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According to state law, local comprehensive plans have the status of law. Therefore, all development within a local government's jurisdiction must be consistent with its comprehensive plan, including the land use map. Furthermore, state law requires local governments to adopt land development regulations, including zoning, to implement their comprehensive plans. In Indian River County, all zoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan land use map. Consistency in this case means that zoning density does not exceed the applicable land use density. Oftentimes, however, zoning density is lower than, not equal to, the applicable land use plan map density for a parcel. This occurs sometimes because land is being used for agricultural purposes and retains an A 1 zoning. In other cases, a zoning density less than the land use designation density has existed on a property for many years and pre -dated comprehensive plan adoption. DCA's Objections, Recommendations and Comment Report As indicated previously, the ORC Report objections are not substantive in nature. To address those objections, however, the draft plan must be revised. The attached ORC Report Response Matrix indicates how staff proposes to address each objection and how the objectives and policies associated with each objection will be revised, if necessary. If needed, staff will provide more information regarding the ORC report at the workshop. Future Land Use Plan Map Because land use density has been a concern of the Board and because the Board is limited in its rezoning actions by the land use plan map, it is important to evaluate the map and determine if it adequately reflects the county's vision. Overall, the county's future land use plan map has not changed significantly from the land use plan map adopted as part of the county's 1982 comprehensive plan. The purpose of the future land use map is to implement the goals, objectives, and policies of the comprehensive plan. As such, the future land use map controls the overall development pattern of the county. Among other things, the future land use map ensures that the county will have the following: o an efficient and compact land use pattern; o an overall low density character, o a mix of land uses, housing densities, and housing types that is sufficient to serve all county residents; o protection of natural, historic, cultural, agricultural, and economic resources; o adjacent uses that are compatible with one another; and o land use densities and intensities that appropriately relate to the availability of services and facilities. In order to implement the comprehensive plan and the land use designations identified on the future land use map, the unincorporated area of Indian River County is divided into zoning districts. These zoning districts regulate the use of land, water, and structures. Specifically, zoning districts limit the height and bulk of structures, establish minimum requirements for the areas of yards and open spaces (setbacks), and regulate the intensity of land uses. - Under each land use designation, a range of zoning districts is allowed to provide for the maximum flexibility in relation to development or market need. The maximum density/mtensity allowed by a zoning district cannot exceed the maximum density/intensity permitted by the land use designation, unless the comprehensive plan provides for a density bonus. The table below indicates the two highest residential land use designations for the municipalities in FEBRUARY 249 1998 F p a -51-