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In contrast to the 666 units allowed under the existing zoning district, development under the requested zoning district would be limited to conservation uses and recreational uses. In terms of traffic, noise, and aesthetics, the impacts associated with uses allowed under the proposed Con -1 zoning district will be significantly less than those that would occur with development under the existing zoning district. In fact, the recreational uses allowed under the requested zoning district will serve as an amenity for nearby residential uses. For these reasons, staff has determined that the requested zoning district is compatible with the surrounding area. Consistency with Comprehensive Plan Rezoning requests are reviewed for consistency with all policies of the comprehensive plan. Rezonings must also be consistent with the overall designation of land uses as depicted on the Future Land Use Map, which include agriculture, residential, recreation, conservation, and commercial and industrial land uses and their densities. Commercial and industrial land uses are located in nodes throughout the unincorporated areas of Indian River County. 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 rezoning decisions. While all comprehensive plan objectives and policies are important, some have more applicability than others in reviewing rezoning requests. Of particular applicability for this request is Future Land Use Element Policy 1.5. - Future Land Use Element Policy 1.5 Future Land Use Element Policy 1.5 limits the C-1 land use designation to publicly owned land with conservation and/or recreational uses. Since the Con -1 zoning district is also limited to publicly owned land with conservation and/or recreational uses, the Con -1 zoning district is consistent with, and allowed on, C-1 designated land. To ensure that the subject property is not rezoned to Con -1 while it retains its present L-2 land use designation, the ordinance rezoning the subject property has the same effective date as the ordinance redesignating the site to C-1. For that reason, the Con- t zoning district cannot be applied to the subject property until the site is formally redesignated to C-1. For these reasons, the request is consistent with Future Land Use Element Policy 1.5. As part of the staff analysis, all policies in the comprehensive plan were considered. Based upon this analysis, staff determined that the proposed rezoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan. Potential Impact on Environmental Quality The site's existing zoning district offers limited environmental protections. Residential development on the subject property would be required to preserve only 15 percent of the site, or 16.65 acres. In contrast, under the proposed zoning district, the entire site would be preserved, and development would be limited to conservation and compatible passive recreational uses. Although the site is publicly owned and could be developed as a public park under the existing zoning district, the proposed zoning provides the site with additional protection from development. By prohibiting most types of development on the site, the proposed request will ensure that the environmental quality of the site will be preserved. For these reasons, the proposed rezoning is anticipated to Positively impact the environmental quality of the subject property. CONCLUSION Based on the analysis, staff has determined that the proposed rezoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan, compatible with all surrounding land uses, will cause no adverse impacts on the provision of public services, and will positively impact the environment. For these reasons, staff supports the request. BOOK . 01 FACE 45 "RM 1� 1�% 39