requests. Of particular applicability for this request are the following objectives and policies. - Future Land Use Element Policy 13.3 In evaluating a land use amendment request, the most important consideration is Future Land Use Element Policy 13.3. This policy requires that one of three criteria be met in order to approve a land use amendment request. These criteria are: a mistake in the approved plan; an oversight in the approved plan; or a substantial change in circumstances affecting the subject property. Based on its analysis, staff feels that the proposed land use amendment meets policy 13.3's third criterion. When the comprehensive plan was adopted in 1990, the subject property was programmed to receive utilities service by 2010. Water lines, however, already extend to the site, and wastewater lines are programmed to do the same by 1994. The early provision of utilities service constitutes a change in circumstances affecting the subject property. Additionally, the new St. Sebastian River High School is now under construction on C.R. 510, approximately one mile from the subject property. This high school will attract families with children. Generally, housing at a density of up to 3 units/acre is more affordable for this group than the up to 1 unit/acre density permitted under the current land use designation. The siting and construction of this High School has occurred since plan adoption. Therefore, the building of the new St. Sebastian River High School constitutes a change in circumstances affecting the subject property. Since these actions constitute a change in circumstances, the third criterion of Future Land Use Element Policy 13.3 has been met, and the proposed amendment is consistent with Future Land Use Element Policy 13.3. - Future Land Use Element Objective 1 Future Land Use Element Objective 1 states that the county will have a compact land use pattern which reduces urban sprawl, while maintaining the overall low density character of the County. By increasing the density of land currently within the urban service area, as opposed to expanding the urban service area, the county can efficiently support growth without creating urban sprawl or sacrificing compactness. Furthermore, with a density of up to 3 units/acre, the requested L-1 land use designation maintains the overall low density character of the County. For these reasons, the proposed amendment is consistent with Future Land Use Element Objective 1. 38 _ M M