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Although such node expansions have occurred in the past, setting specific criteria clarifies the policy and decreases the chances of misapplication of the policy. Specifically, the proposed amendment ensures that land use designation swaps involving more than one node will not increase potential impacts on any public facilities, and that such a swap will not increase the overall land use density or intensity depicted on the future land use map. The proposed amendment also limits node expansions that correct an oversight or a mistake to ten acre sites. Future Land Use Element Policy 1.23 sets a minimum separation distance of 1.5 miles between commercial/industrial nodes. The proposed amendment rewords the policy to clarify the intent of the policy. Although the county and the school board coordinate in an informal manner regarding many of the issues covered in these policies, the proposed amendment requires greater formal coordination. The purpose of the amendments is to encourage the location of schools near residential areas and to collocate schools with parks, libraries and community centers when possible. Locating community facilities near residences efficiently uses county resources, discourages urban sprawl, reduces automobile trips, and allows children to walk to many destinations (e.g. schools, libraries and parks). These changes specifically recognize that not every zoning district allowed in a land use designation is appropriate for every site within that land use designation. Table 2.13 specifically identifies which zoning districts are allowed in each land use designation. New Policy 1.41 sets general criteria identifying where each zoning district should and should not be located The type of criteria considered includes, but is not limited to, compatibility with surrounding areas and the availability of transportation facilities. These changes will guide future county rezoning decisions, and will increase overall development compatibility within the county. Florida Statutes set specific criteria to ensure that small scale amendments have fewer impacts than typical plan amendments. Nevertheless, it is necessary to set additional local criteria to determine whether or not a plan amendment request can be processed as a small scale amendment. That will decrease the chances that the small scale amendment process will be used in an arbitrary or unfair manner. The additional criteria also work to prevent the use of the small scale amendment process to circumvent the typical plan amendment process for requests that warrant substantial public and reviewing agency input. In addition to minor processing requirements, the criteria mandate that the small scale amendment process cannot be used for plan amendments that involve important land use issues such as development of environmentally important or environmentally sensitive land, development outside the urban service area, expansion of the urban service area, or expansion of the SR 60/58th Avenue commercial/industrial node. Intergovernmental Coordination Element This change, required by state law, adds information to the plan. The proposed amendment identifies the special districts that operate in the county, and discusses their functions and powers. Additionally, the proposed amendment acknowledges that, consistent with Section 189.415, FS, each special district must submit a public facilities report with annual notice of any changes to the county. These changes make the plan a more useful source of information, and require the county to be more aware of the activities of special districts. Policy 3.9 requires formal coordination between the county and its municipalities, and the county and adjacent counties. The proposed amendment, mandated by state law, requires greater coordination by requiring the identification of Joint Planning Areas (JPA) and Locally Unwanted Land Uses (LULU), both of which can have impacts beyond jurisdictional boundaries. MARCH 16, 1999 -55- BOOK PAGE 7®