HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2024Indian River County Administration Complex
1801 27th Street, Building A
Vero Beach, Florida, 32960-3388
www.indianriver.gov
C O M M I S S I O N A G E N D A
Commission Chambers
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY FLORIDA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2024 - 12:00 PM
Susan Adams, District 1, Chairman
Joseph Flescher, District 2, Vice Chairman
Joseph H. Earman, District 3
Deryl Loar, District 4
Laura Moss, District 5
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Jennifer W. Shuler, County Attorney
Ryan L. Butler, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
Special Call Meeting / Evaluation Appraisal Report (EAR) Workshop
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.A.A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES
2.B.INVOCATION
3.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4.STAFF / CONSULTANT PRESENTATION
Presentation of the Indian River County 2024 Comprehensive Plan Evaluation &
Appraisal Report (EAR)
4.A.
Executive Summary
Indian River County EAR Report
Appendix A. Summary Matrix Recommendations
Appendix B. Public Engagement Summary
Attachments:
5.BOARD COMMENTS / QUESTIONS
6.PUBLIC COMMENTS
7.ADJOURNMENT
Page 1 of 2November 12, 2024
Except for those matters specifically exempted under the State Statute and Local Ordinance, the Board shall
provide an opportunity for public comment prior to the undertaking by the Board of any action on the agenda,
including those matters on the Consent Agenda. Public comment shall also be heard on any proposition which
the Board is to take action which was either not on the Board agenda or distributed to the public prior to the
commencement of the meeting.
Anyone who may wish to appeal any decision which may be made at this meeting will need to ensure that a
verbatim record of the proceedings is made which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal
will be based.
Anyone who needs a special accommodation for this meeting may contact the County ’s Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator at (772) 226-1223 at least 48 hours in advance of meeting.
Anyone who needs special accommodation with a hearing aid for this meeting may contact the Board of
County Commission Office at 772-226-1490 at least 20 hours in advance of the meeting.
The full agenda is available on line at the Indian River County Website at www.indianriver.gov The full agenda
is also available for review in the Board of County Commission Office, the Indian River County Main Library,
and the North County Library.
Commission Meetings are broadcast live on Comcast Cable Channel 27
Rebroadcasts continuously with the following proposed schedule:
Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. until Wednesday at 6:00 a.m.,
Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.,
Thursday at 1:00 p.m. through Friday Morning,
and Saturday at 12:00 Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Page 2 of 2November 12, 2024
Executive Summary
Indian River County (the “County”) selected Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. (“Kimley-Horn”) to provide a
Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for the County’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan (the “Plan”). The
Kimley-Horn team evaluated the Plan and had dialogue in writing or via virtual meetings with Staff to discuss the intention
and significance of the goals, objectives, and policies of the respective Elements Staff must implement daily. Additionally,
Kimley-Horn began preparing Data Inventory & Analyses (DIAs) for most of the Plan Elements. Indian River County, in
partnership with Kimley-Horn, hosted public engagement opportunities, including multiple workshops online and in -person
as well as an online survey and interactive map. After thorough Plan evaluation, gaining insight and recommendations
from the Staff using the Plan, reviewing historical trends and fresh data for most of the Plan Elements, and actively
listening to the community, the Kimley-Horn team recommended to Staff to keep, revise, or remove each goal, objective,
and policy.
The Comprehensive Plan is not just a document but the County’s blueprint for the future. Its Goals, Objectives, and
Policies (GOPs) are not just guidelines but crucial for effectively implementing public infrastructure and services. They
ensure that people have a safe and secure place to live, a healthy economy that provides jobs and services, ways to get
around (bike, pedestrian, car, transit), and quality recreational features. The County leadership is responsible for
providing the necessary public services and facilities, developing strategies, and adopting regulations and standards that
implement this blueprint. The Comprehensive Plan also informs and shapes other County plans, capital projects, and
programs that affect the community in large and small ways.
The County’s Comprehensive Plan is not set in stone. It is a living document that can be amended from time to time
following the parameters established in the Florida Statutes (F.S.) Chapter 163. The State of Florida, recognizing that
change occurs over time and that it is important to adapt, requires local governments to review and update their
Comprehensive Plan at least every seven (7) years, where appropriate. This ensures that the Plan reflects changes in
Growth Management Laws, changing conditions within the community, changes in population, updates to policies that
may no longer be accurate or effective, as well as both the perceived and actual success of Plan implementation. This
flexibility is a testament to the Comprehensive Plan's resilience and ability to evolve with the community's needs.
The current Comprehensive Plan includes over 1,000 Goals, Objectives, and Policies within its Elements. It should be
noted that comments identified for each respective Goal, Objective, and Policy may reflect multiple categories.
This report provides recommended text language in strikethrough/underline format based on the findings of the EAR
PAGE 3
Prepared by: Indian River County
Comprehensive Plan
NOVEMBER 2024 Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR)
Contents
Executive Summary and Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Future Land Use Element .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element ..................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Potable Water Sub-Element ...................................................................................................................................................................... 38
Solid Waste Sub-Element .......................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Natural Groundwater Sub-Element........................................................................................................................................................... 51
Stormwater Sub-Element .......................................................................................................................................................................... 56
Transportation Element ............................................................................................................................................................................ 64
Economic Development Element .............................................................................................................................................................. 74
Capital Improvements Element ................................................................................................................................................................. 79
Housing Element ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 81
Conservation Element ............................................................................................................................................................................... 82
Coastal Management Element ................................................................................................................................................................ 112
Recreation and Open Space Element ...................................................................................................................................................... 126
Intergovernmental Coordination Element .............................................................................................................................................. 136
Public School Facilities Element .............................................................................................................................................................. 142
Property Rights Element.......................................................................................................................................................................... 143
NOVEMBER 2024
Executive Summary
Indian River County (the “County”) selected Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc. (“Kimley-Horn”) to provide a
Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for the County’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan (the “Plan”). The
Kimley-Horn team evaluated the Plan and had dialogue in writing or via virtual meetings with Staff to discuss the intention
and significance of the goals, objectives, and policies of the respective Elements Staff must implement daily. Additionally,
Kimley-Horn began preparing Data Inventory & Analyses (DIAs) for most of the Plan Elements. Indian River County, in
partnership with Kimley-Horn, hosted public engagement opportunities, including multiple workshops online and in-person
as well as an online survey and interactive map. After thorough Plan evaluation, gaining insight and recommendations
from the Staff using the Plan, reviewing historical trends and fresh data for most of the Plan Elements, and actively
listening to the community, the Kimley-Horn team recommended to Staff to keep, revise, or remove each goal, objective,
and policy.
The Comprehensive Plan is not just a document but the County’s blueprint for the future. Its Goals, Objectives, and
Policies (GOPs) are not just guidelines but crucial for effectively implementing public infrastructure and services. They
ensure that people have a safe and secure place to live, a healthy economy that provides jobs and services, ways to get
around (bike, pedestrian, car, transit), and quality recreational features. The County leadership is responsible for
providing the necessary public services and facilities, developing strategies, and adopting regulations and standards that
implement this blueprint. The Comprehensive Plan also informs and shapes other County plans, capital projects, and
programs that affect the community in large and small ways.
The County’s Comprehensive Plan is not set in stone. It is a living document that can be amended from time to time
following the parameters established in the Florida Statutes (F.S.) Chapter 163. The State of Florida, recognizing that
change occurs over time and that it is important to adapt, requires local governments to review and update their
Comprehensive Plan at least every seven (7) years, where appropriate. This ensures that the Plan reflects changes in
Growth Management Laws, changing conditions within the community, changes in population, updates to policies that
may no longer be accurate or effective, as well as both the perceived and actual success of Plan implementation. This
flexibility is a testament to the Comprehensive Plan's resilience and ability to evolve with the community's needs.
The current Comprehensive Plan includes over 1,000 Goals, Objectives, and Policies within its Elements. It should be
noted that comments identified for each respective Goal, Objective, and Policy may reflect multiple categories.
This report provides recommended text language in strikethrough/underline format based on the findings of the EAR.
PAGE 3
Introduction
The Florida Legislature amended the statutes specific to how a local government reviews and updates its Comprehensive
Plan in 2011. Before that date, communities were required to do a complete diagnostic of the Plan and identify key items
for consideration and discussion. That assessment was then provided to the Florida Department of Community Affairs
(DCA), later known as the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and presently known as FloridaCommerce, for
review, consideration, and acceptance, which then provided the occasion to amend the local Comprehensive Plan. Since
that time, communities have had the option to provide a summary letter denoting whether they intend to amend their
Comprehensive Plan or if no updates have been deemed necessary. Although the process changed in 2011, the
significance of regular review and subsequent amendment of the Comprehensive Plan has not changed. Indian River
County must submit its summary letter noting its intention by October 1, 2024.
History of Past Amendments
Aligned with prior state regulations, the County embarked on its inaugural Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal
Report (EAR) in 1996, a milestone ratified by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and endorsed as sufficient by
the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Subsequently, in 1998, the Comprehensive Plan underwent amendments to
assimilate the insights gleaned from the 1996 EAR.
Pre-2011 state mandates required periodic assessments via EARs to evaluate the efficacy of comprehensive plans, adapt
to evolving conditions, and identify necessary revisions. Thus, in February 2006, the County commenced its second EAR,
diligently adhering to the December 1, 2008, prescribed submission timeline. The BOCC sanctioned the findings of the
EAR on November 18, 2008, and the state validated them on February 25, 2009. As a natural progression, amendments
reflecting the 2008 EAR were seamlessly integrated into the Comprehensive Plan by the BOCC on October 12, 2010.
The legislative overhaul in 2011 ushered in streamlined procedures for Plan amendments and evaluation processes,
accompanied by the transition from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to the Department of Economic
Opportunity (DEO). House Bill 5, signed into law by Florida’s Governor on May 31, 2023, renamed the DEO to the
Department of Commerce, known also as FloridaCommerce. Per F.S. 163.3191, the local government must evaluate its
Plan to determine if amendments are necessary to reflect a required minimum planning period, changes in state
requirements, and/or changes in local conditions. If the local government determines amendments to the Plan are
necessary, the local government must prepare and transmit within one (1) year such Plan amendment(s) for review.
PAGE 4
F.S. 163.3191 endows local jurisdictions with increased autonomy to assess
the imperative of comprehensive plan updates and are obliged to notify the
state land planning agency (FloridaCommerce) accordingly. Indian River
County is slated to furnish its notification letter to Florida Commerce by
October 1, 2024, affirming whether amendments are warranted to align with
contemporary state mandates.
Public Engagement
As part of completing the EAR process for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan,
Indian River County, with the support of Kimley-Horn, invited citizens and
stakeholders to provide input on the Plan and inform the final
recommendations for updates now and in the near future.
For several reasons, public engagement is crucial to the EAR process in
comprehensive planning.
◊ Involving the public ensures that the diverse needs and viewpoints of
the community are considered, leading to more inclusive and
representative decision-making.
◊ Public engagement also fosters transparency and accountability, as it allows residents to have a voice in shaping
the future of their neighborhoods.
◊ Moreover, engaging the public can help planners and decision-makers gain valuable insights and local knowledge
that may not be apparent through technical analysis alone.
Overall, public engagement helps build trust, ownership, and support for the EAR process's outcomes, ultimately leading
to more effective and sustainable urban planning decisions.
Public engagement activities were hosted locally and online during the fall of 2023. Each workshop included five (5)
stations to collect community input using thought-provoking activities. Staff and the Kimley-Horn team also interacted with
station attendees, answering questions and listening to their feedback. Appendix B. Public Engagement Summary Report
PAGE 5
(a separate document) provides station activity details and a summary of collected feedback. Key findings are also
discussed in relevant chapters of this report.
Activities Overview
In-Person and Online Public Workshops
The County facilitated six (6) public workshops over three (3) separate days, each approximately two (2) to three (3)
weeks apart. The workshops were consistently held at 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on the days they occurred. Workshops
were held at three (3) different locations in the County: North County Library (November 16, 2023), the Board of County
Commissioner Commission Chambers (November 29, 2023), and the Intergenerational Center (December 13, 2023). Four
(4) of the six (6) workshops were hybrid meetings, providing the opportunity to attend in person or via Zoom.
At these workshops, County Staff and Kimley-Horn team members explained the EAR process. They provided an overview
of the purpose and significance of eight (8) key Plan Elements (out of twelve (12) total Elements). The community
workshops focused on Future Land Use, Public Infrastructure, Transportation, Economic Development, Housing, Coastal
Management, Conservation, and Parks & Recreation. Key workshop findings will be discussed in the respective Elements
of this report.
Zoom attendees of the workshop(s) could view and listen to the presentation and participate in the question-and-answer
(Q&A) opportunity provided by County Staff after the presentation and before the audience began activities around the
room. The Zoom chat was monitored during the public workshop to see if additional questions or comments were being
received from online participants.
PAGE 6
Interactive Online Map and Survey
Using Kimley-Horn’s proprietary software, PublicCoordinate, community
feedback was collected through an interactive online map and multi-question
survey hosted through SurveyMonkey and available as part of the
PublicCoordinate landing page. PublicCoordinate enables the public to select
a topic, place a point for that topic on the map to provide a location reference
for the comment, and then provide an open-ended comment on the point they
placed. PublicCoordinate is a secure software with measures in place to
prevent spam comments. PublicCoordinate meets ADA web accessibility
standards and provides language translation options to make the software as
accessible to the public as possible.
The interactive online map and survey opened to the public on November 16,
2023, remaining open through December 31, 2023. Both the map and survey
were briefly reopened between February 1, 2024, and February 15, 2024, but
no additional responses were received during the temporary reopening.
Volume of Participation
The interactive online map hosted through Kimley-Horn’s PublicCoordinate received a total
of 284 comments on the map, including both original comments and responses to original
comments. The online survey, hosted through SurveyMonkey and accessible through
PublicCoordinate, received 298 responses. The in-person workshop attendees included
approximately 298 attendees.
Participants described Indian River County today as having a small-town feel, being beautiful,
comfortable, quiet, and a great place to live. Some participants, evidenced by their chosen
word to describe the County, already feel the County is fast growing, overpopulated, and
experiencing greater amounts of congestion.
PAGE 7
Summary of General Changes
Although each Element is unique and requires evaluation by experienced, appropriately educated professionals, various
general comments apply to the 2030 Comprehensive Plan as a whole. These comments suggest changes that apply to the
entire Plan.
◊ Correction/appropriate use of County (as a proper noun) versus county
◊ Removal, consolidation, or revision to repetitive, ambiguous, and/or successfully completed Policies
◊ Update statutory references, especially related to Developments of Regional Importance (DRIs)
◊ Move standards and regulations out of the Plan and into the Land Development Regulations (LDRs)
◊ Update and/or remove GOPs that reference specific activities the County has already completed or ongoing
programs
◊ Addition of cross-references or recommend revision of Policies more applicable to other Elements of the
Comprehensive Plan
◊ Verify and update cross-references, especially as it relates to recommended policy revisions herein, where policy
numbers may no longer be accurately reflected due to changes in other Elements.
Document Structure
This document is divided by Element. Each Element starts with an introductory summary page highlighting changes
recommended to that Element. This is followed by a summary of public engagement data collected during the EAR
process that relates to the subject Element. Then, a brief summary of updates to the Element’s Data Inventory & Analysis
is provided, followed by the recommended changes in a strikethrough/underline format. For additional details, you may
refer to Appendix A (a separate document), which provides the recommendation matrices used for this evaluation.
PAGE 8
Statutory Changes
◊ FloridaCommerce provides a historical list of statutory changes related to Comprehensive Planning, spanning
2010-2022. This list was referenced for review during this EAR process.
◊ Indian River County regularly updates its Goals, Objectives, and Policies to reflect statutory changes, for which
reason statutory changes are minimal.
◊ The County will need to review the Goals, Objectives, and Policies in light of the 2023 Legislative Session.
PAGE 9
Demographic Highlights
As part of preparing the Future Land Use (FLU) Data Inventory & Analysis (DIA), historically maintained data from the
2030 Comprehensive Plan was incorporated into the FLU DIA and updated information was obtained, specifically the
years 2010, 2020, and 2022 most often. The demographic makeup of the community impacts not only the FLU Element
but all Elements, so a summary of demographic highlights is provided here, outside of one particular element. The analysis
below is based on Countywide data, unincorporated and incorporated, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, unless
otherwise noted.
◊ Based on historical Census population counts from 1980 to 2020 and the University of Florida Bureau of Economic
and Business Research (BEBR) 2023 estimate, the unincorporated population has been between 64% - 68% of the
total County population.
◊ Indian River County’s population is aging. This is demonstrated by the increasing proportion of the population
becoming 65 or older and by the median age, which has generally increased in the County since 1970—at a faster
rate than Florida’s median age has statewide.
◊ The County’s White population grew significantly between 1930 and 2000. Since 2000, the County’s racial diversity
is increasing.
◊ Per capita income (PCI) from 2000 to 2022 has not increased in the County as substantially as it has statewide, but
it is presently estimated to be higher than the statewide PCI. Meanwhile, the County and the State have generally
remained close numerically regarding median family and household income, never straying more than $3,000
apart.
◊ As household size decreases, the number of households or required dwelling units increases relative to the
population. In Indian River County, the average number of persons per household has decreased since 1980, but it
was estimated in 2022 to have increased again, closer to its 1980 average. The 2022 average persons per
household is 2.42.
◊ There are 83,801 housing units Countywide, but only 65,735 are occupied.
◊ The seasonal population for the County is estimated to be approximately 11.07% of the total unincorporated
population.
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Future Land Use Element
The Future Land Use Element guides the development of Indian River County and shapes how the County will grow in the
next planning period. The purpose of the Future Land Use Element is to designate future land use patterns with
corresponding densities and intensities in areas that will best accommodate the projected population change. The Future
Land Use Element is the foundation of the County’s Comprehensive Plan as it ties together all or portions of the other
Elements and establishes the planning framework for moving forward. A summary of the changes that are proposed for
the Future Land Use Element are as follows.
◊ Remove unnecessary policies, e.g., Policy 1.2 adopts the Map Series, which is typically adopted by right regardless
of the presence of a policy.
◊ Establish appropriate cross-references to other elements like Conservation, Coastal Management, Public School
Facilities, and more
◊ Update statutory references, especially related to Developments of Regional Importance (DRIs)
◊ Move standards out of the Plan and into the Land Development Regulations (LDRs)
◊ Relocate/revise Urban Service Area policies (1.49-1.50) under Objective 1 to Objective 2, whose primary topic is
the Urban Service Area
◊ Addition of cross-references or recommend revision of Policies more applicable to other Elements of the
Comprehensive Plan
◊ Remove references to unnecessary historical statistics, e.g., Objective 6 sets a County goal to maintain at least
125,000 agricultural acres in the unincorporated County, and noted immediately after how much agricultural
acreage there was in 2007.
These recommended changes are important to improve the Element and better guide development in the County and
protect the community’s existing character. Many Policies were identified as consistent with the County’s vision and
feedback received from the community, and therefore no changes were recommended to such Policies.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(a)
PAGE 11
Public Engagement
Future Land Use (FLU), as the foundational element of the Plan, requires community input because the future land use
designations will ultimately guide development in the County.
One Word
The in-person One Word Activity, which requested attendees to answer the following questions in ONE WORD each,
provides excellent insight into community desires related to future growth and development.
In ONE WORD:
1. How would you describe Indian River County today?
2. How would you describe Indian River County in the future?
3. If the County reaches its highest estimated growth population, what is your top concern?
4. What does the County need less of?
5. What does the County need more of?
Today & The Future
The top results for how individuals perceive Indian River County today were Beautiful, Quiet, Comfortable, Small-Town
Feel, and Livable. The top results for how individuals perceive Indian River County in the future were Crowded,
Congested, Busier, and requiring controlled, planned, or conservative growth. When inquiring about the future, the
project team anticipated words describing how the community wants to be able to perceive the County in the future, and
while some responses were in alignment with that interpretation of the question (e.g., Beautiful, Inclusive, Small-Town
Feel, Community-Oriented, Quaint, et cetera), the majority of responses represented community fears for the future,
instead of community goals. These fears include a congested, crowded, busy, expensive, and sprawling place.
Highest Estimated Growth
The top concerns related to the County reaching its maximum growth potential include: Traffic and Environment, followed
by a tie between Transportation, Congestion, Sprawl, Water, and Jobs.
Less Of / More Of
The top results for what the community desires less of included People, Storage Units, Traffic, Car Washes, and
Restrictions [on development]. The top results for what the community desires more of included Affordable Housing,
PAGE 12
Conservation, High-Paying Jobs, Multiuse Trails, and Green Spaces.
Ranking
The community at in-person workshops ranked Land Use as their highest priority theme, followed by Environmental
Conservation and Housing.
Thought Wall
On the Thought Wall activity, attendees generally provided the following:
◊ Maintain the urban service boundary
◊ Control and manage development, prevent urban sprawl
◊ Increase mixed-use developments
◊ Incentivize green housing and construction
◊ Increase conservation efforts, including but not limited to: Protect the Indian River Lagoon and focus on preserving
green space, agricultural land, and open spaces
◊ Reduce automobile reliance and disallow septic tanks
Mapping Exercise
During the Mapping Exercise at all in-person workshops, the northeast and the southeast quadrant maps received the
most stickers. This is largely where the urbanized area exists. Attendees placed the most stickers for preservation,
residential development, and multi-modal transportation infrastructure across all sessions.
PublicCoordinate Interactive Online Map
Users had the opportunity to select between six themed icons: Commercial/Office, Conservation, Housing, Infrastructure,
Parks and Recreation, and Transportation. After selecting their theme, users were able to place the point anywhere on the
online map and provide an open-ended response relevant to the theme. Respondents recommended:
◊ At the intersection of 14th Ave and 21st St, invest in this area, revitalize area galleries, and encourage destination
establishments to locate there.
◊ Demolish or revitalize and adaptively reuse the Vero Beach Municipal Power Plant, which is currently perceived as
PAGE 13
an “eyesore.”
◊ Increase green space.
◊ Encourage a mixed housing development to take over the closed stores at the Indian River Mall.
◊ Incentivize development in the urban core (e.g., Vero Beach) and institute a penalty to reduce sprawl.
Online Survey
What type of Land Use does Indian River County need? 75.8% of survey respondents identified Conservation
as the necessary land use. This was followed by Housing (34.95%), Agriculture (34.6%), Mixed-Use (31.49%), and finally
Commercial / Retail at 27.7%. In open-ended responses, the community emphasized the need for affordable housing,
parks, green spaces, recreational facilities, more retail shopping options, and urgent care facilities. The community
encouraged the County to:
◊ Refurbish main streets while preserving their character
◊ Preserve the natural environment, including the Indian River and mangroves
◊ Balance development with conservation
◊ Ensure all members of the community have access to affordable housing and quality amenities
Where is new development or redevelopment needed? Some people express a need for more industry and
job creation, while others emphasize the importance of protecting natural resources. Many suggest that redevelopment of
existing buildings and areas should be prioritized over new development. Affordable housing, higher-density housing, and
community gardens are also mentioned as potential areas of focus. Some areas are specifically identified as ripe for
revitalization, including South County, Wabasso, and Gifford. There is also a call for more sidewalks and bike paths
throughout the county. Respondents expressed that there is no need for new development in the HOA Housing area, but
instead, the redevelopment of 21st Street is necessary, along with better shopping and retail options to improve its overall
appearance. Along State Route 5 / US 1, various businesses such as car washes, motels, and random businesses need to
be refreshed, while the businesses along Route 60 from 74th Avenue to 95 are also an eyesore. Lastly, there is a mention
of the Indian River Mall and the West of I-95 region.
What would be your top concern if the County reaches its highest estimated growth potential?
Respondents discuss a variety of concerns related to growth and development, including the conservation of green areas
PAGE 14
and open spaces, creating parks, compromising water quality, improving roads and traffic signals, traffic congestion and
roadway capacity, there being too many people for the fragile ecosystem, lack of affordable housing for workers, too much
low-quality housing, inadequate infrastructure, loss of wildlife habitats, the proliferation of strip malls, and the impact of the
growth on the environment and the County’s quality of life. The community encourages balancing growth and
conservation, promoting environmentally responsible development, improving infrastructure, preserving open spaces,
promoting diverse housing options, and cultivating a diverse economy.
Indian River County needs more….? Respondents identified affordable housing and housing for young adults,
families, new residents, and retirees as equally important needs for the County. The County additionally needs workforce
housing and conventional neighborhoods. In open-ended responses, there was a clear, general sentiment against more
development in the County, though recognizing that development can be difficult to stop, the community recommended
innovative approaches to residential development regulations and patterns. The community wants community-focused
development with improved aesthetics and walkability, increased green space, and more mixed-use neighborhoods.
Where should new households be located? Respondents recommend mixed-use development (vertically and
horizontally), in-fill development in existing neighborhoods, and a combination of approaches for new households,
focusing on areas where services like water and sewer can be or are already provided before moving on elsewhere.
Adaptive reuse of existing buildings to create housing is suggested. Finally, the community is concerned about urban
sprawl. Increasing density in built-up areas, adapting non-residential buildings into housing, and in-fill development in
existing neighborhoods are the three main themes across responses. Despite the overarching themes described above,
there are community proponents of development being pushed to undeveloped areas, especially western portions of the
County.
What kind of economic development does Indian River County need (commercial, office, or
industrial)? Half of the respondents answered commercial. 30% responded industrial, and just under 20% answered
Office.
PAGE 15
DIA Highlights
The Data Inventory & Analysis (DIA), available as a separate document, includes the following highlights:
◊ The scope of the Future Land Use Element (FLUE) is the unincorporated land of Indian River County.
◊ Indian River County covers approximately 502.5 square miles, with various land uses such as agriculture,
commercial, residential, government, industrial, institutional, miscellaneous, and non-agricultural acreage. 38.4% of
existing land is classified as residential, 30.7% as agricultural, and 26.2% as government.
◊ The majority of the population resides in the eastern third of the County, while the western portion consists of
rangeland, pastureland, and the St. Johns Marsh.
◊ 12,805.03 acres of land in the County are classified as vacant. By FLU designation, the majority of the vacant
acreage is designated (in alphabetical order) as Agricultural-1 (11.75%), Agricultural-2 (8.84%),
Commercial/Industrial (10.33%), Low-Density Residential-1 (12.19%), Low-Density Residential-2 (13.17%), Mobile
Home Rental Park (31.77%). Medium-Density Residential-1 in the only other FLU designation that exceeds 5% for
the vacant acreage.
◊ Population Projections:
Countywide Unincorporated
County
Seasonal
(Unincorporated)
Total
Unincorporated
2020 159,788 108,789 15,529 124,318
2025 173,100 119,371 16,711 136,082
2030 184,400 128,699 18,017 146,716
2035 193,100 135,996 19,039 155,035
2040
2045
199,200
204,100
141,084
145,236
19,751
20,333
160,835
165,569
Source: 2020 Decennial Census; BEBR, 2024; Kimley-Horn & Associates, Inc., 2024; Indian River County, 2010
◊ In the currently adopted Future Land Use Map (FLUM), the FLU designations with the highest acreages are
Agricultural-2 (16%), Agricultural-3 (14.7%), Conservation-1 (28.4%), and Municipal (18.7%). Approximately 61,511
acres in the County are incorporated municipal lands.
◊ The Build-out Analysis reveals that the current FLUM for the unincorporated area provides for ±66,270 dwelling
units and/or ±1,588,727,164 square feet of non-residential development.
PAGE 16
◊ The currently adopted FLUM is sufficient to absorb the projected population growth in the County.
Recommended Changes
Objective 1: Indian River County will have a compact and energy efficient land use pattern; an overall low-density
character; and adequate land for utility facilities necessary to support development. By 2030, the overall residential density
of the unincorporated portions of Indian River County, within the Urban Service Area, will be 1.75 units/acre.
Policy 1.1: Indian River County hereby adopts the Future Land Use goal, objectives, policies as well as Figures 2.9, 2.18,
2.20, 2.23, 2.24, 2.25, 2.26, 2.27, 2.29, and 2.33; and The Official Future Land Use Map. [Map Series typically adopted
by right, regardless of policy]
Policy 1.5: In accordance with the Conservation Element, tThe Conservation Land Use designations shall be applied to
those areas that which contain or possess lands with qualities and features that which play a vital or essential role in the
normal functioning of the cCounty’s ecosystems and have been so identified in the conservation element or merit
preservation as vestiges of once common county ecosystems.
Policy 1.7: Conservation land use designations shall be depicted on the future land use map (FLUM). The exact
boundaries of the C-2 and C-3 Conservation designated areas shall be determined by environmental survey. With one
exception, any area which is depicted as a C-2 (wetlands) area or C-3 (upland xeric scrub) area on the Future Land Use
Map FLUM, but which is determined by environmental survey not to be wetlands (as defined in the Conservation Element)
or xeric uplands (as defined by the presence of xeric scrub vegetation and Orsino fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes, or
Electra sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes) will have the same land use designation as the contiguous adjacent property.
The exception applies to land located east of the St. Sebastian River and depicted as C-3 on the future land use map
FLUM. If determined by environmental survey not to be xeric uplands, then that land shall be designated R, Rural
Residential (up to 1 unit/acre).
All areas depicted as C-3 on the Future Land Use Map FLUM which have xeric scrub vegetation and Orsino fine or Electra
sands will be deemed environmentally important, notwithstanding whether or not such areas meet the 5 acre minimum
threshold for environmental importance established in Conservation Element Policy 6.11 for other districts in the cCounty.
The determination of the exact outer boundaries of C-2 or C-3 areas will be made by the cCounty environmental planning
staff based on verification of the vegetation and soils criteria referenced above, as applied to the environmental boundary
survey conducted by the landowner/applicant or his agent at the time of application for any development permit (other
PAGE 17
than a comprehensive plan amendment or rezoning).
The cCounty environmental planning staff shall not make its initial determination of importance or sensitivity until after
consultation with all appropriate local, state, and federal agencies. Such consultation shall be ongoing, as required for
proper coordination, throughout the land development permit approval process.
Policy 1.8: C-2 and C-3 designated lands shall be considered for public acquisition, in accordance with policies set forth
in the Conservation Element.
Policy 1.22: Node size shall be based on the intended use, service area population, existing land use pattern, available
services such as transportation, and other demand characteristics. Node configuration shall provide for the most efficient
use of land, and of transportation and other public facilities and services, while eliminating sprawl and strip development.
Policy 1.23: Node configuration shall provide for the most efficient use of land, and of transportation and other public
facilities and services, while eliminating sprawl and strip development.
Policy 1.30: The Regional Commercial land use designation shall be applied to regional malls and associated retail
shopping centers designed to accommodate the needs of the retail market areas that extend beyond the boundaries of
the cCounty. These developments will include one or more "magnet" retail stores that are branches of statewide, multiple-
state, or national organizations and satellite stores integrated through a common plan of development approved through
the Chapter 380, F.S., Development of Regional Impactappropriate state process. Sites will typically range in size from 90
to 150 acres to accommodate 750,000 to 1,500,000 gross square feet of leasable area (mall plus peripheral commercial)
with a minimum open space ratio of 0.25, a maximum building coverage ratio of 0.40 and maximum impervious surface
ratio of 0.75. All Regional Commercial designated land shall be located within the urban service area.
Policy 1.34: The cCounty zoning code shall contain provisions for a Professional Office District. That district shall be
limited to land that is within the medium and low-density residential land use designations and is located along arterial
roadways. The purpose of this zoning district use shall be to encourage infill development and the redevelopment of areas
needing redevelopment or revitalization or declining residential areas which are no longer appropriate for strictly single-
family use but are not considered appropriate for a broad range of commercial uses, as permitted in other commercial
zoning districts.
Policy 1.38: The new town land use designation shall be established through the Planned Development (PD) process.
For any land to receive the new town land use designation, a PD project must be approved which clusters residential and
PAGE 18
non-residential uses in a manner which protects agricultural and open space areas, protects natural resources, creates a
self-sufficient community, minimizes off-site traffic, and does not increase urban sprawl.
All new town projects shall require submittal and approval of a PD project having the following characteristics:
a. A proper mix of land uses that results in a sustainable small town rather than merely an amenitized residential
community. The mix of land uses shall satisfy the following criteria:
1. Residential areas; these are areas that provide for single-family and multiple-family residential units,
including residential units behind or over businesses.
2. Shopping areas; these are areas that provide for the sale of goods and services to accommodate the
residents of the new town. Allowed uses are retail commercial and personal services.
3. Work areas; these are areas that provide employment opportunities for the residents of the new town.
Allowed uses are office, educational, light industrial, resource management and tourism, and agricultural
uses and related industries.
4. Public facilities and institutional uses, including schools, fire/police stations, cultural and community facilities,
and places of worship.
5. Recreational uses; these are areas which provide for active and passive recreational facilities.
6. Natural open spaces and agricultural areas; these are areas which will be preserved due to their
environmental importance or will be used for active agricultural production.
b. Activity or town centers shall be mixed-use mixed use centers containing both nonresidential and residential uses,
while residential uses not located within town centers shall be in compact neighborhoods.
c. The gross residential density of a new town may exceed the underlying agricultural maximum densities; however,
the new town density shall not exceed 1.5 units per acre of gross project area unless development rights are
transferred to new towns from off-site properties. In such cases, the overall gross density of the new town shall not
exceed 2 units per acre. Consistent with that allowance, new towns may be receiver sites for development rights
sent from conservation or agricultural preservation areas that are located outside the urban service area and are
not adjacent to the project. Sending areas shall be stripped of development rights as part of the new town approval.
Density credits eligible for transfer shall not exceed 1 unit per acre for AG-1 sending areas, 1 unit per 2 acres for
AG-2 sending areas, and 1 unit per 4 acres for AG-3 sending areas. Additional density allowances up to 1 unit per 2
PAGE 19
acres may be allowed for environmentally significant portions of AG-3 sending areas.
d. Uses within a new town shall be identified in the new town PD project application and shall comply with the
following criteria.
1. Commercial, personal services, and office areas shall be provided at a ratio of three (3) to ten (10) acres per
1,000 residential units.
2. Public facilities, including but not limited to water plants, sewer plants, schools (excluding university
campuses or similar uses), fire stations, andpolice stations, and public institutional use areas, should not
exceed five (5) percent of the entire PD area.
3. Residential use areas shall constitute at least fifteen (15) percent but not more than thirty-five (35) percent of
the entire PD area.
4. Employment areas, including industrial, business, and office uses, shall comprise at least two (2) percent of
the entire PD area.
e. The following additional standards shall be met by any new town PD project application.
1. Affordable/Workforce Housing: Affordable and/or workforce housing units shall be provided to ensure that
there is housing is available within the project area for workers employed within the project area. Therefore,
at least ten (10) percent of the total housing units shall be affordable and/or workforce housing units, as
defined in the cCounty’s LDRsland development regulations. The applicant shall provide sufficient data and
analysis to justify the number and percentage of affordable housing units needed by his proposed project.
This amount of affordable housing shall then be provided within the project; however, the total amount of
affordable housing shall in no casenot be less than ten (10) percent of the total number of housing units in
the project.
2. Open Space: At least fifty (50) percent of the entire PD area shall be preserved or provided as open space.
Open space areas shall be retained as natural areas or used for agriculture, recreation, stormwater
management, water supply, or similar uses that complement the rural nature of the area.
(a). At least seventy (70) percent of the minimum required common open space area shall be located
along main project boundaries and shall function as perimeter greenbelts or shall be in the form of a
large contiguous block of land. If a proposed new town shares a boundary with land identified as
conservation either through easement or bythrough easement or comprehensive land use
PAGE 20
designation, then the required greenbelt perimeter/open space block shall have a contiguous
boundary with the conservation area. If a new town shares a boundary with multiple existing
conservation areas, the project design shall provide greenway connections between conservation
areas.
(b). For purposes of the fifty (50) percent common open space requirement, such green space shall not
include conventional, individual private yard areas and shall not include any areas already in
conservation. Common open space areas may include agricultural areas (e.g. crop lands, pastures,
and equestrian areas), parks and recreation areas, conservation and natural areas (e.g. uplands,
wetlands, and re-created natural areas), and water bodies (not to exceed thirty (30) percent of the
open space requirement).
(c). Active recreational uses shall be limited to a maximum of twenty-four (24) percent of the designated
open space or twelve (12) percent of the entire PD area, whichever is less.
3. Timing of Land Uses: At the time of new town approval, commitments must be made as to the timing of
developing work places and non-residential uses. A sufficient amount of job-producing and non-residential
uses shall be developed in initial project phases to prevent creation of a de-facto residential only or bedroom
community and to ensure development of a job-producing “anchor tenant” to sustain the new town’s
economy. To ensure that all phases of the project develop as a viable new town development with a mixture
of residential, shopping, working, recreational, and open space areas, various uses for each phase of the
project shall be approved and developed in a proportional manner. Commercial and personal service uses,
office and light industrial uses and residential uses shall generally constitute the same percentage of area for
each phase as they constitute in the project as a whole. No more than twenty-five (25) percent of the
proposed residential use development will be permitted until at least twenty-five (25) percent of the
proposed commercial and personal service, uses and office and light industrial uses occur.
4. Form: The project shall meet the Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) standards of the Future Land Use
Element Policy 18.1. In so doing, the new town shall have a perimeter edge and a center. Along the
perimeter edge, a significant greenbelt shall be provided, and that greenbelt shall consist of natural areas,
agricultural areas, and/or “no-build” areas designated on large acreage parcels. A project center shall be
established for the concentration of residential and commercial uses. Major roadways shall run through or
near the project center. The project design shall reflect the following:
PAGE 21
(a). A network of ungated and open to the public interconnected streets in a grid or modified grid pattern.
(b). An interconnected pedestrian sidewalk/path system that serves and integrates residential and non-
residential uses.
(c). Appropriately sized blocks and pedestrian improvements that provide a layout that maximizes
residential development in clusters around town centers. Town centers shall include but not be
limited to public squares or parks, as well as commercial and residential uses.
(d). Wide sidewalks, street trees, and on-street parking in the town center.
5. Integration into Major Street Grid: Each new town project shall have multiple connections to major roads,
and extend major roads planned to traverse the rural area in which the project is located.
6. Building heights shall be identified in the LDRs, subject to the provisions and/or incentives as may be
adopted by the County in support of this Policy. Residential structures shall be limited to a maximum height
of 35 feet, while nonresidential and mixed use structures shall be limited to a maximum height of 50 feet. For
all structures, architectural embellishments may exceed the maximum height limitation by no more than 15
feet.
Policy 1.42: To the extent feasible and in accordance with the Public School Facilities Element, the cCounty shall
collocate public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and community centers, with schools.
Policy 1.46: Development in tTransitional rResidential areas shall be limited to the following:
Single Family Residential Uses
up to 1 unit/acre; or up to 3 units/acre for Planned Development Projects
Recreational Uses
up to 0.35 FAR
Public Facilities
up to 0.35 FAR
Institutional Uses
up to 0.35 FAR
Schools (not including business and vocational schools)
up to 0.35 FAR
Excavation Activities
PAGE 22
Agricultural Uses (as permitted in Future Land Use Element Policy 6.3)
The FAR of mixed use projects shall be calculated by assigning a portion of the total development area to each use. The
sum of the portions assigned to each use must equal the total development area. An exception shall be allowed for
accessory residential uses within primarily non-residential projects. That exception shall allow the entire development area
to be used to calculate the number of units allowed, without restricting the amount of development area available for
calculating the maximum FAR for primary uses.
Policy 1.48: The cCounty shall consider the impact of proposed amendments to the FLUM Future Land Use Map upon
the cCounty’s jobs/housing balance in a manner consistent with Policy 4.8.
Policy 1.49: The county hereby designates the entire urban service area as an Energy Conservation Area. The county
shall maintain its urban service area boundary in a manner consistent with Policies 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3.
Policy 1.50: Within Energy Conservation Areas, the county shall regulate all new development and redevelopment in a
manner that promotes energy conservation.
Policy 1.52: Within the urban service area, the county shall permit mixed use developments that are consistent with
Policy 5.6. [Consolidated with Objective 2]Policy 1.53: In areas located outside the urban service area, the county
shall promote clustered development, such as new towns and agricultural planned developments. New towns shall be
consistent with Policies 1.37 and 1.38, while agricultural planned developments shall be consistent with Policy 5.9. [Moved
to Objective 2]Policy 1.54: In reviewing new development proposals, the county shall require vehicular and pedestrian
connections as specified in Policy 4.5.
Objective 2: In unincorporated Indian River County, all residential development greater than 0.2 units/acre, and all non-
agriculture related commercial/industrial uses will be located within the urban service area, which shall permit mixed-use
developments consistent with Policy 5.6, which contains the infrastructure and services needed to accommodate such
development.
New: In areas located outside the Urban Service Boundary, the County shall promote clustered development, such as
new towns and agricultural planned developments. New towns shall be consistent with Policies 1.37 and 1.38, while
agricultural planned developments shall be consistent with Policy 5.9. [Originally, Policy 1.53. Recommend deleting
Policy 1.53 and moving this language into a new policy under Objective 2]
PAGE 23
Policy 3.1: For all facilities and services, the minimum levels of service established in this and other elements of the
cComprehensive pPlan will be maintained.
Policy 3.2: Regardless of land use designation or zoning district, no development shall be approved unless it is
consistent with the concurrency management system in the capital improvements element, and the levels of service
established in this element and other elements of the Comprehensive Plan. [Redundant]Policy 4.1: Land use districts
shall be located in a manner which concentrates urban uses, thereby discouraging urban sprawl. [Redundant]Policy
4.2: By January 202518, Indian River County shall identify and map target areas for redevelopment and infill development.
Policy 4.3: For the areas targeted for redevelopment and infill development in Future Land Use Element Policy 4.2,
Indian River County shall, by 2019, assess the potential for future development, review infrastructure capabilities and
needs, and develop special overlay or use districts and regulations, if warranted. [Redundant]Policy 4.4: By January
2020, Indian River County shall work with property owners, developers, and the public to develop and implement a plan to
promote development of the areas targeted for redevelopment and infill development. That plan shall examine the
feasibility of reduced development fees, streamlined application processing, mixed uses, density bonuses, Traditional
Neighborhood Design, home/work linkages and other innovative techniques to promote development in those areas.
[Policy completed]
Policy 4.5: Where proposed development projects abut undeveloped or developed property, the cCounty shall review to
determine whether require that such the development must be designed and constructed or guaranteed to accommodate
both vehicular and bicycle/ pedestrian interconnections. Interconnections may include shared roadways or driveways that
provide local traffic circulation. Exemptions shall be granted where interconnections would create a “funneling effect”
through an existing neighborhood or have no potential for providing interconnectivity or through-street benefits (e.g.
segments that dead-end into water bodies, built facilities, or environmentally sensitive areas).
Policy 4.6: By 2011, the county shall adopt traffic-calming standards and designs to address concerns about the speed
of “cut-through” traffic. Traffic calming improvements shall be constructed with project interconnections where necessary
Policy 4.7: The cCounty shall require that developers construct sidewalks on both sides of internal project streets in higher
density residential developments and mixed-use projects.
Policy 4.8: When reviewing amendments to the Future Land Use Map, the county shall consider the impact of the
proposed amendment upon the jobs/housing balance of the following subareas: north county, central county, and south
PAGE 24
county. In so doing, the county will not approve amendments where the effect will be to lower the jobs/housing balance in
the north county, central county, and south county subareas from their 2005 baseline values. [Not statutorily required
and covered in Economic Development]
Objective 5: Indian River County will have a diverse mix of land uses, development patterns, housing densities, and
housing types. By 2030, 25% of the County’s housing units will be in multiple-family, mixed use, or traditional
neighborhood design projects.
Policy 5.2: The residential densities depicted on the future land use plan map shall be the maximum densities permitted.
Where density bonuses are applicable, density maximums may be exceeded. [Redundant with County’s LDRs]
Policy 5.3: Indian River County zoning districts shall permit a variety of residential building and development styles.
[Redundant with County’s LDRs]
Policy 5.4: To prevent the emergence of strip development along US Highway 1, the County shall allow accessory
residential uses within commercial areas through mixed-use development. Such accessory residential uses shall be
allowed by right in commercial zoning districts.
Objective 6: In recognition of the Indian River County’s desire to protect agriculture despite the challenges and changes
facing the citrus industry, the cCounty’s objective is to retain, through 2017, at least 125,000 acres of land in the
unincorporated cCounty that is used for active agricultural operations.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s 2007 Census of Agriculture, there were 157,196 acres of land
that were used for active agricultural operations that year. Of this land, approximately 139,000 acres are located within the
unincorporated area of the county.
This objective, by itself, does not justify or suggest a need for Future Land Use Amendments from Agricultural
Designations.
Policy 6.9: By 2011, tThe cCounty shall adopt development regulations allowing small-scale biofuel processing plants as
accessory agricultural uses in areas designated AG-2 and AG-3. The equipment, processing areas, and transport facilities
of accessory biofuel-processing plants shall occupy no more than 20 acres or 10% of a site, whichever is less. Such
facilities shall be subject to staff-level site plan approval and shall be located at least 300’ away from nearby residential
uses. Larger scale biofuel processing plants shall be allowed in areas designated AG-1, AG-2, and AG-3 if approved
through the special exception process.
PAGE 25
Objective 7: By 2015, there will be at least 108,500 acres of environmentally important land under federal, state, or
county ownership or control within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County will continue to exceed internally set
targets for protecting environmentally sensitive lands and will continue to acquire lands to the greatest extent practicable
with a goal to increase protected land acreage by 10% by 2035. In 2007, there were 105,186 acres of conservation land in
public ownership.
Objective 8: Through 2015, aAt least 95% of unincorporated Indian River County’s historic properties (as identified in
“Historic Properties Survey of Indian River County, Florida”, prepared by Historic Property Associates, Inc., April 1989) will
continue to be preserved in fair, good, or excellent condition.
Policy 9.1: By January 2019, Indian River County shall establish guidelines to ensure that all new county buildings and
facilities will be compatible with the architectural character of the surrounding neighborhood. [Unnecessary]
Policy 9.13: By 2011, tThe cCounty shall continue to control the visual clutter created by temporary signs by adopting
development regulations that establish limits on where temporary signs are to be allowed, on the number of temporary
signs allowedpermitted, and on the duration that temporary signs may be posted.
Policy 9.15: The county shall not require buffers between similar residential uses. [Code-oriented language, not
supported by Florida Statutes]
Objective 11: By 2016, Indian River County will have taken continue to take action to encourage redevelopment or
revitalization in the unincorporated County.
Policy 11.1: By 2019, Indian River County shall continue to develop guidelines and regulations to designate areas in
need of redevelopment or revitalization.
Policy 11.2: Within one year of designating a redevelopment or revitalization area, Indian River County shall determine
the needs and deficiencies as well as remedies and solutions for that area. [Policy complete]
Objective 13: By 2015, tThe County will continue to have a formal coordination mechanism with other federal, state,
regional, and local governments and agencies for land use planning activities, provision of facilities and services, and
funding and implementation of programs.
Policy 13.3: By 2018, tThe cCounty shall continue to encourage municipalities to enter into Interlocal Service Boundary
Agreements (ILSBAs) or Joint Planning Area (JPA) agreements to identify potential areas for annexation.
PAGE 26
Objective 17: Through 204030, the County will have no increase in land use designation density or intensity within the
Coastal High Hazard Area, in a manner consistent with the policies set forth in the Conservation and Coastal Elements.
Objective 18: Byetween January 1, and January 1, 2045, five (5) percent of new residential development (dwelling
units) occurring in unincorporated Indian River County will be located in Traditional Neighborhood Design projects.
Objective 18.1: By January 2011, tThe cCounty shall adopt and maintain land development regulations LDRs that
establish the TND, Traditional Neighborhood Design zoning district. The TND district shall be limited to planned
developments (PDs). To qualify as a TND development, projects must meet the following criteria:
Development Parameters
1. The minimum contiguous project land area shall be 40 acres.
2. Land shall be under unified control, planned and developed as a whole in a single development or as an approved
series of developments or neighborhoods. The project shall be approved under the Planned Development (PD)
rezoning process.
Street Network
3. In order to disperse traffic by offering many alternative routes and connections between destinations within the
project and to appropriate uses on adjacent sites, the street network shall consist of a grid or modified grid pattern
and shall accommodate connections to appropriate uses on adjacent sites.
4. Not more than 10% of blocks shall have a block with a perimeter measuring more than 1,800 feet. Within
commercial and mixed use areas, no block face dimension should exceed 400 feet.
5. The project shall contain a network of interconnected streets, sidewalks, and pathways.
6. Streets shall be designed to balance pedestrian and automobile needs, to discourage high automobile speeds, to
effectively and efficiently accommodate transit systems, and to distribute and diffuse traffic rather than concentrate
it.
7. Street trees shall be provided so as to shade sidewalk areas and buffer sidewalk areas from automobile traffic.
8. Streets and adjacent buildings shall be sited and designed to encourage interactions between the street and
buildings through the use of amenities such as reduced building setbacks, “build-to” lines, front porches, stoops,
rear and side yard parking lot locations, and other means.
PAGE 27
9. Projects shall decrease the prominence of front yard driveways, garages, and parking lots through one or more of
the following: mid-block alleys, garages located toward the rear of lots, rear and side loaded garages, garages
which are not the predominant architectural feature of the front elevation of buildings off-street parking at the rear
of buildings, restricted driveway connections to streets, and traffic calming techniques.
Mixing of Uses
10. The project shall be designed as a compact or clustered development. Projects may include the following mix of
uses occurring together in close proximity:
single-family residential,
accessory dwelling units,
multiple-family residential,
commercial and work place,
civic and cultural, and
open space.
11. The following ratios shall apply to land uses within the project:
a. Community open spaces open to the public, such as squares, plazas, or parks, shall comprise a minimum of
5% of the total project area.
b. Civic uses, such as post offices, churches, community centers, meeting halls, schools, day care centers and
cultural facilities shall comprise a minimum of 1% of the total project area.
c. Residential uses shall comprise a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 80% of the total non-conservation and
non-agricultural project area.
d. Commercial and office uses located on residentially or agriculturally designated land shall not exceed 10% of
the total land area designated on the land use plan as residential and agricultural.
12. The vertical mixing of uses is allowed and strongly encouraged around designated town centers, main streets,
mixed-use centers, and central squares and greens.
Centers (Locus of Community Activity)
13. Each project must have at least one public square, town center, or mixed use area within a ¼ mile walking distance
from 50% of the project’s residential units and within ½ mile walking distance from 75% of the project’s residential
PAGE 28
units.
14. To accommodate increased pedestrian use, 50% of sidewalks in public squares, town centers, or mixed use areas
shall have a minimum unobstructed width (clear and passable for pedestrians) of at least seven feet.
15. On-street parking shall be allowed within public squares, town centers, or mixed use areas.
16. Off-street parking lots within public squares, town centers, or mixed use areas shall be provided only at the rear of
buildings.
17. The center shall accommodate space for a transit stop and a civic building.
Edges (Perimeter of the Community)
18. Project edges located outside the Urban Service Area shall be established and designed for environmental,
agricultural, recreational, or other open space uses.
Public Buildings
19. Public buildings, such as schools, churches, post offices, and community centers, shall be provided in prominent,
accessible locations within the project. Such locations generally are at the termination of streets, the perimeter of
the neighborhood center, or the frontage along a designated main street of a neighborhood or adjacent
thoroughfare plan road.
Objective 20: In the cCounty, sufficient land will be available for material dredged by the Florida Inland Navigation
District (FIND). By 2011, aAll dredged material management areas shall be designated as PUB, Public Facilities, on the
cCounty’s Future Land Use MapFLUM.
PAGE 29
Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element
Indian River County’s third Plan chapter is comprised of five (5) sub-elements, which altogether are commonly referred to
as an Infrastructure Element. The purpose of the Infrastructure Element is to ensure the availability of wastewater, solid
waste, drainage, and potable water facilities to meet the existing and projected demands within the County. This Element
establishes level of service standards and aims to effectively manage growth and maintain environmental quality while
providing safe and adequate facilities for residents and visitors.
A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element are as follows.
◊ Revise or remove outdated GOPs, such as Policy 1.6 which is not in alignment with the most recent Health
Department regulations and Objective 4 which must comply with 62-600.520 FAC
◊ Remove redundant Policies and simplify Policies that provide detailed information which could be handled in a
separate policy document or the County’s Code, as appropriate
◊ Establish prioritization for providing sanitary sewer service
◊ Additional policies may be revised subject to the Master Plan currently being drafted by the County, which will be
incorporated by reference to the Comprehensive Plan.
These recommended changes are important to protect the built and natural environment in the County, to update policies
to modern standards, and to establish regulations for emergency situations.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(c)
PAGE 30
Public Engagement
While the prompted questions provided in the public engagement sessions did not mention Sanitary Sewer specifically,
several members of the public included mentions of sewers and septic systems in their responses. Additionally, a “Sewer”
sticker was provided during the mapping exercise and several residents used this opportunity to give their opinion on
where sewer improvements are needed.
One Word
The in-person One Word Activity requested attendees to answer the following questions in ONE WORD each.
In ONE WORD:
1. What does the County need less of?
2. What does the County need more of?
Less Of / More Of
Seven responses to this question included mentions of septic and sewer, with four people saying they would like less
septic / more sewer and one person saying they would like less sewer. Two people said they would like more reuse water.
Thought Wall
On the Thought Wall activity, which allowed residents to provide thoughts on six of the EAR elements, several responses
on the Land Use & Development wall mentioned sewer/septic. Of the seven comments on the wall, four read “Sewers,”
and three specified converting septic to sewer.
Mapping Exercise
During the Mapping Exercises, a total of 17 Sewer stickers were placed on the maps, with all being placed in the NE
quadrant of the County. Recurring locations included:
◊ Vero Lake Estates (6 stickers)
◊ Within one mile of Brian Davis Septic and Backhoe Services (3 stickers)
◊ Along Sebastian Blvd
o SW of intersection with 90th Ave
PAGE 31
o NE of intersection with Barber St
o Intersection with Roseland Rd
o One mile north up Barber St from Sebastian Blvd
◊ Along Laconcia St
o Intersection with Granduer Ave
o SW of Sebastian Storm Water Park
DIA Highlights
◊ Reviews the Sanitary Sewer process for collection and treatment.
◊ Identifies sewer service areas.
Recommended Changes
Goal: Indian River County shall have an efficient system of sanitary sewer disposal that prevents degradation of existing
resources, promotes orderly growth and development, optimizes operation, and meets existing and projected demands.
Objective 1: Through the time horizon of the plan, the County will strive to maintainthere will be sufficient capacity in the
regional sanitary sewer system to accommodate all new development within the urban service area, including
municipalities the County serves.
Policy 1.1: New development within the unincorporated portion of municipalities of Indian River County shall be
approved only when capacity is available, either on-site or off-site, to provide needed sanitary sewer service.
Policy 1.2: The DEP, on an annual basis, shall inspect all private wastewater treatment plants in Indian River County.
Policy 1.5: The Planning Division, on an as needed basis, shall County will provide summary reports containing capacity
and demand information for each public wastewater treatment plant within the cCounty service area as well as Daily
Monitoring Reports as required by FDEP.
Policy 1.6: The County shall require mandatory connection to central sewer where available. Septic tanks shall only be
approved on a case-by-case basis. Consistent with the county’s water and wastewater connection matrix, the county shall
PAGE 32
continue to allow the use of septic tank systems in rural areas for single-family units and for domestic waste disposal by
small retail establishments. The use of septic systems must be approved by the Health Department and be consistent with
Rule 64E-6, FAC.
Policy 6.7: The cCounty shall continue to enforce ordinances requiring pre-treatment of commercial and industrial waste
before discharge into the county system. [Relocate Policy 6.7 to Objective 1]
Objective 2: By 2025, at least 60% of all existing units in the county’s service area will be connected to the county’s
regional sanitary sewer system. This will be an increase from 52.7% in 2017. By 2045, the County will steadily increase
number of existing units connected to the County's regional sewer system with a long-range goal for 60% of all users to be
connected.
Policy 2.3: The cCounty shall give priority for the provision of public sanitary sewer services to the subdivisions on the
list of subdivisions as identified in Table 3.A.3 designated as requiring sanitary sewer service due to public health threats
by DOH. [Add reference to appropriate FAC or DOH policy]
Policy 2.4: The cCounty shall provide public sanitary sewer service to areas where the lack of such service is
determined to be a public health threat and shall initiate sewer projects where feasible to serve subdivisions served by
septic systems and identified in Table 3.A.3.1 as posing a disproportionately high potential negative impact on Indian River
Lagoon water quality. The cCounty shall recover costs through those connecting to the system and directly benefitting
from the improvement.
Policy 2.6: By 202718, tThe cCounty shall perform a financial analysis for septic to sewer conversion projects. Based on
that analysis and available funding a specific list of subdivisions to be connected to public sanitary sewer system by
certain dates will be identified.
Policy 2.7: By 2028, the County shall sanitary sewer service to at least five (5) subdivisions identified in Table 3.A.3.1 as
posing a disproportionately high potential negative impact on Indian River Lagoon water quality. The county shall recover
costs through those connecting to the system and directly benefitting from the improvement.
The County shall prioritize providing sanitary sewer service to subdivisions posing critical water quality impacts to the
Indian River Lagoon, as identified in Table 3.A.3.1. The County will recover costs for improvements from those connecting
to the system and directly benefitting from the improvement.
PAGE 33
Objective 3: Through the time horizon of the plan, the cCounty will continue to mitigate and prevent have no instances
of sanitary sewer facilities contaminating surface water or groundwater resources.
Policy 3.2: The cCounty shall regularly monitor all centralized sanitary sewer facilities to ensure that they do not
contaminate surface water or groundwater resources.
Objective 4: Through the time horizon of the plan, The County will work toward 100% of the wastewater effluent
produced by the cCounty centralized sanitary sewer facilities being reused.
Policy 4.1: The county shall continue to reuse wastewater by spray irrigation, with percolation ponds and wetlands as
back-up. The County's primary means of reuse water disposal shall be to the users identified in the County's Domestic
Wastewater Facility Permit (FLA010431). Secondary disposal of reuse water shall be through percolation ponds and
wetlands as necessary.
Policy 4.3: The cCounty shall continue to enforce Land Development Regulations that require developments that use
treated wastewater for spray irrigation to construct and dedicate to the county the effluent transmission lines needed to
transport the effluent to the development in regard to construction and conveyance of reuse transmission and distribution
lines. Aforementioned infrastructure will be dedicated to the County upon completion and acceptance of the reuse system
within limits identified and agreed to by the developer and County.
Objective 5: By 2022, the county will have completed the sanitary sewer improvements listed in the county’s 5-year
Capital Improvements Program in order to maximize the use of existing facilities and discourage urban sprawl (current
Five-Year Capital Improvements Plan is in the Capital Improvements Element of the comprehensive plan). The County
shall maintain a 5-year Capital Improvements Program identifying sanitary sewer improvements to maximize the use of
existing facilities and discourage urban sprawl
Policy 5.1: In conformance with the review process for the Capital Improvements Element, the county shall maintain a
five-year schedule of capital improvement needs for public facilities.
Policy 5.3: In order to guarantee provision of more than the minimum level of service, the county shall take the following
steps:
• begin planning and preliminary design for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or
exceed its capacity within 5 years;
• prepare plans and specifications for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed its
PAGE 34
capacity within 4 years;
• submit a complete construction permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for expansion
when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 3 years; and
• submit an application for an operation permit for the expanded facility to DEP when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is
projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 6 months.
The County will comply with FDEP requirements for evaluating capacity and planning for future improvements as needed
to provide sanitary sewer service at the committed Level of Service.
Policy 5.9: The county shall install automatic air release valves in all new sewer lines. The County shall require
installation of automatic air and vacuum valves on all new sewer lines where County deems necessary and appropriate.
Policy 6.4: To ensure proper maintenance and operation, the DEP shall inspect all package treatment plants on an
annual basis.
Policy 6.5: The cCounty shall require all new package wastewater treatment plants to be built according to current
federal, state, and county requirements. In addition to obtaining a county permit demonstrating compliance with county
regulations, any developer building and operating a package wastewater treatment plant must obtain a state permit
demonstrating compliance with state and federal regulations. Those regulations include but are not limited to the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (PL 92-500) and its amendments through the Clean Water Acts of 1977 (PL 95-217)
and 1981 (PL 97-117), Chapters 381 and 403 of the Florida Statutes, and Rules 17-3 and 17-6 of the Florida
Administrative Code. Both state and county permits are required for the construction of a plant, and for any future
expansion or modification of a plant. [Incorporate stricken language into LDR]
Policy 6.7: The county shall continue to enforce ordinances requiring pre-treatment of commercial and industrial waste
before discharge into the county system.
Objective 7: By 2020, the number of new septic systems permitted annually will not exceed 200. The County will
coordinate with FDEP and the appropriate regulating agencies to limit and discourage the number of new septic systems
permitted annually.
Policy 7.1: The county shall limit the use of septic systems to areas that meet the following criteria governing connection
to the county sanitary sewer system:
PAGE 35
• Commercial/industrial uses and residential subdivisions identified in Table 3.A.3 may continue to treat their sewage with
existing septic systems until centralized sewer service lines are extended to within ¼ mile of the site. At that time, all
residential units in those subdivisions and all commercial/industrial uses shall be connected to the county system.
Developments whose sewage treatment systems cause a public health problem must connect to the regional system
regardless of the distance to sewer lines.
• Use of septic systems for new development shall be prohibited unless:
o such development meets the criteria set on the water and wastewater connection matrix; or
o such development consists of clustered residential development within privately owned upland conservation (C-3)
areas. Even under those circumstances, no individual septic systems may be associated with individual residential units.
If located outside of any conservation designated areas or areas that are environmentally sensitive or significant, however,
centralized community septic systems may be provided to each pod of clustered residential development.
o Septic systems shall be allowed in areas of development outside of the Urban Service Area when such
development meets the criteria of policies of the Future Land Use Element for:
- clustered residential development within agricultural planned development projects;
- clustered development within new town projects;
- traditional neighborhood design communities; and
- agricultural businesses and industries (including biofuel facilities)
[Remove from Plan and implement in LDRs]
Policy 7.2: The cCounty shall ensure that, prior to the issuance of development orders or permits for projects to be
served by septic systems, or for the repair or replacement of existing septic systems, the applicant has demonstrated that
the project complies with Florida Department of Health (DOH) regulations Section 381.0065 FS and Chapter 64E-6, FAC,
permit requirements for septic systems.
Policy 7.3: The county in coordination with and through the DOH-Indian River, shall require that issuance of permits for
repair or replacement of existing septic systems be conditioned upon compliance with DOH regulations Section 381.0065
FS and Chapter 64E-6, FAC, permit requirements for septic systems.
PAGE 36
Policy 7.6: The County, in coordination with and through the DOH-Indian River, shall encourage all septic systems
including repairs and modifications to meet a 24-inch separation between the bottom of the drain field and the wet season
water table and meet 75 foot setbacks from surface waterbodies and wells. [Remove from Plan and implement in LDRs]
PAGE 37
Potable Water Sub-Element
Indian River County’s third Plan chapter is comprised of five (5) sub-elements, which altogether are commonly referred to
as an Infrastructure Element. The purpose of the Infrastructure Element is to ensure the availability of wastewater, solid
waste, drainage, and potable water facilities to meet the existing and projected demands within the County. This Element
establishes level of service standards and aims to effectively manage growth and maintain environmental quality while
providing safe and adequate facilities for residents and visitors.
A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Potable Water Sub-Element are as follows.
◊ Recommend revising Goal to reference interlocal service agreements and the 20-year planning horizon
◊ Consider disallowing private potable water plants unless the County does not have sufficient capacity
◊ Move specific standards (e.g. minimum pressure requirements) to the County’s code or an appropriate engineering
standards document
◊ Simplify unnecessarily specific Policies, such as Policy 2.6, for which the recommendation accomplishes the intent
of the original Policy but streamlines the Policy for ease of understanding as well as preventing or reducing future
text amendments
◊ Incorporate recommendations from the Water Management District as it relates to their review of the County’s
Water Supply Plan (Indian River County Ten-Year Water Supply Facilities Work Plan, prepared by TetraTech)
◊ Additional policies may be revised subject to the Indian River County Integrated Water Master Plan currently being
drafted by the County, which will be incorporated by reference to the Comprehensive Plan.
Potable water is a vital component of life, and Indian River County must ensure its potable water regulations promote safe
and clean systems accessible to all residents and visitors. These recommendations will adhere to modern regulations and
water standards.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(c)
PAGE 38
Public Engagement
While the prompted questions provided in the public engagement sessions did not mention Potable Water specifically,
several members of the public included mentions water or potable water in their responses. Additionally, a “Water” sticker
was provided during the mapping exercise and several residents used this opportunity to give their opinion on where
water improvements are needed.
One Word
The in-person One Word Activity requested attendees to answer the following questions in ONE WORD each.
In ONE WORD:
1. If the County achieves its HIGHEST ESTIMATED GROWTH, what would be your top concern?
Five residents responded to the above question saying that their top concern if the County reaches its highest possible
growth is clean / potable water.
Thought Wall
Six people left comments on the Thought Wall elements highlighting their concern about water supply and water quality.
Mapping Exercise
During the Mapping Exercises, a total of 11 Water stickers were placed on the maps. Recurring locations include:
◊ Vero Lake Estates (3 stickers)
◊ The location where 82nd Ave turns into 69th St (2 stickers)
DIA Highlights
◊ Reviews available potable water facilities.
◊ Identifies water withdrawal amounts by land use.
◊ Describes the County’s Water system and service areas.
◊ Discusses Level of Service considerations for potable water.
PAGE 39
Recommended Changes
Goal: Indian River County shall have an efficient potable water system that prevents degradation of existing resources,
promotes orderly growth and development, and meets existing and projected demands, and satisfies interlocal service
agreements.
Policy 1.2: The County Utilities Department, on an annual basis, shall inspect all private potable water plants in Indian
River County. Private potable water plants will not be allowed within Indian River County, unless capacity is not available at
the County's facilities. The County, through the Environmental Health Department, shall monitor and evaluate all private
water treatment plants. The results of this evaluation shall be considered during the prioritization of potable water service
expansion.
Policy 1.3: The cCounty hereby adopts a potable water level of service standard of 250 gallons per day per equivalent
residential unit of treatment capacity., a minimum design flow of 500 gallons per minute, a minimum storage capacity of
13.5 million gallons, and a minimum pressure of 40 PSI for potable water facilities.
[Move standards, including items like pressure, to the LDR or engineering standards]
Policy 1.4: Through its computerized permit tracking system and its concurrency management system, the county shall
continue to implement procedures to update facility demand and capacity information as development orders and permits
are issued. The County shall maintain its concurrency management system, including records for historic and projected
demands, and provide monthly capacity reports for potable water facilities.
Policy 1.6: The county shall continue to allow the use of private wells in rural areas for single-family units and for small
retail establishments. The use of private wells must be approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies and be
consistent with the attached water and wastewater connection matrix. The County shall continue to allow the use of
private wells in rural areas for single-family units and for small retail establishments provided they will not impact Existing
Legal Users (ELUs), including the County. Use of private wells must be permitted through the appropriate regulatory
agencies and must be consistent with the SJRWMD water and wastewater connection matrix.
Objective 2: By 2030, at least 75% of all existing residential units in the county will be connected to a regional potable
water system. The County shall continue to promote connecting new and existing residential units to the regional potable
water system and reduce the number of private well users.
PAGE 40
[Verify against County planning documents and Regional Water Supply Plan goals.]
Policy 2.1: The cCounty shall continue to offer its utility line assessment program to areas with private wells within the
County Utilities Department service area and offer up to 10-year financing for all utility assessments.
Policy 2.2: The county shall continue to offer up to 10-year financing for all utility assessments.
Policy 2.6: Prior to 2011, the County will coordinate with the City of Vero Beach and the Town of Indian River Shores to
prepare a financial analysis of options related to the possibility of consolidation of utility services. This analysis may consist
of but is not limited to: the possibility of the County serving utilities to the Town of Indian River Shores, currently served by
the City of Vero Beach and the Unincorporated area of the South Barrier Island, currently served by the City of Vero
Beach, full consolidation of the City of Vero Beach Utility with the Indian River County Utility or making no changes in the
existing utility service areas. Based on the results of a financial analysis of the various service options, the Board of County
Commissioners will consider implementing the results that show the best financial and operational benefits. The County
will continue to coordinate with other potable water service providers within the County limits for consolidation of utility
services where feasible and where financially and operationally beneficial.
New: The County utilities department shall approve potable water concurrency for new projects only when adequate
water supplies and potable water facility capacity are available to accommodate new development project demand.
[Relocated from Intergovernmental Element]
Policy 3.1: The County shall continue to use the Upper Floridan aquifer as the primary water supply source of potable
water and use reverse osmosis as the principal raw water treatment method for its regional potable water system. With
that water source and treatment method, the county will provide its customers with good quality water that meets the
requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523; the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, Section
403.850 - 403.864, FS; Chapter 381, FS; and Rules 62-550, 40C-2, 40C-3, 17-22, and 64E-8, FAC. and employ
nanofiltration as its preferred method for water treatment.
Policy 3.2: The cCounty, through the Environmental Health Department, shall monitor and evaluate all private water
treatment plants. The results of this evaluation shall be considered during the prioritization of potable water service
expansion. [Consolidated with Policy 1.2]
Objective 4: By 2020, the county’s per capita water use will be less than the 2006 level of 104 gallons/day. The County
shall deliver potable water to its customers at a level of service of 104 gallons per capita per day.
PAGE 41
Policy 4.8: The cCounty shall require all new subdivisions and projects of 25 or more lots/units that are within a ¼ mile
of an effluent reuse line to connect to the effluent reuse line. When a project meets above criteria, developer shall be
required to construct an effluent reuse line. [Make this Policy 4.2 (better order)]
Policy 4.2: The cCounty shall continue to apply the requirements of Chapter 926 of its land development regulations,
which require the use of drought tolerant vegetation, the use of efficient irrigation systems, and the preservation of existing
native vegetation in accordance with County LDRs.
Policy 4.6: The cCounty’s water pricing system shall continue to be equitable, but shall continue to charge an
exponentially increasing unit rate for high volume residential users, as defined by the LDRs. (those using more than three
times the Level of Service standard established in policy 1.3).
Policy 4.9: By 2013, the Utilities Department shall review its current pricing plans to further discourage excessive water
use and to provide incentives to customers for saving water. The Utilities Department will regularly review rate structures
and adjust rates as necessary to further discourage water use and to provide incentives for water savings.
Policy 4.11: The County shall continue to implement the Water Conservation Plan associated with its consumptive use
permit. [Recommendation by SJRWMD]
Objective 5: Thorough the time horizon of the plan, the county will have completed all programmed capital
improvements shown in The County will continue to address the programmed capital improvements shown in Appendix
“A” of the Potable Water Sub-Element in order to maximize the use of existing facilities and discourage urban sprawl.
Policy 5.1: In conformance with the review process for the Capital Improvements Element of this plan, tThe cCounty
shall maintain a five-year schedule of capital improvement needs for public facilities.
Policy 5.2: Proposed capital improvement projects shall be evaluated and ranked according to the following priority level
guidelines:
• Level One - whether the project is needed to protect public health and safety, to fulfill the county's legal commitment to
provide facilities and services, or to preserve or achieve full use of existing facilities.
• Level Two - whether the project increases efficiency of use of existing facilities, prevents or reduces future improvement
costs, provides service to developed areas lacking full service or promotes in-fill development.
PAGE 42
• Level Three - whether the project represents a logical extension of facilities and services within a designated service
area
Policy 5.3: In order to guarantee provision of more than the minimum level of service, the county shall take the following
steps:
• begin planning and preliminary design for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or
exceed its capacity within 5 years;
• prepare plans and specifications for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed
its capacity within 4 years;
• submit a complete construction permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for expansion
when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 3 years; and
• submit an application for an operation permit for the expanded facility to DEP when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is
projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 6 months.
The County shall continue to monitor and evaluate average daily demands at water treatment facilities and plan for
necessary improvements and expansions to deliver water at the committed Level of Service in accordance with FDEP
requirements.
Objective 6: Through the time horizon of the plan, there shall be no instances of Privately Owned Public Water Plant
failures or breakdowns. Privately-owned water treatment plants and systems shall operate within County, state, and
federal regulatory requirements.
Policy 6.1: The county shall limit the use of Privately Owned Public Water Plants to areas that meet the following criteria
governing connection to the county potable water system:
• Development served by existing Privately Owned Public Water Plants may continue to receive potable water in that
manner until centralized service becomes available. At that time, all development within ¼ mile of a county water line shall
connect to the county public portable water system. The County may consider applications for construction and operation
of privately-owned water plants where the development is outside the Urban Service Area and if development conforms to
policies in the Future Land Use Element. Developments whose potable water system causes a public health problem must
connect to the regional system regardless of the distance to water lines.
PAGE 43
• Privately owned public water treatment plants shall be allowed in areas of development outside of the Urban Service
Area when such development meets the criteria of policies of the Future Land Use Element for:
Policy 6.2: The county shall ensure that, prior to the issuance of development orders or permits for privately owned
public water treatment plants, the applicant has demonstrated that the project complies with the Federal Safe Drinking
Water Act, Public Law 93-523; the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 403.850 - 403.864, FS; Chapter 381, FS; and
Rules 62-550, 40C-2, 40C-3, 17-22, and 64E-8, FAC. [Addressed in Policy 6.3]
Policy 6.4: To ensure proper maintenance and operation, the Utilities Department shall inspect all privately owned
public water treatment plants on an annual basis. [Addressed in other policies]
Policy 6.7: The cCounty shall require all future connections to the regional potable water system to be consistent with
the attached water and wastewater connection matrix. [Verify existence of matrix or remove policy]
Objective 7: By 2020, the number of new private wells permitted annually will not exceed 300. The County will limit
number of permits issued for new private wells.
Objective 8: By 2026, tThe cCounty will utilize develop alternative water supply sources for at least 18 mgd of demand.
The alternative water source will supplement water obtained from in addition to the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA) system.
Policy 8.1: By 2015, the county shall study and identify a viable alternative water source. The County will conduct
feasibility studies and assessments of potential alternative water supply sources. The County will continue to evaluate its
source water aquifer to mitigate impacts to ELUs through expansion.
Policy 8.2: By 2020, the cCounty shall obtain all necessary permits to construct the associated infrastructure related to
the alternative water support facilities. The County shall incorporate potential alternative water supply projects in the 5-
year Capital Improvements Plan.
Policy 8.3: By 2023, the cCounty shall complete all construction plans and specifications associated with the alternative
water supply facilities.
Policy 8.4: By 2025, the county shall complete the construction of all infrastructure associated with the alternative water
supply facilities.
PAGE 44
Objective 9: By 2015, all reverse osmosis water treatment plan direct brine discharges into the Indian River lagoon will
be eliminated. The County shall eliminate brine discharge from the nanofiltration water treatment process to the Indian
River Lagoon.
Policy 9.1: By 2010, the cCounty shall identify a viable alternative brine discharge method for the South County RO
Plant.
Policy 9.2: By 2012, the cCounty shall obtain all necessary permits to construct the associated infrastructure related to
the brine disposal facilities.
Policy 9.3: By 2013, the cCounty shall complete all construction plans and specifications associated with the brine
disposal facilities.
Policy 9.4: By 2015, the cCounty shall complete the construction of all infrastructure associated with the brine disposal
facility for the south county RO plant, and the facility shall be operational.
Objective 10: Water Supply Planning
The County shall plan for its water needs and maintain a Water Supply Facilities Work Plan, as required by Florida
Statutes.
Policy 10.1: The County shall maintain a Water Supply Facilities Work Plan (Work Plan) that is coordinated with
SJRWMD’s Central Springs / East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan (CSEC RWSP). The Work Plan and related
comprehensive plan policies shall be updated, as necessary, within 18 months of an update of the CSEC RWSP that
affects the County.
Policy 10.2: The County’s Water Supply Facilities Work Plan (2023-2033) is incorporated into the comprehensive plan
as Appendix A of the Potable Water Sub-Element.
Policy 10.3: The Water Supply Facilities Work Plan shall identify the traditional and alternative water supply projects,
along with the water conservation and reuse practices, necessary to meet the County’s existing and future water
demands.
PAGE 45
Policy 10.4: The Water Supply Facilities Work Plan shall address those projects identified in the SJRWMD CSEC RWSP
for Indian River County, and selected by the county for implementation, and any associated implementation schedule.
Policy 10.5: The County will monitor and participate, as necessary, in the City of Vero Beach’s water supply planning
process to ensure that the City’s utility accounts for and meets the current and future water needs for the respective
unincorporated area within the City’s service area.
PAGE 46
Solid Waste Sub-Element
Indian River County’s third Plan chapter is comprised of five (5) sub-elements, which altogether are commonly referred to
as an Infrastructure Element. The purpose of the Infrastructure Element is to ensure the availability of wastewater, solid
waste, drainage, and potable water facilities to meet the existing and projected demands within the County. This Element
establishes level of service standards and aims to effectively manage growth and maintain environmental quality while
providing safe and adequate facilities for residents and visitors.
A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Solid Waste Sub-Element are as follows.
◊ Avoid definitive determinations, such as the use of “always” in Objective 1
◊ Confirm and update the status of anticipated facilities, such as the Biosolids Facility
◊ Continue to emphasize recycling and educate the public to reduce the amount of solid waste
◊ Revised the Level of Service to 1.4 tons per equivalent residential unit per year.
These recommended changes are important to improve this Element which protects the citizens, as well as the built and
natural environment in the County.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(c)
PAGE 47
Public Engagement
No key or substantive public engagement comments were received on this Element.
DIA Highlights
◊ Identifies new average household solid waste produced annually as 1.4 tons per equivalent residential unit.
◊ Provides a background on landfills.
◊ References the Solid Waste Master Plan, which is due for an update per County Staff.
◊ Describes the existing Solid Waste Management system.
Recommended Changes
Objective 1: Through the time horizon of the plan, the active segment of the landfill will always have sufficient capacity
to accommodate demand.
Policy 1.1: Design for additional disposal cellsegments of the landfill shall be completed before the active cellsegment of
the landfill is at 750% of its capacity, and construction of additional cellsegments shall begin when the active cellsegment
is at 7560% of its capacity in order to ensure that the established level of service will be maintained. The current projected
capacity and/or lifespan of Segment 3 Cells 1-8 is through the year 2074. This lifespan is contingent upon rigorous
recycling and recycling education as well as the unknown factors of population growth and economics.
Policy 1.2: New development within the Indian River County Solid Waste Disposal District (SWDD) service area shall
continue to be approved only when capacity is available at the active cellsegment of the landfill. If the active cellsegment
of the landfill is at 980% of its capacity and a new segment is not ready, additional development shall not be permitted.
Policy 1.3: The following level of service standards are hereby adopted, and shall be used as the basis for determining
the availability of facility capacity and the demand generated by new development:
21.4 tons per capita equivalent residential unit. for permanent population plus weighted seasonal population per year or 4
cubic yards per permanent population plus weighted seasonal population per year
PAGE 48
Policy 1.5: The SWDD shall maintain a comprehensive solid waste management master plan and shall prepare annual
summaries of demand and capacity information for the active segment of the landfill. All future expansion of the landfill
and the SWDD facilities shall be consistent with the adopted solid waste level of service standards.
Policy 1.6: The SWDD shall maintain at least 3 years of disposal capacity available at all times.
Policy 1.7: The County shall continue to provide countywide solid waste services to all of the County’s municipalities and
the unincorporated portion of the County by providing landfill capacity for solid waste disposal, by administering a
countywide recycling program, and by studying and implementing new technologies. On-going studies shall identify the
following:
• New technologies for recycling; to include Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), balers, compactors, sorting machines, and
education center with classroom for recycling education.
• New methods for safe solid waste disposal;
• Assessment of the feasibility of implementing these new technologies in Indian River County; and
• Cost/benefit analyses for promising technologies.
Objective 2: Through the time horizon of the plan, there will be no cases of iImproper management or illegal disposal of
hazardous waste in the County shall be discouraged and penalized.
Policy 2.3: The County will continue to require all septage haulers operating in the County to dispose of septage at the
Gifford Wastewater Treatment Plant or other sites approved by FDEP until the proposed new Biosolids Facility at the
County Landfill is open.
Policy 2.4: The SWDD shall provide convenient locations at which residents can drop off household hazardous materials
free of charge. The County shall maintain its charge mechanism for the collection and management of special wastes such
as C&D debris, bio-hazardous waste, and other wastes needing special collection, handling, and disposal.
Policy 2.7: The County shall close its existing C&D debris landfill cell and switch to co-disposal operation whereby C&D
debris is disposed of in a lined Class I landfill commingled with MSW.
Policy 2.9: The County shall cooperate with the FDEP and USEPA to continue to perform regular inspections of private
licensed waste handlers to ensure that bio-hazardous waste, generated by medical establishments and handled by private
firms, is properly managed. When improper management of bio-hazardous waste is found during an inspection, the FDEP
PAGE 49
and USEPA will may take enforcement action. The County shall continue to inspect for the bio-hazardous waste from the
solid waste that enters the landfill.
Policy 3.6: All future expansion of the landfill and the SWDD facilities shall be consistent with the adopted solid waste
level of service standards.
Policy 3.7: The County shall maintain its charge mechanism for the collection and management of special wastes such
as C&D debris, bio-hazardous waste, and other wastes needing special collection, handling, and disposal.
Objective 4: By 2020, tThe County will continue to strive to have increased the portion of solid waste recycled to 30% of
its waste stream.
Policy 4.2: By 2022, the SWDD shall re-evaluate establishing a mandatory solid waste collection system that serves
properties within the County’s Urban Service Area. Upon the establishment of mandatory door-to-door garbage
collection, the SWDD shall evaluate the need for and the level of service required from the customer convenience centers.
[POLICY ACHIEVED]
Policy 4.5: The SWDD, through radio and newspaper advertisements, informational brochures, the County’s website
and other (similar) media, or through special events, shall provide general public education on the importance and benefit
of the recycling program.
Policy 4.6: By 2020, tThe SWDD shall continue to evaluate the feasibility of the maximum recovery of recyclables from
the County garbage stream and their conversion to useful products.
Policy 4.7: By 2020, tThe SWDD shall evaluate the feasibility of transferring the County’s solid waste to another regional
facility for disposal of solid waste.
PAGE 50
Natural Groundwater Sub-Element
Indian River County’s third Plan chapter is comprised of five (5) sub-elements, which altogether are commonly referred to
as an Infrastructure Element. The purpose of the Infrastructure Element is to ensure the availability of wastewater, solid
waste, drainage, and potable water facilities to meet the existing and projected demands within the County. This Element
establishes level of service standards and aims to effectively manage growth and maintain environmental quality while
providing safe and adequate facilities for residents and visitors.
A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Natural Groundwater Sub-Element are as follows.
◊ Reframe GOPs such as “there will be no…” to “The County will take measures to protect….” To provide the County
a level of flexibility without compromising the need
◊ Confirm regulatory authority as appropriate, such as the ability of the County to regulate the location of septic
systems and permit stormwater management structures directly
◊ Promote anti-urban sprawl land use practices, such as clustered development and agrihoods, consistent with other
Goals, Objectives and Policies
These recommended changes are important to improve this Element which protects water quality.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(c)
PAGE 51
Public Engagement
No key or substantive public engagement comments were received on this Element.
DIA Highlights
◊ Identifies and describes natural features in the County.
◊ Provides Stratigraphic Section of Indian River County graphic.
◊ Geographically identifies locations of Natural Aquifer Recharge Areas
◊ Analyzes groundwater withdrawals and references SJRWMD groundwater model as standard.
◊ Identifies watering restrictions.
Recommended Changes
Goal: To protect the function of natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas, to prevent the contamination of groundwater
and to extend the life span of the county's aquifers through water conservation., and to promote sustainability of the
County’s aquifers.
Objective 1: Through 2020, there will be no instances of contamination of groundwater aquifers or public supply wells
within the county. For the purpose of this objective, water quality will be based on primary and secondary maximum
contaminant levels (MCLs), as defined by the FDEP in Chapter 17-550, F.A.C. The County will take measures to protect its
sources of drinking water within the Upper Floridan aquifer and public supply wells within the county against regulated
contaminants, such that treated drinking water can meet primary and secondary maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), as
defined by the FDEP in Chapter 62-550, F.A.C.
Policy 1.1: By 2010, tThe cCounty shall update as needed the Surficial Primary Recharge Overlay District (SAPROD)
map using a geographic information systems (GIS) format.
Policy 1.2: By 2012, the county will assist the SJR WMD and FDEP in developing a Wellhead Protection Area (WHP A)
map for Indian River County by providing the following information:
~ the location of existing public wellheads;
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~ the proposed location of future public wellheads; and,
~ potential conflicts between existing and future land uses and public wellhead protection areas.
The WPHA map will be compatible with the county's G.LS. database.
[Addressed in LDR Section 931.04]
Policy 1.3: The cCounty shall continue to prohibit the location of septic systems within two hundred feet of a public
water supply well, unless otherwise approved by the FDEP or HRS.
[Note: Confirm with County Attorney authority to regulate and update accordingly.]
Policy 1.4: The county, through its stormwater permitting processes, shall ensure that storm water management
structures, except those located within the SAPROD, are designed to function as aquifer recharge areas.
Policy 1.5: The cCounty shall continue to protect existing and future public water supply wells, as defined under Chapter
65 550, F.A.C., from contamination by continuing to implement Chapter 931 of the County's land development regulations
(LDRs) and by prohibiting any non-residential land use which stores, handles, or produces a toxic degradation or
petroleum-based product, or any substance regulated under 40 CFR 302,40 CFR 122.21, and/or Chapter 487, F.S. from
locating within 1,000 feet of a public water supply well. The minimum radial separation distances for land uses and
structures from public wellhead regulated areas are as follows, unless superseded by more stringent setback
requirements per Chapter 62-532, F.A.C. or Chapter 62-521, F.A.C:
~ 200 feet for on-site disposal systems, unless approved by the FDEP or DHRS;
~ 300 feet for wet retention/detention areas, unless approved by the SJRWMD;
~ 500 feet for landfill and/or transfer stations, above ground or underground storage~ tanks, feed lots and animal facilities,
and WWTP effluent discharges, unless approved by the FDEP;
~ 1,000 for any mining and/or excavation of waterways or drainage facilities which intersect the water table.
Policy 1.7: The county shall continue to prohibit injection wells for the disposal of wastewater. The County will promote
beneficial reuse of treated wastewater to the maximum extent feasible to minimize or avoid the need for disposal via
injection wells.
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Objective 2: Through 2025, there will be no reduction The County will work with the SJRWMD to achieve no net
reduction in the availability of groundwater from the surficial aquifer. For the purpose of this objective, water quantity will
be based on SJRWMD's most recent regional groundwater model.
Policy 2.2: The county shall use natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas for passive parks and open space. Parks
and open space shall be developed in such a manner to allow the passive recharge of the surficial aquifer.
Policy 2.3: To ensure preservation promote protection of the surficial aquifer, the cCounty shall continue to issue
permits for all proposed excavation/mining projects in the unincorporated county that are exempt from SJRWMD and/or
FDEP permitting requirements. For proposed excavation/mining projects that are located along the Atlantic Coastal Sand
Ridge and are exempt from SJRWMD and/or FDEP permitting requirements, the cCounty shall prohibit the following:
~ excavation within 1,000 feet of a public supply wellfield;
~ excavation within 1 ,000 feet of any platted subdivision not serviced by potable water; and,
~ excavation that results in an average elevation less than 25 feet above mean sea level.
Policy 2.4: The cCounty shall preserve the aquifer recharge hydraulic function of palustrine wetlands by adopting the
Comprehensive Wetlands Management Program, as described in the Conservation Element.
Policy 2.5: The cCounty will require all promote the use of wet detention/retention ponds with a surface area greater
than one (1) acre be designed to utilize for irrigation to maximize the beneficial use of stormwater runoff for irrigation.
Policy 2.6: By 2011, the county shall contact the U.S. Geological Survey and request an updated county-wide
geohydrologic survey.
Objective 3: Through 2025, there will be no reduction in the availability of groundwater from the Floridan aquifer. The
County will work with the SJRWMD to achieve no adverse impacts to the availability of groundwater from the Upper
Floridan aquifer. For the purpose of this objective, Floridan aquifer quantity will be based on SJRWMD's most recent
regional groundwater model.
Policy 3.2: The cCounty shall coordinate with the SJRWMD and the IRFWCD to encourage the use of low volume
irrigation systems to prevent over pumping from the Floridan aquifer.
Policy 3.3: The cCounty shall continue to require that new developments install a minimum of 50% water-conserving
xeriscape plant Florida Landscape material, as specified in the Landscape ordinance.
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Policy 3.6: The cCounty shall implement the policies of Potable Water Sub-Element Objective 8.
Objective 4: By 2012, Indian River County will develop and maintainhave written intergovernmental coordination
agreements with local governments and state agencies to ensure protection of the natural groundwater aquifer system.
Objective 5: By 20152035, the County shall protect a minimum of 1000 additional acres of aquifer recharge areas for
the surficial aquifer through conservation easements and fee simple acquisition compared to 2009 baseline data.
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Stormwater Sub-Element
Indian River County’s third Plan chapter is comprised of five (5) sub-elements, which altogether are commonly referred to
as an Infrastructure Element. The purpose of the Infrastructure Element is to ensure the availability of wastewater, solid
waste, drainage, and potable water facilities to meet the existing and projected demands within the County. This Element
establishes level of service standards and aims to effectively manage growth and maintain environmental quality while
providing safe and adequate facilities for residents and visitors.
A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Stormwater Sub-Element are as follows.
◊ Update terminology (e.g., drainage system to stormwater management system)
◊ Reframe County goals to be achieved “to the maximum extent practical” rather than setting all or nothing goals
◊ Remove specific standards that can or should be referenced in other official documents, such as the County Code
or engineering documents
◊ Revise or remove GOPs related to proposed improvements or activities which have already been accomplished.
Indicate whether the program is ongoing or define the new goal date
◊ Verify consistency within the sub-element, such as between Policy 3.1 and Policies 2.9 and 2.10
◊ Consider developing a funding plan as part of a Stormwater Master Plan for the County
◊ Ensure consistency with State standards
◊ Collaborate with appropriate agencies to develop and implement plans for surface water management projects
These recommended changes and updates to the Stormwater Sub-Element are important to ensure the prevention of
runoff pollution and reduce flooding within the community.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(c)
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Public Engagement
The Public Engagement station that included feedback on Stormwater was the mapping exercise. During this exercise, 21
stickers were placed throughout the county.
◊ 15 stickers in the NE quadrant of the County
◊ 6 stickers in the SE quadrant of the County
On the Thought Wall, five comments related to stormwater in some capacity. These comments included:
◊ “Need better drainage”
◊ “Prevent flooding”
◊ “Low impact development for stormwater control”
◊ “Stormwater management”
◊ “Open stormwater facilities to the public”
DIA Highlights
◊ The Stormwater Data Inventory & Analysis identifies existing stormwater plans, as well as that the County has
initiated development of a Stormwater Master Plan as of 2024.
◊ The DIA provides an overview of agencies having stormwater jurisdiction within the County.
◊ The volume of stormwater runoff is variable and responsive to the intensity and duration of a storm.
◊ Stormwater management facilities must be designed to protect and enhance groundwater recharge, especially in
those areas demonstrated to have significant recharge potential.
◊ Tetra Tech began developing the Indian River County Lagoon Management Plan in October 2023.
Recommended Changes
Goal: Indian River County shall provide and maintain a system which reduces the risk of property damage and
inconvenience from long term flooding, promotes stormwater recharge of the shallow aquifer, reduces stormwater
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pollutant loading of the Indian River Lagoon and receiving waters and provides proper floodplain management. an efficient
and effective stormwater management system which, to the maximum extent practical, provides proper floodplain
management; reduces risk of property damage and promotes personal safety; promotes stormwater recharge of the
shallow aquifer; minimizes erosion and water quality degradation; and reduces stormwater pollutant loading of the Indian
River Lagoon and receiving waters.
Objective 1: By 2030, all existing and new development in the unincorporated section of Indian River County will be
protected from flooding from a 25 year/24-hour storm event. To the maximum extent practical where attainable, by 2030,
the County shall actively manage a floodplain program to minimize flood risk for existing development within the
unincorporated section of Indian River County. New developments will continue to meet current or more stringent
regulations as may be passed from time to time.
Policy 1.1: The cCounty hereby adopts the following level-of-service standard for all new drainage systems within the
unincorporated cCounty: New development requiring major site plan approval or subdivision platting, where impervious
area exceeds 5,000 square feet, shall construct a drainage system capable of mitigating the impacts of a 25 year/24 hour
design rainfall event using the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Type 2 modified rainfall curves (FLMOD).
Post development runoff shall not exceed pre-development runoff unless a maximum discharge rate has been adopted for
the applicable drainage basin and the discharge does not exceed that rate. If a maximum discharge rate has not been
adopted for the applicable basin, post development discharge may not exceed pre-development discharge. In cases
where downstream flooding has occurred the 100 year/24 hour design rainfall event shall be considered.
Policy 1.2: The finished floor elevation of any new building constructed within a SFHA}, as designated on the most
current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), shall be subject to the
following requirements:
~ "AE" zone - structures must be elevated a minimum of six ( 6) inches above the base flood level; "A" zone -
structures must be elevated a minimum of 18 inches above the crown of the road or at the elevation required by the
DHRS, whichever is higher; if no base flood data are available, the structure must be elevated at least three (3) feet above
the highest natural elevation or the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of the structure;
~ "VE" zone- structures must be elevated so that the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the lowest
floor is elevated one-half (1/2) foot or more above the base flood level.
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All new buildings shall be above the 100 Year storm event along with any required appropriate freeboard protection.
Elevations shall be as defined by Flood Insurance Rate Maps, National Flood Insurance Program requirements,
engineering studies and as defined in the County Stormwater Management and Flood Protection ordinance and codes.
Policy 1.3: The cCounty shall ensure that adequate storm water management facilities are constructed and maintained
to prevent major flooding of the road network of Indian River County during storm events.
Policy 1.5: All major bridges shall be designed to withstand a 100 year/3-day storm event. At a minimum, all bridges
either being replaced or requiring structural designs for repairs shall be placed above the 100 year flood elevation / FIRM /
FIS elevation when located on an arterial roadway or thoroughfare plan road as defined in LDR 952.08 to allow for safe
emergency passing. All other bridges shall be placed above the storm frequency and duration in accordance with FDOT
Drainage Manual. All bridges shall be designed for hydraulics / scour / structurally in accordance with FDOT design
manuals, index and specifications.
Policy 1.7: Within all new subdivisions, wide appropriately sized backlot and front yard drainage easements, as well as
side lot swales to provide for localized runoff routing, will be required where centralized retention/detention facilities are
not provided.
Objective 2: By 2020, all drainage basins in Indian River County shall, at a minimum, meet the Flood Protection Level of
Service (FPLOS) for a 10 year/24-hour storm event. Stormwater Management Facilities shall meet current or more
stringent regulations as may be passed from time to time.
Policy 2.1: In existing developments, the county shall reconstruct existing drainage systems and restore design capacity
when road paving is programmed under the county's Petition Paving Program. Under the County's Petition Paving
Program, Stormwater Management Systems associated with the road shall be repaired, reconstructed, or rehabilitated to
meet LDR stormwater management facility design criteria.
Policy 2.2: By 20202040, to the maximum extent practical, all existing reconstructed roadways in the cCounty shall be
improved to meet the following level-of-service standard:
1. Minimum road crown elevation for existing roads shall be raised during resurfacing/rebuilding to the flood elevation
resulting from the 2 year/24 hour storm event on local streets.
2. The center two lanes of rebuilt roads shall be at or above flood levels resulting from a 10 year/24-hour storm event on
Arterial and , Collector and Thoroughfare Plan roads as defined by Land Development Regulations Chapter 952 – Traffic.
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Policy 2.2: By 20122040, all drainage basins within the cCounty shall meet a 10 year /24-hour storm event level-of-
service standard.
Policy 2.4: The cCounty shall require all new development sites to be designed with stormwater management retention
systems capable of water quality treatment equal to accommodating 1.25 times the impervious surface area, or 01.5
inches times the project area, or greater as may be required by SJRWMD.
Policy 2.5: By 2012, the county will adopt a Stormwater Master Plan. In developing the Stormwater Master Plan, the
county will analyze each basin in the unincorporated county, identify existing conditions and problems in each basin, and
identify projected growth in each basin. As a result of that analysis, the county will identify a design storm parameter,
discharge rate, land use allowance, and structural improvement plan for each basin. The county will coordinate with the
City of Sebastian and will prioritize analysis of the areas within and adjacent to the St. Sebastian River basin.
Policy 2.6: To ensure stormwater management facilities function properly, the cCounty will continuously evaluate and
adjust established defined levels of maintenance practices for public and private stormwater management facilities and
will conduct inspections on a routine basis.
Policy 2.9: By 20122027, the cCounty will conduct a comprehensive inventory of all stormwater management facilities in
all of the drainage sub-basins under the county's jurisdiction.
Policy 2.10: By 20122030, the cCounty shall establish a Geographic Information System (G.I.S.)-based inventory of all
stormwater management facilities under the county's jurisdiction.
Objective 3: By 2012, Indian River County will have an adopted Stormwater Master Plan, which will guide all incorporate
all improvements to publicly maintained stormwater management facilities in Indian River County over a 20-year time
frame in the Capital Improvement Plan.
Policy 3.1: By 2027, Indian River County, Indian River County will complete a stormwater Master Plan, which will guide
all improvements to stormwaterStorm water Mmanagement Ffacilitiesy Improvements shall be included within the Indian
River County Infrastructure CIP. A 20 Year Improvement Program for storm water management facilities will be included
as part of the Indian River County Stormwater Master Plan, once adopted.
Policy 3.4: By 203012, With the Stormwater Master Plan, the cCounty shall consider establishing a stormwater utility to
fund maintenance and improvements of existing stormwater management facilities.
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Objective 4: By 2011, Indian River County will have has established and continues to nurture formal cooperative
relationships with the incorporated municipalities and F.S. 298 Special Drainage Districts having jurisdiction in Indian River
County.
Policy 4.2: By 2010, the county, in cooperation with the SJRWMD, shall request a formal meeting with representatives
from all of the F.S. 298 Special Drainage Districts in the county to discuss the following issues: conducting comprehensive
basin inventories, adopting maximum discharge limitations, and setting level-of-service standards for water quality and
flood protection.
Policy 6.1: The cCounty will continue to require on-site retention/detention in accordance with SJRWMD and FDEP
performance standards, as outlined in the Storm water Management and Flood Protection ordinance.
Policy 6.2: The county will continue to require reuse of storm water runoff for irrigation of golf courses and other
developments with wet detention/retention ponds with a surface area greater than one acre. The County will continue to
request that the lowest quality of water available be used for irrigation purposes in accordance with SJRWMD program
requirements.
Policy 6.3: By 2012, the county shall explore the feasibility of developing storm water parks in the unincorporated
county to recharge the surficial aquifer.
Objective 7: Consistent with the Central Indian River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan, the County shall endeavor
to maintain Water Quality Level of Service (WQLOS) DCA Rule 9J-5.011(2)( c )(5), the county shall maintain Water Quality
Level of Service (WQLOS) based on Pollutant Load Reduction Goals (PLRGs) established by the SJRWMD for the Indian
River Lagoon and, when available, based on Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards established for the Lagoon.
Policy 7.1: The cCounty shall cooperate with the IRLNEP, SJRWMD, FDEP, FDOH, DHRS, Marine Resources Council
(MRC), and other organizations in conducting an inventory pollutant loadings to the Indian River Lagoon (IRL).
Policy 7.2: Where practical, Tthe cCounty will reduce the loading of suspended solids within storm water runoff by
paving unpaved county roads within developed areas where the roads' drainage systems discharge into the IRL either
directly or indirectly.
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Policy 7.5: Indian River County will continue to require sodding or grassing of steep slopes constructed in conjunction
with all Transportation Improvement Projects. Indian River County will require sodding or stabilization for all disturbed soils
consistent with state and federal requirements.
Policy 7.6: In accordance with Program Goal I of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and
Management Plan and Goal I of the Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) Plan, tThe cCounty shall reduce
continue to pursue the reduction of the amount of non-point source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon by applying
for SWIM funds and Section 319 Grants to funding assistance though available sources to improve the pollutant removal
of efficiency of existing stormwater management facilities and, where feasible, to construct new regional stormwater
management facilities.
Policy 7.7: The county shall work towards the eliminateion all point sources of pollution from private sewer plants and
septic tanks contributing to water quality problems and nutrient enrichment of the Indian River Lagoon and the Upper St.
Johns River Basin (as indicated in the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element policies) by:
~ Where practical, Ccontinuing to expand sanitary sewer service within the Urban Service Area;
~ Requiring annual evaluation of private sewer plants;
~ Requiring monitoring of septic tanks;
~ Reusing irrigation quality wastewater for spray irrigation;
~ Requiring new developments to connect to a regional wastewater treatment facility; and
~ Other policies contained the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element.
Policy 7.8: In compliance with the Indian River Lagoon Act of 1990, the cCounty shall continue to comply with existing
regulations prohibiting the discharge of effluent from domestic wastewater treatment plants into the Indian River Lagoon.
Policy 7.9: The cCounty, in cooperation with the Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District (IRSWCD), shall
advise all existing and newly Agricultural Exempt properties require all new groves and replanted groves to implement
conservation plans, and non-structural best management practices (BMPs) as required by State of Florida Statutes. Non-
structural BMPs, as defined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), include land use planning,
preservation of wetlands and floodplains, education, and erosion control. BMPs shall be in accordance with FDACS,
NRCS, SJRWMD or other applicable BMP manuals as allowed by FDACs. Indian River County Property Appraiser shall
provide this material to all Agricultural Exempt properties at time of application or renewal. The County shall create a
single web page providing education directly to Agriculturally Exempt properties. Web page shall be referenced by all
County permitting departments.
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Policy 7.10: Until Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards are established for the Indian River Lagoon by the DEP,
the county will continue to require, as a minimum, retention of the first one ( 1) inch of rainfall prior to off-site discharge.
Consistent with Chapter 17-25.025(9), F.A.C., an additional 50 percent treatment (1.5 inches) is required for all direct
discharge into the Indian River Lagoon due to its designation as an Outstanding Florida Water (OFW).
Policy 7.13: The county shall pursue grant funding to establish storm water filtration systems on the North and South
Main Relief Canals.
Policy 8.3: The cCounty shall promote infill development by improving and maintaining the existing drainage facilities
public management facilities in the developed areas of the cCounty.
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Transportation Element
The purpose of the Transportation Element is to plan for a multi-modal transportation system that is safe and meets the
needs of residents and visitors. This Element encourages improved transportation and mobility planning, establishes Level
of Service (LOS) Standards for the major roadways, and also recognizes the need to provide transportation alternatives to
increase accessibility and provide a comprehensive transportation system. A summary of the changes that are proposed
for the Transportation Element are as follows.
◊ Review and revise thresholds and levels of service standards based on new FDOT Context Class LOS and other
Policies
◊ Incorporate Proportionate Share into appropriate Policy Language
◊ Remove Traffic Impact Study requirements in favor of referring to County Code
◊ Encourage incorporation of FDOT’s “Target Zero” principles in the design of transportation facilities
These recommended changes are important to better reflect the current and future transportation needs, assess bicycle,
pedestrian, and public transit systems, assist in emergency management processes such as hurricane evacuation routes,
and prevent excessive vehicle congestion.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(b)
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Public Engagement
Transportation, as a key element of the Plan, requires community input. Public Engagement may include comments on
facilities outside of County jurisdiction, such as FDOT-controlled roadways.
One Word
The in-person One Word Activity requested attendees to answer the following questions in ONE WORD each.
In ONE WORD:
1. How would you describe Indian River County today?
2. How would you describe Indian River County in the future?
3. If the County reaches its highest estimated growth population, what is your top concern?
4. What does the County need less of?
5. What does the County need more of?
Today & The Future
The top results for how individuals perceive Indian River County in the future were Crowded, Congested, and Busier.
When inquiring about the future, the project team anticipated words describing how the community wants to be able to
perceive the County in the future, and while some responses were in alignment with that interpretation of the question
(e.g., Beautiful, Inclusive, Small-Town Feel, Community-Oriented, Quaint, et cetera), the majority of responses represented
community fears for the future, instead of community goals. These fears include a congested, crowded, and busy place.
Highest Estimated Growth
Traffic was one of the top concerns related to the County reaching its maximum growth, with Transportation being tied for
the second-most frequent response.
Less Of / More Of
The top results for what the community desires less of included Traffic.
Ranking
The community at in-person workshops ranked Transportation as being the fourth-most important element when
determining the County’s highest priority.
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Thought Wall
During this exercise, Transportation was the second highest priority based on total number of comments. Attendees
generally provided the following comments regarding transportation (italics represent a “highest priority” thought):
◊ Pedestrian and bicyclist improvements: Safe sidewalks and trails, dedicated bike/multi-use paths, and prioritize
vulnerable road user safety
◊ Better transit services: Increase hours and routes and include more frequent pick-ups
◊ Improve: Street connectivity, road maintenance, street lighting, transit availability in low-income areas, dirt roads,
and the diversity of transportation alternatives
◊ Add green space
◊ Consider and manage the impact of growth on traffic
◊ Encourage walkable mixed-use development
◊ Most respondents not in favor of Brightline stop in the County, though one is in favor
Mapping Exercise
Across all sessions, Transportation stickers made up 15% of the stickers placed. Seven percent were for bicycle extension
or improvements and 7% were for sidewalk / trail extension or improvements.
PublicCoordinate Interactive Online Map
Users had the opportunity to select between six themed icons: Commercial/Office, Conservation, Housing, Infrastructure,
Parks and Recreation, and Transportation. After selecting their theme, users were able to place the point anywhere on the
online map and provide an open-ended response relevant to the theme. Respondents recommended:
◊ Complaints about trains passing near the following location: 27°43'56.8"N 80°40'06.7"W
◊ A ferry from Riverside Park
◊ Improvements for the intersection of US-1 and 41st St
◊ Improvements for 20th Street downtown
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Online Survey
One question on the Online Survey asked, “What are the biggest transportation needs in Indian River County?”
Respondents identified the biggest transportation needs in the County as roadway improvements (50%), better sidewalks
and crosswalks (47.7%), safety improvements (38.4%), better transit service (32.6%), more on-street bike lanes (30.6%),
and additional parking (24%).
Another question requested that respondents identify street segments and the improvements they need. Respondents
identified various complaints and issues related to road maintenance and traffic in Vero Beach. These include unpaved
and unkept roads in residential areas; flooding on 73rd Street (east of Route 1), 18th Street, Jungle Trail, and 5th Court;
disruptive road work during the season, reduction in Twin Pairs lanes to manage speed, and the need for a 4-lane road
from US 1 to 512 at Shark Mart intersection.
Some comments requested a larger focus on walking and/or biking trails along roadways, including Roseland Road. US-1
and 510 were both identified more than once as unsafe for bicyclists.
Many respondents expressed concerns about the ability of the transportation network to handle future capacity needs.
The community emphasized preparing for future development, especially industrial, and encouraged connections to
existing and new roadways to support the movement of goods, services, and people.
Respondents recommend adding right-turn lanes along US 1, between 8th Street and 20th Street, or providing a different
solution, such as overpasses, to reduce the bottleneck through traffic experiences. Guard rails were requested on 4th
Street, 8th Street, 12th Street, 16th Street, and 20th Avenue. 12th Street between 58th and 66th is identified as a
dangerous road that needs to be improved as soon as possible. Paving unpaved roadways was requested, with “16 and
12 Avenues east of 98 Street” being called out in particular. Road maintenance issues identified across the network
include poorly maintained roadway paint, resulting in confusion, as well as overgrowth from bushes and trees creating
blind spots. Many community members call for stricter speed restrictions and/or stronger enforcement of such restrictions.
DIA Highlights
◊ Traffic projections have been updated to include current (year 2023, interim year (2028), and horizon year (2045)
traffic volumes.
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◊ Roadways not expected to operate within the adopted level of service through 2045 include portions of Indian River
Boulevard, US 1, SR A1A, Old Dixie Highway, and 43rd Avenue. Policies to coordinate with FDOT on addressing
mobility on their roadways are included in the updated plan.
◊ The level of service thresholds have been updated to include the most recent thresholds used by FDOT. Strategic
Intermodal System roadways now have Level of Service targets rather than adopted standards.
◊ The level of service determination has been updated to match the current FDOT methodology for determining
roadway capacities. FDOT now utilizes Context Classification to determine the level of service thresholds for
vehicles. This methodology accounts for the unique roadway capacity characteristics of roadways in rural,
suburban, and urban areas, and accounts for the development patterns along the roadways, along with the
associated driveway connections, turn lanes, and speed limits unique to the context of the roadway.
◊ The horizon year roadway network has been updated to match long range plans produced by the MPO.
◊ Bicycle and pedestrian networks continue to be a planning priority in Indian River County, and the updated plan
includes provisions for non-vehicular users.
Recommended Changes
Objective 1: The cCounty acknowledges that there are no existing roadway capacity deficiencies within the
County. Through 20402045, the county traffic circulation system will continue to operate at or above the minimum service
levels specified in policy 1.1.
Policy 1.1: The cCounty hereby adopts traffic circulation level of service standards as follows:
Level of service "D" or better shall be maintained on all TRIP grant funded roads as well as all freeway, arterial and
collector roadways with the exception of the following two, which will operate at 20% in excess of level of service
“E”:
o 27th Ave – South County Line to SR 60
o 43rd Ave – Oslo Road to 16th Street
Level-of-Service “D” plus 20% during peak hour, peak season, peak direction conditions on the following roads
until such time that a major capacity improvement, as specified below, is constructed. At such time that the major
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capacity improvement is constructed,
the level of service for that improved road shall be “D” during peak hour, peak season, peak direction conditions,
o CR510 – 66th Avenue to US Highway 1 (scheduled for widening
o 37th Street – US Highway 1 to Indian River Boulevard (scheduled for widening or alternately mitigated by
extension of Aviation Boulevard from US 1 to 37th Street)
During the time period before major capacity improvements are provided for these two roads, proposed major
development projects approved by the planning and zoning commission or board of county commissioners that will impact
either or both of the roads may, based on a traffic study approved by the Public Works Director, be approved with
conditions related to provisions for interim roadway improvements that mitigate project impacts on one or both roads.
For SIS/Florida Intrastate Highway System roadways, targets of level of service “B” are desirable for is adopted for rural
areas, and level of service “C” is desirable adopted for urban areas.
Policy 1.4: No A development project shall be approved for purposes of transportation concurrency if the projected
impacts of the project does not would serve to reduce service levels of any roadway on the traffic circulation system below
the standards identified in Policy 1.1, or if proportionate share for the identified roadway improvement is provided..
Conditions applicable to this policy are as follows:
Development project shall be defined as any activity, which requires issuance of a development order. This
includes: comprehensive plan amendment, rezonings, site plan approval, preliminary plat approval, preliminary PD
approval, DRI development order approval, preliminary PD approval, and DRI development order approval.
Projected project traffic shall be based on the application of ITE trip rates (Trip Generation, 127th Edition or
subsequent editions), Indian River County trip rates, or applicant derived/county approved trip rates for the
proposed use(s) to the project.
Existing service level will be derived by using the peak hour/peak season/peak direction traffic volume
ranges. Volume shall be the sum of existing demand plus committed demand. This is described in the
concurrency management system component of the Capital Improvements Element.
Capacity shall be calculated as specified in the state road category of the appropriate table in the most current
version of Florida's Level of Service Handbook, using peak hour/peak season/peak direction default table
assumptions and appropriate adjustment factors. As an alternative, capacity may be determined by ART-PLAN
analysis, HCM analysis, speed delay studies, or other generally accepted capacity determination methodology
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approved by the Public Works Director. For capacity determination purposes, a roadway improvement may be
considered to be in place and the capacity to be provided by the improvement may be counted as available if the
referenced improvement is listed in the first three years of the county's adopted five Year Schedule of Capital
Improvements (appendix A of the Capital Improvements Element) or in the first three years of the adopted Florida
Department of Transportation five year work program, is scheduled to be under construction not more than three
years after issuance of the project’s first building permit, and where the county issues a development order for the
project needing the improvement approving this allowance.
If based on the above analysis the proposed development does not meet approval requirements, the developer may
choose to conduct a more detailed traffic impact analysis as described in Policy 1.5.
Policy 1.5: The cCounty, through its land development regulations, shall require submission of a traffic impact study for
all projects in compliance with Code of Ordinances Chapter 952.07.
The traffic impact study will be the basis for identifying site-related improvements required by a project as well as for
assessing consistency with adopted level of service standards.
Minimum requirements for traffic impact studies are described below:
- All traffic impact studies shall be performed by registered professional engineers who specialize in transportation
engineering and/or by qualified professionals in the field of transportation planning who specialize in traffic impact
studies.
- The study area boundary shall include all intersections within 8 miles of the project where the project generated peak
hour traffic meets or exceeds 8 trips on a 2-lane road or 15 trips on a 4 or more lane road.
Projected project traffic shall be based on the application of ITE trip rates (Trip Generation, Current Edition), Indian River
County trip rates, or applicant derived/county approved trip rates for the proposed use(s) in the project.
- Trip distribution and assignment shall be based on one of the following techniques:
a) Trip distributions based on studies of existing similar developments in proximity to the proposed site.
b) Experienced judgment and knowledge of local condition. This method requires approval and concurrence from the
county.
c) A combination of "a" and "b".
d) Special zip code analysis for a representative land use in proximity to the proposed site.
e) FSUTMS travel model results including trip tables by trip purpose.
f) Gravity model.
- Existing levels of service shall be calculated for all signalized and major unsignalized intersections within the study area
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for afternoon peak hours during the peak season. Existing peak hours will be identified from traffic counts between 7:00
and 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., using 15-minute intervals. Counts not taken during the
peak season shall be factored, based on county traffic counts in the project area, to represent peak season
conditions. Level of service calculations shall be based on the Operational Analysis methodology described in the latest
edition of the Highway Capacity Manual.
- Future levels of service shall be calculated for the buildout date of the proposed project, as well as for any intermediate
development phases. Conditions with and without the proposed development shall be evaluated and
documented. Conditions with the development shall be based on a combined traffic volume of the projected peak
hour/peak season traffic generated by the site and the projected peak hour/peak season background traffic. The
background traffic shall be calculated based on one of the following methods:
a) Increase the existing peak season traffic to the buildout date based on historical growth trends over a minimum of 5
years and a maximum of 10 years. Traffic generated by committed developments, which would impact the study area,
shall also be included subject to appeal to reviewing agencies.
b) Increase the existing peak season traffic to the buildout date based on an interpolation using traffic volumes projected
by the county. The county reserves the right to require method "a" to be used if it feels traffic projections may be
inaccurate due to recent changes in land use or roadway improvements.
- Roadway improvements which are committed and scheduled to be complete at or before the project buildout, or
development phase date, may be included when calculating future levels of service.
- Roadway improvements, which are necessary to maintain projected peak hour-peak season peak direction conditions at
a level of service consistent with Policy 1.1, shall be identified.
Policy 1.7: By 2023, the county shall consider imposing part or all of the ELMS one to five cent local option gas tax.
New Policy: By 2030, the County will study and consider a mobility planning approach in lieu of transportation
concurrency.
Policy 1.12: The cCounty hereby adopts the 20405 Cost Feasible Plan projects list (Table 4.9.3) and, in so doing,
acknowledges the MPO Long Range Transportation Plan as the means of maintaining level of service and mobility in the
county.
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New: The County shall adopt traffic-calming standards and designs to address concerns about the speed of “cut-
through” traffic. Traffic calming improvements shall be constructed with project interconnections where necessary.
[previously Policy 4.6 in FLU]
Objective 2: For the period from 2009 to 2030, crash and fatality rates per vehicle mile traveled will be reduced at least
by 1% each year across a five previous year rolling average. The County shall incorporate FDOT “Target Zero” principles
in the design of transportation facilities.
Objective 3: By 203540, the cCounty will have acquiredseek to aquire the right-of-way needed for all county collector
and arterial roads and all mass transit corridors within the urban area where improvements are identified in the 20405
Cost Feasible Long Range Transportation Plan.
Objective 4: Through 20305, 80% percent of roadways in Indian River County will operate at Bicycle and Pedestrian
Level of Traffic Stress 3 or better.ke/Ped LOS “D” or above.
Policy 4.1: The cCounty hereby adopts the MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan. Implementation of the plan in the
unincorporated county will occur through the incorporation of improvements identified in that plan in its TCIP. The plan
will be used as a basis for applying for and programming federal enhancement project funds. Funds will be used to
program improvements such as the construction of new bicycle and pedestrian lanes and paths, and the retrofit of existing
lanes and paths. The implementation schedule will be determined by the priority ranking of each roadway segment as
contained in the MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan. The following programs shall also be implemented by the county
according to the plan: an off-road facilities program, a safety improvement program, and a mode shift program. These
programs will be implemented as the funding, right-of-way, or other necessary resources become available. The Plan
shall be updated every 5 years and shall include a summary of bicycle and pedestrian improvements that have been
implemented since the previous update.
Policy 4.2: By 202028, the cCounty shall evaluate utility easements, railroad rights-of-way and drainage canal rights-of-
way as locations for off road trails. This evaluation will be based upon safety and cost considerations as well as
negotiations with appropriate agencies which control these easements and rights-of-way.
Policy 4.8: The cCounty will install bike-ped signals at all new signalized intersections and will install bike racks on its
buses.
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Objective 6: By 201528, the cCounty will have a system which ensures that all transportation requirements, procedures,
and improvements are coordinated with all applicable governmental entities and will have entered into two new formal
coordination agreements with adjacent local governments. This coordination shall continue through the time horizon of
this plan.
Policy 6.4: The cCounty will coordinate with CareerSource Research Coast, the Sebastian and Vero Beach Chambers of
Commerce, local businesses, other MPOs and FDOT to develop regional TDM programs. The county will participate in
Regional Transit Authority activities with other Treasure Coast T/MPOs and the Space Coast TPO. The county will
coordinate with FDOT and the Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC) on future passenger rail service.
Objective 7: Through 203045, the cCounty’s transit system will continue to operate at or above the minimum service
level specified in policy 1.1.
Policy 7.3: The cCounty shallhereby adopts the MPO’s Transit Development Plan as amended by the MPO.
Objective 8: By 203045, all three geographic sub-areas of Indian River County will have a jobs-housing balance
between .8 and 1.2
Objective 9: Through 203045, all future county aviation and intermodal facility expansion will be developed in a manner
consistent with existing and future land use.
Objective 10: Between 2009 and 2030, the total number of vehicle miles traveled in Indian River County will increase by
no more than the rate of growth of the overall population of Indian River County. [No longer statutorily required]
Objective 11: Through 203045, the County will ensure that all bridges on major roads have a structurally safe rating
and at least 80% of major roads have a pavement maintenance rating of 3.0 on the 5-point Federal Highway
Administration scale.
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Economic Development Element
The Economic Development Element sets forth the County’s policies for economic growth and diversification. Economic
Development contributes not only to the tax base for the County but it also creates opportunity for residents and
entrepreneurs.
A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Economic Development Element are as follows.
◊ Remove specificity of data, such as specific FY dollar amounts
◊ Update the planning horizon, targets, and timeframes
The proposed changes are important for Indian River County to understand existing conditions, constraints, and
opportunities, all of which are necessary to strategically increase Economic Development. Minimal changes, however, are
recommended for this element.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177
Economic Development Elements are not statutorily required.
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Public Engagement
Ranking
The community at in-person workshops ranked Economic Development as having the lowest priority out of the six
elements they were asked to rank, with a score of 3.14.
Thought Wall
In alignment with the ranking activity, Economic Development received the fewest comments among the categories.
Comments provided by the respondents include (italics represent a “highest priority” thought):
◊ Economic growth (controlled) and job creation in specific areas
◊ Increase job diversification, especially the availability of opportunities for higher-paying jobs, youth jobs, and jobs
for low-income population
◊ Promote redevelopment of underutilized areas
◊ Eliminate heigh restrictions west of I-95
◊ Industrial / Development zone
◊ Encourage sustainable industries and promote locally-owned small businesses
◊ Seek innovation, such as through a partnership with a university
Online Survey
One question on the Online Survey asked, “What kind of economic development does Indian River County Need?” This
question provided “Commercial,” “Office,” and “Industrial” as potential answers. Of those who responded, 50% selected
“Commercial,” 30% selected “Industrial,” and 20% selected “Office.”
A second question asked, “Where do you envision new or redeveloped economic development opportunities going in the
County?” Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 173 respondents answered the
question. A summary of the responses is provided.
People suggest various locations for economic development opportunities in Indian River County. Several people mention
the need for industrial and commercial development, particularly in the west of the County, near I-95 and Route 60. There
PAGE 75
is also a desire for more commercial amenities, such as grocery stores, closer to downtown and residential areas, and for
more local businesses to set up shop. Some people suggest attracting new industries, such as the tech industry or space
travel program, to replace the lost agriculture industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a shift to
increased remote workers, it is suggested the County should invest in its digital infrastructure, create coworking spaces,
and advertise its high quality of life to position Indian River County as an attractive destination for remote workers. Finally,
there are concerns about traffic congestion in residential areas and the need for more medical office space in Sebastian.
Responses emphasized redevelopment over new development.
The community generally envisions new or redeveloped economic development opportunities occurring:
◊ Along 14th Avenue, Route 60, 512, US 1, Highway 110, the Miracle Mile area, Aviation Boulevard, and 85th Street
between US 1 and 86th Avenue
◊ At the Indian River Mall, “Three Corners”, “Four Corners”
◊ Via adaptive reuse of existing buildings, especially the old power plant
◊ Near I-95 interchanges such as Route 60 and the future Oslo Road interchange – industrial development is the
preference here
◊ Where it will support sustainable growth and minimize environmental impact
◊ To attract Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe’s
◊ In Fellsmere, downtown Vero, or by the airport
◊ By the Lagoon, similar to Bayfront Park in Miami, which features businesses, restaurants, entertainment, marina,
boat slips, and fishing all in one spot
DIA Highlights
The Data Inventory & Analysis for the Economic Development Element did not undergo update(s) as part of this review.
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Recommended Changes
Objective 1: Through the plan time horizon, the cCounty’s will endeavor to maintain its average annual
unemploymentpoverty rate will be no more than one percentage point higher than the State of Florida’s average annual
unemployment rate as reported by the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, Labor Market Statistics Center, Local
Area Unemployment Statistics Program, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
(2007 average annual unemployment rate: Florida = 4.0% and Indian River County = 5.8%).
Objective 2: Between 202510 and 204520, Indian River County will increase the number of jobs in the County’s new
high wage target industries by 1,000.
Policy 2.2: The cCounty shall encourage the expansion of existing industries and attraction of new industries that are
within the target industries list (Policy 2.5) by offering the following county adopted economic development incentives and
assistance: "The county shall encourage the expansion of existing industries and attraction of new industries that are
within the target industries list (Policy 2.5) by offering the following county adopted economic development incentives and
assistance:
Local Jobs Grant Program;
Traffic, Water, and Sewer Impact Fee Financing;
Utility Deposit Waivers;
Expedited permitting;
Maintenance of sufficient infrastructure capacity (roads, water, sewer);
Provision of Industrial Revenue Bonds;
Provision of job training through Indian River State College;
Provision of workforce training incentives from CareerSource Research Coast;
Assistance with federal or state grant applications (such as Community Development Block Grants);
State Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program; and
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Objective 4: By 203025 and as may be needed to support the local economy, the cCounty and municipalities within the
County shall identify have at least two additional opportunities to encourage established
industrial/business/technology/research parks (for a total of 4 parks) with sufficient land and adequate infrastructure to
accommodate new or expanding businesses. At least one of these parks should be developed for
Biotech/research/technology industries.
Objective 5: By 20302011, there will be an adopted Interlocal agreement between the County and the municipalities
that provides for coordinated economic development funding and economic development activities.
Objective 6: Through the plan time horizon, the County will work to encourage tourism will increase within the County,
in order to maximize to the point that by FY 2014/15 the County’s annual local option tourist tax revenue. will be at least
$1,600,000 (FY 2007/08 tourist tax revenue = $1,496,835.35).
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Capital Improvements Element
The Capital Improvements Element ensures the fiscal capability of the County to fund needed public facilities, guides the
funding of those identified improvements, and schedules the funding and construction of improvements in a manner
necessary to ensure that capital improvements are provided when required. The Capital Improvements Element is
updated annually, so few changes are anticipated to be necessary. A summary of the changes that are proposed for the
Capital Improvements Element are as follows.
◊ Update Planning Horizon and agency references, e.g., the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)
recently rebranded to FloridaCommerce
◊ Consider incorporating Peril of Flood reference and/or terminology from Florida Statutes into Objective 2
◊ Duplicative policies (between the Capital Improvements Element and other Elements) were identified, but it was
noted that these may be kept without issue for ease of reference
◊ Recommend reviewing Policy 3.6 to remove standards not required by state statute if desired
These proposed amendments are minor in nature but would improve the accuracy of the Element, ensuring it can be
implemented appropriately. A capital improvements plan is a necessary tool in implementing the Comprehensive Plan as a
whole, and this will ensure the needs of the community will continue to be addressed and met.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(3)(a)
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Public Engagement
No key or substantive public engagement comments were received on this Element.
DIA Highlights
◊ Identifies the Levels of Service for a wide variety of Public Facilities, most recently adopted in February 2024 by
Ordinance 2024-03.
◊ Identifies Future Capital Improvement Expenditures for the County and School District
Recommended Changes
Policy 1.2: The cCounty and the School District shall undertake only those capital improvements included within this
element’s adopted capital improvements program. Pursuant to Section 163.3177(3)(b) F.S., the Capital Improvements
Element will be reviewed every year. If any facility identified in the Schedule of Capital Improvements is delayed or
deferred in construction, or is eliminated from the capital improvements program, and this delay, deferral, or elimination
will cause the level-of-service to deteriorate below the adopted minimum level of service standard for the facility, a
comprehensive plan amendment will be required to adjust the Schedule of Capital Improvements. The annual update of
the capital improvement element shall be done with a single public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners
and a copy of the ordinance amending the Capital Improvements Element shall be transmitted to DEOthe state land
planning agency.
Objective 2: Through 204530, development in coastal high hazard areas will not increase beyond the density or
intensity levels indicated on the current Future Land Use Map.
Policy 2.1: The coastal high hazard area is defined as the area of the county designated as evacuation zones for a
category one hurricane.
Objective 3: Through 204530, adopted levels-of-service will be maintained for all concurrency facilities.
Objective 4: Through 204530, new developments will bear a proportionate share of the cost required to maintain
adopted level-of-service standards.
Objective 5: Through 204530, the county will ensure that it is able to fund and provide required services and facilities.
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Housing Element
Neighborhoods play an important part in determining the vitality, stability, and way of life of the residents within a
community. The Housing Element ensures that there is adequate and safe housing for all current and anticipated future
residents of Indian River County. A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Housing Element are as follows.
◊ Consider rewording the goal for consistency with other Plan goals.
◊ Add Policy under Objective 1 related to Accessory Dwelling Units (supports Vision).
◊ Revise policies to reflect the Live Local Act, as appropriate.
◊ Continue to encourage infill development to prevent urban sprawl.
◊ Review policies which are not statutorily required that place additional burdens on Staff.
◊ Clarify expedited permit review process – This does not need to be defined in Plan, but it is discussed in Policies
1.6, 1.8, and 1.9, and one must consider how these function together. The exact process should be defined in a
separate policy document for ease of amendment.
◊ Implement more generalized language in objectives and policies to reduce need for frequent text amendments.
◊ Promote universal design.
◊ Two new policies are suggested under Objective 8 which reflect historic preservation, as well as the rehabilitation
and adaptive reuse of historically significant housing.
The proposed changes are important for the County to maintain its current housing stock, to promote infill development as
a context-sensitive solution, and to be prepared to adapt quickly to changing community needs. The recommendations
outlined also encourage the County to collaborate with other municipalities and entities.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(f)
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Public Engagement
One Word
The in-person One Word Activity, which requested attendees to answer the following questions in ONE WORD each,
provides excellent insight into community desires related to future growth and development.
In ONE WORD:
1. If the County reaches its highest estimated growth population, what is your top concern?
2. What does the County need less of?
3. What does the County need more of?
Highest Estimated Growth
“Congestion” and “Sprawl” tied for the second most common answer when attendees were asked for their top concerns
related to the County reaching its maximum growth potential.
More Of
When asked what the county needed more of, the top response was “Affordable housing.”
Ranking
The community at in-person workshops ranked Housing as the third highest priority out of the six elements they were
asked to rank.
Thought Wall
On the Thought Wall activity, attendees generally provided the following:
◊ Affordable housing: Must be a top priority. A new approach is needed. Lower-cost areas should have high access
to transit. The diversity of housing options must increase. Affordable senior living areas and workforce housing
should be encouraged or incentivized, and accessory dwelling units should be considered.
◊ Plan for housing the homeless
◊ Explore mitigating or reducing trailer parks
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Mapping Exercise
During the Mapping Exercise at all in-person workshops, the northeast and the southeast quadrant maps received the
most stickers. This is largely where the urbanized area exists. The available Housing-related stickers for attendees to place
and the percentage of total stickers each made up were:
◊ Duplex / Townhouse Development(s) (7%)
◊ Multifamily Development(s) (5%)
◊ Single Family Development(s) (6%)
A total of 18% of the stickers placed by attendees were Housing stickers.
PublicCoordinate Interactive Online Map
Users had the opportunity to select between six themed icons: Commercial/Office, Conservation, Housing, Infrastructure,
Parks and Recreation, and Transportation. After selecting their theme, users were able to place the point anywhere on the
online map and provide an open-ended response relevant to the theme. In relation to Housing, there was one concrete
recommendation:
◊ “I would love to see some sort of housing mix take over the closed stores at the Indian River Mall”
◊ Vero Beach Downtown – Mixed-use housing / commercial should be incentivized
Online Survey
One question asked in the survey was about the types of housing the County needs the most. The categories and the percentage of
respondents who included each category in their answer is as follows:
◊ Affordable housing (55.5%)
◊ Housing for young adults, families, new residents, and retirees (55.5%)
◊ Workforce housing (43.7%)
◊ Conventional neighborhoods (33.6%)
◊ Assisted living facilities (15%)
The survey also asked where new households should be located. One respondent suggested disallowing new housing unless it will
positively impact the community's current water infrastructure issues, and that no development should be permitted to destroy natural
habitats completely. Respondents recommend mixed-use development (vertically and horizontally), in-fill development in existing
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neighborhoods, and a combination of approaches for new households, focusing on areas where services like water and sewer can be
or are already provided before moving on elsewhere. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings to create housing is suggested. Finally, the
community is concerned about urban sprawl. Increasing density in built-up areas, adapting non-residential buildings into housing, and
in-fill development in existing neighborhoods are the three main themes across responses.
DIA Highlights
The Data Inventory & Analysis (DIA), available as a separate document, includes the following highlights:
◊ Most dwelling units are:
o Single-family detached homes (75%)
o Owner-Occupied (80.2%)
◊ The average household size in Indian River County is 2.42 people per dwelling unit.
◊ Approximately 21.6% of the housing units in the County are vacant, of which 15% are for rent, 9% are for sale, and
54.6% are for seasonal use.
◊ The median monthly housing costs for renter-occupied units is $1,183. 56.5% of renters spend more than 30% of
their household income on housing.
◊ The median monthly housing costs for owner-occupied units is $1,010. 21.7% of homeowners spend more than
30% of their household income on housing.
◊ There are a significant number of historic residential structures in the County.
◊ By 2045, there will be an estimated 145,236 residents in the unincorporated County, as well as approximately
20,300 seasonal residents.
◊ In the unincorporated County, according to the Urban Service Boundary (USB) analysis, the County’s projected
2050 population will add 42,698 residents, and the unincorporated County is projected to have a 2050 Carrying
Capacity of 51,049.
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Recommended Changes
Vision: Goals, objectives, and policies considered appropriate for assuring an adequate and affordable supply of housing
in the cCounty, conservation of the housing stock, prevention of blight and removal of blight-housing, and identification of
roles and responsibilities for achieving stable housing conditions in the cCounty are set forth in the following section. The
County will coordinate with adjacent Counties and municipalities within the County to provide affordable, attainable
housing.
Goal: The County will work to ensure a sufficient supply of decent, safe, sanitary housing options, including affordable
housing, that is responsive to the diverse housing needs of the County’s existing and future population, while encouraging
the preservation and enhancement of the County’s existing housing stock and historic structures. A housing supply which
permits all households to enjoy safe, healthful, and affordable living accommodations which meet accepted standards of
affordability and which are located in pleasant environments where a sense of civic pride and personal well-being can be
achieved.
Objective 1: By 2020, tThe County shall strive to reduce number of owner-occupied households paying more than 30%
of their income for housing will be less than the 19% of owner-occupied households paying more than 30% of their
income for housing in 2000, while the number of renter-occupied households paying more than 30% of their income for
rent will be less than the 39% of renter-occupied households who paid more than 30% of their income for rent in 2000.
Policy 1: By 2015, The County Planning Department shall continue to monitor all codes, ordinances, regulations, policies
and procedures regarding residential development review and construction shall be reviewed by the Community
Development Department staff to determine their impact on housing development costs. Those components which
unnecessarily increase the cost of housing without impairing the health, sanitation, fire safety, structural integrity and
maintenance requirements shall be eliminated.
[In partnership with County Attorney, revise policy language to reflect Live Local Act]
Policy 1.2: The county shall encourage infill development by providing infrastructure to infill areas, removing blighting
influences, stabilizing neighborhoods, and providing private developers with information regarding available funding.
Policy 1.3: The County shall coordinate with the Florida Housing Finance Agency Corporation (FHFAC) to identify
federal, state and other sources of funding, such as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and Low Income
Housing Tax Credit Program funds, earmarked for very low, low, and moderate income housing and actively pursue those
PAGE 85
funds for local use by applying for funds when appropriate. The cCounty shall also assist and support private applicants
applying for these funds.
Policy 1.4: The cCounty shall continue to participate in housing bond programs (such as the Escambia County bond
program) in order to provide below market rate loans to very low, low, and moderate income households for home
purchases. The county shall inform financial institutions of the availability of the bond programs.
Policy 1.5: By 2012, the cCounty shall, establish and maintain a web based permitting process, and the County will
regularly request and review user feedback to determine what changes are necessary to ease or better the online
permitting process.
Policy 1.6: The County shall maintain time frames for reviews in its land development regulations. The county shall take
all necessary steps to eliminate delays in the review of affordable housing development projects. In order to define delay,
the county hereby establishes the following maximum timeframes which may be modified upon Board priorities and
staffing considerations for approval of projects when an applicant provides needed information in a timely manner:
• Administrative approval - 5 days;
• Minor site plan - 5 weeks;
• Major site plan - 6 weeks;
• Special exception approval - 13 weeks.
Whenever these review times increase by 150% or more due to the work load of the review staff, the county will begin
prioritizing the review of affordable housing development project applications. In prioritizing affordable housing
development project applications, staff will schedule affordable housing project applications for review before other types
of project applications to ensure that maximum review timeframes are not exceeded for affordable housing projects.
Policy 1.7: As part of the adoption process for any cCounty regulation which could affect housing development, cCounty
planning staff shall prepare a Financial Impact Statement (FIS) to assess the anticipated impact of the proposed regulation
on the cost of housing. When proposed regulatory activities are anticipated to increase the estimated cost per unit for the
development of housing, the Financial Impact Statement(FIS) shall include an estimated increased cost per unit projection.
The financial impact statementFIS then will be reviewed by the Professional Services Advisory Committee, the Planning
and Zoning Commission, and, if possible, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Those groups shall consider the
regulation’s effect on housing cost in making their recommendation to the BOCCBoard of County Commissioners. The
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BOCCBoard of County Commissioners will consider the financial impact statementFIS in making its final decision on the
adoption of any proposed regulations.
Policy 1.8: The cCounty shall expedite permits review for the following types of residentialhousing projects:
Residential projects utilizing new construction technologies, including green building programs and Energy STAR®
Program and/or other technologies to support alternatives beyond Green and Energy STAR®.
Residential projects near transportation hubs, major employment centers, and mixed-use developments.
Affordable/Attainable housing developments
Farmworker housing developments
The County shall establish, by resolution or ordinance, policies and procedures for expedited review, including rules for
prioritization and defining delay as it relates to expedited reviews.
[Consolidates the topic of expedited permit review into one policy and calls for the establishment of policies and
procedures outside of the Plan]
Policy 1.9: The county shall support housing developments near transportation hubs, major employment centers, and
mixed use development by expediting the permit process for these types of housing projects.
Policy 2.2: Indian River County shall continue to designate on its future land use plan map sufficient land area with
adequate density to accommodate the projected 2020 2030 population of 184,400. Accordingly, the county’s Future Land
Use Map residential designations vary in density from 1 unit per acre to 10 units per acre. All of this residentially
designated land is located within the Urban Service Area where adequate infrastructure is available to accommodate a
wide variety of housing types, including mobile homes, farmworker housing, housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-
income households, and group homes and foster care facilities. As structured, the county’s land use designations
accommodate housing units with a wide range of costs and physical characteristics (lot sizes, setbacks, and land use
mixes). These future land use map designations are situated to allow for residential development that has:
1. Proximity to public transportation, employment centers, recreational facilities, and community services such as
shopping, personal services, schools, daycare facilities, and health care facilities; and
2. Compatibility with adjacent land uses and existing neighborhoods.
The County’s Residential Land Use Districts
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Net Max Type of Residential
District Acres Density Development
M-2 1071 10 MF, SF, Mobile Home, Farmworker housing, Group homes
M-1 5158 8 MF, SF, Mobile Home, Farmworker housing, Group homes
L-2 13532 6 MF, SF, Farmworker housing, group homes
L-1 12574 3 MF, SF, Farmworker housing, group homes
R 956 1 SF, Farmworker housing, group homes
Policy 2.5: The cCounty shall maintain its affordable housing density bonus provision for planned development projects,
allowing eligible affordable housing projects with a market value of affordable housing units not to exceed 2 ½ times the
cCounty’s median household income, to receive up to a between 10% - 20% density bonus based on the following table.
Very Low
Income (VLI) and
Low Income (LI)
Affordable Units
as Percentage of
Project’s Total
Units
Density Bonus
(Percent
increase in
allowable units)
Additional Density Bonus for Providing
Additional Buffer and Landscaping based on one
of the following options (percent increase in
allowable units)
Range of Possible Density
Bonus Percentage
(Percent increase in
allowable units)
Option I Option II
Material equal to a 20'
wide Type C buffer
with 6' opaque feature
along residential
district boundaries
and 4' opaque feature
along roadways
Material equal to a 25'
wide Type B buffer with
6' opaque feature along
residential district
boundaries and 4'
opaque feature along
roadways
More than 30% 10% 5% or 10% 10% - 20%
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Objective 3: By 2015, tThe County will strive to keep the number of sub-standard housing units (units lacking complete
plumbing and units with no heating facilities) below 5%. will be 10% less than the number of sub-standard units identified
in 2010 census. [Note: According to 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, currently only 3% of all
housing units are sub-standard. County may wish to select a different percentage for the Objective, based on their
experience]
Policy 3.1: The Indian River County shall continue to enforce its adopted Maintenance Code, as identified in the LDRs.
Property Maintenance Code shall continue to be the county's standard for public health, safety, and welfare with regard to
occupancy limits based on unit size, provision of adequate plumbing facilities, and prevention of exterior physical
deterioration. This code will be enforced by the building division and code enforcement section staffs.
Policy 3.4: The county shall improve the appearance of housing units within low-income neighborhoods by participating
in the World Changers Program.
Objective 4: Annually, at least 40 as many income eligible households as feasible will receive assistance through
cCounty’s local housing assistance program.
Policy 4.3: The county shall maintain its current policy of financing water and sewer capacity charges for newly
constructed housing units.
Policy 4.5: The county shall enter into interlocal agreements with any county municipality which, because of unusually
high property values or coastal high hazard area constraints, cannot meet its affordable housing needs within its
jurisdiction, and desires to contribute to the Housing Trust Fund. The amount and method of payment will be established
prior to execution.
Policy 4.10: The cCounty shall assist non-profit housing organizations in establishing Community Land Trusts (CLTs)
and Community Development Corporations (CDCs) by providing technical support to those organizations.
Policy 4.11: The county shall assist non-profit organizations in establishing Community Development Corporations
(CDC) by providing technical support to those organizations.
Policy 4.13: The county shall create a new private/public housing trust fund.
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Objective 5: By 2020, tThe cCounty, through assessment process or grants, will have provided paved roads, drainage
facilities, and/or centralized water systems to at least 5 additional existing subdivisions currently without sufficient
infrastructure.
Policy 5.2: The county shall send a memorandum to property owners of subdivisions lacking infrastructure to inform
them of opportunities for obtaining infrastructure improvements to existing neighborhoods.
Objective 6: By 2020, The County will have sufficient lands in residential areas to accommodate group homes and care
facilities and will have at least 1,215 beds in group homes and care facilities.
Policy 6.3: The cCounty shall enact regulations requiring that all foster and group home developments include barrier-
free incorporate universal design features.
Policy 6.4: The cCounty shall maintain its land development regulations that allow group homes and foster care facilities
in all residential districts. Group homes must obtain a valid license from the Department of Children and Families and meet
all the requirements of Ch. 419, F.S.
Policy 6.5: The cCounty shall provide supporting infrastructure and public facilities needed for development of group
homes, foster care facilities, and residential care facilities within the Urban Service Boundary.
[Note: County Staff should consider any additional specifications that should govern this policy, whether criteria
are added here or codified]
Objective 7: Through 2015, Indian River County will preserve the existing farmworker housing stock and ensure that
there will be no net loss in the number of farmworker housing units within the county (in 2009, farmworker camps in the
county had a 414 person capacity). to the greatest extent possible.
Policy 7.1: In accordance with the Future Land Use Element and in alignment with the County’s Visioning Study, Tthe
cCounty shall provide assistance to private agricultural businesses to secure funding for construction and/or rehabilitation
of farmworker housing. The county’s assistance will include, but not be limited to, providing information regarding rural
and farmworker housing needs, ensuring the availability of lands with sufficient density and adequate infrastructure to
support farmworker housing developments, and providing funding assistance for farmworker housing development.
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Objective 8: By 2020, at least 200 of Indian River County’s historic properties will be in excellent or good condition. The
County shall preserve housing resources identified as historically significant and, where possible, maintain these
resources for residential uses or adaptive reuse.
Potential Policy: The County shall encourage the continued identification, analysis, and preservation of the County's
historical resources. Such efforts may include determination of their significance and vulnerability, as well as
implementation of historic preservation management policies.
Potential Policy: The County shall assist in the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historically significant housing
through available technical and economic assistance programs. These efforts shall be coordinated with the State Division
of Historical Resources (DHR).
Policy 8.1: Technical assistance shall be provided by the County staff to individuals and organizations having individual
or collective interests in conserving historic or architecturally-significant structures, neighborhoods, and areas. Assistance
will, at a minimum, include preparation of applications for the Historic Preservation Grants-In-Aid program administered by
the Division of Archives, History and Records Management Bureau of the Florida Department of State. The County shall
assist property owners of historically significant housing in applying for and using available state and federal assistance
programs.
Policy 8.2: The cCounty shall maintain and implement its Historic and archeological resource protection Ordinance. (Ch.
933, LDRs).
Objective 9: By 2012, Indian River County will have continue to engage in interlocal agreements with the municipalities
within the cCounty to provide housing assistance to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households as well as ensure
local jurisdictions are able to provide sufficient affordable housing.
Policy 9.2: The county will inform the municipalities within the county of the existence of the county’s housing trust fund
and of the opportunity for the municipalities to contribute to the fund in order to meet their share of county housing needs.
The County shall enter into interlocal agreements with any county municipality which, because of unusually high property
values or coastal high hazard area constraints, cannot meet its affordable housing needs within its jurisdiction, and desires
to contribute to the Housing Trust Fund. The amount and method of payment will be established prior to execution.
[Note: Replaced original policy 9.2 with policy 4.5]
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Conservation Element
The Conservation Element sets the foundation for the County to protect and preserve its natural environment and
resources. The Element ensures the resiliency and protects the quality of natural systems within the community. A
summary of the changes that are proposed for the Conservation Element are as follows.
◊ Make appropriate revisions to this Element as part of one of the first EAR-based amendments which will adopt the
revised Manatee Protection Plan upon its approval and adoption, which is anticipated to occur in 2024.
◊ Substantial removal of codified regulations, with reference to said regulations replacing the specific details in the
Plan.
◊ Define what size qualifies as small as it relates to the County’s wetland mitigation policy.
◊ Remove guidance on what factors the “Land Acquisition Guide” must include, in favor of following the recently
established Land Acquisition Process created by Conservation Lands staff following Resolution 2022-016
(environmental bond referendum).
◊ Revise the criteria for reviewing lighting plans for beachfront development.
◊ Incorporate the Beach Preservation Plan
◊ Substantial revision to the County’s specific criteria pertaining to shoreline stabilization within the unincorporated
portion of the County and all oceanfront properties lying within the municipal limits of the City of Vero Beach.
◊ The Indian River County Lagoon Management Plan has also been completed
These recommended changes are important to the ongoing conservation measures in the County.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(d).
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Public Engagement
One Word
The in-person One Word Activity requested attendees to answer the following questions in ONE WORD each.
In ONE WORD:
1. What does the County need less of?
2. What does the County need more of?
Less Of / More Of
“Conservation” was the number one response to the question, “What does the County need more of?”
Ranking
The community at in-person workshops ranked Environmental Conservation as the second highest priority out of the six
categories.
Thought Wall
During this exercise, Environmental Conservation was the third highest priority based on total number of comments.
Attendees generally provided the following comments regarding transportation (italics represent a “highest priority”
thought):
◊ Protect and preserve: Water quality, wildlife habitats, agricultural lands, trees, open green land / natural land
◊ Maintain and improve stormwater management
◊ Control the negative side effects of growth on the environment, including but not limited to reducing the removal of
mature trees for new development
◊ Designate more conservation areas and increase conservation efforts
◊ Implement stricter environmental protection rules, including requiring sewer hookup and increasing mitigation costs
for developers
◊ Provide ecotourism opportunities
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Mapping Exercise
Conservation Preservation stickers made up 35% of all stickers placed on maps during the in-person mapping exercises.
Habitat Preservation received 12% of stickers, Rural Land Preservation required 11%, and Wildlife Conservation received
12%.
PublicCoordinate Interactive Online Map
Users had the opportunity to select between six themed icons: Commercial/Office, Conservation, Housing, Infrastructure,
Parks and Recreation, and Transportation. After selecting their theme, users were able to place the point anywhere on the
online map and provide an open-ended response relevant to the theme. Twenty-one percent of comments left on the map
discussed Conservation.
Online Survey
One question on the Online Survey asked, “What are the most important environmental issues in Indian River County?”
Respondents were permitted to select more than one of the provided options. The top answers were “The quality of
beaches, rivers, and lakes,” (87%), “Open space / habitats” (70%), “wildlife preservation,” (69%), and “drinking water
quality” (69%).
A second question asked, “What natural / environmental resources are most important to the County? How should these
resources be protected? A summary of the responses is as follows:
◊ Water is abundant and can be used for outdoor recreation and fishing, but it needs to be uncontaminated, and
chemicals should not be used.
◊ Protecting seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon can prevent biodiversity loss.
◊ Preserving land and water is important, and limiting housing development can reduce traffic, pollution, and water
problems.
◊ Protecting the waterways, particularly the Indian River Lagoon and Blue Cypress Lake, is of utmost importance for
the natural environment and the county's economic vitality.
◊ Development should be slowed, and no more housing developments should be built to protect the land and water.
◊ Wetlands, scrub jay, and gopher tortoise habitats should be preserved and conserved.
◊ Stricter boating and septic regulations are necessary to improve water quality.
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◊ Water treatment plants should be used instead of septic tanks, and everyone should be hooked up to sewer.
◊ Ditches and canals can serve the community for outdoor recreation and fishing, but chemicals should not be used.
◊ Rural areas, ranches, and farms should be conserved, and agriculture should be encouraged.
DIA Highlights
◊ Identifies and inventories natural resources within Indian River County.
◊ Provides a breakdown of the acreage of various types of soil in the County.
◊ Suggests solutions for soil conservation.
◊ Incorporates the Beach Preservation Plan.
◊ Identifies Areas of Critical Beach Erosion in the County as well as historical efforts to renourish beaches.
◊ Catalogs characteristics of local water sources and wetlands.
◊ Provides estimated water withdrawals by land use category.
◊ Identifies the most up-to-date list of threatened and endangered species for Indian River County as well as related
conservation or protection plans.
◊ Provides the acreages of impounded and unimpounded Wetland Areas.
◊ Identifies publicly-owned conservation and recreational lands in the County.
Recommended Changes
Objective 1: Through 20202045, air quality within Indian River County will continue to exceed state and federal
minimum ambient air quality standards.
Policy 1.1: The county shall require that a burn permit be issued by the Fire Division prior to allowing burning of land
clearing debris associated with development within the Urban Service Area. Issuance of a burn permit will be contingent
upon the use of an air curtain incinerator, minimum separation distance from residential developments, wind direction,
and/or any other conditions imposed by the Fire Division. The County shall regulate land clearing debris burning through
the Land Development Regulations (LDRs).
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Policy 1.2: In coordination with the Office Bureau of Radiation Control and the Indian River County Health Department,
the county shall make available information on the detection and control of radon gas.
Policy 1.3: The county shall coordinate with the State Division of Forestry to ensure that appropriate fire prevention
methods are implemented for the burning of land clearing debris outside the Urban Service Area. [Regulated in County
LDRs, Chapter 925]
Policy 1.4: To reduce air-borne pollution, the county will ensure that land clearing and tree removal associated with
urban development meets the criteria contained in county land development regulations. These criteria include, but are
not limited to: phased clearing, minimizing cleared areas, and stabilizing cleared areas with ground cover. Bona fide
agricultural operations will remain exempt from permitting requirements. [Regulated in County LDRs, Chapter 927]
Objective 2: By 20202045, water quality throughout the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Sebastian River shall, at a
minimum, meet State Class Ill water quality standards, and State Class II standards, where practicable.
Policy 2.1: Consistent with Policy 2.1 of the Coastal Management Element, the county hereby adopts the State
designation of Class II- "shellfish propagation or harvesting," as defined in the FDEP' s 2008 2022 Surface Water Quality
Standards report, as the minimum water quality standard for the following portions of the IRL located within Indian River
County: from the north county line south to the CR 510 causeway east of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW); south of the CR
510 causeway to the North Relief Canal, and from the northern tip of Round Island SR 60 to the south county line.
Policy 2.4: The county shall require Storm water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPs) for all new development projects
that are subject to site plan or plat approval. [Regulated in County LDRs, Chapter 930, and through NPDES permitting
requirements]
Policy 2.5: Consistent with SJRWMD Rule 40C-2, F.A.C. - Consumptive Use Permit requirements, the county shall
prohibit the use of Floridan aquifer artesian flow wells to recharge new artificially created surface waterbodies in
conjunction with urban development, except for four inch or less diameter wells with working valves. [Rule 40C-2 no
longer contains this]
Policy 2.7: The cCounty shall prohibit the creation of new navigable canals or waterways connected to the Indian River
Lagoon or St. Sebastian River. Excavation of any existing canal shall not be for the purpose of obtaining fill. Maintenance
dredging of existing artificial navigable canals shall be the minimum necessary to accomplish the dredging purpose and
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shall be permitted in accordance with FDEP Rule 40C-4.051(11)(b), F.A.C., and under Section 10 of the Rivers and
Harbors Act of1899, as administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with FDEP and the USACE.
Policy 2.8: The county, in its land development regulations, shall require littoral zone vegetation plantings for artificially
created ponds on project sites exceeding ten (1 0) acres in area. When littoral zones are required, the following minimum
requirements shall apply:
~ A minimum of30 percent of the waterbody surface area or 21 square feet per lineal foot of shoreline, whichever is
less, shall be planted with native littoral vegetation, and shall be maintained permanently as part of the waterbody;
~ A minimum of one (1) tree, consisting of a native freshwater wetland species, shall be planted for every 500 square
feet of littoral zone coverage;
~ The water management system shall be designed to prevent siltation and eutrophication;
~ A design and management plan, specifying remedial methods for correcting potential siltation, eutrophication,
and/or infestation by nuisance species, shall be required;
~ Consistent with Florida Administrative Code (F AC) Section 40C-42.026( 4)( d), the planted littoral zone area shall
consist of a 6:1 or flatter slope. [Recommend removal and placement in LDRs; if kept, revise and consolidate]
Policy 2.9: Consistent with Policy 4.2 of the Stormwater Management Sub-Element, tThe cCounty shall, by 2012,
request a formal meeting with representatives from all of the F.S. 298 Special Drainage Districts in the cCounty to discuss
the following issues: conducting comprehensive basin inventories, adopting maximum discharge limitations and pollutant
load reduction goals (PLRGs), and setting level-of-service standards for water quality and flood protection.
Policy 2.11: Consistent with Policy 7.6 of the Stormwater Management Sub-Element, Program Goal I of the Indian River
Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and Goal I of the Surface Water Improvement Management
(SWIM) Plan, the county shall reduce the amount of non-point source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon by
applying for SWIM funds and Section 319 Grants to improve the pollutant removal of efficiency of existing stormwater
management facilities and where feasible, to construct new regional stormwater management facilities.
Policy 2.12: By 2010, the county will expand sanitary sewer service to all areas identified throughout the county by the
SJRWMD as being "high" and "medium" priority areas of pollutant loading from on-site (septic) disposal systems.
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Policy 2.15: The county shall monitor water quality data available from other agencies for the Indian River Lagoon and
St. Sebastian River to determine the success or failure of water quality improvement projects, including the St. Sebastian
River muck removal project, the Sebastian Stormwater Park, the Main Relief Canal Pollution Control Facility, and the
Spoonbill Marsh project, and use the information to assess the need, design, and location of future water quality
improvement projects. [Repeated in Policy 2.11 in Coastal Element]
Policy 2.16: The cCounty shall seeksupport federal and state funding for implementation of the Indian River Lagoon
Master Plan and Management PlanComprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
Policy 2.17: The County shall continue to implement the St. Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve
Shoreline Protection Buffer Zone, as regulated in County LDR Section 929.07. For parcels created after June 18, 1991
along the St. Sebastian River, a 100-foot shoreline protection buffer shall be provided. The shoreline protection buffer shall
be measured from the mean high-water mark of the river or 50 feet from the landward boundary of jurisdictional wetlands
along the river or any tributary, whichever is greater, to any construction. For parcels of record which existed prior to June
18, 1991, a 50-foot shoreline protection buffer for unplatted parcels, and a 25-foot buffer for existing platted lots is
required on land parcels bordering the St. Sebastian River or an Indian River Lagoon aquatic preserve, measured from the
mean high-water line to any construction. In no case, however, with reference to parcels or lots of record which existed
prior to June 18, 1991, shall the buffer(s) exceed twenty percent (20%) of the parcel or lot depth perpendicular to the
applicable waterway. Shoreline protection buffers shall not apply to platted lots with existing seawalls.
o Within the shoreline protection buffer, no development shall be permitted with the exception of docks, boat ramps,
pervious walkways and elevated walkways which provide the property owner with reasonable access to the waterway.
o No more than twenty percent (20%) or 25 feet, whichever is greater, of any shoreline may be altered for reasonable
access. Native vegetation in the remainder of the shoreline protection buffer shall remain unaltered, except as may be
allowed through county trimming regulations.
o Shoreline alteration shall be prohibited, unless it is in the public interest or prevents or repairs erosion damage, or
provides reasonable access to the water, does not adversely impact water quality, natural habitat or adjacent shoreline
uses, and is permitted by all applicable jurisdictional regulatory agencies.
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Policy 2.18: The cCounty shall take actions recommended in the 2008Indian River Lagoon Master Plan and
Management Plan Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), including actions to eradicate invasive
flora and fauna, reduce sedimentation and assess potential climate change impacts to lagoon resources.
Objective 3: Through 2025, there will be The County shall continue to maintain no reduction in the quality or quantity of
water in either the surficial aquifer or the Floridan aquifer in Indian River County. For the purpose of this objective, water
quality will be based on SJRWMD's most current regional groundwater model.
Policy 3.1: Consistent with Policy 1.5 of the Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Sub-element, the cCounty shall
continue to enforce existing LDRsland development regulations that protect existing and future public water supply wells
from contamination by prohibiting any non-residential land use which stores, handles, or produces a toxic or petroleum-
based product, or any substance regulated under 40 CFR 3 02, 40 CFR 122.21, and! or Chapter 487, F.S., from locating
within 1,000 feet of a public water supply well. The following minimum radial separation distances shall apply to the
previously mentioned land uses:
~ 200 feet for on-site disposal systems, unless approved by the FDEP or DHRS;
~ 300 feet for wet retention/detention areas, unless approved by the SJRWMD;
~ 500 feet for landfill and/or transfer stations, above ground or underground storage tanks, feed lots and animal
facilities, and WWTP effluent discharges, unless approved by the FDEP;
~ 1 ,000 feet from surficial aquifer public supply wells for any nnmng and/or excavation of waterways or drainage
facilities which intersect the water table.
Policy 3.3: By 2010, the county will update the Surficial Aquifer Primary Recharge Overlay District (SAPROD) map into a
Geographic Information System (G.I.S.) format.
Policy 3.6: By 2012, the county will establish The County will continue to enforce an emergency water conservation plan
consistent with the SJRWMD's District Water Shortage Plan, as specified in Chapter 40C-21, F.A.C. The cCounty's
emergency water conservation plan shall include the following criteria:
~ local enforcement procedures relating to the District Water Shortage Plan;
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~ availability of public information on water conservation techniques; and
~ advertisement of water restriction requirements and water conservation techniques in the local press during drought
conditions.
Policy 3.7: By 2012, the county will coordinate with the SJRWMD and the FDEP to delineate and establish scientifically-
based wellhead protection areas (WHPAs) for all public water supply wells.
Policy 3.8: By 2015, the county shall obtain an updated countywide geohydrological study with seismic profiles, or
comparable data. [Redundant to Groundwater Policy 2.6]
Objective 4: Through 20202045, the County will strive for no reduction in flood storage capacity or the other natural
functions and values of floodplains in Indian River County.
Objective 5: Through 2020, there will be no net loss of the natural functions and values of wetlands or deepwater
habitats in Indian River County, to the greatest extent possible.
Policy 5.2: Indian River County shall require the restoration and management of wetlands as mitigation for the limited
filling of degraded wetlands, provided that the following criteria, as defined in LDR Chapter 928, are met and FDEP and/or
SJRWMD regulations are met.
~ The benefits of the restoration and management of natural functions shall offset the losses of wetland functions
associated with the limited wetland filling;
~ A conservation easement shall be established to ensure protection; in addition, Indian River Mosquito Control
District (IRMCD) will be granted access easements to allow for mosquito inspection, treatment, and management; and
~ The restoration and management plan shall be consistent the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM)
utilized by FDEP and SJRWMD, and with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations, as defined in Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act.
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Policy 5.3: Indian River County shall require a buffer zone of native upland edge vegetation to be retained around
wetland and open water habitats which are constructed or preserved on new development sites. Width and exceptions to
this can be found in Land Development Regulations Section 928.07.
Policy 5.4: In recognition of the many natural functions and values of estuarine wetlands, and in recognition of the need
to protect these resources from incompatible land uses for the sake of the public interest, all the environmentally sensitive
estuarine wetlands habitats shall be deemed environmentally-sensitive and are designated C-2, Estuarine Wetlands
Conservation within the Conservation District, on the comprehensive plan future land use map. Consistent with Future
Land Use Policy 1.31, the specific boundaries of estuarine wetlands and the C-2 designation shall be determined on a site-
by-site wetland survey basis.
Policy 5.5: The cCounty shall continue to accept fee-in-lieu payments as a last alternative for mitigation of wetlands
alteration when on-site mitigation is not practicable, but only when consistent with the State's Uniform Mitigation
Assessment Method (UMAM) and only in cases where the affected wetland is a small (less than 0.50-acre), isolated,
disturbed wetland with minimal functional value. Funds obtained from fee-in-lieu payments will be earmarked for
acquisition, restoration, or management of similar wetlands elsewhere in the cCounty.
Objective 6: Using 2008 conservation land acreage as a baseline, Indian River County shall, by 2020, preserve a
minimum of 500 additional acres of upland native plant communities to sustain viable populations of native plant and
animal species and protect representative stands of each habitat type in Indian River County. The additional acreage shall
be preserved through the establishment of conservation easements and/or fee simple acquisition.
NOTE: For Objective 6, the recommended language could not be provided. The County must ascertain
whether the target has been met or the year (2020) needs to be extended. If the target has been met, the
County may consider removing, modifying language to “maintaining,” or identifying a new target.
Policy 6.2: Using 2008 conservation land acreage as a baseline, the county shall, by 2015, restore and manage, or assist
in the restoration and management of, a minimum of 100 additional acres of xeric scrub vegetation in coordination with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), to ensure that use
and management of the property is compatible with the maintenance of viable populations of endemic plants and/or
animal species. The following sites shall be included: the North Sebastian Conservation Area Addition; the Cypress Bend
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Community Preserve; and the Sand Lakes Conservation Area. The County shall restore and manage, or assist in the
restoration and management of, xeric scrub vegetation at the North Sebastian Conservation Area Addition, Cypress Bend
Community Preserve and the Sand Lake Conservation Area, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), to ensure that use and management of the property is
compatible with the maintenance of viable populations of endemic plants and/or animal species.
Policy 6.4: The cCounty shall continue to pursue their land acquisition process to obtain ecologically valuable parcels.
review its environmental land acquisition guide on a regular basis, and shall update the guide as deemed appropriate.
a. The land acquisition guide shall include factors to be considered to assess and prioritize acquisition proposals, such as:
1. resource values/physical features, such as proximity and value to other resources, recreational trail systems and
greenways;
2. environmental values, such as lands verified or expected to support rare, endangered, or threatened species;
3. water quality protection, such as whether or not such lands buffer natural surface waters or preserve aquifer
recharge areas;
4. management considerations, such as feasible multiple public use of the property, compatible with resource
conservation;
5. financial considerations, such as funding availability;
6. market considerations;
7. social and economic values, such as historic preservation, environmental education, recreation, and scenic
aspects;
8. agriculture protection, such as preservation of active agricultural use lands through the acquisition of agriculture
conservation easements; and
9. the need for acquisition to protect the natural community where appropriate protection cannot be afforded by land
development regulations.
b. The land acquisition guide shall identify methods of land acquisition to be considered that may be appropriate,
depending on any given proposal, including purchase, donation, exchange, installment sale, and use of intermediaries
(e.g. Natural Conservancy).
c. Land acquisition shall be considered only after all "non-acquisition" options for environmentally sensitive or
environmentally important lands protection have been explored and rejected as inappropriate, including easements, rental
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(lease), withdrawal (public domain), zoning, acquisition by other entities, cooperative agreement, permit restrictions,
administrative regulation, and "no action". [A land acquisition process was recently created by Conservation Lands
Staff following Resolution 2022-016 (environmental bond referendum).]
Policy 6.5: The cCounty shall require the preservation of native vegetative communities on county-owned land to the
maximum extent feasible, in accordance with the LDRs, unless otherwise in the public interest.
Policy 6.8: The cCounty shall continue to require the removal of and restrict the planting of nuisance exotic vegetation
identified on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's (FLEPPC's) Category I list and the Florida Invasive Species Council
Plant List.
Policy 6.10: The cCounty shall continue to utilize G.I.S. computer mapping data of vegetative communities, imperiled
species, wetlands, cultural resources and other similar available environmental data in the evaluation and regulation of
land development activities.
Policy 6.13: The cCounty shall continue to prohibit the disturbance of dune vegetation oceanward of the county dune
stabilization setback line, with the exception of dune walkover construction and other similar minor structures that may be
allowed subject to approval from the FDEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems permitting requirements.
Objective 7: Through 20252040, there will be no reduction in the critical habitat of endangered or threatened aquatic
and terrestrial species of flora and fauna occurring in Indian River County. For the purpose of this objective, "critical
habitat" is defined as the minimum required sum of environmental conditions in a specific area necessary to sustain a
given species. The protection of critical habitat shall be measured and evaluated on a site development basis by the
USFWS for each protected species.
Policy 7.3: The cCounty shall take measures, as set forth in the policies of Objective 5 and Objective 6 of this element,
to protect significant upland, wetland and deepwater communities that provide habitat for threatened or endangered
species, as well as non-threatened, non-endangered species. The County shall continue to implement its adopted
Wetlands and Deepwater Habitat Protection Ordinance to ensure maximum protection of wetlands and deepwater habitats
by discouraging development activities adjacent to or in such areas that may adversely affect wetlands and deepwater
habitats, and to encourage restoration of already degraded or destroyed systems. No alteration of wetlands or deepwater
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habitat shall be allowed unless a wetlands/deepwater habitat alteration permit has been issued by County environmental
planning staff.
Policy 7.4: The county shall regulate land development activities, as set forth in Objectives 1, 7 and 16 of the Future
Land Use Element. [Redundant]
Policy 7.5: By 2011, the county, in cooperation with the FDEP Bureau of Protected Species and Florida Marine Patrol,
shall evaluate the need to revise manatee protection and speed zones in certain areas of the St. Sebastian River and the
IRL, to protect the Florida manatee and to promote boating safety. The County created a Manatee Protection and Boating
Safety Comprehensive Management Plan in 2000, with revisions in 2025. The County shall use this MPP when reviewing
proposals for new and expanded multi-slip docking. The County shall continue to enforce the Manatee protection rules
that are established by FWC, encourage the regulation of designated manatee speed zones, and promote boating safety.
Policy 7.8: The cCounty will apply the following criteria when reviewing the lighting plans for beachfront development
proposals in the unincorporated county:
a. ~ No light illuminate any area of the beaches during the period of the year when sea turtles nest (March 1 to
October 31). Outdoor lighting shall be held to the minimum necessary for security and convenience;
b. ~ Floodlights shall be prohibited;
c. ~ Wall-mounted light fixtures shall be fitted with hoods and low wattage bulbs; All exterior light fixtures and pole
lights shall be fitted with shields and directed downward so that no light directly or indirectly illuminates the beach.
Such lighting shall be lamped with a long wavelength (560 nm) light source such as amber or red light emitting
diodes (LED), low pressure sodium, or true red neon as recommended by the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission;
d. ~ Low-profile downward directed luminaries, with or shields shall be used in parking lots, balconies, and along dune
crosswalks; required for pole-mounted lighting;
e. ~ Tinted of filmed glass shall be used in windows and glass doors fronting the ocean on single and multi-family
structures; and,
f. ~ Shielding requirements for pole-mounted fixtures and security lighting may be reduced if low pressure sodium
bulbs are installed as an alternative to mercury vapor and high pressure sodium bulbs. Tinted or filmed glass shall
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be used in windows and glass doors within line-of-sight of an observer standing anywhere on the beach on single
and multistory structures.
Policy 7.9: By 2015, tThe cCounty, in cooperation with the USFWS, the City of Sebastian, City of Fellsmere, Indian River
County School Board, and other appropriate agencies, will adopt a county-wide countywide Habitat Conservation Plan
(HCP) for the federally threatened endangered Florida scrub jay. Cost-share funding for the countywide HCP will be
sought from participating municipalities and agencies, and cCounty mitigation funds will be used to fund the County's
share of costs.
Policy 7.10: By 2011, tThe cCounty will establish one or more state certified recipient sites for relocation of displaced
gopher tortoises to cCounty-owned conservation land. In establishing gopher tortoise recipient site(s), the cCounty will
collect fees from developers relocating gopher tortoises to cCounty lands, with the fees to be used to fund management of
such sites for gopher tortoises. In establishing recipient site(s), the cCounty will identify and reserve certain receiving
areas for cCounty government projects.
Policy 7.11: The cCounty shall take actions recommended by the Committee for a Sustainable Treasure Coast to
sustain quality natural systems in Indian River County, including use of land acquisition, development cluster
requirements, conservation easements, transfer of development rights and mitigation banks to conserve natural systems.
[Committee no longer exists]
Objective 8: Using 2008 recreational and open space land acreage as a baseline, tThe cCounty, by 204520, shall
increase, by a minimum of 500 acres, the amount of recreational and open space land accessible to the public for
resource-based passive recreation, compatible with natural resource conservation by 20%. All areas credited as meeting
the minimum recreation space requirement shall be preserved and maintained as recreation space.
Objective 9: Through 2025, tThe cCounty will shall continue to provide opportunities for the commercial use of natural
resources. Notwithstanding, tThere will be no adverse environmental impacts in Indian River County attributed to the
commercial use of natural resources.
Policy 9.1: The cCounty, through the LDRs , shall regulate and issue permits for all proposed excavation/mining projects
in the unincorporated county. County regulations for excavation/ mining projects shall include:
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~ a requirement that a national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES) pollution prevention plans addressing
wind and water erosion be depicted on mining site plans and approved by County engineering staff prior to Planning and
Zoning Commission review;
~ a requirement that baseline water quality data be collected at project outfall points;
~ a requirement that applicants monitor discharge at outfall points to ensure no increase in levels of turbidity at outfall
points and compliance with state and federal water quality standards; and
~ a requirement of comprehensive dust and spillage control plans as part of mining site plans.
Policy 9.3: The county shall support the City of Sebastian's efforts to preserve and reestablish working waterfronts in
Sebastian by seeking grants to restore the Archie Smith Fish House to a demonstration working waterfront. [Structure
Removed based on available records]
Objective 10: Through 2025, there will be no adverse off-site soil erosion impacts associated with land development
and agricultural activities, and beach shoreline systems will be stabilized.
Policy 10.3: The cCounty shall undertake beach shoreline stabilization activities including continue to implement the
Beach Preservation Plan (BPP) including beach shoreline stabilization and conduct updates at least every five years for
the following activities:
~ monitoring of the experimental Pre-fabricated Erosion Protection ("PEP") reef to determine the need for
supplemental beach stabilization, such as sand renourishment;
~ determining additional funding sources for public beach stabilization projects, including consideration of
establishing a beach taxing district. The County should also continue to use the Tourist Development Tax and the Local
Option Sales Tax to match State funds for financing future Indian River County beach projects,
~ coordinating with the Sebastian Inlet Tax District and the City of Vero Beach on beach restoration projects; and
~ continuing meetings of a beach preservation and restoration advisory committee concerning recommendations
unrelated issues.
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Policy 10.4: To protect existing dune communities and reduce shoreline soil erosion, the cCounty shall continue to
prohibit development encroachment oceanward of the county dune stabilization setback line (DSSL), excavation or
manmade structure seaward of the county dune stabilization setback line (DSSL), with the exception of dune approved
dune walkovers and or other similar minor structures subject to approval as defined by the FDEP Bureau of Beaches and
Coastal Systems. By 2012, the county will evaluate the location of the DS SL and will consider relocating the DSSL
westward.
Policy 10.5: The cCounty hereby adopts the following specific criteria pertaining to shoreline stabilization within the
unincorporated portion of Indian River County and all oceanfront properties lying within the municipal limits of the City of
Vero Beach:
~ Rigid permanent shoreline protection structures shall be permitted if: The bulkhead or seawall is necessary to
protect real property improvements from a twenty-five-year or less intensity storm event, utilizing methods
approved by the Division of Beaches as Shores of the Florida Department of Natural Resources;
~ Only structures vulnerable to erosion from a 15 year or less storm event shall be permitted to construct rigid
shoreline stabilization structures;
~ Rigid structures may be permitted if the County engineering department and the Division of Beaches and Shores
of the Florida Department of Natural Resources recommendations include the utilization of a rigid structure over
other alternatives;
~ All shoreline stabilization projects shall be approved by the Community DevelopmentPlanning Department,
excluding those projects eligible for an emergency permit under Chapter 161, F.S., as authorized by the Public
Works Director;
~ Rigid shoreline stabilization structures shall not be permitted on vacant properties;
~ The subject property owner(s) shall be required to assume responsibility for and agree to mitigate any adverse
environmental impacts attributed to the stabilization project, including increased down-drift erosion to the adjacent
property, throughout the life of the stabilization project;
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~ Construction activity oceanward of the County's DSSLDune Stabilization Setback Line (D.S.S.L.) shall be avoided
to the maximum extent possible, and prohibited during sea turtle nesting season (March 1 to October 31) unless
expressly approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
~ The County should continue to enforce its sea turtle protection ordinance in order to protect sea turtles along the
County's beaches. Efforts shall be made to make beachfront lighting ordinances within the County uniform;
~ It is the policy of the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) that no light illuminate any
area of the beaches of unincorporated Indian River County, Florida, during the period of the year when sea turtles
nest (March 1 to October 31). Lighting associated with such construction or development must be in compliance
with FWC recommendations;
~ Within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Vero Beach, New coastal construction occurring seaward of the
primary dune during any portion of the marine turtle nesting season shall be conducted during daylight hours only.
Any person who anticipates beginning or continuing coastal construction during any portion of the nesting season
or any person whose coastal construction project will permanently alter natural shoreline characteristics shall
prepare a sea turtle protection plan in accordance with FDEP requirements. A copy of the approved sea turtle
protection plan shall be provided to the City prior to commencement of construction. Daily logs, monitoring results,
and all similar records maintained pursuant to the FDEP-approved sea turtle protection plan shall be provided to the
City by the permit holder responsible for implementing and conducting the sea turtle protection plan;
~ Restored and stabilized dunes shall be vegetated with authorized native, salt-tolerant plants suited to the
beach/dune environment and irrigated by hand watering methods only in a manner that does not broadcast water
seaward of the toe of the primary dune;
~The County shall enforce the St. Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Shoreline Protection
Buffer Zone established in the Indian River County Upland Habitat Protection Ordinance.
~The preservation of existing native vegetation shall be required along the shoreline. The use of rigid structural
alternatives will not be permitted unless non-structural methods have proven ineffective. The proposed seawall is
part of a comprehensive plan for shoreline stabilization and revegetation, which includes a mitigation plan for all
adversely impacted shoreline and aquatic vegetative species. The proposed seawall is adjacent to buildable upland
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property and does not increase the seaward (outward) projection of the property. Coordination with reviewing
agencies must be complete and permits approved.
~ Daily monitoring of sea turtle nesting activity shall be conducted by an individual certified by the FDEP in
conjunction with any construction activity oceanward of the D.S.S.L. during sea turtle nesting season. In the event a
nest is discovered, the FDEP Bureau of Protected Species Management and the Environmental Planning Section
shall be notified immediately. The individual responsible for sea turtle monitoring shall submit a nesting activity
report to the Environmental Planning Section and FDEP Bureau of Protected Species Management on a weekly
basis.
~ All dune vegetation oceanward of the D.S.S.L. removed or damaged as a result of construction activity shall be
replanted with native dune vegetation material capable of obtaining a minimum height of four (4) feet above the
existing grade within two (2) years of planting;
~ The contractor shall be required to meet on-site with the County's Coastal Engineer or a designee assigned by
the Public Works Director prior to commencing construction;
~ Prior to commencing construction, the applicant shall have received a Notice to Proceed from the FDEP's Bureau
of Beaches and Coastal Systems;
~ Nighttime construction activity associated with shoreline stabilization projects shall be prohibited during sea turtle
nesting season; and,
Storage of construction materials on the beach/dune system during sea turtle nesting season shall be prohibited.
Policy 10.6: The cCounty shall require the banks of properties bordering the St. Sebastian River and the Indian River
Lagoon Aquatic Preserve to be stabilized in conjunction with construction of a single-family residence and single-family
docks, in accord with all requirements listed in Policy 10.5. The preservation of existing native vegetation shall be required
along the shoreline. When excessive shoreline erosion is present, the planting of native vegetation, especially red
mangroves, in conjunction with installation of rip-rap will be encouraged. The use of rigid structural alternatives will not be
permitted unless non-structural methods have proven ineffective or are otherwise impractical. Where structural
alternatives are deemed appropriate, they will be required to be located on the upland portion of the site.
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Objective 11: Through 2025, there will be no new sites in Indian River County where domestic or industrial waste is
improperly managed or illegally disposed. The County shall continue to implement programs and legislation that monitor
and ensure proper waste disposal activities.
Policy 11.2: To maintain compliance with Title III (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act) of the federal
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), the cCounty Emergency Services Department will maintain an
update-to-date comprehensive inventory of the location, storage, manufacture, handling and/or transport of all hazardous
materials in Indian River County. Regulated industries/facilities are required to submit annual reports to the State of Florida
Emergency Response Commission and the local municipal fire department for hazardous and/or extremely hazardous
substances stored, used or manufactured on site.
Policy 11.4: Existing known hHazardous waste contaminated sites, identified on FDEP’s Contamination Locator Map, as
well as newly identified sites determined through assessments but not yet mapped by FDEP, shall be monitored and
remediated, when feasible.
Objective 12: By 2020, 80% of To the greatest extent possible, the cCounty's conservation lands shall be restored to
viable ecological condition and improved for compatible passive recreational public access.
Policy 12.2: By 2010, the county shall adopt an interagency management agreement on implementation of the
Sebastian Area-wide Florida Scrub-jay Habitat Conservation Plan.
Policy 12.3: By 2010, tThe cCounty shall enter into and maintain a written inter local interlocal agreement with the City
of Vero Beach regarding management of the Orange Islands Conservation Area.
Policy 12.4: For land tracts acquired through the Environmental Lands Program, the cCounty shall require a site-specific
management plan to be adopted within one year of acquisition. Such management plans shall be subject to the review and
recommendations of the County Conservation Lands Advisory Committee (CLAC). The County will, where feasible,
construct public access improvements within two years of management plan adoption.
Policy 12.5: The cCounty shall coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, in
acquiring and managing natural areas and open space. solicit grants from regional, state and federal agencies to
supplement management funds for acquired lands. Funding will be used for the following purposes:
1. restoration and enhancement of impacted wetland and upland areas;
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2. establishment and/or improvement of public access;
3. promotion of environmental education/awareness;
4. eradication of nuisance exotic vegetation;
5. posting of signage and boundary markers; and
6. prescribed burning on scrub lands.
Policy 12.9: By 2010, tThe cCounty will establish and maintain a dedicated funding source for ongoing management of
cCounty-owned and managed environmental lands.
Policy 12.10: By 2010, the county shall evaluate the need to hire additional conservation land management staff and
establishment of a distinct Conservation Lands Management Section within the Parks Division or Planning Division.
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Coastal Management Element
The Coastal Management Element sets the foundation for the County to protect and preserve its coastal resources as well
as protect life and property from natural disasters. The Element ensures the resiliency of the community. A summary of
the changes that are proposed for the Coastal Management Element are as follows.
◊ Establish that Boat Facility Siting Zones will be established in the County’s Manatee Protection and Boating Safety
Comprehensive Management Plan and streamline Policy language related to requirements for projects to meet
specific criteria.
◊ Move regulatory language from the Plan to the LDRs.
◊ Suggested new policies to encourage coordination with appropriate agencies to fund and implement beach
stabilization projects and establish a prioritization process for shoreline stabilization and beach renourishment
projects based on benefit-cost ratios.
◊ Continue to address Sea Level Rise.
These recommended changes are important to better reflect the threats of flooding and sea level rise and the importance
of conservation measures.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(g).
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Public Engagement
No key or substantive public engagement comments were received on this Element. Any public engagement information
relating to Coastal Management can be viewed in the Conservation or Parks & Recreation elements.
DIA Highlights
◊ Describes the Coastal Environment, including the Barrier Island, Nearshore Atlantic zone, Beaches, Dunes, Coastal
Strand and Hammock Communities, Indian River Lagoon, Aquatic Preserves, High Salt Marshes, Mangrove
Swamp, Mosquito Impoundments, Open Water, Exposed Sand-Shell Bottom, Drift Algae Communities, Submerged
and Aquatic Vegetation.
◊ Demonstrates decreasing coverage of Seagrass in the County.
◊ The majority of county owned infrastructure is located within the designated coastal zone. The Coastal Zone
accounts for more than 50% of the County’s land-area and includes all major population centers.
◊ A 2016 economic valuation study by the East Central Florida and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Councils
estimated the total annual economic output (value received) from the IRL in 2014 was about $7.6 billion, which
included nearly 72,000 jobs and recreational opportunities for more than 7.4 million visitors per year. Indian River
County accounted for 10.4% of the total economic contribution.
◊ In 2013, Indian River County experienced a low of 10,400 vessel registrations, however registrations reached
11,300 in 2019 before falling slightly to 10,600 in 2022.
◊ Indian River County has approximately one boat lane for every 5,823 residents, the current LOS standard does not
account for the use of boat lanes by seasonal residents or visitors from outside the County.
◊ Lagoon waters within the county are designated by the State as "Class III" from approximately Grand Harbor south
to an east/west line intersecting the northernmost tip of Round Island, and along the western side of the Intracoastal
Waterway (ICW) from the Wabasso Causeway north to the north county line. “Class II” waters extend from the
north county line south to the Wabasso causeway east of the ICW, from the Wabasso causeway south to the
northern limit of the Grand Harbor development, and from an east/west line intersecting the northern tip of Round
Island south to the south county line.
◊ Provides an overview of the County’s natural disaster planning efforts
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Recommended Changes
Objective 1: Through 20202040, there will be no reductions in the overall amount of terrestrial and marine resources
within the coastal zone of Indian River County compared to 2009 baseline data.
Policy 1.7: When the With each Manatee Protection and Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan (MPP)
undergoes its five-year evaluation, the cCounty shall reassess evaluate, as appropriate, the appropriateness of manatee
protection speed zones.
Policy 1.11: Indian River County shall continue to promote monitor both commercial and private fishing activities within
the cCounty through management of marine habitats and permitting of fishing resources.
Objective 2: Through 2020 2040, there will be no reduction in the water quality of the Indian River Lagoon or the St.
Sebastian River.
Policy 2.1: The cCounty hereby adopts the State designation of Class II - “shellfish propagation or harvesting,” as
defined in the 2008 2022 Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Surface Water Quality Standards report, as
the water quality standard for the following portions of the IRL located within the unincorporated county: Sebastian Inlet
extending south to C.R. 510, east of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW); South of C.R. 510 extending to an east-west line
transecting the North Relief Canal (both sides of the ICW); south of an east-west line transecting the north tip of Round
Island and east of the ICW. (Ref. Figure 9.10) as noted in 62-302 F.A.C.
Policy 2.2: The cCounty hereby adopts the State designation of Class III suitable for “Recreation, propagation, and
maintenance of a healthy, well-balanced population of fish and wildlife,” as defined in the 2008 2022 Florida Department
of Environmental Protection’s Surface Water Quality Standards report , as the minimum water quality standard for the
following portions of the IRL located within Indian River County: Sebastian Inlet extending south to C.R. 510, west of the
ICW; south of an east-west line transecting the North Relief Canal extending to an east-west line transecting the north tip
of Round Island (both sides of the ICW); south of an east-west line transecting the north tip of Round Island east of the
ICW(Ref. Figure 9.10). as defined in 60-302 F.A.C.
Policy 2.4: The cCounty shall implement the recommendations to reduce non-point source pollution entering the Indian
River Lagoon contained in the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program’s (IRLNEP) 2008 2019 Indian River Lagoon
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), and the SRJWMD’s Surface Water Improvement and
Management (SWIM) Plan.
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Policy 2.5: By 2010 2045, the cCounty will establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) established by FDEP and EPA
for each drainage basin within the cCounty.
Policy 2.12: Indian River County shall support seek state and federal funding for implementation of the Indian River
Lagoon Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
NEW Policy: To ensure coordinated management of the Indian River Lagoon, the County shall continue active
participation with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) by:
Providing information to the IRLNEP on environmental issues related to land development;
Participating in meetings of the IRLNEP.
The County will continue coordination with the SJRWMD on the SWIM plan and with other agencies that regulate the
Indian River Lagoon. The County will continue to coordinate with the SJRWMD on the SWIM plan by:
Applying for SWIM funds for implementation of programs designed to improve surface water quality;
Submitting regular reports to the SJRWMD on progress of the programs.
The County will continue to coordinate drainage related issues with the municipalities in the county and the 298 drainage
districts by implementing policies of the drainage sub-element. [Relocated policy from Intergovernmental
Coordination]
Objective 3: Through 20302040, there shall be no loss of estuarine wetlands, mangrove fringe, seagrass beds, or
reductions in water quality associated with the development or expansion of boat facilities or boat ramps in Indian River
County.
Policy 3.2: Boat Facility Siting Zones (1-9), as described in the Analysis section of the MPP, are hereby established. The
purpose of these Zones is to provide the public with guidance as to the potential for the siting of new boat facilities or for
the expansion, rearrangement, or conversion of an existing boat facility. The regulatory criteria to be applied to each zone
represent the baseline criteria that all proposed projects must meet.
In these Zones, specific criteria will be applied to each request for a new boat facility or the expansion, rearrangement, or
conversion of an existing boat facility. These criteria are as follows:
1. The siting of new boat facilities, or the expansion or slip conversion of existing boating facilities, shall be prohibited in
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the following areas of Indian River County:
• All of the St. Sebastian River west of the U.S. 1 Bridge; and
• All of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
2. The siting of new boat facilities, or the expansion, slip conversion or rearrangement of existing boating facilities, shall be
prohibited in the following areas:
• Within the Town of Orchid;
• Within the Town of Indian River Shores;
• Within the area known as the Jungle Trail Narrows; and
• Within any area designated as both a High Manatee Use area and a High Watercraft-related Manatee Mortality area, as
defined in the MPP"
The County's MPP shall establish the Boat Facility Siting Zones (1-9) and the baseline criteria that all proposed projects
must meet. The siting of new residential marinas, or the expansion, rearrangement or slip conversion of existing residential
marinas, may be allowed in prohibited areas (defined in the County's MPP) under certain conditions which are outlined in
the MPP.
Policy 3.3: The following boat ramp siting criteria shall be used to evaluate any new boat ramp or the rearrangement or
expansion of an existing boat ramp. These criteria shall be applied to all boat ramps (e.g., new, existing, private, public,
commercial, recreational, multi-family, or individual single-family).
1. The rearrangement of existing boat ramps shall not be subject to the boat ramp siting criteria unless any one of the
following are true:
a. The rearrangement will result in more lanes than currently exist (i.e., expansion);
b. The rearrangement will result in the boat ramp being able to increase the volume of traffic (e.g., increase the number
of parking spaces, make the boat ramp more accessible, deepen or widen the access channel);
c. The rearrangement will result in the boat ramp being able to be used by larger vessels (e.g., increase the size of the
parking spaces, deepen or widen the access channel); or
d. The rearrangement or the associated construction will destroy, alter, or disturb any native upland, shoreline
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vegetation, or SAV:
2. The siting of new or the rearrangement or expansion of existing boat ramps shall be prohibited in the following areas of
Indian River County:
• All of the St. Sebastian River west of the U.S. 1 Bridge;
• All of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge;
• The area known as Jungle Trail Narrows;
• Town Limits of Orchid;
• Town Limits of Indian River Shores;
• If the proposed site is within a High Manatee Use area AND a High Watercraft-related Manatee Mortality area, as
defined in this MPP.
3. The siting of new or the rearrangement or expansion of existing boat ramps shall be prohibited when one or more of
the following conditions are met:
a. The footprint of the new boat ramp or the rearrangement or expansion of the existing boat ramp (including all
proposed lanes, docks, access walkways, finger piers, mooring areas, turning basins, and ingress and egress pathways)
has a SAV coverage of ten (10) percent or greater using a scientifically acceptable method of coverage determination and
such determination is made between the months of May through October;
b. The site, whether new or existing, is located within a High Manatee Use area, AND a High Watercraft-related Manatee
Mortality area as defined in the MPP; or
c. The site, whether new or existing, is located such that new dredging will be required or necessary to provide access to
the ICW or to deeper water AND the site is located within or on land adjacent to a FDEP designated Aquatic Preserve.
This does not include manmade waterbodies such as canals or basins, or privately owned submerged bottom.
In the event that all the required or necessary dredging is determined by the FDEP or the SJRWMD to be maintenance
dredging, then this subsection [3(c)] does not apply. The determination of maintenance dredging shall be made in writing
by the FDEP or SJRWMD
and submitted to County Planning staff. It is the responsibility of the applicant, the property owner, or developer to secure
this written documentation. If any of the required or necessary dredging is determined to not be maintenance dredging
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(i.e., new dredging) then that part of the proposed project involving the proposed new dredging and any other activity or
structures associated with the proposed new dredging, is prohibited. [Recommend adoption by ordinance into LDRs]
Policy 3.4: Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, private residential marinas shall be permitted with
administrative permit approval in the following Residential Single-family (RS), and Residential Multi-family (RM) zoning
districts: RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-6, RT-6, RM-3, RM-4, RM-6, RM-8, and RM-10. [This is code-oriented language which
may be considered for the LDRs]
Policy 3.5: Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, public/private residential marinas shall be
permitted with special exception approval in the following Residential Single-family (RS), and Residential Multi-family (RM)
zoning districts: RS-1, RS-2,RS-3, RS-6, RT-6, RM-3, RM-4, RM-6, RM-8, and RM-10. [This is code-oriented language
which may be considered for the LDRs]
Policy 3.6: Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, recreational marinas shall be permitted in general
commercial (CG) and heavy commercial (CH) zoning districts. Recreational marinas shall be permitted with special
exception approval in the following zoning districts: office-commercial-residential (OCR), neighborhood commercial (CN),
and limited commercial (CL). [This is code-oriented language which may be considered for the LDRs]
Policy 3.7: Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, commercial marinas shall be permitted in the
following zoning districts: heavy commercial (CH), light industrial (IL), and general industrial (IG). Commercial marinas
shall be permitted in the general commercial (CG) zoning district with administrative permit approval. [This is code-
oriented language which may be considered for the LDRs]
Policy 3.9: Concurrent with the five-year evaluation and update of the MPP, the cCounty shall coordinate with the Town
of Indian River Shores, the Town of Orchid, the City of Sebastian and the City of Vero Beach concerning siting of
marina/boat facilities and the overall implementation of the MPP. That coordination shall include holding public workshops
and soliciting comments from the staff and elected officials of those municipal governments.
Policy 3.10: In the event that an existing marina is destroyed by a natural disaster, the marina may be re-built within the
same footprint of the damaged structure provided that the marina was in compliance with regulations at the time of its
construction. Existing Marinas that are re-built shall be consistent with the County codes and policies listed under
Objective 1 of in the MPP.
Policy 3.13: By 2010, tThe County Environmental Planning Section, in cooperation with the FWC’s Bureau of Protected
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Species Management, will shall produce a Boat Facility Siting mMap titled Constraints to Boat Facility Siting in the IRL.
This map will displaying the areas of high, medium, and low constraints throughout the county. Density thresholds and
limitations for development shall apply to sites within these locations. This map will be kept on file in the Community
DevelopmentPlanning Department and will be used to conduct site-specific reviews of boat facility siting and expansion
proposals.
Policy 3.14: A maximum density threshold of one (1) powerboat slip per 100 feet of shoreline along the IRL shall apply
in Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 4, the portion of Zone 6 lying within the Town of Indian River Shores, Zone 8, and Zone 9. [This is
code-oriented language which may be considered for the LDRs]
Policy 3.15: The cCounty shall encourage the expansion and upgrading of existing boat facilities as an alternative to
constructing new boat facilities. by considering the removal of the 1:100 powerboat shoreline density ratio on a case-by-
case basis from the following Marina Siting Zones: Zone 3, Zone 5, the portion of Zone 6 lying within the City of Vero
Beach, and Zone 7. As a minimum a 1:100 powerboat-shoreline density ratio may be applied, if warranted, using the
criteria in Section 1.2.
Objective 4: Through 2030 2040, all natural functions of the beach and dune system in Indian River County shall be
protected and no unmitigated human-related disturbance of the primary dune system shall occur.
Policy 4.1: The cCounty shall continue to recognize the 1981 Florida Department of Natural Resources (FDNR)
Environmental Protection Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL), as established by Chapter 161.053, F.S., and
recorded on June 10, 1981 in Plat Book 10, Pages 93-93H, as being the cCounty’s line of regulatory prohibition, or Dune
Stabilization Setback Line (DSSL). Construction encroachment, except for the following, shall be prohibited oceanward of
the DSSL:
federal, state and locally permitted erosion control stabilization and beach renourishment projects;
the construction of dune cross-over structures and other minor structures;
public navigational projects, markers or other control structures;
maintenance and/or restoration of legal nonconforming structures not requiring greater than 50 percent
construction, per Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations;
use of emergency equipment and/or activities, such as removal of ordnance and debris, to protect life and/or loss of
upland property;
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structural and non-structural stabilization techniques to protect coastal buildings from a 15-year or less storm event.
Policy 4.2: In light of the potential for increased coastal erosion from climate change, sea level rise and other factors, the
cCounty shall, by 2012,will continue to evaluate the location of the DSSL through 2040 and consider relocating that line
further west.
Policy 4.3: To ensure appropriate protection of the beach and dune system, the county shall review all proposed beach
and dune projects in the unincorporated area of the county and within the city limits of Vero Beach and shall review and
submit comments regarding permit applications of all appropriate federal, state and local agencies governing beach and
dune management. Shoreline stabilization criteria will follow Policy 10.5 of the Conservation Element.
Policy 4.6: Indian River County shall protect and preserve natural beach and dune systems by adopting the specific
criteria for shoreline stabilization within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County and within the municipal limits of
the city of Vero Beach, as outlined in Policy 10.5 of the Conservation Element. [Consolidated with 4.3]
Policy 4.9: County staff will attend meetings held by the Sebastian Inlet Tax District and will participate in evaluating
technical studies prepared by the District.
Policy 4.10: The cCounty shall continue to monitor the Prefabricated Erosion Prevention (PEP) reef to evaluate the
effects of the reef on shoreline stabilization.
Policy 4.11: The cCounty shall continue to study alternatives to fund shoreline stabilization for the areas of critical
erosion identified in the 2008 2022 Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Critically Eroded Beaches in Florida
report.
NEW Policy: The cCounty shall coordinate with all state and federal agencies in the funding and implementing of beach
stabilization projects. [Moved from Objective 10]
NEW Policy: Indian River County shall permit the utilization of local funds for shoreline stabilization and beach
renourishment projects. Priority shall be given to those projects which demonstrate the best benefit-cost ratio while
having the least impact to the offshore reef, and the nearshore beach and dune ecological communities. [Moved from
Objective 10]
Objective 5: Through 2030 2040, there will be no expansion of infrastructure within the Coastal High Hazard Area
(CHHA) other than that which is deemed necessary to maintain existing levels-of-service.
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Policy 5.1: The cCounty hereby designates the "Coastal High-Hazard Area" (CHHA) as the area below the storm surge
line of a category 1 hurricane, as established by a Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) computer
model. The CHHA shall be depicted on the County’s Future Land Use Map series. Figure 9.11 of this element is hereby
adopted as the county’s CHHA designation map.
Objective 6: Through 2020 2040, Indian River County will maintain an estimated evacuation time of 12 hours or less for
a Category III hurricane.
Policy 6.7: The cCounty shall prohibit the location of new adult congregate living facilities, nursing homes, and other
similar medical facilities that serve the county’s special needs population within the CHHA. [Consolidated with Policy
15.7]
Policy 7.6: The county shall continue to regulate development and manage natural resources within the Coastal Zone
by:
• Continuing to enforce LDR Chapter 932 - Coastal Management, and LDR Chapter 402 - Coastal Construction Code;
• Preserving flood storage capacity in the 100-year floodplain, in accordance with the policies listed under Objective
5 of the Stormwater Management Sub-Element;
• Maintaining or reducing land use density allowances in the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) in accordance with
the policies under Objective 17 of the Future Land Use Element and Objective 11 of this element;
• Minimizing beach and dune disturbance in accordance with Coastal Management Element Policy 4.8 and County
Code Chapter 932; and
• Reviewing, in coordination with the FDEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, all emergency seawall permit
applications within the unincorporated area of Indian River County and within the City Limits of Vero Beach. " [Addressed
in a different objective and separate policies]
Policy 7.8: By 2012, The County shall establish formal procedures in its Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) to address the
removal of marine debris, including boats abandoned in the Indian River Lagoon.
Objective 8: By 2012, the number of public access points to natural resources within the coastal zone of Indian River
County, including beaches, the St. Sebastian River, and the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon, will be increased by a
minimum of five public access points.
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Policy 8.3: By 2012, the county shall seek funding from the Florida Inland Navigation District Waterway Assistance
Program to construct a boat ramp at the eastern terminus of Gifford Dock Road (a.k.a., 45th Street), on the Indian River
Lagoon. [Completed]
Policy 8.4: "The cCounty shall prohibit the net loss of public access and facilities by:
requiring any displaced or removed public access to be replaced at a minimum of a one-to-one (1:1) ratio;
requiring private property owners will be encouraged to provide public access, through the dedication of private
easements, to beaches which are renourished or enhanced with public funds. This requirement may include
provisions for the establishment, relocation or enhancement of public accesses provided that such established,
relocated or enhanced accesses will not adversely impact existing residential neighborhoods or adversely impact
existing natural resources; and
providing public vehicular parking at more than 50 percent of all new public beach accesses. "
Policy 8.5: By 2015, tThe cCounty will add a limited beach access facility to the Captain Forster Hammock Preserve
oceanfront.
Objective 9: Through 2020, there will be no aAdverse impacts will be minimized to the historic integrity of roads, sites
or structures deemed historically or archaeologically significant in Indian River County.
Policy 9.1: Consistent with Policy 8.2 of the Future Land Use Element, the Indian River cCounty shall continue to use
incentives such as transfer of development rights, tax relief, mitigation, and public acquisition to protect and preserve
historic and archaeological resources in the Coastal Zone consistent with Future Land Use Policy 8.2.
Policy 9.2: The cCounty shall pursue state and federal funding to acquire and/or to preserve cultural and historic sites in
coastal areas recognized as important and/or significant.
Policy 9.3: The cCounty shall provide developers with incentives, such as transfer of development rights, tax incentives
and others, in return for preserving historic resources in coastal areas.
Policy 9.4: The cCounty shall require developments in coastal areas which include historical resource sites to submit
archaeological surveys prior to commencing construction activities. Developers shall be required to preserve these
resources while maintaining a reasonable use of the land.
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Policy 9.5: The cCounty shall recognize and properly manage its historical resources by implementing Objective 8 of the
Future Land Use Element.
Policy 9.6: By 2012, tThe cCounty will develop management plans for the following scenic/ historic roads: Fellsmere
Grade, Quay Dock Road, Old Winter Beach Road, and Gifford Dock Road.
Objective 10: Through 20302040, the level of service (LOS) for traffic circulation, recreational facilities, stormwater
management, and potable water and sewer service in the coastal zone of Indian River County will be consistent with the
LOS standards set forth in the concurrency section of the Capital Improvements Element.
Policy 10.2: The cCounty shall coordinate with all state and federal agencies in the funding and implementing of beach
stabilization projects. [Moved to Objective 4]
Policy 10.3: Indian River County shall permit the utilization of local funds for shoreline stabilization and beach
renourishment projects. Priority shall be given to those projects which demonstrate the best benefit-cost ratio while
having the least impact to the offshore reef, and the nearshore beach and dune ecological communities. [Moved to
Objective 4]
Objective 11: Through 20302040, there will be no increase in the density of land use within the Coastal High Hazard
Area.
Objective 12: Through 20152040, the annual boating accident rate in Indian River County will be at or below the 1995
baseline rate of 131 accidents per 100,000 registered boaters. Furthermore, there will be no incidence of watercraft-
related human fatalities. [Note: County should update data referenced herein as appropriate]
Policy 12.1: By 2010, the county shall request that the FWC adopt the following speed zone amendments for Indian
River County:
Gifford Cut: Extend the “unregulated” speed zone north toward Channel Marker 127;
Wabasso Causeway: Establish a year-round slow speed zone within 300 feet of the western shoreline of Wabasso
Island, continuing 300 feet north and south of Wabasso Causeway (C.R. 510); and
Create a 400-foot “Idle Speed” zone, within the ICW, centered under each bridge over the Indian River Lagoon;
and
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Eliminate the “Slow Speed” zone in the ICW north of the Barber Bridge (SR 60). "
Objective 13: By 2010, iInformational kiosks displaying manatee protection practices, safe boating practices, and the
designated speed zones of the inland waters of the county will be installed at all public boat ramps in Indian River County.
Policy 13.1: By 2010, tThe cCounty shall obtain funding from the FIND and the FWC to construct informational kiosks at
boat ramps and other strategic locations, such as fishing piers.
Policy 13.3: By 2010, tThe cCounty shall initiate a monofilament line recycling program by placing marked collection
receptacles at boat ramps, marinas, bridges, and strategic locations.
Policy 13.5: By 2010, aAll rental vessels, including personal watercraft, in Indian River County shall be required to
display stickers or plasticized cards with boating safety and manatee protection information, to the greatest extent
practicable.
Objective 14: Through 2015, the annual number of manatee mortalities in Indian River County shall be no more than
five (5), excluding unusual events such as red tide or disease outbreaks. Of these annual mortalities, no more than one (1)
mortality shall be watercraft-related.
Policy 14.1: The county, in cooperation with the City of Vero Beach Utilities Department and the FWC Bureau of
Protected Species Management will ensure that disruptions to outflow, and/or inadequate temperatures to sustain
manatees during winter are minimized, and that all necessary precautions to minimize hazards at the power plant are
initiated.
Policy 14.2: The county shall continue to assist the Indian River Mosquito Control District to identify and retrofit any
remaining culverts or pipes that pose a threat of manatee entrapment.
Objective 15: Through 2060, tThe County shall adopt, implement, and pursue strategies that increase community
resiliency and protect property, infrastructure, and cultural and natural resources from the impacts of sea level rise.
Policy 15.1: By 2022, Public properties and infrastructure, including but not limited to water and wastewater facilities,
stormwater systems, roads, bridges, governmental buildings, hospitals, coastal wetlands, transit infrastructure and other
public assets that may be at risk to sea level rise impacts shall be identified. Based on risk inventory findings, resiliency
improvements and relocation of infrastructure shall be considered as part of capital improvement plans, where warranted.
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Policy 15.3: Beginning in 2022, and every 5 years thereafter, tThe County shall review the best available data on local
sea level rise projections and County sea level rise inundation maps and shall update inundation maps and related
analysis, as warranted.
Policy 15.6: By 2023, tThe County shall re-evaluate flood zone requirements and mitigation strategies within the AAA
review the best available data on local sea level rise projections and County sea level rise inundation maps and shall
update inundation maps and related analysis, as warranted.
Policy 15.7: The County shall prohibit the location within the AAA of new adult congregate living facilities, nursing
homes, and other similar facilities that serve special needs populations within the CHHA and AAA.
Policy 15.8: No increase in land use designation density shall be approved by the County for properties that lie within
the AAA.
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Recreation and Open Space Element
Indian River County includes public and private recreation sites including parks, natural areas, waterway access, and
recreation facilities. The Recreation and Open Space Element ensures that the County has a comprehensive system of
public recreation and open space that meets the needs of existing and projected users and that enhances the natural
resources of the community. A summary of the changes that are proposed for the Recreation and Open Space are as
follows.
◊ Establish new objective related to the in development Parks and Recreation Master Plan and relocate master plan
related policies throughout this Element under that objective. Since the Master Plan is underway as of 2024,
additional revisions may become necessary to this Element to ensure alignment between the two. The Indian River
County Parks and Recreation Master Plan will be incorporated into this Element by reference.
◊ Modernize language: “universally accessible” versus “handicap accessible.”
◊ Due to a lack of uniform standards for recreation levels of service (LOS), revisions to such LOS should be deemed
appropriate by County Staff based on local knowledge, community feedback, and comparisons to existing
conditions in similar communities.
◊ Consider adding a Proportionate Share option to recreational concurrency.
◊ Consider innovative improvement financing policies such as selling naming rights or concessions.
These recommended changes are important to better provide suitable recreation and cultural opportunities to the
community and preserve the County’s open space.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(e)
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Public Engagement
One Word
The in-person One Word Activity, which requested attendees to answer the following questions in ONE WORD each,
provides excellent insight into community desires related to future growth and development.
In ONE WORD:
1. If the County reaches its highest estimated growth population, what is your top concern?
2. What does the County need less of?
3. What does the County need more of?
Highest Estimated Growth
“Environment” tied for the top concern related to the County reaching its maximum growth potential.
Less Of / More Of
When asked what the county needed more of, two of the top responses were “Multiuse Trails” and “Green spaces.”
Ranking
The community at in-person workshops ranked Parks and Recreation as being the 5th most important category out of the
six provided.
Thought Wall
On the Thought Wall activity, attendees generally provided the following:
◊ Add green spaces, trails, and recreational facilities for people of all ages and abilities
◊ Maintain existing parks and beaches, including making them more accessible to seniors and disabled individuals
◊ Create a countywide sidewalk and multi-use recreational trail network
◊ Enhance park amenities based on community needs
◊ Encourage and invite private sector involvement in providing recreational options
◊ Specific suggestions: Increase the number of pickleball courts and public golf courses, develop more lagoon parks
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with boat-dock access, schedule County-sponsored activities that accommodate working individuals, add an “IG
type center” in the northern portion of the County, increase promotion of local recreational opportunities
Mapping Exercise
During the Mapping Exercise at all in-person workshops, the northeast and the southeast quadrant maps received the
most stickers. This is largely where the urbanized area exists. The available Recreation-related stickers for attendees to
place and the percentage of total stickers each made up were:
◊ Playground(s) (New or Improvements) (0%)
◊ Public Pool (1%)
◊ Recreation Center (3%)
◊ Sports Field(s) / Court(s) (1%)
◊ Waterfront Access (3%)
A total of 8% of the stickers placed by attendees were Recreation stickers.
PublicCoordinate Interactive Online Map
Users had the opportunity to select between six themed icons: Commercial/Office, Conservation, Housing, Infrastructure,
Parks and Recreation, and Transportation. After selecting their theme, users were able to place the point anywhere on the
online map and provide an open-ended response relevant to the theme. In relation to Parks and Recreation, respondents
recommended:
◊ Vero Beach Municipal Power Plant – Tear it down
◊ South of Intersection of Indian River Blvd and Tarpon Drive – Greenways / green space
◊ CubeSmart Self Storage (901 20th St, Vero Beach, FL 32960) – This space valuable space was wasted and should
have been used for something else
Online Survey
One question asked in the survey was, “What park amenities does Indian River County need more of?” Respondents were
permitted to select more than one of the provided categories in their responses. The top answers were “natural areas”
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(80%), “Trails” (66%), and “Picnic Areas” (30%). Respondents additionally left 49 comments on this question. In summary,
these comments recommended:
◊ Better maintenance of existing resources
◊ Developing a greenway on Dixie Highway in Roseland
◊ Playgrounds incorporated into natural areas
◊ Dog beaches and parks
◊ Water and open space conservation
◊ More pickleball facilities, basketball courts, safe places to hike, affordable campgrounds, marinas and boat storage
facilities, public pools, bike trails, boat and kayak launches, skateparks, racquetball courts, outdoor fitness parks,
passive recreation areas such as for birding, and indoor/outdoor music venues
◊ More senior programming and summer activities for low-income children
◊ Separate fee structures for County versus non-County residents
◊ Adaptive reuse of the old power plant as an event or entertainment venue
The survey also asked about where parks are needed throughout the County, as well as for respondents to identify
existing parks that need improvements. A summary of the responses is as follows:
Residents in Indian River County have expressed their desire for improved maintenance of existing parks, more access to
natural areas, and better distribution of parks throughout the County. Some specific requests include more sports fields,
better bike paths, more dog-friendly parks, and an expanded park and picnic area at the north tip of Indian River County.
There is also a growing need for specialized parks that cater to specific ages, interests, and activities such as dog parks,
skate parks, and community gardens. The Indian River Neighborhood Association (IRNA) encourages prioritizing natural
parks and trails that preserve the County's beautiful landscapes and wildlife habitats while providing residents with serene
spaces for outdoor activities. IRNA also advocates for the expansion of trails that connect different parts of the County,
promote a healthy lifestyle, and provide safe, non-motorized routes for commuting and leisure. Finally, IRNA is committed
to ensuring that these parks are integrated thoughtfully into the county's planning and provide maximum benefit to the
community while preserving the environmental integrity of our natural surroundings.
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DIA Highlights
◊ Identifies existing recreation and open space in Indian River County, including summarizing the availability of the
same within the municipalities located in the County.
◊ Establishes parkland facility characteristics and standards.
◊ The County’s established level of service appears to be satisfied.
Recommended Changes
Objective 1: Through 2030 2045, adopted recreation levels-of-service will be maintained to ensure that adequate
parklands and recreation facilities are available and accessible for public use.
Policy 1.1: The cCounty hereby adopts a recreation level-of-service standard of 6.614 recreation acres per 1,000
permanent population plus weighted seasonal population. [Note: The NRPA standard is 3.13 acres per 1,000 persons]
Policy 1.2: For level-of service purposes, the cCounty shall measure parkland acres per 1000 population by summing
the total cCounty-owned park acreage and dividing by the current estimate of unincorporated county permanent
population, plus weighted seasonal population.
Policy 1.3: The cCounty shall maintain its concurrency management system, which allows proposed developments only
if there is sufficient parkland to serve the proposed development and when the County reaches 80% capacity, the County
shall evaluate whether proportionate share as a concurrency management option is appropriate.
Policy 1.4: The cCounty hereby adopts the facility standards identified in Table 10.1 as guidelines to be used in
developing parklands and should consider alternative parks/facilities to include.
Policy 1.5: By 2018, the county shall complete a needs analysis of its recreation services. This analysis will include an
assessment of the type of parks and facilities needed in Indian River County, the quantity of facilities needed, the location
where those facilities are needed, the current use of facilities, and a comparison of county needs to national standards for
recreation services, and unique local conditions relevant to recreation services.
Policy 1.6: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall evaluate the existing user fee structure and include full cost
recovery for adult programs
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Policy 1.7: By 2017, the Recreation Department shall revise its fee structure for county recreational programs and
reservation of county park facilities to include a surcharge for out of county residents. [Consolidated into Policy 1.6]
Policy 1.8: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall evaluate the current per capita expenditure in the north and south
areas (with S.R. 60 as a dividing line) and utilize the collected data to guide placement of needed park facilities in each
area.
Policy 1.9: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall evaluate new funding options, including privatization and
partnerships. The Division shall seek and consider a wide variety of funding and revenue options including public-private
partnerships, grants, selling facility naming rights, selling concessions, and other opportunities.
Policy 1.10: By 2017, the Recreation Department shall evaluate new revenue opportunities such as facility naming
rights, beach and park concessions, and others. [Consolidated into 1.9]
Policy 1.13: The Parks, Recreation, & Conservation Department shall continue to apply charge user fees for those
facilities and programs where the benefit is quantifiable and where the fee can be effectively implemented.
Objective 2: By 2020, the county will have 461 acres of parkland south of S.R. 60. The County will continue to develop
parkland south of S.R. 60 to meet area needs.
Policy 2.1: By 2018, the county will, based on funding availability, complete remaining improvements identified in the
South County Regional Park Master Plan.
Policy 2.2: The cCounty shall, based on funding availability, include active recreation facilities such as baseball fields,
basketball courts, tennis courts, jogging trails, swimming pools and others in its future south county parks if those facilities
are consistent with the 2012 updated south county regional park master plan.
Policy 2.3: The cCounty shall give parkland acquisition priority to the area south of SR 60, west of 43rd Avenue.
Objective 3: By 2020Through the planning horizon, the cCounty will have developed at least 65 percent of its currently
undeveloped existing park acreage. [Establish this objective and related target(s) in the Parks and Recreation Master
Plan] By Reference, the Indian River County Parks and Recreation Master Plan is being developed with Pros
Consulting Inc.
Policy 3.1: By 2020, the county shall complete phase II of the Treasure Shores Park.
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Policy 3.2: By 202518, the cCounty shall incorporate develop a new master plan for the fairgrounds, indicating needed
facilities and necessary structures, into a Parks Master Plan. [Note: EAR suggests establishing a new objective related
to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and incorporating all recreation master planning related policies under
that objective. Proposed language is identified in the recommendation matrix.
Policy 3.3: The county shall add facilities to existing parks having undeveloped area. Some parkland will remain
undeveloped for a variety of reasons, including environmental, regulatory, and aesthetics.
Policy 3.4: By 202518, the Parks, Recreation, & Conservation Department shall update the North County Regional Park
and the South County Regional Park Master Plans. [Note: EAR suggests establishing a new objective related to the
Parks and Recreation Master Plan and incorporating all recreation master planning related policies under that
objective. Proposed language is identified in the recommendation matrix.
Objective 4: Throughout the time horizon of the plan, all new parks and recreational facilities will be located near
population centers and will be handicap universally accessible.
Policy 4.3: The cCounty shall provide vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle multi-modal access consistent with the
Bikeway/Sidewalk Development Plan to all ccCounty-owned parks in conjunction with park development.
Objective 5: A Parks and Recreation Master Plan (will identify the number of access points to major water resources
and tThrough the time horizon of the plan, the current 57 access points to the cCounty's major water resources, including
the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, St. Sebastian River, and freshwater lakes, will establish policies for these to be
maintained.
Objective 6: A Parks and Recreation Master Plan will identify target program numbers to be provided tThrough the time
horizon of the plan, at least 142 recreation programs per year will be provided.
Policy 6.1: The county shall provide supervised recreation activities at all appropriate park sites.
Policy 6.2: The cCounty may allow private leisure and recreation groups to use park areas for recreation programs and
activities, pursuant to conditions provided in the County’s Code. provided that the following conditions are met:
The area of the park to be used must not currently be in use by the general public or designated for future use on
the park master plan;
A lease specifying duration of use, characteristics of use, insurance requirements, and other applicable conditions
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must be executed by the Board of County Commissioners;
A site plan or temporary use permit must be approved by the planning department;
Any improvements made to the leased site must be done and paid for by the lessee with the improvements
conveying to the county when the lease expires.
Policy 6.3: By 2018, tThe Parks, Recreation, & Conservation Department, as part of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan,
shall conduct a survey to determine the demand for existing recreational programs and to prioritize demand for new
programs.
Policy 6.4: The Recreation Department Division shall annually identify CORE consider recreation programs, and services
as part of its annual budget request.
Policy 6.5: By 2018, tThe Parks, Recreation, & Conservation Department shall establish monitor and maintain an
automated recreational program system which allows users to reserve park facilities or to sign up for recreation programs
online.
Policy 6.7: The Recreation Department shall coordinate with the IRC school district to structure an agreement for public
access to school recreational facilities.
Policy 6.8: The County shall manage the county’s shooting range to make it available to all county residents.
Objective 7: Through the time horizon of the plan and through implementation of a Parks and Recreation Master Plan,
there will be no decrease in the amount of publicly-owned or publicly-controlled open space within the cCounty.
Policy 7.2: Consistent with Policy 5.4 of the Transportation Element, tThe cCounty hereby designates the following
roadways as scenic/historic roads:
Jungle Trail (management plan developed)
Fellsmere Grade (management plan drafted)
Quay Dock Road
Old Winter Beach Road
Gifford Dock Road
Policy 7.3: Consistent with Policies 5.4 and 5.5 of the Transportation Element, By 2015 the cCounty shall develop
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updated management plans as warranted for each of the scenic/historic roads. These management plans shall meet
statutory requirements for the preservation of scenic/historic roads provide for the protection of open space resources
adjacent to these roads and shall designate areas suitable for open space acquisition. These roads will be used as access
ways, open space, and corridors incorporating passive and active recreational activities while maintaining their primary
historical importance.
Objective 8: By 2011, tThe cCounty Parks, Recreation, & Conservation Department’s staff shall meet with
municipalities’ staff as needed for the provision of countywide programs and for special events will have agreements with
municipalities for county-wide programs and for special events that impact other jurisdictions.
Policy 8.1: The county shall continue to coordinate with the St. Johns River Water Management District through
representation on the district’s regional recreation advisory committee.
Policy 8.3: By 2011, the county shall coordinate with the school board to exchange the county’s 16th Street complex for
an equal value regional park property within the unincorporated area of the county.
Policy 8.4: The cCounty Recreation Department’s staff shall meet with municipalities’ staff as needed for the provision of
countywide programs and for special events will have agreements with municipalities for county-wide programs and for
special events that impact other jurisdictions.
Objective 9: By 2012, the county will have a comprehensive cultural plan for the county (this plan will be developed by
the Cultural Council of Indian River County (CCIRC)).
Policy 9.1: By 2012, the county shall participate with the Cultural Council of Indian River County in developing a
comprehensive cultural plan for the county and shall encourage public/private partnerships, as appropriate.
Policy 9.2: The County shall, when possible, support cultural and heritage activities by providing financial support
through tourist tax revenue.
Policy 9.3: The County shall support the sale of the “State of the Arts” License plates promoted by the Cultural Council
of Indian River County. The CCIRC, as the County’s designated Local Arts Agency, will receive and dispense funds related
to the sales of the Arts License Plates, as required.
Policy 9.4: The County shall support the sale of the “State of the Arts” License plates promoted by the Cultural Council
of Indian River County. The CCIRC, as the County’s designated Local Arts Agency, will receive and dispense funds related
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to the sales of the Arts License Plates, as required.
Policy 9.5: The County shall consider the Cultural Council of Indian River County (CCIRC) as the county’s designated
cultural agency. As such, the Cultural Council shall represent the various arts and culture groups in the County, serving
as a liaison for all cultural requests to the county. In so doing, the Cultural Council may annually submit a funding request
to the county on behalf of the county’s arts and culture organizations. That funding request shall include the following
information:
Detailed information about the organization’s accomplishments during the last fiscal year, specifically as related to
funding received from the county.
Detailed budget information pertaining to any funds that the organization is requesting;
The organization’s proposed goals and activities for the upcoming fiscal year; and a copy of the organization’s most
recent audit, if applicable.
Policy 9.6: Through the Cultural Council, the County shall support cultural and heritage organizations’ applications for
state, federal and private foundation grants. The county’s support may include providing customized demographic
information, leveraging the County’s grant eligibility, providing letters of support, and providing other support as
appropriate.
Policy 9.7: The county shall assist the Cultural Council with the dissemination of a calendar of cultural events in Indian
River County prepared by the CCIRC. This assistance will involve making information available at government facilities.
Policy 9.8: The county will assist the Cultural Council in providing avenues for nonprofit and artist networking such as:
A. Providing workshops, seminars and one-on-one assistance for cultural organizations, artists and educators to enhance
their effectiveness, viability and long-term survival.
B. Promoting the use of its web-based tools to support and facilitate business transactions within the cultural community.
C. Providing opportunities for cultural leaders of all kinds to meet and learn from each other, creating networks that foster
collaboration and cooperation.
Policy 9.9: The Board of County Commissioners shall, upon request by the CCIRC, designate October of each year as
National Arts and Humanities month.
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Intergovernmental Coordination Element
The Intergovernmental Coordination Element guides the intergovernmental coordination processes for Indian River
County. This Element identifies coordination strategies for all other Elements of the Comprehensive Plan and ensures
effective coordination between the County and other jurisdictional agencies to meet residents’ needs. A summary of the
changes that are proposed for the Intergovernmental Coordination Element are as follows.
◊ Amend the goals, objectives, and policies to identify procedures to work through inconsistencies in plans among
the local governments rather than stating that they will never occur.
◊ Amend policies to acknowledge programs already put in place by shifting from creating to monitoring.
◊ Move policies more applicable to other elements, such as Potable Water Sub-Element or Coastal Management, into
those elements
◊ Implement changes required by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD).
These changes are important to ensure seamless execution of the updated Comprehensive Plan and to mitigate
inconsistencies within the document.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(h)
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Public Engagement
No key or substantive public engagement was gathered for this element.
DIA Highlights
◊ Identifies agencies with whom the County must coordinate in order for the Goals, Objectives, and Policies to
establish mechanisms to resolve issues between agencies.
Recommended Changes
Objective 1: Through the time horizon of the plan, the County will minimize there will be no inconsistencies or conflicts
between the cCounty’s comprehensive plan, the plans of municipalities within the cCounty, the plans of adjacent counties,
the plans of the school board, and the plans of other units of local government providing services but not having
regulatory authority over the use of land.
Policy 1.1: The cCounty shall utilize the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council's and the Department of Community
Affairs FloridaCommerce (fka DEO) review and comment process for comprehensive plan and plan amendment proposals
of other local governments in order to ensure consistency between the County Comprehensive Plan and the local
comprehensive plans of municipalities within the county, and the comprehensive plans of Brevard, St. Lucie, Okeechobee,
and Osceola counties.
Policy 1.2: The county shall continue to utilize the Comprehensive Plan Technical Advisory Committee to provide
coordination between Indian River County planning activities and the planning activities of the municipalities within the
county. [Removed; Covered by Policy 1.5]
Policy 1.3: By, 2012, tThe cCounty shall continue to support establish interlocal agreements with all municipalities,
requiring that applications for changes in land use or zoning for areas located within 500 feet of corporate boundaries be
referred to the affected agency (city or county) for staff review and comment prior to any changes in land use or zoning
are adopted.
Policy 1.7: By 2012, tThe cCounty shall maintain contact with staffs of the municipalities in the cCounty and the adjacent
counties to develop joint notification and plan review procedures.
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Policy 1.8: To ensure coordinated management of the Indian River Lagoon, the county shall continue active participation
with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) by:
• Providing information to the IRLNEP on environmental issues related to land development;
• Participating in meetings of the IRLNEP.
The county will continue coordination with the SJRWMD on the SWIM plan and with other agencies that regulate the
Indian River Lagoon. The county will continue to coordinate with the SJRWMD on the SWIM plan by:
• Applying for SWIM funds for implementation of programs designed to improve surface water quality;
• Submitting regular reports to the SJRWMD on progress of the programs.
The county will continue to coordinate drainage related issues with the municipalities in the county and the 298 drainage
districts by implementing policies of the drainage sub-element. [Moved to Coastal Management Element]
Policy 1.9: By 2011, the cCounty shall continue to coordinate with enter into an agreement with the Fellsmere Farms
Water Control District to ensure access to and use of the water control district’s canal/road rights-of-ways by adjacent
property owners and to establish maintenance responsibilities for the access roads.
Policy 1.11: By 2015, The cCounty staff shall continue to coordinate with the staffs of local municipalities and adjacent
counties and to prepare a report identifying inconsistencies and conflicts between the cCounty plan and each local plan
and identify ways to resolve inconsistencies and conflicts.
Policy 1.12: The cCounty shall request that the legislature prohibit the sale of conservation land by water management
districts unless the land sale is approved by the local government in whose jurisdiction the land is located.
Objective 2: By 2015 tThe cCounty will continue to maintain have an adopted formal mechanism for coordination of
adopted comprehensive plan level-of-service standards with municipalities, adjacent counties, the region, and the state.
Policy 2.2: By 2011, tThe cCounty shall compare its comprehensive plan level-of-service standards with the level of
service standards adopted by the municipalities within the county and meet with municipal staff to discuss the possibility of
developing countywide level-of-service standards.
Policy 2.4: The county utilities department shall approve potable water concurrency for new projects only when
adequate water supplies and potable water facility capacity are available to accommodate new development project
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demand. [Moved policy to Potable Water Sub-Element]
Policy 2.6: The cCounty utilities department will participate with the SJRWMD in the development of the SJRWMD’s
Water Supply Assessment and District Regional Water Supply Plan and other water supply development-related initiatives
by reviewing and commenting on the SJRWMD’s assessment reports and by implementing recommendations of the
SJRWMD’s water supply plan. [Revisions provided by SJRWMD]
Policy 2.7: The County shall, as warranted, coordinate with local municipalities to assess the financial and operational
viability of consolidating or otherwise revising the established utility service areas. The resulting assessment will be
presented to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration. As part of this, the County will review its existing
interlocal agreements for the provision of utility services. Prior to 2011, the County will coordinate with the City of Vero
Beach and the Town of Indian River Shores to prepare a financial analysis of options related to the possibility of
consolidation of utility services. This analysis may consist of, but is not limited to: the possibility of the County serving
utilities to the Town of Indian River Shores, currently served by the City of Vero Beach and the Unincorporated area of the
South Barrier Island, currently served by the City of Vero Beach, full consolidation of the City of Vero Beach Utility with the
Indian River Co. Utility or making no changes in the existing utility service areas. Based on the results of a financial
analysis of the various service options, the Board of County Commissioners will consider implementing the results that
show the best financial and operational benefits. The county shall also review its agreement with the City of Vero Beach
for provision of electricity to portions of the unincorporated county to determine the best available option for the
unincorporated county residents being currently served by the City.
Relocating Policy 3.5 to Objective 2: The cCounty shall maintain the level of service standards set in various
elements of the comprehensive plan and notify other local governments of the level-of-service standards.
Objective 3: By 202812, tThe cCounty will determine the feasibility of have an shall establishinged a formal coordination
mechanism with municipalities and adjacent counties to ensure that development in one jurisdiction does not adversely
affect the adequacy of public facilities and services in other jurisdictions.
Policy 3.2: By 202812, tThe cCounty shall identify all facilities and services which can be affected by the plans and
developments in other jurisdictions and monitor facility and service capacity through multi-jurisdictional coordination.
Policy 3.3: By 202812, tThe cCounty shall enter into interlocal agreements with the municipalities within the county to
exchange information and to coordinate the timing, location, and capacity of public facility improvements to ensure that
required services will be available when needed and economically feasible.
PAGE 139
Policy 3.5: The cCounty shall maintain the level of service standards set in various elements of the comprehensive plan
and notify other local governments of the level-of-service standards. [Moved to Objective 2]
Policy 3.6: By 2012, tThe cCounty shall enter into a formal coordination agreement with adjacent counties and the
municipalities in Indian River County to identify joint planning areas (JPA) and to address, at a minimum, the following
areas:
Improvement in communication between the county and various local, regional, and state agencies
Identification of local and regional resources
Identification of activities having extra-jurisdictional impact
Identification of locally unwanted land uses
Identification of expected impacts
Notification of affected jurisdictions
Development of measures to mitigate impacts
Development of a process to resolve disputes
Objective 4: By 2020, the number of enclave areas in the county will be reduced by fifty percent (50%) compared to the
2008 number. The County will continue to reduce the number of enclaves within Indian River County.
Policy 4.1: The county shall continue to work with the municipalities within the county to develop and adopt an Interlocal
Service Boundary Agreement (ISBA).
Policy 4.3: By 2010, tThe cCounty shall identify and inventory parcels, owners, and existing uses of enclavesmaintain
active database of enclaves.
Policy 4.4: By 2011, tThe cCounty shall notify enclave landowners of annexation procedures and assist them in
requesting annexation in appropriate municipalities every two years.
Objective 5: Through the time horizon of the plan, consistent with the Public School Facilities Element, the cCounty,
municipalities, and the school board shall maintain a formal agreement for sharing information, for coordinating plans and
projects, for implementing school concurrency, for planning infrastructure improvements, for siting school facilities, and
for co-locating facilities.
Policy 5.2: Consistent with the Future Land Use Element, Wwithin its residential any applicable districts, the cCounty
PAGE 140
shall designate sufficient lands to accommodate the projected needs for schools.
Policy 5.5: The cCounty shall obtain coordinate with the school board input on proposed sidewalk and road construction
projects.
Policy 5.9: The cCounty shall review site plans for school development projects consistent with the development
standards identified in appropriate Florida Statutes Ch. 163, F.S., Ch. 1013 F.S., and the 2008 Interlocal Agreement for
Coordinated planning and School Concurrency. Site plan review for school projects shall include but not be limited to:
• compatibility with the surrounding properties
• environmental concerns
• health, safety, and welfare concerns
With respect to compatibility, the following standards shall apply:
• Schools will be designed to minimize adverse traffic impacts on adjacent properties.
• Outside lighting will be designed to shield adjacent properties from school light sources.
• Play areas, athletic areas and other outside areas will be designed to limit noise impacts on adjacent properties.
• School buildings will be designed to complement the surrounding area in terms of height, bulk, landscaping, and
architectural design.
• Vegetative buffers, open space areas, and setbacks may be used to mitigate potential compatibility problems.
[Move stricken language to LDRs or other official document]
PAGE 141
Public School Facilities Element
The purpose of the Public School Facilities Element is to ensure coordination between the School District and Indian River
County as it relates to school capacities, facility siting, public access to school facilities, and more.
Due to the nature of this Element, Kimley-Horn was not contracted to provide recommendations on this Element. County
Staff provided the recommendations reflected in this section.
A summary of the changes that are proposed by County Staff for the Public School Facilities Element are as follows.
◊ Revise notice requirements related to impact fees and building permits from 10 working days to 30 calendar days
Florida Statute Reference: A Public School Facilities Element is not statutorily required.
Public Engagement
No key or substantive public engagement comments were received on this Element.
DIA Highlights
The Data Inventory & Analysis for the Economic Development Element did not undergo update(s) as part of this review.
Recommended Changes
Policy 2.7: The County shall notify the School District within 130 working days of receiving payment of school impact
fees and vesting school concurrency for any residential development.
Policy 2.8: The County shall notify the School District within 130 working days of issuance of a building permit for an
exempt residential use and shall notify the School District of each residential certificate of occupancy issued.
PAGE 142
Property Rights Element
The purpose of the Property Rights Element is to ensure specific rights of property owners are considered in local
decision-making. This Element establishes and commits to considering these rights.
Due to the nature of the Property Rights Element and statutory language, no comments or recommendations are provided
for this Element. Indian River County’s Property Rights Element meets statutory requirements.
Florida Statute Reference: Chapter 163.3177(6)(i)
Public Engagement
No key or substantive public engagement comments were received on this Element.
Data Inventory & Analysis
A Data Inventory & Analysis is not statutorily required for the Property Rights Element as of May 2024. The above-linked
Florida Statute provides the statements to be used in the Property Rights Element, although a local government is
permitted to adopt its own property rights element.
Indian River County adopted the language provided in F.S. 163.3177(6)(i).
Recommended Changes
There are no recommended changes for the Property Rights Element.
PAGE 143
Indian River County
Comprehensive Plan
Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR)
Appendix A. Summary Recommendation Matrices
Prepared by:
MAY 2024
Contents
Appendix A. Summary Recommendation Matrices ....................................................................................................................................................... 1
Future Land Use Element ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element .................................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Potable Water Sub-Element .................................................................................................................................................................................... 41
Solid Waste Sub-Element ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 48
Natural Groundwater Sub-Element ......................................................................................................................................................................... 51
Stormwater Sub-Element ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 55
Transportation Element ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 61
Economic Development Element............................................................................................................................................................................. 70
Capital Improvements Element ............................................................................................................................................................................... 77
Housing Element ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 85
Conservation Element .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 92
Coastal Management Element ............................................................................................................................................................................... 108
Recreation and Open Space Element .................................................................................................................................................................... 123
Intergovernmental Coordination Element ............................................................................................................................................................. 128
Public School Facilities Element ............................................................................................................................................................................. 132
Property Rights Element ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 136
PAGE 1
Appendix A. Summary Recommendation Matrices
Future Land Use Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Vision To maintain and promote the “Small Town Character” of Indian River County as a low density, low rise and “green”
county, while providing for a variety of housing and transportation choices. No Change This is the consistent Vision per County and community input.
Goal
Land development in Indian River County will occur in an orderly and controlled manner which ensures balanced
growth that optimizes the potential for economic development, provides for the efficient use of facilities and services,
and ensures the protection of the county's rich and varied environmental resources.
No Change
Objective 1:
Indian River County will have a compact and energy efficient land use pattern; an overall low-density character; and
adequate land for utility facilities necessary to support development. By 2030, the overall residential density of the
unincorporated portions of Indian River County, within the Urban Service Area, will be 1.75 units/acre.
Revise
Indian River County will have a compact and energy efficient land use
pattern; an overall low-density character; and adequate land for utility
facilities necessary to support development. (remove density standard
recommended)
Policy 1.1: Indian River County hereby adopts the Future Land Use goal, objectives, policies as well as Figures 2.9, 2.18, 2.20, 2.23,
2.24, 2.25, 2.26, 2.27, 2.29, and 2.33; and The Official Future Land Use Map.
Remove
The Map series is typically adopted as part of the comprehensive plan
regardless of a policy of this nature. Policy does not further objective.
Okay to keep generally but not required.
Policy 1.2:
Indian River County hereby adopts the following land use designations to be depicted on the Future Land Use Map
(Figure 2.34):
C-1, Conservation-1 (zero density)
C-2, Conservation-2 (up to 1 unit/40 acres)
C-3, Conservation-3 (up to 1 unit/2.5 acres)
AG-1, Agriculture-1 (up to 1 unit/5 acres)
AG-2, Agriculture-2 (up to 1 unit/10 acres)
AG-3, Agriculture-3 (up to 1 unit/20 acres)
R, Rural Residential (up to 1 unit/acre)
T, Transitional Residential (up to 1 unit/acre; or up to 3 units/acre for Planned Development Projects)
L-1, Low-Density Residential-1 (up to 3 units/acre)
L-2, Low-Density Residential-2 (up to 6 units/acre)
M-1, Medium-Density Residential-1 (up to 8 units/acre)
M-2, Medium-Density Residential-2 (up to 10 unit/acre)
MHRP, Mobile Home Rental Park (up to 8 units/acre)
BCID, Blue Cypress Improvement District (up to 10 unit/acre)
C/I, Commercial/Industrial
RC, Regional Commercial
PUB, Public Facilities
REC, Recreation
Mixed Use (floating land use designation; not depicted on the future land use map)
Consider possible
updates and revisions;
No Change
No Change per County input
PAGE 2
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.3:
Indian River County shall maintain, periodically review, and revise if necessary, its various zoning districts (including
special districts) and overlay districts as may be warranted to ensure the implementation of the comprehensive plan.
The zoning districts shall be based on the comprehensive plan and shall directly govern specific land uses, lot area,
building type, and size and dimension criteria.
Additionally, Indian River County shall maintain, periodically review, revise if necessary, and enforce land development
regulations. Those land development regulations shall be the primary mechanism through which the county shall
implement the Comprehensive Plan. The criteria and standards established in the various elements of the
comprehensive plan shall be the basis for the land development regulations. Those regulations shall include, but not
be limited to, provisions for:
• The use of land and water consistent with the Future Land Use Map and the Comprehensive Plan;
• The subdivision of land;
• The use of areas subject to periodic flooding and the provision of adequate drainage and stormwater protection;
• The protection of potable water wellfields;
• The protection of environmentally sensitive lands;
• The regulation of signage, landscaping and other aesthetic controls;
• The provision of safe on-site and off-site traffic circulation and adequate parking; and
• The review of all development applications and modifications to ensure that all provisions of the Comprehensive Plan
are enforced.
No Change
Policy 1.4:
Indian River County’s land development regulations shall, through various means, ensure that adjacent land uses are
compatible. Those means shall include, but not be limited to, use of the following:
• vegetative buffers;
• setbacks;
• open space;
• physical separation;
• regulation of lighting;
• regulation of hours of operation; and
• regulation of access.
No Change
Policy 1.5:
The Conservation Land Use designations shall be applied to those areas which contain or possess lands with qualities
and features which play a vital or essential role in the normal functioning of the county’s ecosystems and have been so
identified in the conservation element or merit preservation as vestiges of once common county ecosystems.
Revise
Cross reference to Conservation Element. Policy could end just before
"and have been so identified….". Assuming "vital or essential roles in the
… ecosystems" is defined in Conservation element.
Policy 1.6:
C-1, Conservation-1 (Publicly owned or controlled conservation areas)
Conservation Uses
Passive Recreational Uses
• including, but not limited to, nature centers and trails, hiking trails, canoe launches, observation towers, scenic areas,
wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife feeding stations, hunter education centers (including shooting ranges), picnic areas,
bathrooms, and parking areas
• up to 0.25 FAR
C-1 designated parcels shall be specifically depicted on the future land use map. C -1 designated parcels include but are
not limited to land owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District for its Upper Basin Project, publicly owned
No Change
Language throughout this Policy is good and reinforces vision.
PAGE 3
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
spoil islands in the Indian River Lagoon, and other environmentally important land owned or controlled by public
entities for conservation purposes.
C-2, Conservation-2 (Privately owned estuarine wetland and undeveloped lagoon island conservation areas)
Conservation Uses
Passive Recreational Uses
• including, but not limited to, nature centers and trails, hiking trails, canoe launches, observation towers, scenic areas,
wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife feeding stations, picnic areas, bathrooms, and parking areas
• up to 0.25 FAR
Residential Uses
• up to 1 unit/40 acres (on-site)
• up to 1 unit/acre (Transfer of Development Rights)
C-3, Conservation-3 (Privately owned xeric scrub conservation areas)
Conservation Uses
Passive Recreational Uses
• including, but not limited to, nature centers and trails, hiking trails, canoe launches, observation towers, scenic areas,
wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife feeding stations, picnic areas, bathrooms, and parking areas
• up to 0.25 FAR
Planned Development
• residential uses up to 1 unit/2.5 acres (on-site internal transfer of development rights)
• residential uses up to 1 unit/acre (external transfer of development rights)
• places of worship, up to 0.25 FAR
C-2 and C-3 designated areas shall be generally depicted on the future land use map; specific boundaries shall be
established pursuant to Policy 1.7 of the Future Land Use Element.
Residential development in C-2 designated areas and in C-3 designated areas shall be limited to approved Planned
Developments (PDs). The county shall require cluster development and density transfers to limit the impact of
development on conservation lands. The PD and clustering requirements shall not apply to single-family lots along the
east side of the St. Sebastian River that were legally created prior to February 13, 1990.
The following criteria shall apply to PDs in C-2 and C-3 designated areas:
• The density of the project shall not exceed the maximum density of the C-2 (for wetlands) or C-3 (for xeric scrub
uplands) designated areas, as applicable; no density transfers from off-site lands and no density bonuses shall be
permitted within PD projects on C-2 or C-3 designated lands;
• Lots created through the PD process shall not exceed one acre in size and shall be clustered, with the remainder of
the area designated as open space;
• Open space areas shall be retained as natural areas; however, up to ten percent of the open space in C -3 designated
areas may be used for passive recreation (including nature centers and trails, scenic areas, wildlife sanctuaries and
feeding stations, and picnic areas), and historical sites, as appropriate.
PAGE 4
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
• Within C-3 designated areas, the total area of xeric scrub disturbed by a PD project shall not exceed 20% of the total
xeric scrub area occurring on site.
Policy 1.7: Conservation land use designations shall be depicted on the future land use map. The exact boundaries of the C-2 and
C-3 Conservation designated areas shall be determined by environmental survey. With one exception, any area which
is depicted as a C-2 (wetlands) area or C-3 (upland xeric scrub) area on the Future Land Use Map, but which is
determined by environmental survey not to be wetlands (as defined in the Conservation Element) or xeric uplands (as
defined by the presence of xeric scrub vegetation and Orsino fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes, or Electra sand, 0 to 5
percent slopes) will have the same land use designation as the contiguous adjacent property.
The exception applies to land located east of the St. Sebastian River and depicted as C -3 on the future land use map. If
determined by environmental survey not to be xeric uplands, then that land shall be designated R, Rural Residential (up
to 1 unit/acre).
All areas depicted as C-3 on the Future Land Use Map which have xeric scrub vegetation and Orsino fine or Electra
sands will be deemed environmentally important, notwithstanding whether or not such areas meet the 5-acre
minimum threshold for environmental importance established in Conservation Element Policy 6.11 for other districts in
the county.
The determination of the exact outer boundaries of C-2 or C-3 areas will be made by the county environmental
planning staff based on verification of the vegetation and soils criteria referenced above, as applied to the
environmental boundary survey conducted by the landowner/applicant or his agent at the time of application for any
development permit (other than a comprehensive plan amendment or rezoning).
The county environmental planning staff shall not make its determination of importance or sensitivity until after
consultation with all appropriate local, state and federal agencies. Such consultation shall be ongoing, as required.
Revise
Recommend adding "initial": "shall not make its determination of
importance or sensitivity until after initial consultation with…" because
"consultation shall be ongoing" equates to the determination never
being made.
Policy 1.8: C-2 and C-3 designated lands shall be considered for public acquisition. Revise Cross reference to Conservation element, ensure consistency.
Policy 1.9:
The Agricultural Land Use designations shall be applied to those areas of the county that have been traditionally used
for agricultural purposes and are sufficiently removed from urban areas. The Agricultural Land Use categories will
ensure the continuation of the agriculture industry, protect agricultural lands from urban encroachment, and provide
valuable green and open space.
No Change
Vision document identified alternative forms of development and
practices within the Ag land use; should further discuss and consider
inclusion in the following policies; can also reference the Vision
document as an appendix if so desired (not required unless the County
wants to rely upon that for / as part of the DIA)
Policy 1.10:
Development of agriculturally designated lands shall be limited to the following:
Agricultural Uses such as Farming, Groves, Range and Livestock Activities and Forestry Excavation Activities
Agricultural Planned Developments consistent with Future Land Use Element Policy 5.9
Single-Family Residential Uses:
• Up to 1 unit/lot or parcel on legally established non-conforming lots or parcels of record, existing on October 1,
1990
• Up to 1 unit/5 acres in AG-1 designated areas
• Up to 1 unit/10 acres in AG-2 designated areas
• Up to 1 unit/20 acres in AG-3 designated areas
Agricultural Research Uses
No Change See previous comment and rationale.
PAGE 5
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Agriculturally Related Businesses
Recreational Uses
Public Facilities
Institutional Uses
Recycling Facilities
Public Schools:
• (Public schools shall be permitted on agriculturally designated lands only
within mixed use projects and traditional neighborhood design projects, or on
sites located outside of, but contiguous to, the urban service area boundary.)
New Towns:
• As permitted by Future Land Use Element Policies 1.37 and 1.38
Public and Private Utilities, Limited and Heavy
Policy 1.11:
The Low-Density Residential Land Use designations shall be applied to those areas which are suitable for urban and
suburban scale development. Except for two areas that are adjacent to the City of Fellsmere, Low -Density Residential
designated areas shall be limited to lands that are located within the urban service area and near existing urban
centers.
The two exceptions are the L-1 designated Homewood Subdivision generally located along the City of Fellsmere’s south
boundary, and the L-2 designated Tropical Village Estates and Morningside Subdivisions located at the southeast
corner of CR 512 and 130th Avenue.
No Change
Supports County’s vision.
General Comment: Land Use designations and related standards in this
and subsequent policies maintain and implement the community’s
expectations and vision.
Policy 1.12:
Development in low-density residential areas shall be limited to the following:
Single-Family Residential Uses
• up to 1 unit/acre in R designated areas
• up to 3 units/acre in L-1 designated areas
• up to 6 units/acre in L-2 designated areas
Multiple-Family Residential Uses
• up to 3 units/acre in L-1 designated areas
• up to 6 units/acre in L-2 designated areas
Recreational Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Public Facilities
• up to 0.35 FAR
Institutional Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Schools (not including business and vocational schools)
• up to 0.35 FAR
Excavation Activities (in R designated areas only)
Agricultural Uses (as permitted in Future Land Use Element Policy 6.3)
Professional Office Uses
• as permitted by Future Land Use Element Policy 1.34
• up to 0.35 FAR
Mixed Use Development Projects
No Change Consistent with Community Expectations and Vision
PAGE 6
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
• As permitted by Future Land Use Element Policy 5.6
Public and Private Utilities, Limited
The FAR of mixed use projects shall be calculated by assigning a portion of the total development area to each use.
The sum of the portions assigned to each use must equal the total development area. An exception shall be allowed
for accessory residential uses within primarily non-residential projects. That exception shall allow the entire
development area to be used to calculate the number of units allowed, without restricting the amount of development
area available for calculating the maximum FAR for primary uses.
Policy 1.13:
The Medium-Density Residential Land Use designations shall be applied to those areas which are suitable for urban
scale development and intensities. Those areas shall be limited to lands that are located within the urban service area
and near existing urban centers.
No Change Although this designation has not been mapped, retains options for
long-term growth/expectations.
Policy 1.14:
Development in medium-density residential areas shall be limited to the following:
Single-Family, Multiple-Family, and Mobile Home Residential Uses (excluding Mobile
Home Rental Parks 15 acres or larger)
• up to 10 units/acre in M-2 designated areas
• up to 8 units/acre in M-1 designated areas
Recreation Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Public Facilities
• up to 0.35 FAR
Institutional Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Schools (not including business and vocational schools)
• up to 0.35 FAR
Professional Office Uses
• as permitted by Future Land Use Element Policies 1.34 & 1.40
• up to 0.35 FAR
Mixed Use Development Projects
• As permitted by Future Land Use Element Policy 5.6
Public and Private Utilities, Limited
The FAR of mixed-use projects shall be calculated by assigning a portion of the total development area to each use.
The sum of the portions assigned to each use must equal the total development area. An exception shall be allowed
for accessory residential uses within primarily non-residential projects. That exception shall allow the entire
development area to be used to calculate the number of units allowed, without restricting the amount of development
area available for calculating the maximum FAR for primary uses.
No Change
Policy 1.15:
The Mobile Home Rental Park Land Use designation will be applied only to those properties that contain mobile home
rental parks fifteen (15) acres or more in size within the unincorporated portions of the county and limited to lands
that are located within the urban service area.
No Change Although also addressed in other sections, keep language as existing.
Policy 1.16: Development in a Mobile Home Rental Park Land Use designation shall be limited
to the following: No Change
PAGE 7
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Mobile Home Residential Uses
• up to 8 units/acre
Recreational Vehicle Uses (up to 25% of allowed units, within parks of less than 20 acres)
• up to 8 units/acre
Recreation Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Public Facilities
• up to 0.35 FAR
Institutional Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Policy 1.17:
The Commercial/Industrial Land Use designation shall be applied to those areas which are suitable for urban scale
development and intensities. Those areas shall be limited to lands that are located within the urban service area and
near existing urban centers.
No Change
Policy 1.18:
Development in Commercial/Industrial designated areas shall be limited to the
following:
Use Maximum Intensity/Density
Retail Trade 0.23 FAR
Offices 0.35 FAR
Business & Professional Services 0.35 FAR
Residential 8 units/acre
Manufacturing 0.50 FAR
Storage/Warehousing 0.50 FAR
Public Facilities 0.35 FAR
Recreational 0.35 FAR
Schools 0.35 FAR
Institutional 0.35 FAR
Public or Private Utilities, Limited or Heavy 0.50 FAR
The Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in Commercial/Industrial designated areas shall not exceed the above cited limits. The FAR is
determined by dividing the gross floor area of all floors of all buildings on a development site by the area of that
development site. If there is a question concerning which FAR category applies to a particular use, then the applicable
FAR category shall be the same category that applies to the use having the most similar characteristics to the use in
question. County staff shall determine which use has the most similar characteristics to the original use in question.
Factors used to make that determination shall include the type and volume of traffic generated, parking requirements,
and the Standard Industrial Classification Code.
The FAR of mixed use projects shall be calculated by assigning a portion of the total development area to each use. The
sum of the portions assigned to each use must equal the total development area. An exception shall be allowed for
accessory residential in Commercial/ Industrial designated areas. That exception shall allow the entire development
area to be used to calculate the number of units allowed, without restricting the amount of development area available
for calculating the maximum FAR for primary uses.
No Change Note: language as previously revised is appropriate for the community
PAGE 8
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.19:
Land development regulations shall provide performance standards for commercial/industrial development which at a
minimum address, but are not limited to, the following:
• Land use compatibility, buffering and landscaping
• Access points, traffic controls, and parking
• Signage
• Gross floor area, impervious surface ratios
• Open space
• Character of an area
• Environmental impact
No Change
Policy 1.20: Commercial/Industrial designated areas shall be structured as nodes. These nodes shall be located along roads with
functional classifications appropriate to the level of activity. No Change
Policy 1.21:
Indian River County recognizes that, because of the scale of the Future Land Use Map, the exact boundaries of
Commercial/Industrial nodes delineated on the map may require interpretation in order to determine the exact land
use designation of various parcels, lots, and tracts. Therefore, when necessary, the following criteria shall be used to
establish the location of a specific node boundary line on large-scale node boundary maps and on the county's zoning
atlas:
a. A node boundary line is subject to interpretation only when an inspection of the Future Land Use Map reveals that a
boundary line does not obviously correspond to a major roadway right-of-way, canal, water body, section line, or
corporate limit delineated on the Map.
b. If the location of a node boundary line is subject to interpretation because it does not obviously correspond to a
natural or man-made feature listed above, then the location of the boundary line shall be determined by the following
criteria:
1. If inspection of the Future Land Use Map and maps depicting lot, parcel or tract lines reveals that a node
boundary line splits a lot, parcel or tract, and if the portion of the split lot, parcel or tract within the node is
precluded from development, as permitted by the Future Land Use Map designation, because of such split,
then the node boundary line shall be located to exclude the entire lot, parcel or tract from the node; or
2. If inspection of the Future Land Use Map and maps depicting lot, parcel or tract lines reveals that a node
boundary line splits a lot, parcel or tract, and if the portion of the split lot, parcel or tract outside the node is
precluded from development, as permitted by the Future Land Use Map designation, because of such split,
then the node boundary line may be extended up to 500 feet to incorporate the entire split lot, parcel or tract
provided that no more than five additional acres are added to the node. An extension of a node boundary line
to include within the node an entire lot, parcel or tract that would otherwise be precluded from development if
the boundary line were not extended shall be approved by the Board of County Commissioners upon
recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission in conjunction with a rezoning of the affected
property. To prevent repetitive extension of the boundary line, a node boundary line may be extended one
time only and shall be permanently fixed and final unless changed by an approved plan amendment.
c. Reference in this policy to the terms "parcel, lot or tract" shall not include any alterations to the property's tax parcel
legal description that are made after February 13, 1990.
No Change Note, information is tracked and analyzed; no (limited) changes have
been undertaken per this Policy
Policy 1.22: Node size shall be based on the intended use, service area population, existing land use pattern, and other demand
characteristics. Revise Specify additional considerations such as available services including
transportation
PAGE 9
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.23: Node configuration shall provide for the most efficient use of land, and of transportation and other public facilities and
services, while eliminating sprawl and strip development. Remove (Consolidate) Consolidate with 1.22 due to similar language
Policy 1.24:
No node shall be expanded unless 70% of the subject node’s land area (less rights-of-way) is developed with non-
residential and non-agricultural uses, or approved for non-residential and non-agricultural development, or otherwise
warranted by the proposed development.
Otherwise warranted may include but not be limited to the following:
• Developed percentage of a node is between 60% and 70% and the node expansion meets one of the following
criteria:
• expansion of the node is necessary to accommodate the expansion of an existing use where there is not suitable
vacant land adjacent to the use within the node, the land proposed for inclusion is owned or controlled by the owner
of the site containing the use proposed for expansion, and a finding is made by the Board of County Commissioners
that no other land in the node can feasibly accommodate the expansion of the referenced use, or
• expansion of an existing node is necessary to adjust a node boundary that splits a small parcel of land and a finding is
made by the Board of County Commissioners that development of the parcel is not feasible with the split land use
designation and that inclusion of the parcel in the node is more appropriate than exclusion of the parcel from the
node.
• Expansion of a node is necessary to accommodate a use (such as a regional mall or a large-scale
research/technology/industrial park) which has a substantial land area requirement and no alternative suitable sites
are available in existing nodes.
• Expansion of a node is necessary to correct an oversight or a mistake in the plan affecting property that meets the
following criteria:
• the property is residentially designated;
• the property was given a residential designation as a result of an oversight or a mistake;
• the property is unsuitable for residential use;
• the property is adjacent to a node; and
• the property is no more than 10 acres in size.
No Change per
County staff guidance
and review
Policy 1.25:
Commercial/industrial nodes shall not be created or expanded to within 1 ½ miles of an existing commercial/industrial
node. This policy shall apply only to commercial/ industrial nodes that conformed to the 1½ miles requirement on
December 31, 1997.
No Change Policy is still desired by County and provides guidance.
Policy 1.26:
Given the existing concentration of commercial uses in the SR 60/58th Avenue commercial/industrial node and the
volume of traffic that traverses the SR 60/58th Avenue intersection, the county hereby caps the SR 60/58th Avenue
commercial/industrial node at its present size, which is 329.91 acres.
No Change
Policy 1.27:
Consistent with the Historic Roseland Neighborhood Plan, the county hereby caps the Roseland/US Highway 1
commercial/industrial node at its present size, which is 135.04 acres. That plan determined that there is sufficient land
within that node to accommodate needed commercial and industrial uses for area residents. This limitation on node
expansion shall not prohibit the expansion of the node for medical uses.
No Change
Policy 1.28:
The Board of County Commissioners may initiate a land use designation amendment to change C/I designated land to
residential, provided that all of the following conditions exist:
• The parcel has been redesignated to C/I, Commercial/Industrial, since comprehensive plan adoption on February 13,
1990;
No Change
PAGE 10
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
• The parcel is currently designated C/I;
• More than two years have passed since approval of the ordinance redesignating the parcel to C/I; and
• No construction activity has commenced on the parcel since approval of the ordinance redesignating the pa rcel to
C/I.
Such action will not conflict with current property rights laws, because all comprehensive plan amendments since 1990
designating property to C/I have been subject to this reverter condition.
Policy 1.29: Node locations and estimated sizes shall be listed in Table 2.5. No Change Maintain table and information as provided.
Policy 1.30:
The Regional Commercial land use designation shall be applied to regional malls and associated retail shopping centers
designed to accommodate the needs of the retail market areas that extend beyond the boundaries of the county.
These developments will include one or more "magnet" retail stores that are branches of statewide, multiple-state, or
national organizations and satellite stores integrated through a common plan of development approved through the
Chapter 380, F.S., Development of Regional Impact process. Sites will typically range in size from 90 to 150 acres to
accommodate 750,000 to 1,500,000 gross square feet of leasable area (mall plus peripheral commercial) with a
minimum open space ratio of 0.25, a maximum building coverage ratio of 0.40 and maximum impervious surface ratio
of 0.75. All Regional Commercial designated land shall be located within the urban service area.
Revise
Need to update FS reference including reference to DRIs unless existing
DRIs are still in place. Also, standards are more appropriate in Code
versus this policy; can include generalized standards that are planned to
be addressed within Code otherwise "variances" for specific projects
would also require comprehensive plan text amendment.
Policy 1.31:
The Public Facilities land use designation shall be applied to land used for public facilities and services including, but no t
limited, to government offices, service centers, public utilities and transportation facilities, schools, parks, libraries,
police and fire stations, dredged spoil disposal, and landfills and related uses such as recycling equipment operations,
composting facilities and operations, incineration of solid waste, borrow pit operations for fill material, industrial waste
and leachate treatment and management, equipment storage and maintenance, and water and wastewater treatment
facilities. Not all public land uses are shown on the Future Land Use Map. Public facilities are not limited to the Public
Facilities Land Use designation. The maximum intensity standards established by Future Land Use Element Policy 1.18
(commercial/industrial intensity standards) shall also apply to uses within the Public Facilities land use designation.
No Change
Policy 1.32:
The Recreation land use designation shall be applied to land used for active and passive public parks and recreation
facilities, including but not limited to ball fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, racquetball courts, handball courts,
shuffleboard courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, children’s playgrounds, golf courses, fairgrounds,
community/activity centers, walking/jogging/fitness trails, canoe launches, picnic areas, scenic areas, nature centers,
bathrooms, and parking areas. Not all recreation sites are shown on the Future Land Use Map. Public parks and
recreation facilities are not limited to this land use designation. The maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for development
within the Recreation land use designation shall not exceed 0.25.
No Change
Policy 1.33:
The Blue Cypress Improvement District (BCID) is a special land use designation that shall be applied to the existing Blue
Cypress Fish Camp on the western shore of Blue Cypress Lake.
Development within this district shall be limited to single-family and mobile home residential uses and conditioned on
the provisions outlined in Ordinance 85-55. The BCID is not intended for expansion to adjacent or otherwise
undeveloped property. Densities in the BCID shall not exceed 10 units/acre.
No Change
Policy 1.34:
The county zoning code shall contain provisions for a Professional Office District. That district shall be limited to land
that is within the medium and low-density residential land use designations and is located along arterial roadways. The
purpose of this zoning district shall be to encourage infill development and the redevelopment of areas needing
redevelopment or revitalization or declining residential areas which are no longer appropriate for strictly single -family
Revise Keep first portion to assist in developing standards; remaining portion is
LDR unless the terms zoning district and "use" are swapped out.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
use but are not considered appropriate for a broad range of commercial uses, as permitted in other commercial zoning
districts.
Policy 1.35:
Indian River County shall regulate the use of land in proximity to large scale public facilities such as airports and landfil ls
in order to protect the facilities from encroachment by non-compatible uses and protect the public from any
potentially hazardous impacts.
No Change
Policy 1.36:
The county shall maintain a concurrency database which identifies areas with facility surpluses and deficiencies.
Development shall be directed to areas with adequate facility capacity through publication of this information and
through implementation of the county's concurrency management system.
No Change County maintains database and information per this Policy.
Policy 1.37:
The new town land use designation shall be a floating zone which may be overlaid on any property with an agricultural
land use designation (AG-1, AG-2, and AG-3). Each new town designation shall be approved as a Planned Development
(PD) and shall meet the requirements of Policy 1.38.
The size, density, and design of a new town shall allow for a sustainable new town population with an adequate level of
commercial activity, as well as a sufficient greenbelt area. The new town shall be designed to accommoda te a build-out
population of at least 5,000 persons (approximately 2,500 residential units).
No new town designation shall be approved except as an amendment to the Future Land Use Map of the
Comprehensive Plan. Such amendments shall identify the location of the new town on the future land use map and
shall update the plan's data and analysis section to reflect the population impacts of the new town. A new town
amendment shall meet the following criteria:
a. No new town shall be established unless it meets the following minimum size requirements:
LOCATION OF NEW TOWN MINIMUM SIZE
(CONTIGUOUS ACRES)
• East of Interstate 95 1,500
• West of Interstate 95 4,000
b. No new town shall be established unless it is located on or has access to an arterial road.
c. The number of new town projects shall be limited as follows:
• East of Interstate 95: 2
• West of Interstate 95: 2
d. No new town shall be approved unless it is consistent with the Concurrency Management System.
e. No new town shall be approved without a finding that the new town, as approved, will have no adverse impact on
natural resources.
f. No new town shall be approved unless the amendment application is supported by sufficient data and analysis to
justify the need for the new town. The need justification can be met by data and analysis which shows that the
project's projected population together with the projected population of any other approved new town projects will
not significantly increase the county's residential allocation factor for the time horizon of the comprehensive plan.
No Change Vision related and supports community expectations.
Policy 1.38:
The new town land use designation shall be established through the Planned Development (PD) process. For any land
to receive the new town land use designation, a PD project must be approved which clusters residential and non -
residential uses in a manner which protects agricultural and open space areas, protects natural resources, creates a
self-sufficient community, minimizes off-site traffic, and does not increase urban sprawl.
All new town projects shall require submittal and approval of a PD project having the following characteristics:
Revise
Revise and correct typos; no substantiative changes. Remove building
height requirements and indicate that they will be identified in the
LDRs.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
a. A proper mix of land uses that results in a sustainable small town rather than merely an amenitized
residential community. The mix of land uses shall satisfy the following criteria:
1. Residential areas; these are areas that provide for single-family and multiple-family residential units,
including residential units behind or over businesses.
2. Shopping areas; these are areas that provide for the sale of goods and services to accomm odate the
residents of the new town. Allowed uses are retail commercial and personal services.
3. Work areas; these are areas that provide employment opportunities for the residents of the new
town. Allowed uses are office, educational, light industrial, resource management and tourism, and
agricultural uses and related industries.
4. Public facilities and institutional uses, including schools, fire/police stations, cultural and community
facilities, and places of worship.
5. Recreational uses; these are areas which provide for active and passive recreational facilities.
6. Natural open spaces and agricultural areas; these are areas which will be preserved due to their
environmental importance or will be used for active agricultural production.
b. Activity or town centers shall mixed use centers containing both nonresidential and residential uses, while
residential uses not located within town centers shall be in compact neighborhoods.
c. The gross residential density of a new town may exceed the underlying agricultural maximum densities;
however, the new town density shall not exceed 1.5 units per acre of gross project area unless development
rights are transferred to new towns from off-site properties. In such cases, the overall gross density of the new
town shall not exceed 2 units per acre. Consistent with that allowance, new towns may be receiver sites for
development rights sent from conservation or agricultural preservation areas that are located outside the
urban service area and are not adjacent to the project. Sending areas shall be stripped of development rights as
part of the new town approval. Density credits eligible for transfer shall not exceed 1 unit per acre for AG -1
sending areas, 1 unit per 2 acres for AG-2 sending areas, and 1 unit per 4 acres for AG-3 sending areas.
Additional density allowances up to 1 unit per 2 acres may be allowed for environmentally significant portions
of AG-3 sending areas.
d. Uses within a new town shall be identified in the new town PD project application and shall comply with the
following criteria.
1. Commercial, personal services, and office areas shall be provided at ratio of three (3) to ten (10) acres
per 1,000 residential units.
2. Public facilities, including but not limited to water plants, sewer plants, schools (excluding university
campuses or similar uses), fire stations, and police stations, and public institutional use areas, should not
exceed five (5) percent of the entire PD area.
3. Residential use areas shall constitute at least fifteen (15) percent but not more than thirty -five (35)
percent of the entire PD area.
4. Employment areas, including industrial, business, and office uses, shall comprise at least two (2)
percent of the entire PD area.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
e. The following additional standards shall be met by any new town PD project application.
1. Affordable/Workforce Housing: Affordable and/or workforce housing units shall be provided to
ensure that there is housing available within the project area for workers employed within the project
area. Therefore, at least ten (10) percent of the total housing units shall be affordable and/or workforce
housing units, as defined in the county’s land development regulations. The applicant shall provide
sufficient data and analysis to justify the number and percentage of affordable housing units needed by
his proposed project. This amount of affordable housing shall then be provided within the project;
however, the total amount of affordable housing shall in no case be less than ten (10) percent of the
total number of housing units in the project.
2. Open Space: At least fifty (50) percent of the entire PD area shall be preserved or provided as open
space. Open space areas shall be retained as natural areas or used for agriculture, recreation,
stormwater management, water supply, or similar uses that complement the rural nature of the area.
(a) At least seventy (70) percent of the minimum required common open space area shall be
located along main project boundaries and shall function as perimeter greenbelts or shall be in
the form of a large contiguous block of land. If a proposed new town shares a boundary with
land identified as conservation either through easement or by comprehensive land use
designation, then the required greenbelt perimeter/open space block shall have a contiguous
boundary with the conservation area. If a new town shares a boundary with multiple existing
conservation areas, the project design shall provide greenway connections between
conservation areas.
(b) For purposes of the fifty (50) percent common open space equirement, such green space
shall not include conventional, individual private yard areas and shall not include any areas
already in conservation. Common open space areas may include agricultural areas (e.g. crop
lands, pastures, and equestrian areas), parks and recreation areas, conservation and natural
areas (e.g. uplands, wetlands, and re-created natural areas), and water bodies (not to exceed
thirty percent of the open space requirement).
(c) Active recreational uses shall be limited to a maximum of twenty-four (24) percent of the
designated open space or twelve (12) percent of the entire PD area, whichever is less.
4. Form: The project shall meet the Traditional Neighborhood Design standards of the Future Land Use Element Policy
18.1. In so doing, the new town shall have a perimeter edge and a center. Along the perimeter edge, a significant
greenbelt shall be provided, and that greenbelt shall consist of natural areas, agricultural areas, and/or “no -build” areas
designated on large acreage parcels. A project center shall be established for the concentration of residential and
commercial uses. Major roadways shall run through or near the project center. The project design shall reflect the
following:
(a) A network of ungated and open to the public interconnected streets in a grid or modified grid pattern.
(b) An interconnected pedestrian sidewalk/path system that serves and integrates residential and non-residential
uses.
PAGE 14
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
(c) Appropriately sized blocks and pedestrian improvements that provide a layout that maximizes residential
development in clusters around town centers. Town centers shall include but not be limited to public squares or parks,
as well as commercial and residential uses.
(d) Wide sidewalks, street trees, and on-street parking in the town center.
5. Integration into Major Street Grid: Each new town project shall have multiple connections to major roads, and
extend major roads planned to traverse the rural area in which the project is located.
6. Building Height: Residential structures shall be limited to a maximum height of 35 feet, while nonresidential and
mixed-use structures shall be limited to a maximum height of 50 feet. For all structures, architectural embellishments
may exceed the maximum height limitation by no more than 15 feet.
Policy 1.39:
The county shall limit the use of the 301.95 acres of C/I designated property located north of SR 60 and west of 98th
Avenue to research/technology/industrial uses only. Those uses include research/technology/industrial parks, light
manufacturing and assembly facilities, distribution centers, and accessory commercial uses. For that portion of the 665
acre property that lies west of 102nd Avenue, the Floor Area Ratio shall be limited to .30 and development shall be
limited to no more than 2% accessory commercial uses and no more than 49% research/technology uses. This policy
shall be implemented through Planned Development (PD) zoning and/or Planned Development Plan requirements. In
addition, each preliminary PD plan (site plan) for development of the portion of the 665 acre property that lies west of
102nd Avenue shall:
• incorporate a stormwater management and flood protection design that mitigates potential adverse impacts of a
flood associated with the failure of federal and privately owned levees within the Upper St. Johns River Basin Project;
and
• include upland edge buffers between industrial development and any adjacent wetland mitigation bank area; and
• provide mass transit infrastructure (bus waiting area shelters, benches, accommodations for pedestrians, bicyclists
and accessibility by persons with disabilities); and
• incorporate a traffic circulation design that meets FDOT S.R. 60 access management requirements and provides
shared access and interconnections between facilities.
On that portion of the 665 acre property lying west of 102nd Avenue, development will be limited to 4.2 million square
feet of research, technology, industrial, and accessory commercial uses until I-95 north of S.R. 60 is widened.
No Change
Policy 1.40:
The county shall permit Planned Development zoned projects located on residentially designated land between 41st
Street and 45th Street, and between US 1 and Indian River Boulevard to consist of a mix of office and residential uses.
No more than 20% of the project area shall be devoted to office uses.
No Change
Policy 1.41:
The county shall encourage the school board to locate schools near urban residential areas. The county will do this by
allowing schools within all residential zoning districts; by coordinating with the school board to establish a process for
preliminary county review of school sites before the school board acquires or leases property for a new school; and by
limiting school sites within agriculturally designated areas to mixed use projects, traditional neighborhood design
projects, and sites that are contiguous to the urban service area boundary.
No Change
Policy 1.42: To the extent feasible, the county shall collocate public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and community centers, with
schools. Revise Add cross reference to Public School Facilities Element.
Policy 1.43: The Board of County Commissioners shall rezone land only in a manner that is consistent with Future Land Use Element
Table 2.14. Furthermore, the Board recognizes that not every zoning district allowed in a land use designation is No Change
PAGE 15
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
appropriate for every site within that land use designation. For any parcel, the Board of County Commissioners may
deny a rezoning request (even when the requested zoning district is consistent with the parcel’s land use designation)
if the denial serves a legitimate public purpose. A Board of County Commissioners’ determination that the requested
zoning district is not appropriate for the parcel may also be based upon the absence of the following locational criteria:
1. For the OCR, Office, Commercial, Residential zoning district:
• adjacent to existing office uses
• as a buffer between residential zoning districts and arterial roads or other commercial zoning districts.
• at node perimeters
2. For the MED, Medical zoning district:
• within commercial/industrial nodes containing hospitals and major medical facilities
• separated from industrial areas
3. For the CL, Limited Commercial zoning district:
• areas that are easily accessed from residential areas
• between residential areas and general commercial areas or major roadways
• separated from industrial areas
• at node perimeters.
4. For the CG, General Commercial zoning district:
• along arterial roads and major intersections
• separated from residential development
• separated from industrial areas
• near retail and office areas
5. For the CH, Heavy Commercial zoning district:
• along arterial roads
• along railroad tracks
• between general commercial and industrial areas
• separated from residential development
6. For the IL, Light Industrial zoning district:
• along arterial roads
• along railroad tracks
• near industrial areas
• separated from residential development
• separated from retail and office areas
7. For the IG, General Industrial zoning district:
• along arterial roads and major intersections
• along railroad tracks
• near industrial areas
• separated from residential development by a major roadway or intervening property
• separated from retail and office areas
8. For single-family zoning districts:
• adjacent to other single-family areas
• separated from major commercial areas and industrial areas
PAGE 16
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
9. For multiple-family zoning districts:
• adjacent to other multiple-family areas
• adjacent to employment centers
• along arterial and collector roads, particularly to buffer single-family areas
• adjacent to commercial uses, particularly to buffer single-family areas
• not abutting single-family areas on all sides
Additionally, the Board hereby adopts the following general criteria regarding the location of residential zoning
districts:
10. Where medium density residential lands abut low density residential land, the medium density land may be zoned
an intermediate density.
11. Residentially designated land that is located between higher density and lower density zoned areas may be zoned
an intermediate density even when the intermediate zoned area has a land use designation that allows a higher
density.
Policy 1.44:
The county will evaluate requests to rezone CH and/or IL-zoned areas to CL or CG to ensure that sufficient CH and IL
zoned land will remain if the rezoning is approved. In so doing, the county will favorably consider those types of
rezonings where the subject property is located along high-volume roadways or adjacent to residential areas. The
county shall maintain existing CH or IL zoning areas that are not located along high-volume roadways or not located
near residential areas.
No Change
Policy 1.45:
The Transitional Residential Land Use designation may be applied to those areas which serve as a transition area
between urban and agriculturally designated land and are suitable for urban and suburban scale development.
Additionally, Transitional Residential designated land must meet all of the following criteria:
• it must abut an arterial road that contains county water and sewer lines within its (the road’s) right-of-way;
• it must abut a commercial/industrial node where at least 70% of the subject node’s land area (less rights-of-way) is
developed with non-residential and non-agricultural uses, or approved for non-residential and non-agricultural
development; and
• it must be at least 20 acres in size.
Land that meets all of the above criteria may be included in the urban service area and may be redesignated to T,
Transitional Residential.
No Change
Policy 1.46:
Development in transitional residential areas shall be limited to the following:
Single Family Residential Uses
• up to 1 unit/acre; or up to 3 units/acre for Planned Development Projects
Recreational Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Public Facilities
• up to 0.35 FAR
Institutional Uses
• up to 0.35 FAR
Schools (not including business and vocational schools)
• up to 0.35 FAR
Revise (minimal) Inconsistent capitalization of category names.
PAGE 17
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Excavation Activities
Agricultural Uses (as permitted in Future Land Use Element Policy 6.3)
The FAR of mixed use projects shall be calculated by assigning a portion of the total development area to each use. The
sum of the portions assigned to each use must equal the total development area. An exception shall be allowed for
accessory residential uses within primarily non-residential projects. That exception shall allow the entire development
area to be used to calculate the number of units allowed, without restricting the amount of development area available
for calculating the maximum FAR for primary uses.
Policy 1.47:
To mitigate and reduce potential impacts between residential and agricultural uses, the following special regulations
apply within areas designated as Transitional Residential:
• Caribbean Fruit Fly host plants shall be prohibited on T designated lands.
• When platting lots in residential projects on T designated land, the landowner shall place an informational note on
the plat and on the deed of each lot informing interested parties of the Florida Right to Farm Act, Section 823.14,
Florida Statutes as amended, and stating that active farm operations occur nearby.
No Change
Policy 1.48: The county shall consider the impact of proposed amendments to the Future Land Use Map upon the county’s
jobs/housing balance in a manner consistent with Policy 4.8. Revise (minimal) Revise and correct language; no substantiative changes.
Policy 1.49: The county hereby designates the entire urban service area as an Energy Conservation Area. The county shall maintain
its urban service area boundary in a manner consistent with Policies 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3. Remove Upon review, the County decided to remove this policy.
Policy 1.50: Within Energy Conservation Areas, the county shall regulate all new development and redevelopment in a manner that
promotes energy conservation. Revise/Remove Remove due to repetitive policy.
Policy 1.51:
The county shall encourage Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) projects that are consistent with Policies 18.1,
18.2, and 18.3. Consistent with Policy 18.4, the county shall permit TND developments as conditional uses in the
county’s conventional zoning districts.
No Change
Policy 1.52: Within the urban service area, the county shall permit mixed use developments that are consistent with Policy 5.6. Consolidate Consolidate with / move to Objective 2.
Policy 1.53:
In areas located outside the urban service area, the county shall promote clustered development, such as new towns
and agricultural planned developments. New towns shall be consistent with Policies 1.37 and 1.38, while agricultural
planned developments shall be consistent with Policy 5.9.
Consolidate Same comment as previous.
Policy 1.54: In reviewing new development proposals, the county shall require vehicular and pedestrian connections as specified in
Policy 4.5. Remove Remove due to repetition with other policies.
Objective 2
In unincorporated Indian River County, all residential development greater than 0.2 units/acre, and all non-agriculture
related commercial/industrial uses will be located within the urban service area, which contains the infrastructure and
services needed to accommodate such development.
Revise Could delete "which contains the infrastructure…." as it's repeated in
Policy 2.1.
Policy 2.1:
Indian River County hereby adopts the 2030 Urban Service Area depicted on the County’s Official Future Land Use
Map. The Urban Service Area includes land where services necessary to support urban development are available at
levels identified in this and other elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
At a minimum, those services shall include centralized utilities service, improved roadways, solid waste disposal,
stormwater management, police protection, fire protection, educational facilities, and park and r ecreational facilities.
No Change
Policy 2.2:
Indian River County shall encourage and direct growth into the 2030 Urban Service Area through zoning, subdivision,
and land development regulations. Such regulations shall promote efficient development by requiring utilization of the
existing street system, extension of public facilities where necessary, connection to the centralized potable water and
sanitary sewer systems where available, and incentives for mixed use projects.
No Change
PAGE 18
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.3:
Indian River County shall require all development except agricultural uses, residential uses with less than 0.2 units/acre,
recreation/open space uses, Mixed Use Overlay Projects, and Traditional Neighborhood Design Overlay Projects to be
located within the Urban Service Area.
No Change per
County review and
guidance
Policy 2.4:
The county may expand the urban service area if the expansion is warranted based on the need to accommodate
additional projected population. Any expansion area shall be based on that area's environmental suitability for
urbanization, existing and future land uses, and the availability of services and facilities.
No Change
Objective 3 Through 2030, the provision of public services and infrastructure in Indian River County will be at a level consistent
with this plan. No Change
Policy 3.1: For all facilities and services, the minimum levels of service established in this and other elements of the
comprehensive plan will be maintained. Revise (minimal) Revise and correct language; no substantiative changes
Policy 3.2:
Regardless of land use designation or zoning district, no development shall be approved unless it is consistent with the
concurrency management system in the capital improvements element, and the levels of service established in this
element and other elements of the Comprehensive Plan.
Remove/Consolidate Some redundancy with above policies.
Policy 3.3:
Using the County’s established concurrency management system, the County shall review proposed developments,
assess their impact on services and facilities, and make determinations of adequacy or inadequacy of public facilities
and services.
No Change
Policy 3.4:
Consistent with the Capital Improvements, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Recreation and Open Space Elements of
this plan, county land development regulations shall ensure that level of service standards for potable water service,
sanitary sewer service, solid waste disposal service, stormwater management, traffic circulation, and parks and
recreation are maintained. Those standards must be met by all proposed development prior to building permit.
No Change
Policy 3.5:
The county will design and construct public facilities with capacities sufficient to meet the levels of service established
in this plan, support the needs of the projected population, and accommodate the intensity of development as
identified on the Future Land Use Map.
No Change
Policy language provides guidance and also links to policies in
Transportation Element with additional supporting language regarding
roadways and impacts generated by development.
Policy 3.6:
Indian River County shall define the needed right-of-way for proposed roadway improvements, roadway extensions,
and new roadway corridors, and shall acquire and protect needed future right-of-way as identified in the
Transportation Element of this plan.
No Change Although somewhat similar to other policies, language is acceptable as
provided.
Policy 3.7:
Indian River County shall maintain a right-of-way/land acquisition program to locate and acquire property for the
services and facilities identified in the Transportation, Infrastructure, Recreation and Open Space and other elements
of this plan. This action is intended to provide for the needs of future development while minimizing disturbance to
existing development.
No Change
Policy 3.8:
The county hereby adopts level-of-service standards for selected public facilities as follows:
a. Correctional Facilities: The county adopts the following correctional facilities level-of-service standard:
• County wide level-of-service standard of 4.5 beds/1,000 permanent plus weighted peak seasonal population
b. Fire/EMS: The county adopts the following Fire/EMS level-of-service standard:
• County wide (excluding Indian River Shores) level-of-service standard of .089 Stations per 1,000 permanent plus
weighted peak seasonal population
c. Law Enforcement: The county adopts the following Law Enforcement level-of-service standard:
• Unincorporated County level-of-service standard of 2.09 officers per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak seasonal
No Change Provides links to other elements including Capital Improvements and
Transportation
PAGE 19
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
population
d. Libraries: The county adopts the following Libraries level-of-service standards:
• County wide level-of-service standard of 580 building square feet per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak seasonal
population
• County wide level-of-service standard of 3,200 library material items per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population
• County wide level-of-service standard of 0.7 computers per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak seasonal
population
• County wide level-of-service standard of 0.2 other library equipment items per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population
e. Public Buildings: The county adopts the following Public Buildings level-of-service standard:
• County wide level-of-service standard of 1.99 building square feet per capita for permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population.
f. Schools: The county adopts the following Schools level-of-service standards:
• County wide level-of-service standard for Elementary Schools of 144.71 building square feet per student station
• County wide level-of-service standard for Middle Schools of 117.26 building square feet per student station
• County wide level-of-service standard for High Schools of 147.57 building square feet per student station
• County wide weighted average level-of-service standard for all schools of 139.07 building square feet per student
station
g. Transit: The county adopts the following transit level-of-service standard:
• One-hour headways shall be maintained on all fixed transit routes.
Policy 3.9: Indian River County shall coordinate with private utility providers, including electric, gas, telephone, and cable TV, to
ensure that utility services are delivered efficiently. No Change Good policy and provides basis for other, non-County provided services
to support development.
Policy 3.10:
The county shall provide infrastructure improvements to existing subdivisions with inadequate infrastructure, such as
Vero Lake Estates, Paradise Park, Oslo Park, and Pine Tree Park, through the petition paving program and the utility
assessment process.
No Change Policy supports efforts that are still ongoing.
Objective 4
By 2030, Indian River County will have a land use pattern that maintains the number of daily automobile trips per
capita and the length of trips on county roadways at or within 10% of 2005 levels. Those levels were 4.53 daily
automobile trips per capita and 18.94 minutes per trip.
No Change County is on track to effectuate changes consistent with this Objective
Policy 4.1: Land use districts shall be located in a manner which concentrates urban uses, thereby discouraging urban sprawl. Revise
Redundant to urban service area objective and policies under Objective
1. Seems out of sequence with the previous objective where this is
establishing how districts should generally be established and defined
(sprawl language is recommended either here or in Objective 1)
Policy 4.2: By January 2018, Indian River County shall identify and map target areas for redevelopment and infill development. Revise Revise and update target date to 2025; ongoing need (initiative)
Policy 4.3:
For the areas targeted for redevelopment and infill development in Future Land Use Element Policy 4.2, Indian River
County shall, by 2019, assess the potential for future development, review infrastructure capabilities and needs, and
develop special overlay or use districts and regulations, if warranted.
Remove Redundant with policy 4.2
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 4.4:
By January 2020, Indian River County shall work with property owners, developers, and the public to develop and
implement a plan to promote development of the areas targeted for redevelopment and infill development. That plan
shall examine the feasibility of reduced development fees, streamlined application processing, mixed uses, density
bonuses, Traditional Neighborhood Design, home/work linkages and other innovative techniques to promote
development in those areas.
Remove Policy completed.
Policy 4.5:
Where proposed development projects abut undeveloped or developed property, the county shall require that such
development be designed and constructed or guaranteed to accommodate both vehicular and bicycle/ pedestrian
interconnections. Interconnections may include shared roadways or driveways that provide local traffic circulation.
Exemptions shall be granted where interconnections would create a “funneling effect” through an existing
neighborhood or have no potential for providing interconnectivity or through-street benefits (e.g. segments that dead-
end into water bodies, built facilities, or environmentally sensitive areas).
Revise Revise minimal language to encourage (may) to allow for case-by-case
reviews and other considerations
Policy 4.6: By 2011, the county shall adopt traffic-calming standards and designs to address concerns about the speed of “cut-
through” traffic. Traffic calming improvements shall be constructed with project interconnections where necessary Revise/Remove Update and move to Transportation Element
Policy 4.7: The county shall require that developers construct sidewalks on both sides of internal project streets in higher density
residential developments and mixed-use projects. Revise
The county shall require that developers construct sidewalks on both
sides of internal project streets in residential developments and mixed-
use projects.
Policy 4.8:
When reviewing amendments to the Future Land Use Map, the county shall consider the impact of the proposed
amendment upon the jobs/housing balance of the following subareas: north county, central county, and south county.
In so doing, the county will not approve amendments where the effect will be to lower the jobs/housing balance in the
north county, central county, and south county subareas from their 2005 baseline values.
Remove Not required by statute and also generally addressed under Economic
Development.
Objective 5
Indian River County will have a diverse mix of land uses, development patterns, housing densities, and housing types.
By 2030, 25% of the County’s housing units will be in multiple-family, mixed use, or traditional neighborhood design
projects.
Revise Revise to this: Indian River County will have a diverse mix of land uses,
development patterns, housing densities, and housing types.
Policy 5.1: The county’s adopted Land Development Regulations (LDRs), including zoning, shall constitute the county’s minimum
requirement for land development. All LDRs shall be consistent with the provisions of the comprehensive plan. No Change
Policy 5.2: The residential densities depicted on the future land use plan map shall be the maximum densities permitted. Where
density bonuses are applicable, density maximums may be exceeded. Revise Language is unnecessary and incorrectly located in this portion of the
Element; better suited with housing or Policy on density(s).
Policy 5.3: Indian River County zoning districts shall permit a variety of residential building and development styles. Remove Unnecessary language and assumed per Statutes and County Code.
Policy 5.4:
To prevent the emergence of strip development along US Highway 1, the county shall allow residential uses within
commercial areas through mixed-use development. Such accessory residential uses shall be allowed by right in
commercial zoning districts.
Revise Language should reflect (clarify) that use is/should be truly accessory.
Policy 5.5:
Indian River County LDRs shall contain a special Planned Development (PD) zoning district. That district shall be
designated as an overlay on the county’s zoning atlas. The PD zoning district is intended to provide for the
development of projects which require flexibility in order to maximize open space and conserve natural features,
provide alternative and energy-efficient/sustainable designs, incorporate recreational facilities, incorporate a mix of
uses, and provide a variety of housing choices.
No Change
Policy 5.6:
By 2011, Indian River County shall adopt development regulations allowing mixed use PDs in residentially-designated
areas. All mixed use PDs in residentially designated areas shall meet all of the following criteria:
Development Parameters
1. The maximum project area for a mixed use PD in a residential area shall be 40 acres unless the property is located
within the SR 60/IRSC preferred location area. The SR 60/IRSC preferred location area is an area adjacent to the SR
No Change Except for date, Policy is good and provides guidance for Codes.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
60/58th Avenue Commercial/Industrial Node, the SR 60/66th Avenue intersection, and the Indian River State College
campus. In the SR 60/IRSC preferred location area, the maximum mixed use PD project area shall be 80 acres. Mixed
use projects not located in the SR 60/IRSC preferred location area exceeding 40 acres shall be designed as Traditional
Neighborhood Design (TND) developments and shall comply with Future Land Use Element Policies 18.1, 18.2, and
18.3.
2. Mixed use PDs shall be limited to areas designated L-1, L-2, M-1, and M-2 and shall be located along SR 60, US 1,
Indian River Blvd., 58th Avenue, CR 510 (west of the Indian River Lagoon), CR 512, or Oslo Road. Alternatively, mixed
use PDs in M-1 and M-2 designated areas may be located on sites that are adjacent to C/I nodes.
Mix of Uses
3. To ensure that mixed use PDs contain an appropriate mix of residential and commercial uses, commercial uses shall
be allowed to constitute no more than 25% (up to 50% in the SR 60/IRSC preferred location area, not to exceed a total
of 30 acres of commercial area) of a project’s land area.
4. The vertical mixing of uses is allowed and strongly encouraged. Where residential and/or office uses are designed
and located above commercial uses, the amount of commercial area may constitute up to 30% (up to 60% in the SR
60/IRSC preferred location area, not to exceed a total of 30 acres of commercial area) of the project’s land area.
5. For purposes of these mixed use regulations, commercial area shall include buildings, parking areas, and adjac ent
improvements that serve commercial uses. Open space areas and common areas/improvements that are shared with
residential uses, however,
shall not be treated as commercial area.
6. Commercial uses allowed in mixed-use PDs shall be limited to lodging, institutional, office, retail (including fuel
sales), personal service, restaurant uses, and live/work/commercial flex space.
7. Within mixed use PDs, the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) for commercial uses shall be applied to the commercial area. For
the commercial area, the maximum FAR shall be 0.35.
8. Within mixed use PDs, the maximum number of allowable residential units shall be derived by applying the
applicable comprehensive plan land use designation density allowance to the entire area of the project and, in
addition, may include any applicable density bonuses.
9. Within mixed use PDs, commercial areas may be internal to the project or may be located along a project’s
boundary, where such boundary abuts a thoroughfare road or is adjacent to C/I-designated property. Where such
commercial uses would face residential uses located outside the project, buffering and compatibility improvements
shall be required to mitigate any adverse impacts.
10. On-street parking shall be allowed within mixed use projects.
11. All mixed use PDs shall be designed to include a transit stop within the project.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Building Design and Setbacks
12. Within mixed use PDs, common architectural themes, common hardscape and signage themes, and multiple
pedestrian connections shall be required to integrate nonresidential uses with residential uses. Common architectural
themes shall apply to both commercial and residential areas of the project.
13. Within mixed use PDs, no individual commercial building shall exceed 25,000 sq. ft. (up to 60,000 sq. ft. in the SR
60/IRSC preferred location area) in commercial floor area. Lodging uses shall be exempt from these limitations.
14. Where a nonresidential building in a mixed use PD is adjacent to residential buildings located outside the project,
the nonresidential buildings shall be compatible with nearby residential buildings. The scale of such nonresidential
buildings may be minimized by articulating the building’s mass, using sloped roofs instead flat roofs screened by
parapets, and/or by planting canopy trees around the building’s foundation. For residential buildings adjacent to a
mixed use PD, an existing buffer may be used to satisfy the compatibility requirement.
Street Network
15. Each mixed use PD shall offer alternative routes and connections between destinations within the project and to
appropriate uses on adjacent sites by designing and constructing a street network that consists of a grid or modified
grid pattern that accommodates connections to appropriate uses on adjacent sites. 16. The project shall contain a
network of interconnected streets, sidewalks, and pathways. Streets shall be designed to balance pedestrian and
automobile needs, to discourage high automobile speeds, to effectively and efficiently accommodate transit systems,
and to distribute and diffuse traffic rather than concentrate it.
17. Street trees shall be provided so as to shade sidewalk areas and buffer sidewalk areas from automobile traffic.
18. For a mixed use project located in the SR 60/IRSC preferred location area, the project shall provide the following:
a. SR60 access to the IRSC campus in coordination with Indian River State College and County Public Works.
b. Access from the IRSC campus to 66th Avenue at 18th Street, including a bridge over the Lateral A Canal, and
including 66th Avenue/18th Street signalization, in coordination with Indian River State College and County Public
Works.
Timing of Construction
19. In each mixed use PD not located in the SR 60/IRSC preferred location area, no more than 3 acres or 50% of the
total commercial area allowed, whichever is greater, shall be constructed until at least 25% of the proposed residential
development has been constructed, and no certificate of occupancy shall be issued for commercial area exceeding 3
acres or 50% of the total commercial area allowed, whichever is greater, unless at least 25% of the total residential
development has received certificates of occupancy.
20. For a mixed use PD project located in the SR 60/IRSC preferred location area, no more than 15 acres not to exceed
50% of the total commercial area allowed shall be constructed until:
a) the infrastructure items in Section 18 above have been constructed or designed and committed to via an
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
enforceable developer’s agreement, and
b) a conceptual or final development plan for the residential development has been approved, and
c) the infrastructure that serves the residential portion of the project has been constructed or designed and committed
to via an enforceable developer’s agreement.
Policy 5.7:
PDs shall be permitted throughout the county, without amendment of the future land use map, provided the proposed
development is shown to be consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. PDs shall be
consistent with the maximum density permitted by the future land use map unless density bonuses are permitted
consistent with Future Land Use Element Policy 5.8.
No Change
Policy 5.8:
Within the urban service area, Indian River County’s Land Development Regulations shall encourage the use of Planned
Developments (PDs) with diverse development by allowing density bonuses and development rights transfers in PDs
that:
• include housing units that are affordable to very low- and low-income households, in accordance with the housing
element; and/or
• include development rights transferred from conservation designated areas.
Density bonuses for PDs shall not increase the project’s density to more than 25% over the maximum allowed by the
project’s underlying land use designation.
No Change
Policy 5.9:
All Planned Development (PD) projects approved in any agriculturally designated area shall meet the following criteria:
• The density of the project shall not exceed the maximum density of the underlying land use designation; no density
transfers from off-site lands, and no density bonuses shall be permitted within PD projects in agriculturally designated
areas;
• At least 80% of each Agricultural PD’s overall project area shall be open space;
• Residential lots created through the PD process shall not be less than 1 acre with the remainder of the area
designated as open space;
• The open space shall be in contiguous areas;
• Common open space, if provided, shall be under the control of an appropriate entity and maintained in perpetuity,
through an open space, recreation, conservation and/or agricultural preservation easement(s), to be created through
Deed Restrictions, with infill prohibited;
• Agricultural PDs shall implement Best Management Practices submitted to and approved by staff; and
• All recreational amenities shall be depicted on the PD plan; no recreational uses that
could constitute a nuisance to adjacent properties shall be permitted.
No Change
Objective 6
In recognition of the Indian River County’s desire to protect agriculture despite the challenges and changes facing the
citrus industry, the county’s objective is to retain, through 2017, at least 125,000 acres of land in the unincorporated
county that is used for active agricultural operations.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s 2007 Census of Agriculture, there were 157,196 acres of
land that were used for active agricultural operations that year. Of this land, approximately 139,000 acres are located
within the unincorporated area of the county.
This objective, by itself, does not justify or suggest a need for Future Land Use Amendments from Agricultural
Designations.
Revise
Change to this: In recognition of the Indian River County’s desire to
protect agriculture despite the challenges and changes facing the citrus
industry, the County’s objective is to retain at least 125,000 acres of
land in the unincorporated county that is used for active agricultural
operations.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 6.1:
Indian River County shall not provide public services or facilities which would induce or encourage the development of
agriculturally designated lands. As such, the county shall not provide water and sewer service outside the urban service
area except in the following instances:
• To provide for the health and safety of existing residents in a manner consistent with Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element
Policy 2.4 and Potable Water Sub-Element 2.4;
• To provide utility services under limited circumstances consistent with Potable Water Sub-Element Policy 5.7 and
Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element Policy 5.8 as amended.
No Change
Policy 6.2: To protect and conserve agriculturally designated lands, Indian River County shall maintain its development regulations
which control the division and development of agriculturally designated lands. No Change
Policy 6.3: Indian River County shall permit the continuation of agricultural uses within the urban service area where those uses
serve as or enhance open space and greenbelt areas of the county.
No Change based on
County review
Policy 6.4:
The county shall require that residential subdivision projects, site plan projects, and planned development projects
located inside the urban service area where new residential lots or units are proposed adjacent to the urban service
area boundary include provisions for a special buffer along that boundary. This buffer shall protect adjacent agricultural
lands from conflicts with new residential uses.
Within the urban service area, the county shall require subdivision and planned development projects that propose
new residential lots adjacent to active agricultural operations to provide special buffers.
No Change Policy also supports the Vision Plan.
Policy 6.5:
Indian River County land development regulations shall require the following special conditions for Affidavit of
Exemption, Administrative Permit, Special Exception and/or Planned Development approval of projects on
agriculturally designated land; and for Administrative Permit, Special Exception and/or Planned Development approval
of projects within the urban service area that are located near active citrus groves:
• Caribbean Fruit Fly host plants and Asian Citrus Psyllid host plants shall be prohibited on the subject site. That
prohibition shall be enforceable through the county code enforcement board; and
• A legal document, acceptable to the county attorney's office, shall be established on the subject site. That legal
document shall prohibit the occurrence of host plants for either the Caribbean Fruit Fly or the Asian Citrus Psyllid on
the subject site. The legal document may be structured to sunset the prohibition if circumstances change such that the
prohibition is no longer necessary.
No Change per
County staff review
Policy 6.6: Residential projects created via the affidavit of exemption process shall be limited to nineteen or fewer lots. No Change
Policy 6.7: The county shall maintain its land development regulations requiring additional public notification of mining
applications in agricultural areas. No Change
Policy 6.8:
To facilitate the preservation of agricultural land, the county shall allow the transfer of development rights from
agriculture property to eligible receiving sites. Density credits eligible for transfer shall not exceed 1 unit per acre for
AG-1 sending areas, 1 unit per 2 acres for AG-2 sending areas, and 1 unit per 4 acres for AG-3 sending areas. Additional
density allowances up to 1 unit per 2 acres may be allowed for environmentally significant portions of AG -3 designated
land.
Eligible receiving sites are new town projects, Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) projects, and projects within the
urban service area which are located on land suited for high density. Receiving sites within the urban service area shall
be within or adjacent to a commercial/industrial node; shall be designated L-2, M-1, or M-2; and shall not be located
within the Coastal High Hazard Area.
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Individual sending and receiving sites shall be approved through the PD rezoning process. With the exception of new
towns, transferred density shall not increase a receiving site’s density by more than 20% of its base density. In cases
where transferred density is being used in conjunction with other density bonuses (e.g. TND, affordable housing), the
combined density bonus may exceed 20% of the base density.
Policy 6.9:
By 2011, the county shall adopt development regulations allowing small-scale biofuel processing plants as accessory
agricultural uses in areas designated AG-2 and AG-3. The equipment, processing areas, and transport facilities of
accessory biofuel-processing plants shall occupy no more than 20 acres or 10% of a site, whichever is less. Such
facilities shall be subject to staff-level site plan approval and shall be located at least 300’ away from nearby residential
uses. Larger scale biofuel processing plants shall be allowed in areas designated AG-1, AG-2, and AG-3 if approved
through the special exception process.
Revise Revise/update/remove “year”, otherwise Policy supports AG designated
areas.
Objective 7
By 2015, there will be at least 108,500 acres of environmentally important land under federal, state, or county
ownership or control within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County. In 2007, there were 105,186 acres of
conservation land in public ownership.
Revise
Review to update year; County is still pursuing; remove last sentence
specificity and refer to “internally set targets” and a goal to increased
protected land acreage by 10% by 2035.
Policy 7.1: Indian River County shall regulate development of areas which are prone to flooding and areas within the 100-year
floodplain in a manner that is consistent with the regulations established by the National Flood Insurance Program. No Change Also supports other Elements and respective Policies addressing
floodplain development and regulations.
Policy 7.2:
The County shall continue to provide for the transfer of development rights (TDR) from estuarine wetlands to approved
uplands. All projects involving TDRs must be Planned Development projects. No density can be transferred to
agriculturally designated land. Deed restrictions and/or easements shall be used to ensure that land from which density
has been transferred is preserved and protected. The development rights transferred shall be up to 1 unit per acre of
estuarine wetlands; provided, however, that the maximum density permitted on the upland project area receiving the
density transfer shall not increase by more than:
• twenty percent of the maximum density allowed by the receiving site’s underlying comprehensive plan land use
designation(s) where the receiving site is not adjacent to the area from which density is transferred; or
• fifty percent of the maximum density allowed by the receiving site’s underlying comprehensive plan land use
designation(s) where the receiving site is adjacent to the area from which density is transferred.
No Change
Policy 7.3:
The County shall provide protection to environmentally sensitive lands through land development regulations that limit
building densities, require mitigation for impacted areas, permit the transfer of development rights, and promote the
use of conservation easements, dedications, and public acquisition.
No Change
Policy 7.4:
Any development activity in areas designated as environmentally sensitive or important, as defined in policies 5.4 and
6.11 of the Conservation Element, shall require an environmental survey as part of the approval of a development
order. Based upon the results of the environmental survey, development projects shall be required to provide a site
design which minimizes impacts upon endangered and threatened plants and animals.
No Change
Policy 7.5: The county shall review and evaluate proposed development projects to ensure that stormwater runoff from the new
development will not negatively impact adjacent properties or receiving surface waterbody quality. No Change
Policy 7.6:
Indian River County shall maintain and enforce regulations to protect wetlands from the negative impacts of
development. These regulations address building setbacks, protection from solid and liquid wastes including pesticides
and herbicides, dredging or filling of wetlands, incorporation of wetlands into a site’s development scheme, and
mitigation of lost or destroyed wetlands.
No Change Also supports Conservation Element policies.
PAGE 26
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 7.7:
Indian River County acknowledges the environmental importance of the prime aquifer recharge areas shown on Figure
2.29. The county shall regulate the development of these areas. Regulations include an overlay district which restricts
land uses, implements special siting requirements for septic systems to mitigate soil drainage characteristics, and
regulates other factors which impact the recharge capability of the land.
No Change
Policy 7.8:
The county shall protect public water supply wells by prohibiting the placement of septic systems; stormwater
retention/detention areas; wastewater treatment plant effluent discharges, including but not limited to percolation
ponds, surface water discharge, spray irrigation, and drainfields; sanitary landfills, feed lots and other concentrated
animal facilities; mining and excavation activities; and the handling, production, and storage of regulated substances
within wellfield cones of influence.
No Change Good Policy and supports Chapter 3 Sub-Elements (groundwater, etc).
Policy 7.9:
Consistent with the Potable Water Sub-Element, the county shall continue to extend the county water system, enabling
the acquisition of small public water systems, thereby reducing the number of residents using the shallow aquifer,
which is subject to groundwater pollution threats.
No Change
Policy 7.10:
Through the use of fee simple purchase, transfer of development rights, and conservation easements, Indian River
County shall coordinate with other state, federal and local agencies to identify and protect vegetative communities
identified in Conservation Element policies 6.1 through 6.7.
No Change
Policy 7.11: The county, in cooperation with the local DOH-Indian River, shall continue to regulate the siting of septic systems
including siting requirements to mitigate soil characteristics. No Change
Objective 8
Through 2015, at least 95% of unincorporated Indian River County’s historic properties (as identified in “Historic
Properties Survey of Indian River County, Florida”, prepared by Historic Property Associates, Inc., April 1989) will
continue to be preserved in fair, good, or excellent condition.
Revise/Update Update date as program is ongoing
Policy 8.1:
The county historian and, as needed, outside consultants and experts shall provide guidance and advice to the Board of
County Commissioners on matters concerning historic and archaeological preservation. The county historian shall be
consulted for recommendations concerning:
• proposed changes to county regulations protecting historic and archaeological resources; and
• projects which may impact historical and archaeological sites identified on the Florida Master Site File or designated
as significant by the Board of County Commissioners.
No Change
Policy 8.2:
Indian River County shall use incentives such as transfer of development rights, tax relief, mitigation, and public
acquisitions; and penalties such as fines and imprisonment, to protect and preserve historically and archaeologically
important resources. The following criteria are used to determine the historical significance of a resource:
• whether or not the resource is at least 50 years old;
• whether or not the resource contains significant character, interest or value as part of the historical, cu ltural,
aesthetic and architectural heritage of the county;
• whether or not the resource displays historical, political, cultural, economic, or social trends of community history;
• whether or not the resource displays unique and/or distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style, design
period, construction method, detail, craftsmanship, or material; and
• whether or not the resource is a work by a prominent architect, designer, engineer, builder or landscape architect.
No Change
Policy 8.3: All public and private development or redevelopment proposals shall be reviewed for their impact upon designated
historic resources. No Change
Policy 8.4: Public and private development and redevelopment activities shall cease, at least temporarily, if historic or
archaeological artifacts are discovered, in order to allow for evaluation of historic significance. No Change
PAGE 27
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 8.5:
Indian River County land development regulations shall include provisions for land use management techniques such as
Transfer of Development Rights, Tax Relief, Mitigation or Public Acquisition to ensure compliance with the provisions of
these policies and to minimize the impact on property owners.
No Change Generally consistent with other policies. Provides sufficient guidance to
remain as is.
Policy 8.6: The county shall periodically update its historic properties survey. In addition to providing a more accurate assessment
of the condition of historic properties, such updates will also allow the inclusion of newly eligible properties. No Change
Objective 9 Through the implementation of land development regulations, Indian River County will have aesthetically pleasing
buildings, signs, landscaping, parking areas, and roads. No Change
Policy 9.1: By January 2019, Indian River County shall establish guidelines to ensure that all new county buildings and facilities will
be compatible with the architectural character of the surrounding neighborhood. Remove Remove Policy as it is unnecessary
Policy 9.2:
Indian River County will enhance and maintain landscaping and aesthetic hardscape improvements within county
owned rights-of-way along roads that serve as entranceways to the county and along major arterials running through
the county.
No Change
Policy 9.3:
Indian River County shall maintain corridor plans and special corridor regulations for development located along roads
that serve as entranceways to the county and along other major roads, as determined by the county. The county shall
continue to implement the recommendations of the Wabasso, SR 60, north barrier island, and Roseland corridor plans.
No Change Also supports Transportation Element policies.
Policy 9.4:
Indian River County shall coordinate with the State Department of Transportation to install landscaping within existing
road rights-of-way of roads that serve as entrances to the county. That landscaping will be installed when the
appropriate portions of the road are being improved.
No Change
Policy 9.5: Indian River County land development regulations shall require the use of natural and manmade buffers between
incompatible land uses. No Change
Policy 9.6: Indian River County shall enforce sign code regulation standards, including standards contained in corridor plans, for
the type, location, size, number, and maintenance of signs. No Change
Guides Code provisions and creates standards (support) for
corresponding and / or subsequent corridor plans and other special
planning studies.
Policy 9.7: Indian River County shall encourage, through its land development regulations, the use of native vegetation in meeting
landscaping requirements. No Change
Policy 9.8: Indian River County land development regulations shall include minimum landscape and maintenance requirements for
all development requiring site plan approval. No Change
Policy 9.9: Indian River County shall provide guidelines for use of landscaping and other buffers to shield parking, driveways and
loading areas from surrounding development, and public rights-of-way. No Change
Policy 9.10: Indian River County shall support the cultural enrichment of the county by evaluating community cultural facilities and,
where appropriate, the design of county buildings shall incorporate artistic and cultural amenities. No Change
Policy 9.11:
Indian River County Land Development Regulations shall address aesthetic concerns regarding telecommunication
towers and antennas by several means including: providing incentives for co-location of antennas on existing
structures, limiting the possible location of future towers, setbacks, landscaping, camouflaging, and requiring
unobtrusive lighting (day/night lighting).
No Change
Policy 9.12:
The county shall implement certain corridor standards on a countywide basis. Those corridor standards to be applied
countywide will include standards for foundation landscaping, building color, pitched roof, signage, screening, and
lighting. As is done within designated corridors, exemptions will be allowed for multi-family developments as well as
industrial/warehouse projects.
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 9.13:
By 2011, the county shall control the visual clutter created by temporary signs by adopting development regulations
that establish limits on where temporary signs are to be allowed, on the number of temporary signs allowed, and on
the duration that temporary signs may be posted.
Revise (minimal) Revise year only; program (policy) is still ongoing
Policy 9.14:
To combat monotony in single-family residential developments, the county shall adopt development regulations
requiring that applicants submit design guidelines for all new residential planned developments. Such guidelines shall
be project-specific and require approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission prior to release of development plans
for construction. PD design guidelines shall address all of the following criteria:
• garage placement and scale;
• variations in building placement;
• frequency of use for a model within the same subdivision;
• building materials (façade and roof);
• building massing and architectural details that relate to articulation;
• the project’s appearance from adjacent public streets;
• internal streetscape;
• enforcement mechanisms; and
• any additional requirements deemed necessary by the Planning and Zoning Commission to limit residential monotony
within the project.
No Change
Policy 9.15: The county shall not require buffers between similar residential uses. Remove Code-oriented language (not supported by FS)
Objective 10 With the exception of legally established non-conformities, all new development in Indian River County will be
consistent with the future land use map. No Change
Policy 10.1:
Indian River County land development regulations shall allow legally established non-conforming uses to continue until
ceased. When a non-conforming use has ceased, it can be replaced only with a conforming use. All new development,
even development associated with non-conforming structures, must meet current regulations.
No Change
Policy 10.2:
To allow for the reasonable use of such properties, Indian River County shall permit the development of
nonconforming lots of record legally established under regulations in effect at the time that the lot was created.
Provisions of this policy shall not apply to plats of reclamation, except when non-conforming parcels have been
transferred by deed prior to February 13, 1990.
No Change
Policy 10.3: The county shall provide courtesy notification to adjacent property owners regarding staff determinations involving
existing nonconforming non-residential uses. No Change
Policy 10.4:
Multi-family residential sections of The Moorings that were zoned RM-10 prior to February 13, 1990, shall be allowed
to maintain their RM-10 zoning and shall be considered conforming uses within the L-1 designation. These phases
include Windward, Southwinds, Harbour Side, The Pointes, River Mews, and South Passage.
No Change Keep as site/project specific Policy guidance.
Objective 11 By 2016, Indian River County will have taken action to encourage redevelopment or revitalization in at least three
areas.
Revise; Potentially
consolidate
Indian River County will continue to take action to encourage
revitalization and redevelopment in the Unincorporated County.
Policy 11.1: By 2019, Indian River County shall develop guidelines and regulations to designate areas in need of redevelopment or
revitalization. Revise Indian River County will continue to develop guidelines and regulations
to designate areas in need of redevelopment or revitalization.
Policy 11.2: Within one year of designating a redevelopment or revitalization area, Indian River County shall determine the needs
and deficiencies as well as remedies and solutions for that area. Remove Policy complete/ not needed
Policy 11.3: Indian River County shall enforce the provisions of the PRO, Professional Office zoning district. The purpose of this
zoning district shall be to encourage infill development and the redevelopment or revitalization of residential areas No Change
PAGE 29
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
which are no longer appropriate for strictly single-family use but are not considered appropriate for a broad range of
commercial uses, as permitted in other commercial zoning districts.
Policy 11.4:
Indian River County shall encourage the development, redevelopment, revitalization and upgrading of undeveloped
and underdeveloped subdivisions through mechanisms such as Block Grant Programs, Municipal Service Tax Units,
creative finance and development proposals, zoning, and simplified replatting procedures.
No Change
Policy 11.5: Indian River County shall maintain a vigorous code enforcement program operating in all areas of the unincorporated
county. No Change
Objective 12 All development in Indian River County will be consistent with the resource planning and management activities of the
state, and with approved management plans including the Hutchinson Island Management Plan. No Change
Policy 12.1:
The county acknowledges the application of the Hutchinson Island Resource Planning and Management Plan (HIRPMP)
to Indian River County. Past county actions have resulted in development regulations consistent with the HIRPMP. All
new development on the unincorporated barrier island will be consistent with the HIRPMP by implementing the
policies of this comprehensive plan.
No Change
Policy 12.2:
As part of the county’s periodic Capital Improvements Element evaluation and update process, the impact of new
development on hurricane evacuation times and the need for improvements and the timing of improvements to
evacuation routes in order to maintain or reduce evacuation times shall be assessed.
No Change
Policy 12.3: Indian River County shall include within its land development regulations a mechanism to assess the impact of new
development on emergency evacuation. No Change
Objective 13
By 2015, the County will have a formal coordination mechanism with other federal, state, regional, and local
governments and agencies for land use planning activities, provision of facilities and services, and funding and
implementation of programs.
Revise (minimal) Update Year only; program/policy is still ongoing
Policy 13.1:
Indian River County shall ensure that land development activities, development orders and permits, rezonings, and
comprehensive plan amendments are coordinated, as may be appropriate, with the municipalities of the county,
adjacent counties, regional and special districts, and state and federal agencies.
No Change
Policy 13.2: Indian River County, through coordination with municipalities within the county, shall ensure that future annexation
will not create enclave areas. No Change
Policy 13.3: By 2018, the county shall encourage municipalities to identify potential areas for annexation, develop criteria for
annexation decisions, and execute interlocal agreements with the county to formalize these criteria. Revise (Minimal)
Revise Year; program/policy still ongoing. Specify agreement types
(Interlocal Service Boundary Agreement or Joint Planning Area
Agreement).
Policy 13.4:
Indian River County shall coordinate with municipalities within the county to amend the proposed interlocal service
boundary agreement between the county and municipalities to address annexation issues, maintenance of established
level of service standards, extra-jurisdictional developmental impacts, upfront coordination on land use amendments
and rezonings, and establishment of a dispute resolution process.
No Change
Objective 14 Indian River County will have a mechanism for review and amendment of the comprehensive plan. No Change
Policy 14.1:
Indian River County shall provide for the amendment of the Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the provisions of
Chapter 163, FS. Applications to amend the future land use plan map may be submitted by the owner or the agent for
the owner of property proposed for redesignation, by the county planning staff, or by the Board of County
Commissioners. Where an individual application is submitted, land development regulations shall provide for payment
of an appropriate fee and disclosure of all individuals having an equitable interest in the proposed change.
Applications to amend other portions of the comprehensive plan may be submitted by any interested party, the
planning staff, or the Board of County Commissioners. Applications to amend the comprehensive plan will be accepted
No Change Note, dates identified remain unchanged.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
only during the months January, April, July, and October with the exception of DRI-related amendments and small-scale
amendments.
Policy 14.2:
Applications requesting amendments to the Comprehensive Plan or Future Land Use Map shall be evaluated to
consider the following:
• consistency with the Goals, Objectives and Policies of the comprehensive plan;
• impacts on public facilities and services;
• environmental impacts;
• compatibility with surrounding areas; and
• other timely issues.
No Change
Policy 14.3:
Indian River County shall approve plan amendments only upon a showing that one of the following criteria has been
met:
• The proposed amendment will correct an oversight in the approved plan.
• The proposed amendment will correct a mistake in the approved plan.
• The proposed amendment is warranted based on a substantial change in circumstances. For Future Land Use Map
amendments, the change in circumstances must affect the subject property.
• For Future Land Use Map amendments, the proposed amendment involves a swap or reconfiguration of land use
designations at separate sites and, that that swap or reconfiguration will not increase the overall land use density or
intensity depicted on the Future Land Use Map.
No Change
Policy 14.4:
The county shall require applications to amend the comprehensive plan to include a written statement discussing the
following:
• The proposed amendment’s consistency with all the goals, objectives, and policies of the comprehensive plan;
• The proposed amendment’s impact on public facilities and services;
• The proposed amendment’s environmental impacts; and
• For Future Land Use Map amendments, the proposed amendment’s compatibility with surrounding areas.
No Change
Policy 14.5:
The county may utilize the small-scale development amendment process, as described in section 163.3187(1)(c)2., FS,
only for Future Land Use Designation Amendment requests that meet all of the following criteria:
1. the applicant requests in writing that the proposed amendment be processed as a small-scale development
amendment;
2. the requirements of 163.3187(1)(c)2., FS, as amended, are satisfied;
3. the subject property does not contain any environmentally sensitive land as defined in Conservation Element Policy
5.4, or any environmentally important land as defined in Conservation Element Policy 6.11;
4. the subject property is located within the existing urban service area;
5. the proposed amendment does not expand the existing urban service area;
6. the proposed amendment does not expand the SR 60/58th Avenue commercial/industrial node; and
7. the proposed amendment does not create a new commercial/industrial node.
Revise
Represents FS Standards for small scale amendments; not necessary but
good guiding and informing policy; can just cite specific FS as opposed
to listing out all criteria.
Objective 15 Indian River County will have land development regulations that are consistent with the protection of private property
rights. No Change
Policy 15.1: Consistent with Chapters 125 and 163, Florida Statutes, Indian River County shall give adequate public notice to
landowners of any application to change the land use designation or zoning of their land. No Change
Policy 15.2: Indian River County will regulate the use of land only for valid public purposes in a reasonable manner, in accordance
with due process. No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Objective 16 Through 2030, the portion of the Indian River Lagoon within unincorporated Indian River County will have a class II
state water quality rating. No Change
Policy 16.1: Indian River County land development regulations shall require an environmental impact analysis of development
within conservation districts or lands abutting the Indian River or St. Sebastian River. No Change
Policy 16.2:
Indian River County shall prohibit land use activity which results in the alteration, degradation or destruction of coastal
and estuarine resources except when necessary to prevent a public hazard or provide public benefits which exceed
those lost as a result of such activity. Public benefits of such resources include floodplain protection, natural habitat for
threatened and endangered plants and animals, natural aquifer groundwater recharge, aquiculture, and recreation.
No Change
Policy 16.3: Indian River County shall continue to provide technical, monetary and political support to conservation programs
aimed at land acquisition on the barrier island and in other coastal conservation areas. No Change
Policy 16.4: Indian River County shall review all proposed land use changes for consistency with policies set forth in the
Conservation and Coastal Management Elements. No Change
Policy 16.5:
To improve the Indian River Lagoon’s water quality, the county shall develop additional stormwater projects that
reduce the amount of stormwater that flows into the lagoon and/or improve the quality of stormwater flowing into the
lagoon. In recent years, successful stormwater treatment projects have included the Sebastian Stormwater Park, the
Main Relief Canal filtration system, and the Egret Marsh project.
No Change Per County, program is still ongoing and Policy as noted supports efforts
Objective 17 Through 2030, the county will have no increase in land use designation density or intensity within the Coastal High
Hazard Area. Revise/Update
…in a manner consistent with the policies set forth in the Conservation
and Coastal Elements. Change year to 2040.
Policy 17.1: The county shall not approve plan amendments that increase the residential density or land use intensity within the
Coastal High Hazard Area. No Change
Policy 17.2: The county shall support programs of land acquisition on the barrier island for natural resource preservation,
recreation or both. No Change
Policy 17.3: The county shall limit densities in the coastal high hazard area to ensure timely evacuation of the barrier island. No Change
Policy 17.4: The county shall prohibit new development of adult congregate living facilities, nursing homes, homes for the aged,
total care facilities, and similar developments within the Coastal High Hazard Area. No Change
Policy 17.5:
The county hereby adopts the Coastal High Hazard Area boundary depicted on the county’s Future Land Use Map. As
set forth in Coastal Management Element Policy 15.5, the Coastal High Hazard Area is designated as an adaptation
Action Area (AAA) as defined in the Coastal Management Element, subject to the policies of this Objective 17 and of
Coastal Management Element Objective 15 which include density and land use restrictions.
No Change
Objective 18 Between January 1, 1998 and January 1, 2020, ten percent of new residential development (dwelling units) occurring in
unincorporated Indian River County will be located in Traditional Neighborhood Design projects. Revise Revise and update dates and percent provided from ten (10) to five (5)
percent.
Policy 18.1:
By January 2011, the county shall adopt land development regulations that establish the TND, Traditional
Neighborhood Design zoning district. The TND district shall be limited to planned developments. To qualify as a TND
development, projects must meet the following criteria:
Development Parameters
1. The minimum contiguous project land area shall be 40 acres.
2. Land shall be under unified control, planned and developed as a whole in a single development or as an approved
series of developments or neighborhoods. The project shall be approved under the Planned Development (PD)
rezoning process.
Revise Remove target year; development parameters support code provisions
and should remain.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Street Network
3. In order to disperse traffic by offering many alternative routes and connections between destinations within the
project and to appropriate uses on adjacent sites, the street network shall consist of a grid or modified grid pattern and
shall accommodate connections to appropriate uses on adjacent sites.
4. Not more than 10% of blocks shall have a block with a perimeter measuring more than 1,800 feet. Within
commercial and mixed use areas, no block face dimension should exceed 400 feet.
5. The project shall contain a network of interconnected streets, sidewalks, and pathways.
6. Streets shall be designed to balance pedestrian and automobile needs, to discourage high automobile speeds, to
effectively and efficiently accommodate transit systems, and to distribute and diffuse traffic rather than concentrate it.
7. Street trees shall be provided so as to shade sidewalk areas and buffer sidewalk areas from automobile traffic.
8. Streets and adjacent buildings shall be sited and designed to encourage interactions between the street and
buildings through the use of amenities such as reduced building setbacks, “build-to” lines, front porches, stoops, rear
and side yard parking lot locations,
and other means.
9. Projects shall decrease the prominence of front yard driveways, garages, and parking lots through one or more of
the following: mid-block alleys, garages located toward the rear of lots, rear and side loaded garages, garages which
are not the predominant architectural feature of the front elevation of buildings off-street parking at the rear of
buildings, restricted driveway connections to streets, and traffic calming techniques.
Mixing of Uses
10. The project shall be designed as a compact or clustered development. Projects may include the following mix of
uses occurring together in close proximity:
• single-family residential,
• accessory dwelling units,
• multiple-family residential,
• commercial and work place,
• civic and cultural, and
• open space.
11. The following ratios shall apply to land uses within the project:
a. Community open spaces open to the public, such as squares, plazas, or parks, shall comprise a minimum of 5% of
the total project area.
b. Civic uses, such as post offices, churches, community centers, meeting halls, schools, day care centers and cultural
facilities shall comprise a minimum of 1% of the total project area.
c. Residential uses shall comprise a minimum of 50% and a maximum of 80% of the total non-conservation and non-
agricultural project area.
d. Commercial and office uses located on residentially or agriculturally designated land shall not exceed 10% of the
total land area designated on the land use plan as residential and agricultural.
12. The vertical mixing of uses is allowed and strongly encouraged around designated town centers, main streets,
mixed-use centers, and central squares and greens.
Centers (Locus of Community Activity)
13. Each project must have at least one public square, town center, or mixed use area within a ¼ mile walking distance
PAGE 33
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
from 50% of the project’s residential units and within ½ mile walking distance from 75% of the project’s residential
units.
14. To accommodate increased pedestrian use, 50% of sidewalks in public squares, town centers, or mixed use areas
shall have a minimum unobstructed width (clear and passable for pedestrians) of at least seven feet.
15. On-street parking shall be allowed within public squares, town centers, or mixed use areas.
16. Off-street parking lots within public squares, town centers, or mixed use areas shall be provided only at the rear of
buildings.
17. The center shall accommodate space for a transit stop and a civic building.
Edges (Perimeter of the Community)
18. Project edges located outside the Urban Service Area shall be established and designed for environmental,
agricultural, recreational, or other open space uses.
Public Buildings
19. Public buildings, such as schools, churches, post offices, and community centers, shall be provided in prominent,
accessible locations within the project. Such locations generally are at the termination of streets, the perimeter of the
neighborhood center, or the frontage along a designated main street of a neighborhood or adjacent thoroughfare plan
road.
Policy 18.2:
The county shall provide incentives to develop Traditional Neighborhood Design projects within the urban service area.
Those incentives shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
• 10% density bonus for TND projects located entirely within the urban service area;
• reduced building setback requirements;
• reduced lot size requirements;
• increased maximum impervious surface limits for individual lots;
• reduced right-of-way and travel lane widths;
• reduced corner radii requirements; and
• reduced off-street parking requirements.
No Change
Policy 18.3:
To facilitate TND projects east of I-95 that are partially outside but adjacent to the urban service area, and to continue
to preserve the agricultural and natural character and function of the area, the county shall allow portions of TND
projects to be located outside of the urban service area. A minimum of 60% of the total project density shall be
derived from the portion of the project located within the urban service area. Density shall be calculated and allowed
based upon:
• the land use designation underlying the portion of the project within the urban service area; and
• 1 unit/acre for project property located outside of the urban service area.
No Change Good policy and encourages compact urban forms of development; also
supported by the Vision Plan.
Policy 18.4:
By January 2011, the county shall amend its land development regulations to permit TND development, on multi-family
zoned project sites that are less than 40 acres in size, as an administrative permit use in the county’s conventional
zoning districts. As is the case for administrative permit uses, the land development regulations shall specify criteria
addressing design aspects such as project scale, lot widths, setbacks, mix of uses, street layout, rear alleys, building
design, and compatibility with adjacent uses.
No Change
Objective 19 Within one year of the issuance of a Hazard Mitigation Report by Indian River County or the Treasure Coast Regional
Planning Council, any recommendations that identify land use conflicts or inconsistencies will have been implemented. No Change
PAGE 34
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 19.1:
Indian River County shall issue Hazard Mitigation Reports following natural or manmade hazardous incidents. Such
incidents may include, but not be limited to, hurricanes and tropical storms, tornadoes, flooding, hazardous material
accidents, nuclear power plant accidents, armed violence (civil disturbance, terrorism, or military conflict), mass
immigration, coastal oil spill, freezes, fires, and drought.
No Change
Policy 19.2:
Following the issuance of any Hazard Mitigation Reports, Indian River County shall review its comprehensive plan for
consistency with that Hazard Mitigation Report. Appropriate Hazard Mitigation Report based plan amendments shall
be processed at that time.
No Change
Objective 20
In the county, sufficient land will be available for material dredged by the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND). By
2011, all dredged material management areas shall designated as PUB, Public Facilities, on the county’s Future Land
Use Map.
Revise
Revise to: In the County, sufficient land will be available for material
dredged by the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND). All dredged
material management areas shall designated as PUB, Public Facilities,
on the County’s Future Land Use Map.
Policy 20.1:
The county hereby adopts the following dredged spoil disposal site selection criteria:
• sites should be located close to the Indian River Lagoon;
• sites should be altered, non-native upland vegetation areas;
• sites should not abut residential land unless sites are sufficiently large to accommodate adequate buffers;
• sites should not support endangered species; and
• sites should not be wetlands, unless wetlands are degraded/non-functional.
Where they abut residential land, sites shall provide adequate buffers. Where sites impact degraded/non-functional
wetlands, wetland impacts shall be mitigated.
No Change
Policy 20.2: The county shall redesignate land that FIND has acquired for dredged spoil disposal to the PUB, Public Facilities, land
use designation. No Change
PAGE 35
Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal Indian River County shall have an efficient system of sanitary sewer disposal that prevents degradation of existing
resources, promotes orderly growth and development, and meets existing and projected demands. Revise Update word choice to emphasize optimizing operation and
maintenance versus efficiency.
Objective 1 Through the time horizon of the plan, there will be sufficient capacity in the regional sanitary sewer system to
accommodate all new development within the urban service area. Revise
Revise to sound more like an objective in support of the goal, currently
written as fact. Also expand "urban service area" to clarify it includes
those municipalities the County serves (Sebastian and Orchid Island).
Policy 1.1: New development within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County shall be approved only when capacity is
available, either on-site or off-site, to provide needed sanitary sewer service. Revise Change "the unincorporated portion of" to "municipalities located in"
Policy 1.2: The DEP, on an annual basis, shall inspect all private wastewater treatment plants in Indian River County. Remove Not IRC's responsibility to regulate.
Policy 1.3:
The county hereby adopts a sanitary sewer level of service standard of 250 gallons per day per equivalent residential
unit with a peak monthly flow factor of 1.25. That standard shall be utilized for determining the availability of facility
capacity and the demand generated by a development.
No Change
Policy 1.4:
Through its computerized permit tracking and its concurrency management system, the county shall continue to
implement procedures to update facility demand and capacity information as development orders and permits are
issued.
No Change
Policy 1.5: The Planning Division, on an as needed basis, shall provide summary reports containing capacity and demand
information for each public wastewater treatment plant within the county service area. Revise
Recommended language: The County will provide summary reports for
each public wastewater treatment plant within the County service area
as well as Daily Monitoring Reports as required by FDEP.
Policy 1.6:
Consistent with the county’s water and wastewater connection matrix, the county shall continue to allow the use of
septic tank systems in rural areas for single-family units and for domestic waste disposal by small retail establishments.
The use of septic systems must be approved by the Health Department and be consistent with Rule 64E-6, FAC.
Revise/Remove
Similar to Policy 2.4. Replace policy with mandatory sanitary sewer
connections where central sewer available. Septic tanks should be
approved on a case-by-case basis. New (since 2010) health department
rule is mandatory connection, where available, if septic fails.
Objective 2 By 2025, at least 60% of all existing units in the county’s service area will be connected to the county’s regional sanitary
sewer system. This will be an increase from 52.7% in 2017. Revise
Recommended language: Steadily increase number of existing units
connected to the County's regional sewer system with a long-range goal
for 60% of all users to be connected.
Policy 2.1: The county shall continue to offer the utility assessment program to areas with septic systems within the County
Utilities Department service area. No Change
Policy 2.2: The county shall continue to offer up to 10 year financing for all utility assessments. No Change
Policy 2.3:
The county shall give priority for the provision of public sanitary sewer services to the subdivisions on the list of
subdivisions as identified in Table 3.A.3 designated as requiring sanitary sewer service due to public health threats by
DOH.
Revise Update table reference and revise sentence following reference to refer
to an F.A.C. or DOH policy.
Policy 2.4:
The county shall provide public sanitary sewer service to areas where the lack of such service is determined to be a
public health threat and shall initiate sewer projects where feasible to serve subdivisions served by septic systems and
identified in Table 3.A.3.1 as posing a disproportionately high potential negative impact on Indian River Lagoon water
quality. The county shall recover costs through those connecting to the system and directly benefitting from the
improvement.
Revise
Recommended language: The County shall provide public sanitary sewer
service to areas where the lack of such service is determined to be a
public health threat and shall initiate sewer projects where feasible to
serve subdivisions served by septic systems. The County shall recover
costs through those connecting to the system and directly benefitting
from the improvement.
Policy 2.5: Consistent with its interlocal agreements with the City of Sebastian and the Town of Orchid, the county shall provide
sanitary sewer services to those municipalities. No Change
Remove year. Recommend updating policy to be in accordance with
other county planning documents or to set a target date for
implementation of recommendations from study.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.6:
By 2018, the county shall perform a financial analysis for septic to sewer conversion projects. Based on that analysis
and available funding a specific list of subdivisions to be connected to public sanitary sewer system by certain dates will
be identified.
Revise (Minimal) Revise/remove year
Policy 2.7:
By 2028, the county shall provide sanitary sewer service to at least five (5) subdivisions identified in Table 3.A.3.1 as
posing a disproportionately high potential negative impact on Indian River Lagoon water quality. The county shall
recover costs through those connecting to the system and directly benefitting from the improvement.
Revise
Recommended wording: The County shall prioritize providing sanitary
sewer service to subdivisions posing critical water quality impacts to the
Indian River Lagoon, as identified in Table 3.A.3.1. County will recover
costs for improvements from those connecting to the system and
directly benefitting from the improvement.
Objective 3 Through the time horizon of the plan, the county will have no instances of sanitary sewer facilities contaminating
surface water or groundwater resources. Revise Shift focus to mitigating/eliminating/preventing contamination.
Policy 3.1:
The DOH-Indian River shall conduct annual inspections of septic systems that are associated with heavy commercial,
industrial, and manufacturing or equivalent uses. The results of these inspections may be used in conjunction with
other items in prioritizing sanitary sewer service expansion.
No Change
Policy 3.2: The county shall regularly monitor all centralized sanitary sewer facilities to ensure that they do not contaminate
surface water or groundwater resources. Revise Keep original policy. It would be good to tie-in initiatives at the County
level beyond routine O&M, not necessarily monitoring software.
Policy 3.3:
To ensure that hazardous waste is not discharged into ground or surface water, the DOH -Indian River shall require
samplings of onsite sewage systems for businesses which have been identified as hazardous waste generators
suspected of illegal discharges. Violators shall be prosecuted according to federal, state and/or local regulations.
No Change
Objective 4 Through the time horizon of the plan, 100% of the wastewater effluent produced by the county centralized sanitary
sewer facilities will be reused. Revise
Remove reference to time horizon. Rephrase so initiative reads more
like an objective. Objective is rooted in limiting groundwater
withdrawal, or disposing all treated effluent? For all policies under this
objective - consistently refer to treated effluent as reuse. Revise to be in
compliance with 62-600.520 FAC, regarding restrictions to surface
water discharges established in 2022.
Policy 4.1: The county shall continue to reuse wastewater by spray irrigation, with percolation ponds and wetlands as back-up. Revise
Recommend revising policy to the following: The County's primary
means of reuse water disposal shall be to the users identified in the
County's Domestic Wastewater Facility Permit (FLA010431). Secondary
disposal of reuse water shall be through percolation ponds and
wetlands as necessary.
Policy 4.2: The county shall encourage large volume irrigation users, such as developments with golf courses, to use reuse water
for spray irrigation. No Change
Policy 4.3:
The county shall continue to enforce Land Development Regulations that require developments that use treated
wastewater for spray irrigation to construct and dedicate to the county the effluent transmission lines needed to
transport the effluent to the development.
Revise
Recommend revising policy to the following: The County shall continue
to enforce Land Development Regulations in regard to construction and
conveyance of reuse transmission and distribution lines.
Aforementioned infrastructure will be dedicated to the County upon
completion and acceptance of the reuse system within limits identified
and agreed to by the developer and County.
Policy 4.4: The county shall require all new subdivisions or residential projects of 25 or more lots/units within one-quarter of a mile
of an existing re-use line to connect to the re-use line when capacity exists. No Change
Objective 5
By 2022, the county will have completed the sanitary sewer improvements listed in the county’s 5-year Capital
Improvements Program in order to maximize the use of existing facilities and discourage urban sprawl (current Five
Year Capital Improvements Plan is in the Capital Improvements Element of the comprehensive plan).
Revise
Recommend the following: The County shall maintain a 5-year Capital
Improvements Program identifying sanitary sewer improvements to
maximize the use of existing facilities and discourage urban sprawl.
PAGE 37
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 5.1: In conformance with the review process for the Capital Improvements Element, the county shall maintain a five-year
schedule of capital improvement needs for public facilities. Remove Addressed in separate Element.
Policy 5.2:
Proposed capital improvement projects shall be evaluated and ranked according to the following three priority level
guidelines:
• Level One - whether the project is needed to protect public health and safety, to fulfill the county’s legal commitment
to provide facilities and services, or to preserve or achieve full use of existing facilities.
• Level Two - whether the project increases efficiency of use of existing facilities, prevents or reduces future
improvement costs, provides service to developed areas lacking full service or promotes in-fill development.
• Level Three - whether the project represents a logical extension of facilities and services within the urban service area.
No Change; if
desired, can revise
Keep policy as-is. Otherwise, revise/simplify policy to say the CIP
projects will be evaluated and ranked according to the County's risk
matrix.
Policy 5.3
In order to guarantee provision of more than the minimum level of service, the county shall take the following steps:
• begin planning and preliminary design for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or
exceed its capacity within 5 years;
• prepare plans and specifications for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed
its capacity within 4 years;
• submit a complete construction permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for
expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 3 years; and
• submit an application for an operation permit for the expanded facility to DEP when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is
projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 6 months.
Revise
Recommend: The County will comply with FDEP requirements for
evaluating capacity and planning for future improvements as needed to
provide sanitary sewer service at the committed Level of Service.
Policy 5.4: The county shall treat sanitary sewer provision as an enterprise system which is financially self-supporting. No Change
Policy 5.5: The County Utilities Department shall fund sanitary sewer capital improvements and expansions through user fees,
capacity charges, developer’s agreements, assessments and other appropriate fees and funding mechanisms. No Change
Policy 5.6: The county shall identify and pursue opportunities for state and federal funding for the improvement and expansion of
utility services including septic to sewer conversion projects and sewer connections. No Change
Policy 5.7: All improvements, replacement, expansion, or increase in capacity of county facilities shall be consistent with adopted
level of service standards for facilities. No Change
Policy 5.8:
Consistent with the policies of the Future Land Use Element of this plan, provision of centralized sanitary sewer service
shall be limited to the following areas:
• Areas within the Urban Service Area;
• Areas where the county has legal commitments to provide facilities and services as of the date of adoption of this
plan;
• Areas outside of the Urban Service Area where at least a portion of the site is contiguous to an Urban Service Area
boundary as depicted on the Official Future Land Use Map or where located no more than 500 feet from an existing
sanitary sewer line that is part of the county sanitary sewer system, or where an approved place of worship or
camp/retreat use existed on January 1, 2016 and is approved for water and/or sewer service by Utility Services in
conjunction with a utility construction/connection permit filed with Utility Services on or before June 30, 2016. These
areas are subject to the following provisions:
o The maximum density of such land shall be as shown on the Future Land Use Map, and the provision of
centralized sanitary sewer service shall not be justification for an increase in maximum density; and
o Any and all costs associated with connecting a property to the sanitary sewer system, including costs associated
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
with survey, design, permitting, line extensions, construction, pumps and lift stations, restoration, inspections, and
certification, shall be borne by the owner of the property.
• Development projects located outside of the Urban Service Area that meet the criteria of the policies of the Future
Land Use Element for:
o clustering of residential development within agricultural;
o clustering of residential development within privately owned upland conservation areas;
o clustered development within mixed use districts;
Community Development Department Indian River County 43
o traditional neighborhood design communities;
o public facilities such as public schools; and
o agricultural businesses and industries (including biofuel facilities)
• Areas where, consistent with Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element Policy 2.4, the lack of centralized sanitary sewer service is
determined to be a public health threat.
Policy 5.9: The county shall install automatic air release valves in all new sewer lines. Revise
Recommend revising to say: County shall require installation of
automatic air and vacuum valves on all new sewer lines where County
deems necessary and appropriate. This could also be grouped with the
pre-treatment policy (currently 6.7) under a new objective for
collections system infrastructure requirements.
Objective 6 Through the time horizon of the plan, there shall be no instances of package treatment plant failures, or illegal or
unsafe package treatment plant discharges. No Change
Policy 6.1:
The county shall limit the use of package wastewater treatment systems to areas that meet the following criteria
governing connection to the county sanitary sewer system:
• Development served by existing package treatment plants may continue to treat their sewage in that manner until
centralized service becomes available. At that time, all development within ¼ mile of a county sewer line shall be
connected to the county system. Development whose sewage treatment systems causes a public health problem mus t
connect to the regional system regardless of the distance to sewer lines.
• Package treatment plants shall be allowed in areas of development outside of the Urban Service Area when such
development meets the criteria of policies of the Future Land Use Element for:
o clustering of residential development within agricultural areas;
o clustering of residential development within privately owned upland conservation areas;
o clustering development within mixed use districts;
o tradition neighborhood design communities; or
o agricultural businesses and industries (including biofuel facilities)
No Change
Policy 6.2: The county shall ensure that, prior to the issuance of development orders or permits, the applicant has demonstrated
that the project complies with applicable federal, state, and local permit requirements for package treatment plants.
No Change; could
consider more
actionable, clear
language if warranted
Recommend revising to say: County shall require applicants to
demonstrate that the project complies with applicable federal, state,
and local permit requirements for package treatment plants, prior to
issuance of development orders and County permit approval.
Policy 6.3:
The county shall require that issuance of permits for replacement or expansion of existing package treatment plants be
conditioned upon compliance with the most updated version of DEP regulatory requirements and Federal and State
water quality standards as identified in the “Regulatory Framework” section of the sub-element.
No Change
Policy 6.4: To ensure proper maintenance and operation, the DEP shall inspect all package treatment plants on an annual basis. Remove Unnecessary
PAGE 39
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 6.5:
The county shall require all new package wastewater treatment plants to be built according to current federal, state,
and county requirements. In addition to obtaining a county permit demonstrating compliance with county regulations,
any developer building and operating a package wastewater treatment plant must obtain a state permit demonstrating
compliance with state and federal regulations. Those regulations include but are not limited to the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act of 1972 (PL 92-500) and its amendments through the Clean Water Acts of 1977 (PL 95-217) and
1981 (PL 97-117), Chapters 381 and 403 of the Florida Statutes, and Rules 17-3 and 17-6 of the Florida Administrative
Code. Both state and county permits are required for the construction of a plant, and for any future expansion or
modification of a plant.
Revise Keep first two sentences. Incorporate the rest of the policy in the LDR or
other engineering planning document.
Policy 6.6:
At the time the county approves any new package treatment plants, the county will require, that at the time deemed
appropriate by the county, the package treatment plant and associated sewer collection system shall be dedicated to
the county for operation and maintenance without compensation.
Revise
SUGGEST REWORDING TO: At the time the County approves any new
package treatment plants, absent a Developer's Agreement, the County
will require, that at the time deemed appropriate by the County, the
package treatment plant and associated sewer collection system shall
be dedicated to the County for operation and maintenance without
compensation. Otherwise, the specific language delineated in the
Developer's Agreement shall be enforced.
Policy 6.7: The county shall continue to enforce ordinances requiring pre-treatment of commercial and industrial waste before
discharge into the county system. Revise
Move to separate section. Not specific to package plants. Develop an
additional objective governing pretreatment requirements/collections
system infrastructure objectives. Refer to IRC Ordinance 90-23.
Policy 6.8: The county shall require all future connections to the regional sanitary sewer system to be consistent with the attached
water and wastewater connection matrix. No Change
Objective 7 By 2020, the number of new septic systems permitted annually will not exceed 200. Revised The county shall limit the number of new septic systems permitted
annually.
Policy 7.1:
The county shall limit the use of septic systems to areas that meet the following criteria governing connection to the
county sanitary sewer system:
• Commercial/industrial uses and residential subdivisions identified in Table 3.A.3 may continue to treat their sewage
with existing septic systems until centralized sewer service lines are extended to within ¼ mile of the site. At that time,
all residential units in those subdivisions and all commercial/industrial uses shall be connected to the county system.
Developments whose sewage treatment systems cause a public health problem must connect to the regional system
regardless of the distance to sewer lines.
• Use of septic systems for new development shall be prohibited unless:
o such development meets the criteria set on the water and wastewater connection matrix; or
o such development consists of clustered residential development within privately owned upland conservation (C-
3) areas. Even under those circumstances, no individual septic systems may be associated with individual residential
units. If located outside of any conservation designated areas or areas that are environmentally sensitive or significant,
however, centralized community septic systems may be provided to each pod of clustered residential development.
o Septic systems shall be allowed in areas of development outside of the Urban Service Area when such
development meets the criteria of policies of the Future Land Use Element for:
- clustered residential development within agricultural planned development projects;
- clustered development within new town projects;
- traditional neighborhood design communities; and
- agricultural businesses and industries (including biofuel facilities)
Revise/Remove Recommend removing altogether and implementing, as needed, into
the LDR.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 7.2:
The county shall ensure that, prior to the issuance of development orders or permits for projects to be served by septic
systems, the applicant has demonstrated that the project complies with Florida Department of Health (DOH)
regulations Section 381.0065 FS and Chapter 64E-6, FAC, permit requirements for septic systems.
Consolidate Combine Policies 7.2 and 7.3
Policy 7.3:
The county in coordination with and through the DOH-Indian River, shall require that issuance of permits for repair or
replacement of existing septic systems be conditioned upon compliance with DOH regulations Section 381.0065 FS and
Chapter 64E-6, FAC, permit requirements for septic systems.
Consolidate See previous comment
Policy 7.4:
The county, in coordination with and through the DOH-Indian River, shall establish public education programs on the
proper use, inspection requirements, maintenance, and abandonment of septic systems. The septic system
abandonment process shall be based on current state and local regulations.
No Change
Policy 7.5:
Consistent with Section 381.00651 FS and in coordination with and through the DOH-Indian River, the County shall
encourage a voluntary opt-in provision for septic system maintenance and encourage contractors that provide septic
maintenance to document information.
No Change
Policy 7.6:
The County, in coordination with and through the DOH-Indian River, shall encourage all septic systems including repairs
and modifications to meet a 24-inch separation between the bottom of the drain field and the wet season water table
and meet 75 foot setbacks from surface waterbodies and wells.
Remove Address in Code
PAGE 41
Potable Water Sub-Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal Indian River County shall have an efficient potable water system that prevents degradation of existing resources,
promotes orderly growth and development, and meets existing and projected demands. Revise Planning horizon is 20 years; recommend adding language to the end of
the last sentence to reference interlocal service agreements.
Objective 1 Through the time horizon of the plan, there will be sufficient capacity in the regional potable water system to
accommodate all new development within the urban service area. No Change
Policy 1.1:
New development within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County shall be approved only when sufficient
water supply capacity and potable water facility capacity are available, either on-site or off-site, to provide needed
potable water service.
No Change
Policy 1.2: The County Utilities Department, on an annual basis, shall inspect all private potable water plants in Indian River
County. Revise
Recommended language: Private potable water plants will not be
allowed within Indian River County, unless capacity is not available at
the County's facilities.
Policy 1.3:
The county hereby adopts a potable water level of service standard of 250 gallons per day per equivalent residential
unit of treatment capacity, a minimum design flow of 500 gallons per minute, a minimum storage capacity of 13.5
million gallons, and a minimum pressure of 40 PSI for potable water facilities.
Revise Move specific standards including items like pressure to the code or
engineering standards
Policy 1.4:
Through its computerized permit tracking system and its concurrency management system, the county shall continue to
implement procedures to update facility demand and capacity information as development orders and permits are
issued.
Revise
Recommended language: County shall maintain its concurrency
management system, including records for historic and projected
demands, and provide monthly capacity reports for potable water
facilities.
Policy 1.5: The Utilities Department, on an as needed basis, shall provide summary reports containing capacity and demand
information for each public potable water plant within the county service area. No Change
Policy 1.6:
The county shall continue to allow the use of private wells in rural areas for single-family units and for small retail
establishments. The use of private wells must be approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies and be consistent
with the attached water and wastewater connection matrix.
Revise
Recommended language: The County shall continue to allow the use of
private wells in rural areas for single-family units and for small retail
establishments provided they will not impact Existing Legal Users
(ELUs), including the County. Use of private wells must be permitted
through the appropriate regulatory agencies and must be consistent
with the SJRWMD water and wastewater connection matrix.
Policy 1.7:
No development permit shall be issued by the county for projects to be served by the City of Vero Beach Utilities
Department until the city notifies the county that adequate water supplies and potable water facility capacity are
available to accommodate the
project.
No Change
Objective 2 By 2030, at least 75% of all existing residential units in the county will be connected to a regional potable water system. Revise
Verify against County planning documents and Regional Water Supply
Plan goals. Recommended language: The County shall continue to
promote connecting new and existing residential units to the regional
potable water system and reduce number of private well users.
Policy 2.1: The county shall continue to offer its utility line assessment program to areas with private wells within the County
Utilities Department service area. No Change Consolidate language with 2.2 below but retain current language
Policy 2.2: The county shall continue to offer up to 10-year financing for all utility assessments. Remove Consolidate with 2.1
Policy 2.3: Within the County Utilities Department service area, the subdivisions having undersized lots and designated as requiring
potable water service due to public health threats shall be given priority for the provision of public water service. No Change
PAGE 42
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.4:
The county shall provide potable water service to areas where the risk of private well contamination is determined by
the Indian River County Environmental Health Department to be unacceptably high. The county shall recover costs
through assessment of those landowners directly benefitting from the improvement.
No Change
Policy 2.5: The County Utilities Department shall implement the potable water system programs and capital improvements
identified in Appendix A of this element of the comprehensive plan. No Change
Policy 2.6:
Prior to 2011, the County will coordinate with the City of Vero Beach and the Town of Indian River Shores to prepare a
financial analysis of options related to the possibility of consolidation of utility services. This analysis may consist of but
is not limited to: the possibility of the County serving utilities to the Town of Indian River Shores, currently served by the
City of Vero Beach and the Unincorporated area of the South Barrier Island, currently served by the City of Vero Beach,
full consolidation of the City of Vero Beach Utility with the Indian River County Utility or making no changes in the
existing utility service areas. Based on the results of a financial analysis of the various service options, the Board of
County Commissioners will consider implementing the results that show the best financial and operational benefits.
Revise
Recommended language: The County will continue to coordinate with
other potable water service providers within the County limits for
consolidation of utility services where feasible and where financially and
operationally beneficial.
NEW
Relocated policy from Intergovernmental Element:
The county utilities department shall approve potable water
concurrency for new projects only when adequate water supplies and
potable water facility capacity are available to accommodate new
development project demand.
Objective 3
Through the time horizon of the plan, the county potable water system will continue to meet the standards of the
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523; the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 403.850 - 403.864, FS;
Chapter 381, FS; and Rules 62-550, 40C-2, 40C-3, 17-22, and 64E-8, FAC.
No Change; can
update if desired to
remove specific
citations here and
move to Policies
Policy 3.1:
The County shall continue to use the Upper Floridan aquifer as the primary source of potable water and use reverse
osmosis as the principal raw water treatment method for its regional potable water system. With that water source and
treatment method, the county will provide its customers with good quality water that meets the requirements of the
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523; the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 403.850 - 403.864, FS;
Chapter 381, FS; and Rules 62-550, 40C-2, 40C-3, 17-22, and 64E-8, FAC.
Revise
Recommended language: The County shall continue to use the Upper
Floridan Aquifer as its primary water supply source and employ
nanofiltration as its preferred method for water treatment.
Policy 3.2: The county, through the Environmental Health Department, shall monitor and evaluate all private water treatment
plants. The results of this evaluation shall be considered during the prioritization of potable water service expansion. Consolidate/Remove
Consolidate with policy 1.2; also confirm language to include “no private
water treatment plants are located within the County service area.
Also can add language referring to County’s latest WSP/work plan
Objective 4 By 2020, the county’s per capita water use will be less than the 2006 level of 104 gallons/day. Revise Recommended language: The County shall deliver potable water to its
customers at a level of service of 104 gallons per capita per day.
Policy 4.1:
The county shall require the use of irrigation quality (I.Q.) effluent meeting FDEP standards for irrigation in parks and
facilities having significant open space areas (golf courses, medians, etc.) when those areas are located within the
County Utilities Department service area and are within 1 mile of the nearest effluent reuse line. Reuse must be
authorized by the appropriate regulatory agencies. When a project meets the above criteria, the developer shall be
required to construct an effluent reuse line for treated wastewater to be used for spray irrigation.
No Change
Policy 4.2:
The county shall continue to apply the requirements of Chapter 926 of its land development regulations, which require
the use of drought tolerant vegetation, the use of efficient irrigation systems, and the preservation of existing native
vegetation.
Revise
Recommended language: County shall continue to require the use of
drought-tolerant vegetation, use of efficient irrigation systems, and
preservation of existing native vegetation in accordance with County
land development regulations.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 4.3: In order to eliminate irrigating during rain or when ground is saturated, irrigation systems at county facilities shall be
either manually operated or utilize automatic systems with sensors. No Change
Policy 4.4: The county shall renew its annual contract with the SJRWMD to identify and require property owners to plug or valve
free flowing artesian wells. No Change
Policy 4.5: The county shall encourage home builders to participate in the SJRWMD’s Florida Water Star Program by expediting
review of their permits. No Change
Policy 4.6:
The county’s water pricing system shall continue to be equitable, but shall continue to charge an exponentially
increasing unit rate for high volume residential users (those using more than three times the Level of Service standard
established in policy 1.3).
Revise Remove reference to policy and address in code language instead.
Policy 4.7: To quickly and efficiently respond to any leakage, the county shall continue to implement its leak detection program. No Change
Policy 4.8:
The county shall require all new subdivisions and projects of 25 or more lots/units that are within a ¼ mile of an effluent
reuse line to connect to the effluent reuse line. When a project meets above criteria, developer shall be required to
construct an effluent reuse line.
Revise/Consolidate Reorder so this is policy 4.2; can also consolidate with policy 4.1
Policy 4.9: By 2013, the Utilities Department shall review its current pricing plans to further discourage excessive water use and to
provide incentives to customers for saving water. Revise
Recommended language: The Utilities Department will regularly review
rate structures and adjust rates as necessary to further discourage
water use and to provide incentives for water savings.
Policy 4.10: The county shall require new developments to use water from retention ponds, instead of water from wells, for
irrigation. No Change
New Policy 4.11: The County shall continue to implement the Water Conservation Plan associated with its consumptive use
permit. Recommended by SJRWMD
Objective 5
Thorough the time horizon of the plan, the county will have completed all programmed capital improvements shown in
Appendix “A” of the Potable Water Sub-Element in order to maximize the use of existing facilities and discourage
urban sprawl.
Revise
Recommended language: The County will continue to address the
programmed capital improvements shown in Appendix “A” of the
Potable Water Sub-Element in order to maximize the use of existing
facilities.
Policy 5.1: In conformance with the review process for the Capital Improvements Element of this plan, the county shall maintain a
five-year schedule of capital improvement needs for public facilities. Revise Recommended language: The county shall maintain a five-year schedule
of capital improvements needs for public facilities
Policy 5.2:
Proposed capital improvement projects shall be evaluated and ranked according to the following priority level
guidelines:
• Level One - whether the project is needed to protect public health and safety, to fulfill the county's legal commitment
to provide facilities and services, or to preserve or achieve full use of existing facilities.
• Level Two - whether the project increases efficiency of use of existing facilities, prevents or reduces future
improvement costs, provides service to developed areas lacking full service or promotes in-fill development.
• Level Three - whether the project represents a logical extension of facilities and services within a designated service
area
Remove Language can be addressed in other County documents/standards.
Policy 5.3:
In order to guarantee provision of more than the minimum level of service, the county shall take the following steps:
• begin planning and preliminary design for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or
exceed its capacity within 5 years;
• prepare plans and specifications for expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed
its capacity within 4 years;
• submit a complete construction permit application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for
expansion when a plant’s Average Daily Demand is projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 3 years; and
Revise
Recommended language: The County shall continue to monitor and
evaluate average daily demands at water treatment facilities and plan
for necessary improvements and expansions to deliver water at the
committed Level of Service in accordance with FDEP requirements.
PAGE 44
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
• submit an application for an operation permit for the expanded facility to DEP when a plant’s Average Daily Demand
is projected to equal or exceed its capacity within 6 months.
Policy 5.4: The county potable water system shall continue to operate as an enterprise system which is financially self-supporting. No Change
Policy 5.5: The county shall fund potable water capital improvements and expansions through user fees, impact fees, developer’s
agreements, assessments and other appropriate fees and funding mechanisms. No Change
Policy 5.6: The county shall pursue state and federal sources of funding available for the improvement and expansion of utility
services. No Change
Policy 5.7:
Consistent with the policies of the Future Land Use Element of this plan, centralized water service shall be limited to the
following areas:
• Areas within the Urban Service Area;
• Areas where the county has legal commitments to provide facilities and services as of the date of adoption of this
plan;
• Areas outside of the Urban Service Area where at least a portion of the site is contiguous to an Urban Service Area
boundary as depicted on the Official Future Land Use Map or, where located no more than 500 feet from an existing
centralized potable water main distribution line that is part of a looped system, or where an approved place of worship
or camp/retreat use existed on January 1, 2016 and is approved for water and/or sewer service by Utility Servi ces in
conjunction with a utility construction/connection permit filed with Utility Services on or before June 30, 2016. These
areas are subject to the following provisions:
- The maximum density of such land shall be as shown on the Official Future Land Use Map, and the provision of
centralized potable water service shall not be justification for an increase in maximum density; and
- Any and all costs associated with connecting a property to the potable water system, and providing for adequate
fire protection, including costs associated with survey, design, permitting, line extensions, construction, restoration,
inspections, and certifications, shall be borne by the owner of the property.
• Development projects located outside of the Urban Service Area that meet the criteria of the policies of the Future
Land Use Element for:
- clustering of residential development within agricultural areas;
- clustering of residential development within privately owned upland conservation areas;
- clustering development within mixed use districts; or
- traditional neighborhood design communities.
- public facilities such as public schools.
- agricultural businesses and industries (including biofuel plants)
• Areas where, consistent with Potable Water Sub-Element Policy 2.4, the risk of private well contamination is
determined to be unacceptably high.
No Change Note, similar policy is provided in Sanitary Sewer sub element and is
remaining unchanged.
Objective 6 Through the time horizon of the plan, there shall be no instances of Privately Owned Public Water Plant failures or
breakdowns. Revise
Recommend revising language to the following: Privately-owned water
treatment plants and systems shall operate within County, state, and
federal regulatory requirements.
Policy 6.1:
The county shall limit the use of Privately Owned Public Water Plants to areas that meet the following criteria governing
connection to the county potable water system:
• Development served by existing Privately Owned Public Water Plants may continue to receive potable water in that
manner until centralized service becomes available. At that time, all development within ¼ mile of a county water line
shall connect to the county system. Developments whose potable water system causes a public health problem must
connect to the regional system regardless of the distance to water lines.
Revise
Recommended language: Development served by existing Privately
Owned Water Plants may continue to receive potable water in that
manner until centralized service becomes available. At that time, all
development within ¼ mile of a County water line shall connect to the
public potable water system. The County may consider applications for
construction and operation of privately-owned water plants where the
PAGE 45
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
• Privately owned public water treatment plants shall be allowed in areas of development outside of the Urban
Service Area when such development meets the criteria of policies of the Future Land Use Element for:
development is outside the Urban Service Area and if development
conforms to policies in the Future Land Use Element. Developments
whose potable water system causes a public health problem must
connect to the regional system regardless of proximity to existing water
lines.
Policy 6.2:
The county shall ensure that, prior to the issuance of development orders or permits for privately owned public water
treatment plants, the applicant has demonstrated that the project complies with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act,
Public Law 93-523; the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 403.850 - 403.864, FS; Chapter 381, FS; and Rules 62-
550, 40C-2, 40C-3, 17-22, and 64E-8, FAC.
Remove Addressed in Policy 6.3
Policy 6.3:
The county shall require that issuance of permits for replacement or expansion of existing privately owned public water
treatment plants be conditioned upon compliance with the most updated version of DEP regulatory requirements and
Federal and State water quality standards as identified in the “Regulatory Framework” section of this sub-element.
No Change
Policy 6.4: To ensure proper maintenance and operation, the Utilities Department shall inspect all privately owned public water
treatment plants on an annual basis. Consolidate Addressed in other policies
Policy 6.5:
The county shall require all new privately owned public water treatment plants to be built according to the current
federal, state, and county requirements. In addition to a county permit demonstrating compliance with county
regulations, any developer building and operating a privately owned public water treatment plant must obtain a state
permit demonstrating compliance with state and federal regulations. Those regulations include but are not limited to
the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 93-523; the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, Section 403.850 - 403.864,
FS; Chapter 381, FS; and Rules 62-550, 40C-2, 40C-3, 17-22, and 64E-8, FAC. Both state and county permits are
required for the construction of a plant, and for any future expansion or modification of a plant.
No Change
Policy 6.6:
At the time the county approves privately owned public water treatment plants, the county will require that, at the time
deemed appropriate by the county, the water treatment plant and associated water distribution system shall be
dedicated to the county for operation and maintenance without compensation.
No Change
Policy 6.7: The county shall require all future connections to the regional potable water system to be consistent with the attached
water and wastewater connection matrix. Revise
Unable to locate “matrix”; Verify that this matrix exists - if so, no need
to provide link or copy as long as it's within County's database
somewhere. also referred to in Sanitary Sewer Element, policy 6.8. A
change should also be applied to the Sewer Element.
Objective 7 By 2020, the number of new private wells permitted annually will not exceed 300. Revise
Recommend revising to be more in line with subsequent policies.
Recommended language: Limit number of permits issued for new
private wells.
Policy 7.1:
The county shall limit the use of new private wells to the following:
• Single-family residences located more than 200 feet from any county water line;
• Residential projects that consist of less than 25 units and are located more than ¼ mile from any county water line;
and
• Non-residential projects that consume less than 2,000 gallons per day and are located more than ¼ mile from any
county water line.
The county shall require all developments whose potable water system causes a public health problem to connect to
the regional system regardless of the distance to water lines. All new developments utilizing private well systems shall
be required to construct a dry line.
No Change
PAGE 46
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 7.2:
The county shall ensure that, prior to the issuance of development orders or permits for projects served by private
wells, the applicant has received a Florida Department of Health permit demonstrating that the project complies with
the provisions of Rule 64E-8, FAC.
No Change
Policy 7.3:
The county shall require that issuance of permits for replacement of existing private wells be conditioned upon
compliance with the most updated version of DEP regulatory requirements and Federal and State water quality
standards as identified in the “Regulatory Framework” section of the sub-element.
No Change
Policy 7.4: The county, in coordination with Environmental Health Department, shall establish public education programs on the
proper use, inspection requirements, maintenance, and abandonment of private wells. No Change
Objective 8 By 2026, the county will utilize alternative water supply sources for at least 18 mgd of demand. The alternative water
source will supplement water obtained from the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA). Revise Recommended language: The County will develop alternative water
supply sources in addition to the Upper Floridan Aquifer system.
Policy 8.1: By 2015, the county shall study and identify a viable alternative water source. Revise
Recommended language: The County will conduct feasibility studies and
assessments of potential alternative water supply sources. The County
will continue to evaluate their source water aquifer to mitigate impacts
to ELUs through expansion
Policy 8.2: By 2020, the county shall obtain all necessary permits to construct the associated infrastructure related to the
alternative water support facilities. Revise/Consolidate Update/remove year
Policy 8.3: By 2023, the county shall complete all construction plans and specifications associated with the alternative water supply
facilities. Revise Update/remove year; ongoing policy
Policy 8.4: By 2025, the county shall complete the construction of all infrastructure associated with the alternative water supply
facilities. Revise/Consolidate
Recommended language: The County shall incorporate potential
alternative water supply projects in the 5-year Capital Improvements
Plan. Consolidate with Policy 8.2.
Objective 9 By 2015, all reverse osmosis water treatment plan direct brine discharges into the Indian River lagoon will be
eliminated. Revise
Recommended language: County shall eliminate brine discharge from
the nanofiltration water treatment process to the Indian River Lagoon;
update year (ongoing policy)
Policy 9.1: By 2010, the county shall identify a viable alternative brine discharge method for the South County RO Plant. Revise Remove /update year
Policy 9.2: By 2012, the county shall obtain all necessary permits to construct the associated infrastructure related to the brine
disposal facilities. Revise Remove /update year
Policy 9.3: By 2013, the county shall complete all construction plans and specifications associated with the brine disposal facilities. Revise Remove /update year
Policy 9.4: By 2015, the county shall complete the construction of all infrastructure associated with the brine disposal facility for
the south county RO plant, and the facility shall be operational. Revise Remove /update year
PAGE 47
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
NEW
Objective 10: Water Supply Planning
The County shall plan for its water needs and maintain a Water Supply Facilities Work Plan, as required by Florida
Statutes.
Policy 10.1: The County shall maintain a Water Supply Facilities Work Plan (Work Plan) that is coordinated with
SJRWMD’s Central Springs / East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan (CSEC RWSP). The Work Plan and related
comprehensive plan policies shall be updated, as necessary, within 18 months of an update of the CSEC RWSP that
affects the County.
Policy 10.2: The County’s Water Supply Facilities Work Plan (2024-2033) is incorporated into the comprehensive plan
as Appendix A of the Potable Water Sub-Element.
Policy 10.3: The Water Supply Facilities Work Plan shall identify the traditional and alternative water supply projects,
along with the water conservation and reuse practices, necessary to meet the County’s existing and future water
demands.
Policy 10.4: The Water Supply Facilities Work Plan shall address those projects identified in the SJRWMD CSEC RWSP
for Indian River County, and selected by the county for implementation, and any associated implementation schedule.
Policy 10.5: The County will monitor and participate, as necessary, in the City of Vero Beach’s water supply planning
process to ensure that the City’s utility accounts for and meets the current and future water needs for the respective
unincorporated area within the City’s service area.
Recommended by SJRWMD
PAGE 48
Solid Waste Sub-Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal
Indian River County shall have an efficient and environmentally sound solid and hazardous waste management system
to prevent spread of disease, to promote orderly growth within the County, and to meet existing and projected
demands for the management and disposal of waste.
No Change
Objective 1 Through the time horizon of the plan, the active segment of the landfill will always have sufficient capacity to
accommodate demand. Revise
Remove "always" as the County may pursue other agreements including
regional solid waste facilities which may or may not include the use of
the landfill.
Policy 1.1:
Design for additional disposal segments of the landfill shall be completed before the active segment of the landfill is at
70% of its capacity, and construction of additional segments shall begin when the active segment is at 75% of its
capacity in order to ensure that the established level of service will be maintained.
Revise
Design for additional disposal cells of the landfill shall be completed
before the active cell of the landfill is at 50% of its capacity, and
construction of additional cells shall begin when the active segment is at
60% of its capacity in order to ensure that the established level of
service will be maintained. The current projected capacity and/or
lifespan of Segment 3 Cells 1-8 is through the year 2074. This lifespan is
contingent upon rigorous recycling and recycling education as well as
the unknown factors of population growth and economics.
Policy 1.2:
New development within the Indian River County SWDD service area shall continue to be approved only when capacity
is available at the active segment of the landfill. If the active segment of the landfill is at 90% of its capacity and a new
segment is not ready, additional development shall not be permitted.
Revise
New development within the Indian River County SWDD service area
shall continue to be approved only when capacity is available at the
active cell of the landfill. If the active cell of the landfill is at 80% of its
capacity and a new cell is not ready, additional development shall not
be permitted.
Policy 1.3:
The following level of service standards are hereby adopted, and shall be used as the basis for determining the
availability of facility capacity and the demand generated by new development:
2.4 tons per capita for permanent population plus weighted seasonal population per year or 4 cubic yards per
permanent population plus weighted seasonal population per year
Revise Per recent Waste Generation Study, 1.4 tons per single family home is
the recommended LOS.
Policy 1.4: The County shall maintain its concurrency management system to update its solid waste facility demand and capacity
information as development orders or permits are issued. No Change
Policy 1.5: The SWDD shall maintain a comprehensive solid waste management master plan and shall prepare annual summaries
of demand and capacity information for the active segment of the landfill. No Change
Policy 1.6: The SWDD shall maintain at least 3 years of disposal capacity available at all times. Remove Covered by 1.1
Policy 1.7:
The County shall continue to provide countywide solid waste services to all of the County’s municipalities and the
unincorporated portion of the County by providing landfill capacity for solid waste disposal, by administering a
countywide recycling program, and by studying and implementing new technologies. On-going studies shall identify the
following:
• New technologies for recycling;
• New methods for safe solid waste disposal;
• Assessment of the feasibility of implementing these new technologies in Indian River County; and
• Cost/benefit analyses for promising technologies.
Revise
Add to first bullet:
New technologies for recycling; to include Materials Recovery
Facility (MRF), balers, compactors, sorting machines, and
education center with classroom for recycling education.
Objective 2 Through the time horizon of the plan, there will be no cases of improper management or illegal disposal of hazardous
waste in the County. Revise SUGGEST: Improper management or illegal disposal of hazardous waste
in the County shall be discouraged and penalized.
Policy 2.1: The County shall dispose of stabilized sludge from wastewater treatment plants at the County landfill. No Change
PAGE 49
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.2: The County shall dispose of the screenings and grit accumulated at the wastewater treatment plants at the County
landfill. No Change
Policy 2.3:
The County will continue to require all septage haulers operating in the County to dispose of septage at the Gifford
Wastewater Treatment Plant or other sites approved by FDEP until the proposed new Biosolids Facility at the County
Landfill is open.
Remove Policy completed. New landfill opened in 2010.
Policy 2.4: The SWDD shall provide convenient locations at which residents can drop off household hazardous materials free of
charge. No Change
Policy 2.5: The County shall continue to maintain a contract with a licensed hazardous waste transporter for providing disposal
services to the small quantity generators of household hazardous waste within the County. No Change
Policy 2.6: The County shall perform water quality tests in accordance with the landfill permit requirements to ensure that the
Class I landfill is not contaminating the surrounding groundwater and surface water bodies. No Change
Policy 2.7: The County shall close its existing C&D debris landfill cell and switch to co-disposal operation whereby C&D debris is
disposed of in a lined Class I landfill commingled with MSW. Remove
County has switched to lined Class I landfill, but it has not closed existing
C&D debris landfill cell, as it is utilized for storage of Clean Concrete on
the top.
Policy 2.8: The County shall encourage the County Environmental Health Department to continue to perform regular inspections
of small quantity hazardous waste generators. No Change
Policy 2.9:
The County shall cooperate with the FDEP and USEPA to continue to perform regular inspections of private licensed
waste handlers to ensure that bio-hazardous waste, generated by medical establishments and handled by private firms,
is properly managed. When improper management of bio-hazardous waste is found during an inspection, the FDEP and
USEPA will take enforcement action. The County shall continue to inspect for the bio-hazardous waste from the solid
waste that enters the landfill.
Revise
If possible, revise the word "will take" to "may take" (understanding
even providing for an effective clean up and removal is an enforcement
action).
Objective 3
Through the time horizon of the plan, the County will have maximized the use of existing facilities and discouraged
urban sprawl by having completed all needed solid waste capital improvements as outlined in the Capital Improvements
Element of the County Comprehensive Plan.
No Change
Policy 3.1: The County shall maintain a five year schedule of capital improvements for the landfill and shall update this schedule
annually in conformance with the review process for the Capital Improvements Element of this plan. No Change
Policy 3.2:
Proposed capital improvement projects shall be evaluated and ranked according to the following priority level
guidelines:
• Level One - whether the project is needed to protect public health and safety, to fulfill the County's legal
commitment to provide solid waste facilities and services, or to preserve or achieve full use of existing facilities; and
• Level Two - whether the project increases efficiency of use of existing facilities or prevents or reduces future
improvement costs.
• Level Three – whether the project increases the amount of solid waste being recycled.
No Change
Policy 3.3: The County shall structure solid waste fees, rates, and assessments to support the solid waste system as a financially
self-supporting enterprise system. No Change
Policy 3.4: The County shall continue its current non-advalorem assessment program to fund the orderly expansion of its solid
waste facilities. No Change
Policy 3.5: The County shall apply for state and federal sources of funding for the improvement and expansion of solid waste
services as well as for expansion of its recycling program. No Change
Policy 3.6: All future expansion of the landfill and the SWDD facilities shall be consistent with the adopted solid waste level of
service standards. Consolidate Consolidate with Policy 1.5
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 3.7: The County shall maintain its charge mechanism for the collection and management of special wastes such as C&D
debris, bio-hazardous waste, and other wastes needing special collection, handling, and disposal. Consolidate Consolidate with policy 2.4
Objective 4 By 2020, the County will have increased the portion of solid waste recycled to 30% of its waste stream. Revise
The year is no longer valid, the percentage is inaccurate as all recycled
material from IRC is shipped to St. Lucie County and comingled with 5
other municipalities. Therefore, an accurate percentage is unavailable.
Policy 4.1: The County shall expand its recycling program by accepting more materials, such as food waste, to be recycled to
reduce the volume of waste disposed of in the landfill. No Change
Policy 4.2:
By 2022, the SWDD shall re-evaluate establishing a mandatory solid waste collection system that serves properties
within the County’s Urban Service Area. Upon the establishment of mandatory door -to-door garbage collection, the
SWDD shall evaluate the need for and the level of service required from the customer convenience centers.
Revise
By 20252022, the SWDD shall re-evaluate establishing a mandatory
Universal solid waste collection system that serves properties within the
County’s Urban Service Area. Upon the establishment of mandatory
door-to-door Universal garbage collection system, the SWDD shall
evaluate the need for and the level of service required from the
customer convenience centers.
Policy 4.3: The SWDD shall continue to assist the School Board to develop and maintain a course which informs students of the
impact of mismanaged solid and hazardous waste as well as the importance and benefits of a recycling program. No Change
Policy 4.4: The County as part of its recycling program shall eliminate open burning in urban areas by maintaining its facility for the
recycling of organic waste, including land clearing debris, grass clippings, etc. into compost and mulch. No Change
Policy 4.5: The SWDD, through radio and newspaper advertisements, informational brochures, or through special events, shall
provide general public education on the importance and benefit of the recycling program. Revise
The SWDD, through radio and newspaper advertisements, informational
brochures, the County’s website and other (similar) media, or through
special events, shall provide general public education on the importance
and benefit of the recycling program.
Policy 4.6: By 2020, the SWDD shall evaluate the feasibility of the maximum recovery of recyclables from the County garbage
stream and their conversion to useful products. Revise Remove Year
Policy 4.7: By 2020, the SWDD shall evaluate the feasibility of transferring the County’s solid waste to another regional facility for
disposal of solid waste. Revise Remove Year
PAGE 51
Natural Groundwater Sub-Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal To protect the function of natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas, to prevent the contamination of groundwater
and to extend the life span of the county's aquifers through water conservation. Revise
Revise to: To protect the function of natural groundwater recharge
areas, to prevent the contamination of groundwater, and to promote
sustainability of the County's aquifers.
Objective 1
Through 2020, there will be no instances of contamination of groundwater aquifers or public supply wells within the
county. For the purpose of this objective, water quality will be based on primary and secondary maximum contaminant
levels (MCLs), as defined by the FDEP in Chapter 17-550, F.A.C.
Revise
The County will take measures to protect its sources of drinking water
within the Upper Floridan aquifer and public supply wells within the
county against regulated contaminants, such that treated drinking
water can meet primary and secondary maximum contaminant levels
(MCLs), as defined by the FDEP in Chapter 62-550, F.A.C.
Policy 1.1: By 2010, the county shall update the Surficial Primary Recharge Overlay District (SAPROD) map using a geographic
information systems (GIS) format. Revise
The County shall update as needed the Surficial Primary Recharge
Overlay District (SAPROD) map using a geographic information systems
(GIS) format.
Policy 1.2:
By 2012, the county will assist the SJR WMD and FDEP in developing a Wellhead Protection Area (WHP A) map for
Indian River County by providing the following information:
~ the location of existing public wellheads;
~ the proposed location of future public wellheads; and,
~ potential conflicts between existing and future land uses and public wellhead protection areas.
The WPHA map will be compatible with the county's G.LS. database.
Remove Addressed in LDR section 931.04
Policy 1.3: The county shall continue to prohibit the location of septic systems within two hundred feet of a public water supply
well, unless otherwise approved by the FDEP or HRS. Revise Confirm with County Attorney regarding authority to regulate; update
accordingly
Policy 1.4: The county, through its stormwater permitting processes, shall ensure that storm water management structures,
except those located within the SAPROD, are designed to function as aquifer recharge areas. Remove
This is asking a SWM structure to do something that may be physically
impossible in a given area. Check legality re, County's ability to permit
stormwater management.
Policy 1.5:
The county shall continue to protect existing and future public water supply wells from contamination by continuing to
implement Chapter 931 of the County's land development regulations and by prohibiting any non-residential land use
which stores, handles, or produces a toxic degradation or petroleum-based product, or any substance regulated under
40 CFR 302,40 CFR 122.21, and/or Chapter 487, F.S. from locating within 1,000 feet of a public water supply well. The
minimum radial separation distances for land uses and structures from public wellhead regulated areas are as follows:
~ 200 feet for on-site disposal systems, unless approved by the FDEP or DHRS;
~ 300 feet for wet retention/detention areas, unless approved by the SJRWMD;
~ 500 feet for landfill and/or transfer stations, above ground or underground storage
~ tanks, feed lots and animal facilities, and WWTP effluent discharges, unless approved by the FDEP;
~ 1,000 for any mining and/or excavation of waterways or drainage facilities which intersect the water table.
Revise
The County shall continue to protect existing and future public water
supply wells, as defined under Chapter 62-550, F.A.C., from
contamination by continuing to implement Chapter 931 of the County's
LDRs and by prohibiting any non-residential land use which stores,
handles, or produces a toxic degradation or petroleum-based product,
or any substance regulated under 40 CFR 302,40 CFR 122.21, and/or
Chapter 487, F.S. from locating within 1,000 feet of a public water
supply well. The minimum radial separation distances for land uses and
structures from public wellhead regulated areas are as follows, unless
superseded by more stringent setback requirements per Chapter 62-
532, F.A.C. or Chapter 62-521, F.A.C.:
~ 200 feet for on-site disposal systems, unless approved by the FDEP;
~ 300 feet for wet retention/detention areas, unless approved by the
SJRWMD;
~ 500 feet for landfill and/or transfer stations, above ground or
underground storage tanks, feed lots and animal facilities, and WWTP
effluent discharges, unless approved by the FDEP;
PAGE 52
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
~ 1,000 for any mining and/or excavation of waterways which intersect
the water table.
Policy 1.6: The county shall prohibit new developments or changes of uses that produce hazardous materials from locating on the
Atlantic Coastal Sand Ridge or the Ten Mile Ridge areas of Indian River County. No Change
Policy 1.7: The county shall continue to prohibit injection wells for the disposal of wastewater. Revise
The County will promote beneficial reuse of treated wastewater to the
maximum extent feasible to minimize or avoid the need for disposal via
injection wells.
Policy 1.8: The county, in cooperation with the Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District (IRSWCD), shall discourage the
use of flood irrigation with water from the Floridan aquifer by providing incentives for low volume irrigation systems. No Change
Objective 2 Through 2025, there will be no reduction in the availability of groundwater from the surficial aquifer. For the purpose of
this objective, water quantity will be based on SJRWMD's most recent regional groundwater model. Revise
The County will work with the SJRWMD to achieve no net reduction in
the availability of groundwater from the surficial aquifer. For the
purpose of this objective, water quantity will be based on SJRWMD's
most recent regional groundwater model.
Policy 2.1:
The county shall implement water conservation measures, as designated in the policies under Objective 4 of the
Potable Water Sub-Element and Objective 4 of the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element, to protect the surficial aquifer from
depletion.
No Change
Policy 2.2: The county shall use natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas for passive parks and open space. Revise Consider: Parks and open space shall be developed in such a manner to
allow the passive recharge of the surficial aquifer.
Policy 2.3:
To ensure preservation of the surficial aquifer, the county shall continue to issue permits for all proposed
excavation/mining projects in the unincorporated county that are exempt from SJRWMD permitting requirements. For
proposed excavation/mining projects that are located along the Atlantic Coastal Sand Ridge and are exempt from
SJRWMD permitting requirements, the county shall prohibit the following:
~ excavation within 1,000 feet of a public supply wellfield;
~ excavation within 1 ,000 feet of any platted subdivision not serviced by potable water; and,
~ excavation that results in an average elevation less than 25 feet above mean sea level.
Revise
Consider: To promote protection of the surficial aquifer, the County
shall continue to issue applicable permits for all proposed
excavation/mining projects in the unincorporated County that are
exempt from SJRWMD and/or FDEP permitting requirements. For
proposed excavation/mining projects that are located along the Atlantic
Coastal Sand Ridge and are exempt from SJRWMD and/or FDEP
permitting requirements, the county shall prohibit the
following: ~ excavation
within 1,000 feet of a public supply wellfield; ~
excavation within 1,000 feet of any platted subdivision not serviced by
potable water; and,
~ excavation that results in adverse impacts to surficial aquifer recharge
potential, the potential for saline water intrusion or impacts to natural
systems.
Policy 2.4: The county shall preserve the aquifer recharge function of palustrine wetlands by adopting the Comprehensive
Wetlands Management Program, as described in the Conservation Element. Revise
Consider: The County shall preserve the hydrologic function of
palustrine wetlands by adopting the Comprehensive Wetlands
Management Program, as described in the Conservation Element.
Policy 2.5: The county will require all wet detention/retention ponds with a surface area greater than one (1) acre be designed to
utilize stormwater runoff for irrigation. Revise
Consider: The County will promote the use of wet detention/retention
ponds for irrigation to maximize the beneficial use of stormwater
runoff.
Policy 2.6: By 2011, the county shall contact the U.S. Geological Survey and request an updated county-wide geohydrologic survey. Revise/remove Outdated policy
Objective 3 Through 2025, there will be no reduction in the availability of groundwater from the Floridan aquifer. For the purpose
of this objective, Floridan aquifer quantity will be based on SJRWMD's most recent regional groundwater model. Revise
Remove or suggest similar to Surficial aquifer policy language: The
County will work with the SJRWMD to achieve no adverse impacts to
the availability of groundwater from the Upper Floridan aquifer. For the
PAGE 53
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
purpose of this objective, assessment will be based on SJRWMD's most
recent regional groundwater model.
Policy 3.1:
The county shall protect and preserve open space in the west portion of the county, which has been identified as a
natural groundwater aquifer recharge area for the Floridan aquifer, by designating those areas for agricultural use with
a very low residential density, as depicted on the future land use map.
Revise
Consider: The County shall protect and preserve open space in the west
portion of the county, which has been identified as a natural
groundwater aquifer recharge area for the Upper Floridan aquifer, by
prioritizing this area for preservation land acquisition and conservation
easements. The County will promote anti-urban sprawl land use
practices, such as clustered development and agrihoods, consistent
with other Goals, Objectives and Policies.
Policy 3.2: The county shall coordinate with the SJR WMD and the IRFWCD to encourage the use of low volume irrigation systems
to prevent over pumping from the Floridan aquifer. Revise (minimal)
Consider: The County shall coordinate with the SJRWMD and the
IRFWCD to encourage the use of low volume irrigation systems to
prevent over pumping from the Floridan aquifer.
Policy 3.3: The county shall continue to require that new developments install a minimum of 50% water-conserving xeriscape plant
material, as specified in the Landscape ordinance. Revise
Consider: The County shall continue to require that new developments
install a minimum of 50% water-conserving Native Florida Landscape
material, as specified in the Landscape ordinance.
Policy 3.4: The county shall reuse 100% of treated wastewater effluent for irrigation to prevent over pumping of the Floridan
aquifer. No Change
If update or modification in county policy, consider: The County shall
evaluate and implement all means feasible to reuse 100% of its treated
wastewater to prevent over pumping of the Upper Floridian Aquifer.
Policy 3.5: The county shall, depending on funding availability, renew its annual contract with the SJR WMD to identify and plug or
repair abandoned free flowing artesian wells. No Change
Policy 3.6: The county shall implement the policies of Potable Water Sub-Element Objective 8. Revise Confirm/update new policy numbers
Objective 4 By 2012, Indian River County will have written intergovernmental coordination agreements with local governments and
state agencies to ensure protection of the natural groundwater aquifer system. Revise Revise/update date; ongoing policy
Policy 4.1:
The county shall cooperate with agencies, such as the SJR WMD and the FDEP, in performing assessments of
groundwater resources, and shall review any recommendations for incorporation into the land development
regulations. County support shall include, but not be limited to, providing information, providing staff assistance, and
implementing recommendations.
No Change
Policy 4.2: The county shall assist the SJRWMD with updating SJRWMD's water supply assessments by providing water use data
relating to agricultural irrigation, recreational irrigation, and public supply. No Change
Policy 4.3:
The county will assist the SJR WMD in coordinating with the other counties to the west and northwest of Indian River
County to protect the natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas of the Floridan aquifer by maintaining a very low land
use density in these areas, compatible with densities identified in the Indian River County future land use map.
No Change
Policy 4.4:
The county shall continue to utilize existing interlocal agreements with other local governments, as identified in table
11.3 of the Intergovernmental Coordination Element, to ensure maximum efficiency of water management, by
combining resources and eliminating duplication.
No Change
Objective 5 By 2015, the County shall protect a minimum of 1000 additional acres of aquifer recharge areas for the surficial aquifer
through conservation easements and fee simple acquisition compared to 2009 baseline data. Revise (Minimal)
Consider: By 2035, the County shall protect a minimum of 1000
additional acres of aquifer recharge areas for the surficial aquifer
through conservation easements and fee simple acquisition compared
to 2009 baseline data.
Policy 5.1: The county will maintain a 5 year schedule of capital improvement needs for public facilities, to be updated annually in
conformance with the review process for the Capital Improvements Element of this plan. No Change
PAGE 54
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 5.2: The county shall pursue state and federal sources of funding available for the preservation and protection of
environmentally sensitive areas, such as natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas. No Change
Policy 5.3:
The county shall evaluate and rank proposed capital improvement projects for the acquisition and preservation of the
natural groundwater aquifer recharge areas according to the following guidelines:
~ Level One - Whether the acquisition is needed to protect public health, to protect the function of aquifer
recharge, and to fulfill the county's legal commitment to provide water services.
~ Level Two - Whether the acquisition will improve the existing condition and prevent or reduce future c apital
costs.
No Change
Policy 5.4: The county shall continue to monitor water quality at county water treatment and wastewater treatment plants. No Change
If desired; The County will continue to provide high quality drinking
water and effective wastewater treatment by ensuring compliance with
all regulatory requirements and taking all feasible measures to optimize
the treatment at each of the plants.
PAGE 55
Stormwater Sub-Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal
Indian River County shall provide and maintain a drainage system which reduces the risk of property damage and
inconvenience from long term flooding, promotes stormwater recharge of the shallow aquifer, reduces stormwater
pollutant loading of the Indian River Lagoon and receiving waters and provides proper floodplain management.
Revise
Recommend: Indian River County shall provide and maintain an efficient
and effective stormwater management system which, to the maximum
extent practical, provides proper floodplain management; reduces risk
of property damage and promotes personal safety; promotes
stormwater recharge of the shallow aquifer; minimizes erosion and
water quality degradation; and reduces stormwater pollutant loading of
the Indian River Lagoon and receiving waters.
Objective 1 By 2030, all existing and new development in the unincorporated section of Indian River County will be protected from
flooding from a 25 year/24-hour storm event. Revise
Recommend: To the maximum extent practical where attainable, by
2030, the County shall actively manage a floodplain program to
minimize flood risk for existing development within the unincorporated
section of Indian River County. New developments will continue to
meet current or more stringent regulations as may be passed from time
to time.
Policy 1.1:
The county hereby adopts the following level-of-service standard for all new drainage systems within the
unincorporated county: New development requiring major site plan approval or subdivision platting shall construct a
drainage system capable of mitigating
the impacts of a 25 year/24 hour design rainfall event using the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Type 2
modified rainfall curves. Post development runoff shall not exceed pre-development runoff unless a maximum
discharge rate has been adopted for the applicable drainage basin and the discharge does not exceed that rate. If a
maximum discharge rate has not been adopted for the applicable basin, post development discharge may not exceed
pre-development discharge.
Revise
New development requiring major site plan approval or subdivision
platting where impervious area exceeds 5,000 square feet, shall
construct a drainage system capable of mitigating the impacts caused
by discharge of a 25 year/24 hour design rainfall event as determined by
SJRWMD published rainfall quantities using the Natural Resource
Conservation Service Type 2 Florida modified rainfall curves (FLMOD). In
cases where downstream flooding has occurred the 100 year/24 hour
design rainfall event shall be considered.
Policy 1.15:
The county hereby adopts the following level-of-service standard for all new drainage systems within the
unincorporated county: New development requiring major site plan approval or subdivision platting shall construct a
drainage system capable of mitigating
the impacts of a 25 year/24 hour design rainfall event using the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Type 2
modified rainfall curves. Post development runoff shall not exceed pre-development runoff unless a maximum
discharge rate has been adopted for the applicable drainage basin and the discharge does not exceed that rate. If a
maximum discharge rate has not been adopted for the applicable basin, post development discharge may not exceed
pre-development discharge.
No Change
Policy 1.2:
The finished floor elevation of any new building constructed within a SFHA}, as designated on the most current Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), shall be subject to the following
requirements:
~ "AE" zone - structures must be elevated a minimum of six ( 6) inches above the base flood level; "A" zone -
structures must be elevated a minimum of 18 inches above the crown of the road or at the elevation required by the
DHRS, whichever is higher; if no base flood data are available, the structure must be elevated at least three (3) feet
above the highest natural elevation or the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of the
structure;
~ "VE" zone- structures must be elevated so that the bottom of the lowest horizontal structural member of the
lowest floor is elevated one-half (1/2) foot or more above the base flood level.
Revise
Consider: All new buildings shall be above the 100 Year storm event
along with any required appropriate freeboard protection. Elevations
shall be as defined by Flood Insurance Rate Maps, National Flood
Insurance Program requirements, engineering studies and as defined in
the County Stormwater Management and Flood Protection ordinance
and codes.
PAGE 56
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.3: The county shall ensure that adequate storm water management facilities are constructed and maintained to prevent
major flooding of the road network of Indian River County during storm events. Revise
Consider: The County shall ensure that adequate storm water
management facilities are constructed and maintained to prevent major
flooding of the road network of Indian River County during storm
events.
Policy 1.4: All new storm sewers discharging into any canal or receiving water body shall be designed to convey the permitted
discharge after tailwater conditions are considered. Keep Could possibly revise based on language in code.
Policy 1.5: All major bridges shall be designed to withstand a 100 year/3-day storm event. Revise
Consider: At a minimum, all bridges either being replaced or requiring
structural designs for repairs shall be placed above the 100 year flood
elevation / FIRM / FIS elevation when located on an arterial roadway or
thoroughfare plan road as defined in LDR 952.08 to allow for safe
emergency passing. All other bridges shall be placed above the storm
frequency and duration in accordance with FDOT Drainage Manual. All
bridges shall be designed for hydraulics / scour / structurally in
accordance with FDOT design manuals, index and specifications.
Policy 1.6: Prior to the issuance of a Land Development Permit, the county shall require all culverts within all F.S. Section 298
Drainage Districts' rights-of-way or easements be sized and approved by the appropriate district. No Change
Policy 1.7: Within all new subdivisions, wide backlot and front yard drainage easements, as well as side lot swales to provide for
localized runoff routing, will be required where centralized retention/detention facilities are not provided. Revise
Note, also currently in Code; possible language includes: Within all new
subdivisions, appropriately sized backlot and front yard drainage
easements, as well as side lot swales to provide for localized runoff
routing, will be required where centralized retention/detention facilities
are not provided.
Policy 1.8: The county shall require all new storm water management facilities that outfall to a F. S. Section 29 8 Drainage District
canal be completed prior to the issuance of a certificate of completion. No Change
Objective 2 By 2020, all drainage basins in Indian River County shall, at a minimum, meet the Flood Protection Level of Service
(FPLOS) for a 10 year/24-hour storm event. Revise Consider: Stormwater Management Facilities shall meet current or
more stringent regulations as may be passed from time to time.
Policy 2.1: In existing developments, the county shall reconstruct existing drainage systems and restore design capacity when road
paving is programmed under the county's Petition Paving Program. Revise
Consider: Under the County's Petition Paving Program, Stormwater
Management Systems associated with the road shall be repaired,
reconstructed, or rehabilitated to meet LDR stormwater management
facility design criteria.
Policy 2.2:
By 2020, all existing roadways in the county shall be improved to meet the following level-of-service standard:
1. Minimum road crown elevation for existing roads shall be raised during resurfacing/rebuilding to the flood elevation
resulting from the 2 year/24 hour storm event on local streets.
2. The center two lanes of rebuilt roads shall be at or above flood levels resulting from a 10 year/24 -hour storm event
on Arterial and Collector roads.
Revise
Consider: "By 2040, to the maximum extent practical, all reconstructed
roadways in the County shall be improved to meet the following level-
of-service standard:
1. Minimum road crown elevation for roads shall be raised during
resurfacing/rebuilding to the flood elevation resulting from the 10
year/24 hour storm event on local streets.
2. The center two lanes of rebuilt roads shall be at or above flood levels
resulting from a 10 year/24-hour storm event on Arterial, Collector and
Thoroughfare Plan roads as defined in Land Development Regulations
Chapter 952 - Traffic."
Policy 2.3: By 2012, all drainage basins within the county shall meet a 10 year /24-hour storm event level-of-service standard. Revise Consider: By 2040, all drainage basins within the County shall meet a 10
year /24-hour storm event level-of-service standard.
PAGE 57
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.4: The county shall require all new development sites to be designed with retention systems capable of accommodating
1.25 times the impervious surface area, or 0.5 inches times the project area. Revise
Similar to Policy 7.10 - Policy 7.10 is identified for removal.
If retaining, consider requiring all new development sites to be designed
with stormwater management systems capable of water quality
treatment equal to 1.5 inches time the project area or greater as may
be required by SJRWMD.
Policy 2.5:
By 2012, the county will adopt a Stormwater Master Plan. In developing the Stormwater Master Plan, the county will
analyze each basin in the unincorporated county, identify existing conditions and problems in each basin, and identify
projected growth in each basin. As a result of that analysis, the county will identify a design storm parameter, discharge
rate, land use allowance, and structural improvement plan for each basin. The county will coordinate with the City of
Sebastian and will prioritize analysis of the areas within and adjacent to the St. Sebastian River basin.
Remove See Policy 3.1
Policy 2.6: To ensure stormwater management facilities function properly, the county will establish defined levels of maintenance
for public and private stormwater management facilities and will conduct inspections on a routine basis. Revise
Consider: To ensure stormwater management facilities function
properly, the County will continuously evaluate and adjust established
maintenance practices for public and private stormwater management
facilities, and will conduct inspections on a routine basis.
Policy 2.7: The county will, through its land development regulations, require existing uses undergoing redevelopment to meet the
most current development requirements for stormwater management. No Change
Policy 2.8: The county will continue its activities to retrofit the Vero Lakes Estates drainage system. Keep Keep unless all improvements completed
Policy 2.9: By 2012, the county will conduct a comprehensive inventory of all stormwater management facilities in all of the
drainage sub-basins under the county's jurisdiction. Revise
Revise date to 2027 or other – Consider: By 2027, the County will
conduct a comprehensive inventory of all stormwater management
facilities in all of the drainage sub-basins under the county's jurisdiction.
(Significant undertaking - suggest extending timeline unless the process
is already initiated.)
Policy 2.10: By 2012, the county shall establish a Geographic Information System (G.I.S.)-based inventory of all stormwater
management facilities under the county's jurisdiction. Revise
Revise date to 2030 or other – Consider: By 2030, the county shall
establish a Geographic Information System (G.I.S.)-based inventory of all
stormwater management facilities under the county's jurisdiction.
(Significant undertaking - suggest extending timeline unless the process
is already initiated.)
Objective 3 By 2012, Indian River County will have an adopted Stormwater Master Plan, which will guide all improvements to
stormwater management facilities in Indian River County over a 20-year time frame. Revise
Revise/update date. Consider: Indian River County will incorporate all
improvements to publicly maintained stormwater management facilities
identified over a 20-year time frame in the Capital Improvement Plan.
Policy 3.1:
Storm water Management Facility Improvements shall be included within the Indian River County Infrastructure CIP. A
20 Year Improvement Program for storm water management facilities will be included as part of the Indian River County
Stormwater Master Plan, once adopted.
Consolidate/revise
Consistent information and language with previous Policies. Consider:
By 2030, Indian River County will complete the Stormwater Master Plan,
which will guide all improvements to stormwater management facilities
in Indian River County over a 20-year time frame. (Consistent time
frame with Policy 2.9 and 2.10 - GIS database will facilitate the
development of the Stormwater Master Plan)
Policy 3.2:
In all major transportation improvement projects, the county shall include stormwater management facilities to serve
the discharge needs of developments existing at the time of the improvement project within the upstream watershed
area. Funding shall be included in the Transportation CIP.
No Change
Policy 3.3: Proposed capital improvement projects shall be evaluated and ranked according to the following priority level
guidelines: No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
~ Level One- whether the project is needed to protect public health and safety, to fulfill the county's legal
commitment to provide drainage facilities and services, or to preserve or achieve full use of existing facilities.
~ Level Two - whether the project increases efficiency of use of existing facilities, prevents or reduces future
improvement costs, provides service to developed areas lacking full service or promotes in-fill development.
~ Level Three- whether the project represents a logical extension of facilities within a designated drainage basin.
Policy 3.4: By 2012, the county shall consider establishing a stormwater utility to fund maintenance and improvements of existing
stormwater management facilities. Revise
With the Stormwater Master Plan, the County shall evaluate
establishing a stormwater utility to fund maintenance and
improvements of existing stormwater management facilities.
Suggest evaluating the need for a dedicated funding source for
stormwater infrastructure as part of the Stormwater Master Plan - once
you have a comprehensive list of projects, developing a funding plan
may lead to the need for a stormwater utility.
Objective 4 By 2011, Indian River County will have established formal cooperative relationships with the incorporated municipalities
and F.S. 298 Special Drainage Districts having jurisdiction in Indian River County. Revise Update dates/refine language; reflect “ongoing”
Policy 4.1: County staff will attend meetings of federal, state, regional, and local agencies which have stormwater jurisdiction
within the county. No Change
Policy 4.2:
By 2010, the county, in cooperation with the SJRWMD, shall request a formal meeting with representatives from all of
the F.S. 298 Special Drainage Districts in the county to discuss the following issues: conducting comprehensive basin
inventories, adopting maximum discharge limitations, and setting level-of-service standards for water quality and flood
protection.
Remove Staff agree 4.2 can be deleted since 4.3 remains.
Policy 4.3: The county will continue to include representatives from F.S. 298 Drainage Districts on its Technical Review Committee. No Change
Policy 4.4: The county will coordinate with applicable local governments and F.S. 298 Drainage Districts to provide notification to
appropriate entities of development having potential impacts on another jurisdiction. No Change
Policy 4.5: The county shall coordinate with the SJRWMD and encourage the municipalities within the county to adopt stormwater
master plans. No Change
Objective 5 The county shall maintain its Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) to serve as a comprehensive
floodplain management plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). No Change
Policy 5.1:
Within regulatory floodways designated on the most current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), the county shall
prohibit encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other development that would
result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of a flood discharge, unless specifically approved by the
Administrator of the Federal Insurance Administration under the provisions of 44 CFR 65.12, as amended.
No Change
Policy 5.2: Contingent upon available funding in the county's environmental lands program, the county shall continue to acquire
property in the 1 00-year floodplain for conservation. No Change
Policy 5.3:
For any structures or fill placed within the 100 year floodplain, an equal volume of storage capacity must be created for
any volume of the base flood that would be displaced by fill or structures, except for the following instances as more
specifically described in LDR
Chapter 930:
~ development projects within the floodplain along the Indian River Lagoon granted a waiver by the county upon
showing the development will not create material adverse impact on flood protection;
~ subdivided lots less than one (1) acre in size existing prior to July 1, 1990;
~ development projects located in the St. Johns Marsh, when granted a cut and fill waiver by the county based on
lack of material adverse impact; or
No Change
PAGE 59
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
~ development within the Vero Lake Estates Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) for which a cut and fill waiver
has been granted by the county.
Policy 5.4: The county will preserve the natural functions and values of wetlands by implementing the policies listed under
Objective 5 of the Conservation Element. No Change
Objective 6 Consistent with Objective 2 of the Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Sub-element, there will be no reduction in
the availability of groundwater from the surficial aquifer through 2030. No Change
Policy 6.1: The county will continue to require on-site retention/detention in accordance with SJRWMD and FDEP performance
standards, as outlined in the Storm water Management and Flood Protection ordinance. Revise
Consider: The County will continue to require on-site
retention/detention in accordance with SJRWMD and FDEP
performance standards, as outlined in the Stormwater Management
and Flood Protection ordinance.
Policy 6.2: The county will continue to require reuse of storm water runoff for irrigation of golf courses and other developments
with wet detention/retention ponds with a surface area greater than one acre. Revise
Consider: The County will continue to request that the lowest quality of
water available be used for irrigation purposes in accordance with
SJRWMD program requirements.
Policy 6.3: By 2012, the county shall explore the feasibility of developing storm water parks in the unincorporated county to
recharge the surficial aquifer. Remove Outdated policy
Objective 7
Consistent with DCA Rule 9J-5.011(2)( c )(5), the county shall maintain Water Quality Level of Service (WQLOS) based on
Pollutant Load Reduction Goals (PLRGs) established by the SJRWMD for the Indian River Lagoon and, when available,
based on Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards established for the Lagoon.
Revise
Consider: Consistent with the Central Indian River Lagoon Basin
Management Action Plan, the County shall endeavor to maintain Water
Quality Level of Service (WQLOS) based on Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) standards established for the Lagoon.
Policy 7.1: The county shall cooperate with the IRLNEP, SJR WMD, FDEP, DHRS, Marine Resources Council (MRC), and other
organizations in conducting an inventory pollutant loadings to the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Revise
Consider: The County shall cooperate with the IRLNEP, SJRWMD, FDEP,
FDOH, and other organizations in conducting an inventory pollutant
loadings to the Indian River Lagoon (IRL).
Policy 7.2: The county will reduce the loading of suspended solids within storm water runoff by paving unpaved county roads
within developed areas where the roads' drainage systems discharge into the IRL. Revise
Consider: Where practical, the County will reduce the loading of
suspended solids within storm water runoff by paving unpaved county
roads within developed areas where the roads' drainage systems
discharged into the IRL either directly or indirectly.
Policy 7.3: The county will continue to require applicants for land clearing permits to submit erosion control plans. No Change
Policy 7.4: The County will continue to operate a street sweeping program for county roads. No Change
Policy 7.5: Indian River County will continue to require sodding or grassing of steep slopes constructed in conjunction with all
Transportation Improvement Projects. Revise
Consider: Indian River County will require sodding or stabilization for all
disturbed soils as required in LDRs or through the FDEP NPDES
permitting program.
Policy 7.6:
In accordance with Program Goal I of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and
Goal I of the Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) Plan, the county shall reduce the amount of non-point
source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon by applying for SWIM funds and Section 319 Grants to improve the
pollutant removal of efficiency of existing stormwater management facilities and, where feasible, to construct new
regional stormwater management facilities.
Revise
Consider: The County shall continue to pursue the reduction of non-
point source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon by applying for
funding assistance through available sources to improve the pollutant
removal of efficiency of existing stormwater management facilities and,
where feasible, to construct new regional stormwater management
facilities.
Policy 7.7:
The county shall eliminate all point sources of pollution from private sewer plants and septic tanks contributing to water
quality problems and nutrient enrichment of the Indian River Lagoon and the Upper St. Johns River Basin (as indicated
in the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element policies) by:
~ Continuing to expand sanitary sewer service within the Urban Service Area;
~ Requiring annual evaluation of private sewer plants;
Revise
Consider: "The County shall work towards the elimination of all point
sources of pollution from private sewer plants and septic tanks
contributing to water quality problems and nutrient enrichment of the
Indian River Lagoon and the Upper St. Johns River Basin (as indicated in
the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element policies) by:
PAGE 60
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
~ Requiring monitoring of septic tanks;
~ Reusing irrigation quality wastewater for spray irrigation;
~ Requiring new developments to connect to a regional wastewater treatment facility; and
~ Other policies contained the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element.
~ Where practical, continuing to expand sanitary sewer service
within the Urban Service Area;
~ Reusing irrigation quality wastewater for irrigation;
~ Requiring qualifying new developments to connect to a regional
wastewater treatment facility; and
~ Other policies contained the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element. "
Policy 7.8: In compliance with the Indian River Lagoon Act of 1990, the county shall continue to prohibit the discharge of effluent
from domestic wastewater treatment plants into the Indian River Lagoon. Keep but can update
Consider: In compliance with the Indian River Lagoon Act of 1990, the
county shall comply with existing regulations prohibiting the discharge
of effluent from domestic wastewater treatment plants into the Indian
River Lagoon.
Policy 7.9:
The county, in cooperation with the Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District (IRSWCD), shall require all new
groves and replanted groves to implement conservation plans, and non-structural best management practices (BMPs).
Non-structural BMPs, as defined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), include land use planning,
preservation of wetlands and floodplains, education, and erosion control.
Revise
Consider: The County, in cooperation with the Indian River Soil and
Water Conservation District (IRSWCD), shall advise all existing and newly
Agricultural Exempt properties to implement conservation plans, and
non-structural best management practices (BMPs) as required by State
of Florida Statutes. BMPs shall be in accordance with FDACS, NRCS,
SJRWMD or other applicable BMP manuals as allowed by FDACs. Indian
River County Property Appraiser shall provide this material to all
Agricultural Exempt properties at time of application or renewal. The
County shall create a single web page providing education directly to
Agriculturally Exempt properties. Web page shall be referenced by all
County permitting departments.
Policy 7.10:
Until Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) standards are established for the Indian River Lagoon by the DEP, the county
will continue to require, as a minimum, retention of the first one ( 1) inch of rainfall prior to off-site discharge.
Consistent with Chapter 17-25.025(9), F.A.C., an additional 50 percent treatment (1.5 inches) is required for all direct
discharge into the Indian River Lagoon due to its designation as an Outstanding Florida Water (OFW).
Remove Per County Staff, remove.
Policy 7.11: All existing uses shall meet the adopted WQLOS at time of redevelopment, including TMDL standards once established
by the DEP. No Change
Policy 7.12: The county shall require littoral zone vegetation plantings for all new artificially created ponds on project sites
exceeding ten (10) acres in area. No Change
Policy 7.13: The county shall pursue grant funding to establish storm water filtration systems on the North and South Main Relief
Canals. Remove
Objective 8 Through 2030, all land uses and land use densities within Indian River County will be in compliance with the Future Land
Use Plan map. No Change
Policy 8.1:
The county will allow only low density land uses in areas designated as flood prone (within the 100 year floodplain) as
depicted on the Future Land Use Map. The only exception is where platted subdivisions were developed prior to
existing regulations.
No Change
Policy 8.2: The county will assess the drainage capability of all lands proposed for a change in land use designation and not
approve land use changes where drainage service levels will not be met. No Change
Policy 8.3: The county shall promote infill development by improving and maintaining the existing drainage facilities in the
developed areas of the county. Revise
Consider: The County shall promote infill development by improving
and maintaining the existing public stormwater management facilities in
the developed areas of the county.
PAGE 61
Transportation Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal
Indian River County shall have a safe, efficient, and accessible transportation system which provides for mobility of all
residents and visitors, encourages freedom of choice among alternative modes of travel, respects the natural and built
environment, meets the stated needs of local jurisdictions, and is determined to be financially feasible.
No Change
Objective 1 The county acknowledges that there are no existing roadway capacity deficiencies within the County. Through 2040, the
county traffic circulation system will continue to operate at or above the minimum service levels specified in policy 1.1. Update Update to Planning Horizon (20 years)
Policy 1.1:
The county hereby adopts traffic circulation level of service standards as follows:
• Level of service "D" or better shall be maintained on all TRIP grant funded roads as well as all freeway, arterial and
collector roadways with the exception of the following two, which will operate at 20% in excess of level of service “E”:
o 27th Ave – South County Line to SR 60
o 43rd Ave – Oslo Road to 16th Street
• Level-of-Service “D” plus 20% during peak hour, peak season, peak direction conditions on the following roads until
such time that a major capacity improvement, as specified below, is constructed. At such time that the major capacity
improvement is constructed, the level of service for that improved road shall be “D” during peak hour, peak season, peak
direction conditions,
o CR510 – 66th Avenue to US Highway 1 (scheduled for widening)
o 37th Street – US Highway 1 to Indian River Boulevard (scheduled for widening or alternately mitigated by
extension of Aviation Boulevard from US 1 to 37th Street)
During the time period before major capacity improvements are provided for these two roads, proposed major
development projects approved by the planning and zoning commission or board of county commissioners that will
impact either or both of the roads may, based on a traffic study approved by the Public Works Director, be approved
with conditions related to provisions for interim roadway improvements that mitigate project impacts on one or both
roads.
For SIS/Florida Intrastate Highway System roadways, level of service “B” is adopted for rural areas, and level of service
“C” is adopted for urban areas.
Revise
Review and revise thresholds; E+20% establishes a threshold for
widening, and will be revisited based on the new FDOT Context Class
LOS.
Also note: Update references for SIS facilities; also reference Policy
(Topic 000-525-006-c). Target is LOS D for urbanized areas and C for
rural.
Policy 1.2:
Proposed roadway projects shall be evaluated and ranked in order of priority according to the following guidelines:
a. Whether the project is needed to protect public health and safety, to fulfill the county's legal commitment to provide
facilities and services, or to preserve or achieve full use of existing facilities;
b. Whether the project increases efficiency of use of existing facilities, protects interregional and intrastate functions of
the Florida Intrastate Highway System, prevents or reduces future improvement cost, provides service to developed
areas lacking full service, or promotes in-fill development;
c. Whether the project represents a logical extension of facilities and services within a designated urban service area;
d. Whether the project is the most cost effective alternative; and
e. Whether the project provides the least adverse impact to the environment of the options.
No Change
Policy 1.3: The county hereby adopts the transportation capital improvements program (TCIP) incorporated as Table 4.9.4 within
this element. This TCIP shall be reviewed and updated on an annual basis. No Change
Policy 1.4:
No development project shall be approved if the projected impacts of the project would serve to reduce service levels of
any roadway on the traffic circulation system below the standards identified in Policy 1.1. Conditions applicable to this
policy are as follows:
° Development project shall be defined as any activity, which requires issuance of a development order. This includes:
Revise Revise to add policy regarding Proportionate Share and also update
references to software names/website
PAGE 62
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
comprehensive plan amendment, rezonings, site plan approval, preliminary plat approval, preliminary PD approval, DRI
development order approval, preliminary PD approval, and DRI development order approval.
° Projected project traffic shall be based on the application of ITE trip rates (Trip Generation, 7th Edition or subsequent
editions), Indian River County trip rates, or applicant derived/county approved trip rates for the proposed use(s) to the
project.
° Existing service level will be derived by using the peak hour/peak season/peak direction traffic volume ranges. Volume
shall be the sum of existing demand plus committed demand. This is described in the concurrency management system
component of the Capital Improvements Element.
° Capacity shall be calculated as specified in the state road category of the appropriate table in the most current version
of Florida's Level of Service Handbook, using peak hour/peak season/peak direction default table assumptions and
appropriate adjustment factors. As an alternative, capacity may be determined by ART-PLAN analysis, HCM analysis,
speed delay studies, or other generally accepted capacity determination methodology approved by the Public Works
Director. For capacity determination purposes, a roadway improvement may be considered to be in place and the
capacity to be provided by the improvement may be counted as available if the referenced improvement is listed in the
first three years of the county's adopted five Year Schedule of Capital Improvements (appendix A of the Capital
Improvements Element) or in the first three years of the adopted Florida Department of Transportation five year work
program, is scheduled to be under construction not more than three years after issuance of the project’s first building
permit, and where the county issues a development order for the project needing the improvement approving this
allowance.
If based on the above analysis the proposed development does not meet approval requirements, the developer may
choose to conduct a more detailed traffic impact analysis as described in Policy 1.5.
Policy 1.5:
The county, through its land development regulations, shall require submission of a traffic impact study for all projects
projected to generate/attract 400 or more average daily trips.
The traffic impact study will be the basis for identifying site-related improvements required by a project as well as for
assessing consistency with adopted level of service standards.
Minimum requirements for traffic impact studies are described below:
- All traffic impact studies shall be performed by registered professional engineers who specialize in transportation
engineering and/or by qualified professionals in the field of transportation planning who specialize in traffic impact
studies.
- The study area boundary shall include all intersections within 8 miles of the project where the project generated peak
hour traffic meets or exceeds 8 trips on a 2-lane road or 15 trips on a 4 or more lane road.
Projected project traffic shall be based on the application of ITE trip rates (Trip Generation, Current Edition), Indian River
County trip rates, or applicant derived/county approved trip rates for the proposed use(s) in the project.
- Trip distribution and assignment shall be based on one of the following techniques:
a) Trip distributions based on studies of existing similar developments in proximity to the proposed site.
b) Experienced judgment and knowledge of local condition. This method requires approval and concurrence
from the county.
c) A combination of "a" and "b".
Revise Revise to reference Ordinance; additional information can be removed
PAGE 63
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
d) Special zip code analysis for a representative land use in proximity to the proposed site.
e) FSUTMS travel model results including trip tables by trip purpose.
f) Gravity model.
- Existing levels of service shall be calculated for all signalized and major unsignalized intersections within the study area
for afternoon peak hours during the peak season. Existing peak hours will be identified from traffic counts between 7:00
and 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., using 15 -minute intervals. Counts not taken during the
peak season shall be factored, based on county traffic counts in the project area, to represent peak season conditions.
Level of service calculations shall be based on the Operational Analysis methodology described in the latest edition of the
Highway Capacity Manual.
- Future levels of service shall be calculated for the buildout date of the proposed project, as well as for any intermediate
development phases. Conditions with and without the proposed development shall be evaluated and documented.
Conditions with the development shall be based on a combined traffic volume of the projected peak hour/peak season
traffic generated by the site and the projected peak hour/peak season background traffic. The background traffic shall
be calculated based on one of the following methods:
a) Increase the existing peak season traffic to the buildout date based on historical growth trends over a
minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 10 years. Traffic generated by committed developments, which would
impact the study area, shall also be included subject to appeal to reviewing agencies.
b) Increase the existing peak season traffic to the buildout date based on an interpolation using traffic volumes
projected by the county. The county reserves the right to require method "a" to be used if it feel s traffic
projections may be inaccurate due to recent changes in land use or roadway improvements.
- Roadway improvements which are committed and scheduled to be complete at or before the project buildout, or
development phase date, may be included when calculating future levels of service.
- Roadway improvements, which are necessary to maintain projected peak hour-peak season peak direction conditions
at a level of service consistent with Policy 1.1, shall be identified.
Policy 1.6: The county shall maintain its traffic impact fee process and shall update the fee schedule at least once every five years. No Change
Policy 1.7: By 2023, the county shall consider imposing part or all of the ELMS one to five cent local option gas tax. Revise Update date(s) and retain/ keep language in case revenues change or
the desire changes in the future.
Policy 1.8:
The county hereby adopts the MPO’s Congestion Management Process Plan. In so doing, the county recognizes that the
MPO is responsible for conducting an annual congestion management system analysis, and the county commits to
programming those safety improvements identified as necessary in the CMP analysis. Such recommended
improvements may include signalization improvements, channelization measures, turn lane restrictions, and other
strategies.
No Change
Policy 1.9:
The county will collect traffic count data on all thoroughfare roads on an annual basis. These data will be utilized to
develop an annual report on the Level of Service provided on major area roads. These findings will then be used to
identify improvement needs and associated costs required to maintain the Levels of Service identified in Policy 1.1.
No Change
Policy 1.10:
The county will, through its land development regulations, establish design standards providing, at minimum, for the
following:
° Adequate storage and turning bays;
° Spacing and design of median openings and curb cuts;
° Provision of service roads or other means of shared access and interconnections;
° Driveway access and spacing; and
° Traffic operations.
No Change
PAGE 64
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.11:
The county will, through its land development regulations, continue to require that all development projects provide a
sufficient number of parking spaces for both motorized and non-motorized vehicles. Sufficient parking will be based
upon information from ITE (Institute of Traffic Engineers) parking data and parking studies regarding demand by use
category. The county will periodically review its off-street parking requirements, identifying minimum spaces per land
use category, delineating space size, providing for shared parking, setting internal circulation standards, and addressing
other parking characteristics.
No Change
New Policy By 2030, the County will study and consider a mobility planning approach in lieu of transportation concurrency.
Policy 1.12: The county hereby adopts the 2040 Cost Feasible Plan projects list (Table 4.9.3) and, in so doing, acknowledges the MPO
Long Range Transportation Plan as the means of maintaining level of service and mobility in the county. Revise
Remove policy reference to specific plan. Current plan is 2045, but the
2050 plan is under development and is anticipated to be adopted by the
end of 2025.
Objective 2 For the period from 2009 to 2030, crash and fatality rates per vehicle mile traveled will be reduced at least by 1% each
year. Revise
Revise to reference 5-year rolling average instead of annual; also
include reference to FDOT's "Target Zero" for fatalities and serious
injuries.
Policy 2.1: The county will maintain an accurate crash database. Remove
County no longer has database. Signal4 Analytics, which IRC does not
maintain but is considered the gold standard for crash data in Florida,
will be used instead.
Policy 2.2:
The county will on an ongoing basis review crash records to determine if intersection, operational, or other
improvements, including bike/ped improvements, are necessary to enhance safety and will program necessary
improvements.
No Change
Policy 2.3:
In conjunction with the Indian River County School District, the MPO, and municipalities in Indian River County, the
county will assess pedestrian access conditions at schools and participate in the Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) grant
program.
No Change
Policy 2.4: The county will develop its ITS (Intelligent Transportation System) infrastructure in a manner consistent with FDOT and
national ITS architectural standards and will participate with FDOT in deploying emerging ITS technologies. No Change
Policy 2.5:
The county shall review all proposed development projects to ensure that all shared or private access driveways, new
roadway connections, and on-site traffic flow will be provided in a safe manner and that frontage/marginal access roads
or other means of shared access and interconnections will be provided along arterials.
No Change
Policy 2.6:
The county will ensure that the installation of all traffic control devices is consistent with the standards contained in the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The MUTCD will be the standard used by the county to determine
the need for traffic control improvements, including signalization.
No Change
Policy 2.7: The county will review on-site traffic flow for all proposed development projects to ensure that circulation for motorized
and non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians can be accommodated safely. No Change
Objective 3
By 2035, the county will have acquired the right-of-way needed for all county collector and arterial roads and all mass
transit corridors within the urban area where improvements are identified in the 2040 Cost Feasible Long Range
Transportation Plan.
Revise
Update planning/target horizon date. Additional consideration: The
County will seek to acquire right of way needed for all county collector
and arterial roads and mass transit corridors within the urban area
where improvements continue to be identified.
Policy 3.1:
The county recognizes that road right-of-way must accommodate the travel way, roadside recovery areas, bicycle and
pedestrian facilities, drainage facilities, and utility lines. Accordingly, the county hereby adopts minimum right -of-way
standards as defined below.
Type Of Facility: Urban Rural
U.S. 1 Corridor - 8LD 200 ---
No Change
PAGE 65
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
U.S. 1 Corridor - 6LD 140 240
U.S. 1 Corridor - 4LD w/frontage roads 200 280
6LD Principal Arterial 140 240
4LD Principal Arterial 120 200
4LD Minor Arterial 120 200
2LD Minor Arterial 100 100
Collector 90 90
Subdivision Collector Roads 60 60
Local, Minor or Residential 60 60
Local, Minor or Residential 50
(with closed drainage as well as curb and gutter)
Marginal Access Roads 40* 40*
* Easement or ROW
These minimum standards may be reduced based upon a roadway design, approved or used by the public works
director, or by FDOT, that adequately handles drainage within a narrower right-of-way corridor.
Policy 3.2:
The county shall continue to eliminate existing right-of-way deficiencies, preserve existing right-of-way, and acquire
future right-of-way for all collector and arterial roadways as necessary to meet the right-of-way requirements for
programmed improvements. These standards will be met by requiring appropriate land dedication through the plat and
site plan review and approval processes. Dedication for right-of-way exceeding local road standards shall be
compensated through traffic impact fee credits, density transfers, or purchase.
No Change
Policy 3.3: The county shall acquire additional right-of-way at intersections to provide for the construction or expansion of turning
lanes as needed to improve safety and traffic flow, and reduce congestion. No Change
Policy 3.4:
The county shall acquire right-of-way, consistent with the standards identified in Policy 3.1, to allow for landscaped open
space adjacent to all rural arterial roadways and applicable urban arterial roadways. Where substantial amounts of right-
of-way are required to accommodate landscaping, the county shall evaluate the need for that landscaping and/or seek
lower cost alternatives such as providing landscaping incentives for adjacent property owners.
No Change
Policy 3.5: The county shall use available funds, such as one cent local option sales tax revenue, to pursue advance right-of-way
acquisition. No Change
Policy 3.6: The county shall continue to enforce the existing Subdivision Collector Map, Figure 4.9.1 to ensure that proposed
development provides for the extension of subdivision collector roadways to parcels which are presently landlocked.
Policy 3.7: To the extent allowed by law, the county shall charge fees to utility companies and other entities for use of road right-of-
ways. No Change
Policy 3.8:
The county hereby adopts and shall enforce the Extended Roadway Grid Network Map (Figure 4.10.) In so doing, the
County shall protect right-of-way beyond the urban service area boundary by requiring appropriate land dedication
through the plat and site plan review and approval process.
No Change
Policy 3.9:
With respect to right-of-way purchases, the county shall deliver a Notice To Owner of the county’s intent to complete a
voluntary purchase, along with a written purchase offer, and attempt to negotiate a voluntary purchase for 120 days
prior to assigning the matter to outside eminent domain counsel.
No Change
Objective 4 Through 2030, 80% percent of roadways in Indian River County will operate at Bike/Ped LOS “D” or above. Revise Update with new study/year and title
Policy 4.1:
The county hereby adopts the MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan. Implementation of the plan in the unincorporated county
will occur through the incorporation of improvements identified in that plan in its TCIP. The plan will be used as a basis
for applying for and programming federal enhancement project funds. Funds will be used to program improvements
Revise See previous comment. Consider revising policy to require future
updates.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
such as the construction of new bicycle and pedestrian lanes and paths, and the retrofit of existing lanes and paths. The
implementation schedule will be determined by the priority ranking of each roadway segment as contained in the MPO
Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan. The following programs shall also be implemented by the county according to the plan: an off-
road facilities program, a safety improvement program, and a mode shift program. These programs will be implemented
as the funding, right-of-way, or other necessary resources become available.
Policy 4.2:
By 2020, the county shall evaluate utility easements, railroad rights-of-way and drainage canal rights-of-way as locations
for off road trails. This evaluation will be based upon safety and cost considerations as well as negotiations with
appropriate agencies which control these easements and rights-of-way.
Revise Revise date.
Policy 4.3: Periodically, the county will assess all thoroughfare plan roadways to identify hazards to bicyclists. Where hazards are
identified, improvements to correct them will be programmed. No Change
Policy 4.4: The county will use at least $200,000 per year of 1 cent local option sales tax revenue for bike/pedestrian system
improvements. No Change
Policy 4.5: The county will continue to apply for federal non-motorized transportation funds to construct bike/ped improvements. No Change
Policy 4.6:
The county will, through its land development regulations, require that all developments fronting on thoroughfare plan
roadways provide for construction of bicycle and pedestrian improvements as identified in the MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian
Plan and MPO Greenways Plan.
No Change
Policy 4.7: The county will, through its land development regulations, require that internal sidewalks are provided in all residential
subdivisions with densities higher than 1 unit per four acres. No Change
Policy 4.8: The county will install bike-ped signals at all new signalized intersections and will install bike racks on its buses. Revise Remove reference to buses. Per MPO, all buses have bike racks.
Policy 4.9: The county will annually consider funding a program for construction of sidewalks in residential areas. No Change
Policy 4.10:
Where practical and to the extent possible, and where such design is in compliance with the Florida Green Book and
County Typical Design Standards, the County will implement “complete streets” principles such as the inclusion of bike
lanes and sidewalks for new roadways, widening projects, and roadway redesigns to address the needs of public
transportation vehicles and patrons, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities in planning, programming, design,
construction and maintenance of County roadways. These principles will be applied to reconstruction and maintenance
projects to the extent state or federal statute, economic and environmental considerations, and existing development
will allow. The County will view all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety, access and mobility
for all travelers and recognizes bicycle, pedestrian, and transit modes as integral elements of the transportation system.
No Change
Objective 5 Throughout the time horizon of this plan, traffic circulation system will be compatible and compliment adjacent land
uses. No Change
Policy 5.1:
The county shall design and locate to the extent possible major roadways (i.e. minor and principal arterials) and
intersections such as to not adversely affect existing neighborhoods nor produce excessive traffic on local roads through
residential areas. The following are some of the characteristics by which the county will determine whether
neighborhoods are adversely impacted: severs existing neighborhoods, more traffic other than local traffic using
roadways, widening of roadways which results in roadways constructed closer to residential homes, and other similar
characteristics. In areas where minor and principal arterial roadways and their intersections adversely affect existing
neighborhoods, the county may provide buffers as stated in the above Policy 7.1. The county will also review the
feasibility of relocating roadways and intersections and limit the number of roadway connections and accesses. Where
appropriate, the county will implement traffic calming improvements.
No Change
Policy 5.2:
The county shall locate and design roadways to minimize adverse environmental impacts. Where sensitive
environmental areas will be impacted by roadway construction, the county will mitigate those impacts by taking action
as provided for in the Conservation Element of the plan.
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 5.3: The county shall not fund transportation improvements which will allow increased development in coastal high-hazard
areas. No Change
Policy 5.4:
The county hereby designates as historic and scenic roads the following:
° Jungle Trail
° Old Winter Beach Road
° Fellsmere Grade
° Quay Dock Road
° Gifford Dock Road
The county will prepare, adopt, and implement management plans for each of these roads in order to protect and
enhance their scenic/historic character.
No Change
Policy 5.5:
The county will coordinate the mitigation of adverse structural and non-structural impacts from airports, and related
facilities, upon natural resources and land uses with the expansion of and development of those facilities consistent with
the future land use, coastal management and conservation elements.
No Change
Policy 5.6: The county will, within allowable budget constraints, allocate a minimum of 2% of total construction expenditures for all
roadway projects to landscaping improvements. No Change
Policy 5.7: The county will develop beautification plans at all interstate interchanges and will seek private participation in the
implementation of landscaping improvements. No Change
Objective 6
By 2015, the county will have a system which ensures that all transportation requirements, procedures, and
improvements are coordinated with all applicable governmental entities and will have entered into two new formal
coordination agreements with adjacent local governments.
Revise Rewrite to maintain coordination efforts through time horizon of this
plan.
Policy 6.1:
The county will coordinate with the Indian River County MPO, FDOT, Local Municipalities, and Adjacent Counties in its
transportation planning activities. This coordination will involve serving as staff to the MPO, having staff and
commissioners serve on MPO committees, sharing information, reviewing plans and programs, and assessing the
impacts of development projects across jurisdictions.
No Change
Policy 6.2:
The county will coordinate with FDOT to review its standards for sidewalk placement, access control, median cuts,
signage, drainage, and other related physical roadway development activities. The county's Planning and Public Works
Departments will schedule meetings as needed with appropriate FDOT officials to review and discuss these issues and
develop written standards agreeable to both entities.
No Change
Policy 6.3:
The county acknowledges that it is in compliance and will continue to comply with the level of service standards for
roadways as identified in the 1983 "Hutchinson Island Resource Planning & Management Plan", Policy C.1, page 33. This
policy states that roadways on the barrier island and connecting roadways that link the island to the mainland will
maintain a minimum level of service of "C" on an average annual basis and level of service "D" for peak season traffic.
No Change; possible
revision based on
updates to Plan
Policy 6.4: The county will coordinate with CareerSource Research Coast, the Sebastian and Vero Beach Chambers of Commerce,
local businesses, other MPOs and FDOT to develop regional TDM programs. Revise/Consolidate
Suggest revision and combine 4-6 here: The County will coordinate with
local career source, chambers of commerce, local businesses,
Metropolitan Planning Organizations and the Florida Department of
Transportation to develop regional TDM programs… etc
Policy 6.5: The county will participate in Regional Transit Authority activities with other Treasure Coast T/MPOs and the Brevard
MPO. Consolidate Combine with 6.4 above and also update TPO names
Policy 6.6: The county will coordinate with FDOT and the Florida East Coast Railroad (FEC) on future passenger rail service. No Change Could consolidate with Policy 6.4.
Objective 7 Through 2030, the county’s transit system will continue to operate at or above the minimum service level specified in
policy 1.1. Revise Remove/update date; ongoing policy
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 7.1: The county hereby adopts transit quality and level of service (TQLOS):
“B” for Service Coverage in Indian River County. No Change
Policy 7.2: The county will continue to maintain its fixed route transit system. No Change
Policy 7.3: The county hereby adopts the MPO’s Transit Development Plan. Revise Revise to be self-amending.
Policy 7.4: The county will continue to apply for state and federal mass transit grant funds and use those funds to provide transit
service in the county. No Change
Policy 7.5: The county will on an annual basis coordinate with the MPO to assess whether transit improvements should be included
in the project priorities submitted to FDOT for state and federal funding. No Change
Policy 7.6: The county will continue to provide funding for transit services. Currently, that funding is provided to the Indian River
County Senior Resource Association. No Change
Policy 7.7:
Through the County’s CTC, the County will ensure that transportation disadvantaged trips are provided through the
coordinated system, whereby all providers and purchasers have contracts and fully allocated cost amounts. In so doing,
the County will ensure that the CTC:
° Compiles information on routes, schedules, facilities and vehicles for each provider;
° Assesses this information and schedules trips to avoid duplication; and
° Regularly coordinates with providers to serve as a forum for discussing paratransit service
No Change
Objective 8 By 2030, all three geographic sub-areas of Indian River County will have a jobs-housing balance between .8 and 1.2 Revise Revise date only; keep all other language
Policy 8.1:
The county will implement Future Land Use Element policies which restrict urban sprawl, limit strip commercial
development, promote infill, encourage TND projects, promote public transportation, and encourage higher intensity
uses in major corridors.
No Change
Policy 8.2:
The county shall review all proposed land development projects in order to ensure consistency between those projects
and with the goals, objectives and policies of this plan, and the county shall require coordination of traffic circulation
plans and improvements with land use and infrastructure plans before development approval.
No Change
Policy 8.3:
The county will, as much as possible, protect the character of existing neighborhoods from the intrusion of major
thoroughfares (i.e. minor and principal arterials). The criteria used to determine whether major thoroughfares will be
allowed to intrude in existing neighborhoods are whether there are problems maintaining level of service standards on
the applicable roadways, whether there are safety problems, whether there is right-of-way availability, and whether
there are viable alternatives to intruding into an existing neighborhood. In areas where minor and principal arterial
roadways intrude into existing neighborhoods, the county may provide buffers such as concrete walls, landscaped
buffers, berms, and other similar buffers alongside the roadway(s). The county will also review the feasibility of
relocating roadways when intrusion is proposed.
No Change
Policy 8.4: The county shall establish land use guidelines for development in exclusive public transit corridors to ensure accessibility
to public transit, in the event such corridors are established. No Change
Policy 8.5:
The county shall encourage connectivity between all new residential and commercial developments except where such
connectivity strategies are impeded by physical or safety constraints. Where there are concerns for nuisance impacts
such as cut-through traffic, the county may provide buffering, traffic calming, or other appropriate treatments.
No Change May want to identify via vehicular, pedestrian, bike or similar multi-use
Objective 9 Through 2030, all future county aviation and intermodal facility expansion will be developed in a manner consistent with
existing and future land use. Revise Revise/update horizon
Policy 9.1: The county will continue to implement and enforce its airport zoning regulations. These regulations address height,
noise, emergency, clear zone and land requirements. No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 9.2: The county will ensure adequate access to the three public use airports, passenger rail station, transit transfer points,
and other intermodal facilities by making the roadway and transit improvements identified in this element. No Change
Policy 9.3: County staff will support the City of Vero Beach in its effort to establish scheduled commuter airline or air taxi service. No Change
Policy 9.4: The county will review airport master plans, transit development plans, and intermodal facility plans to ensure adequate
bicycle, pedestrian, transit, and auto access and circulation within airports and related facilities. No Change
Objective 10 Between 2009 and 2030, the total number of vehicle miles traveled in Indian River County will increase by no more than
the rate of growth of the overall population of Indian River County. Remove No longer required by FS
Policy 10.1: The County will implement the transportation improvements identified in the 2040 Cost Feasible Plan. Remove See previous comment
Objective 11 Through 2030, the County will ensure that all bridges on major roads have a structurally safe rating and at least 80% of
major roads have a pavement maintenance rating of 3.0 on the 5-point Federal Highway Administration scale. Revise Revise date/horizon
Policy 11.1: The County will continuously evaluate both pavement condition and the structural integrity of bridges on the major road
network and will implement improvements as warranted. No Change
PAGE 70
Economic Development Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal It is the goal of Indian River County to have balanced and orderly economic growth. No Change
Objective 1:
Low
Unemployme
nt Rate
Through the plan time horizon, the county’s average annual unemployment rate will be no more than one percentage
point higher than the State of Florida’s average annual unemployment rate as reported by the Florida Agency for
Workforce Innovation, Labor Market Statistics Center, Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program, in cooperation with
the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2007 average annual unemployment rate: Florida = 4.0% and
Indian River County = 5.8%).
Revise Changle from unemployment rate to poverty rate. Remove specifics.
Policy 1.1:
The Economic Development Division of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other economic
development groups designated by the Board of County Commissioners shall promote the growth of those industries on
the county’s target industries list (Policy 2.5). The Economic Development Division shall determine the methods to be
used to promote the growth of those industries and identify these methods in its annual marketing plan. The results will
be presented to the Economic Development Council on a quarterly basis.
No Change
Policy 1.2:
On an annual basis, the Economic Development Division of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other
economic development groups designated by the Board of County Commissioners shall survey local businesses that are
included in the county’s targeted industries list and have more than ten employees. The purpose of the survey is to
identify opportunities and problems associated with local businesses, the type of job training and assistance needed by
businesses, businesses willing to expand, businesses considering relocation, and linked businesses. The Economic
Development Division and other economic development groups shall report survey results to the Economic
Development Council at the first meeting of each calendar year.
No Change
Policy 1.3:
The Economic Development Division of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce shall continue to contact
businesses, as identified in its marketing plan, to encourage those businesses to consider Indian River County as a
possible location. The county’s list of targeted industries shall be the Economic Development Division’s guide for the
type of businesses to contact. On a quarterly basis, the Economic Development Director of the Chamber of Commerce
shall report to the Economic Development Council the number of businesses that were contacted, the type of
businesses that were contacted, the number of persons employed by each of the businesses, and the result or actions
taken from those contacts.
No Change
Policy 1.4:
The county, the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, other economic development groups designated by the
Board of County Commissioners, and CareerSource Research Coast shall continue to inform existing and relocating
businesses of training programs that are offered by Indian River State College, local high schools, and other training
providers. Representatives from these institutions shall be invited to provide an annual report to the Economic
Development Council summarizing what type of training assistance was provided to local businesses.
No Change
Policy 1.5: As an employer, the County shall advertise job opportunities on the county website. Remove Per County Staff, Remove Policy.
Policy 1.6:
The county shall post request for proposals on DemandStar (http://www.demandstar.com/) or similar websites.
DemandStar is a website where governments list requests for proposals, bids, and quotes for needed government
services.
No Change
Policy 1.7:
The county shall maintain its existing process of addressing complaints or concerns by business owners. This involves
designating the County Planning Director and the Director of Economic Development of the Indian River County
Chamber of Commerce to act as facilitators. Both the county and the Chamber of Commerce shall present a report of
business complaints and concerns as well as proposed solutions to the Indian River County Economic Development
Council.
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.8:
On an ongoing basis, the county, through the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other economic
development groups designated by the Board of County Commissioners, shall emphasize Indian River County’s
advantages over other regions as part of marketing efforts. This will include highlighting the County’s low crime rate
compared to areas like South Florida.
No Change
Policy 1.9:
By March of every year, the Economic Development Division of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce shall
develop a marketing plan that specifies actions that will be taken during the next fiscal year to market the county’s
economic development potential. The marketing plan shall provide detailed budget information pertaining to any funds
that the Chamber of Commerce is requesting from the Board of County Commissioners for the upcoming fiscal year.
Before the marketing plan and request for funds is submitted to the Board, the plan shall be presented to and approved
by the Economic Development Council.
No Change
Policy 1.10:
The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other economic development groups designated by the Board of
County Commissioners shall promote services provided by the Vero Beach Regional Airport, the Sebastian Municipal
Airport, and the Melbourne International Airport in their economic development and tourism marketing efforts.
No Change
Objective 2:
Diversified
Economic
Growth
Between 2010 and 2020, Indian River County will increase the number of jobs in the county’s new high wage target
industries by 1,000. Revise Update targets and Time frames
Policy 2.1:
The County shall focus its industrial/business/technology/research expansion efforts on attracting and expanding clean,
small-scale light manufacturing and assembly industries and those industries identified in County target industry studies,
as applicable.
No Change
Policy 2.2:
The county shall encourage the expansion of existing industries and attraction of new industries that are within the
target industries list (Policy 2.5) by offering the following county adopted economic development incentives and
assistance: "The county shall encourage the expansion of existing industries and attraction of new industries that are
within the target industries list (Policy 2.5) by offering the following county adopted economic development incentives
and assistance:
• Local Jobs Grant Program;
• Traffic, Water, and Sewer Impact Fee Financing;
• Utility Deposit Waivers;
• Expedited permitting;
• Maintenance of sufficient infrastructure capacity (roads, water, sewer);
• Provision of Industrial Revenue Bonds;
• Provision of job training through Indian River State College;
• Provision of workforce training incentives from CareerSource Research Coast;
• Assistance with federal or state grant applications (such as Community Development Block Grants);
• State Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund Program; and
Revise Remove “and” from last statement (incomplete)
Policy 2.3:
The county planning division shall track the number of jobs in target industries annually and provide a report to the EDC.
The report shall include, but not be limited to, the total number of jobs by NAICS target industry category, the average
wage by each NAICS target industry category, the percent and numeric change from the prior year for both the total jobs
and their average annual wages. Annual data shall be provided for multiple years.
No Change Note: EDC is not spelled out prior to this policy. Only spelled out in DIA.
PAGE 72
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.4:
The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other economic development groups designated by the Board of
County Commissioners shall provide assistance, as needed, to companies during the relocation process and report any
actions taken to the Economic Development Council at their regular meetings.
No Change
Policy 2.5:
The county, in coordination with the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, shall establish a list of target industries
and evaluate this list periodically in order to reflect the current economic needs of the county as well as the actual
marketing results. Below, is the list of the county’s target industry clusters. For marketing purposes, the County, Indian
River County Chamber of Commerce, and other economic development agencies representing the County may use their
resources to market to a much smaller list based on the results of target industry studies, market research, and expert
advice.
Clean Energy industry including but not limited to:
• Solar Energy
• Biomass Energy/Biofuels
• Fuel Cells and Hydrogen
• Ocean Energy
Life Sciences industry including but not limited to:
• Biotechnology
• Medical Device Manufacturing
• Pharmaceuticals
• Health Care
Information Technology industry including but not limited to:
• IT Products/Services
• Software Development
• Modeling/Simulation/Training
• Photonics/Lasers/Optics
• Microelectronics
• Telecommunications
Aviation/Aerospace industry including but not limited to:
• Aviation
• Avionics
• Flight Schools
Financial / Professional Services including but not limited to:
• Corporate/Regional Headquarters
• Research and Development
Manufacturing/Warehouse/Distribution
Emerging Technologies including but not limited to:
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Marine Science
Arts, Entertainment, Recreation including but not limited to:
• Sports Facilities
• Film Locations
No Change Per Staff, no change.
PAGE 73
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Post Secondary Public and Private Educational Institutions
Other clean light industries that have average annual wages that support an innovation economy.
To be eligible for local economic incentives, an industry must meet the target industry criteria established by the state
with a focus on those industries that export the majority of products and services outside of Indian River County (as
opposed to strictly areas outside of Florida). Currently, the target industry criteria are listed in Section 288.106(1)(o),
Florida Statutes.
Policy 2.6: The County shall provide for the issuance of Industrial Development Bonds for new industries. No Change
Policy 2.7:
The Economic Development Division of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other economic
development groups designated by the Board of County Commissioners shall assist in providing entrepreneurial and
management expertise and a well-trained, skilled, and educated workforce to industries that are within the target
industries list (Policy 2.5).
No Change Language as written is more based on Objective than Policy.
Policy 2.8:
The County, in cooperation with the Vero Beach Regional Airport, the Sebastian Municipal Airport, the Indian River
County Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Division, shall actively market airport industrial lots and
space and coordinate its marketing plans with the airport's marketing plans.
No Change
Policy 2.9: The County, through the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Division, shall
identify and increase investments needed to enhance a competitive advantage. Possible revision Language as written is more based on Objective than Policy.
Policy 2.10:
The County, through the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Division, shall
facilitate interactions between venture capitalists, lawyers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and financiers for new product
development and new target industries within the county.
No Change
Policy 2.11:
The County shall request Federal and State agencies to expedite permit processing for target industries and to eliminate
duplication and streamline permit processing. This shall include submission of letters and e-mails and phone calls to
appropriate Federal and State agencies requesting expedited permitting and follow-up communications with these
agencies.
No Change
Policy 2.12: The County building division shall provide weekend inspection services at cost, based on employee availability and the
commercial/industrial tenant's need. No Change
Policy 2.13: The County shall periodically re-evaluate its economic development incentives by comparing its incentives with
incentives offered by other jurisdictions. No Change
Policy 2.14: The County shall periodically compare its impact fees to other counties in the state to determine if County impact fees
are competitive for new commercial/industrial development. No Change
Policy 2.15:
The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other economic development groups designated by the Board of
County Commissioners shall develop and provide a community information package for new employees and employers
relocating to Indian River County.
No Change
Policy 2.16: The County, through its Local Housing Assistance Program, Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, and other housing
programs, shall continue to provide workforce housing in the county. No Change Can consider moving to Objective 1
Policy 2.17:
The County will initiate and support voter referendums to establish and maintain an Indian River County economic
development tax abatement program. No Change
Objective 3:
Maintain
Trained Labor
Force
Through the plan time horizon, there will be sufficient post-secondary (college and technical schools) training programs
that meet the needs of the county’s target industries. No Change
PAGE 74
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 3.1: The County, in conjunction with CareerSource Research Coast and the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, will
survey target industries to determine if educational needs are being met (see policy 1.2). No Change
Policy 3.2:
The County shall contact four-year colleges, universities, and other training providers to determine the probability of a
branch campus or research facility being established in Indian River County. In so doing, the County shall note that it has
the ability to offset impact fees for target industries, including these institutions.
No Change
Policy 3.3: The County shall support the expansion of the local branch of Indian River State College (IRSC) by providing assistance
during the permitting process. No Change
Policy 3.4: The County, through the school district, shall continue to offer adult education classes and occupational training for
county residents. No Change
Policy 3.5:
The County, through the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and other economic development groups, shall
promote expansion of occupational education programs in the county by demonstrating to the educational institutions a
definitive local demand for expanded programs.
No Change Language as written is more based on Objective than Policy. Per County
Staff, keep as is.
Policy 3.6: The County, through the school district, charter schools, and private schools, shall focus on enhancing science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics curriculum in K-12 schools.
No Change per
County guidance Consider STEAM (incorporating Art into STEM focus)
Objective 4:
Facilitate
Economic
Development
By 2025, the county and municipalities within the County shall have at least two additional established
industrial/business/technology/research parks (for a total of 4 parks) with sufficient land and adequate infrastructure to
accommodate new or expanding businesses. At least one of these parks should be developed for
Biotech/research/technology industries.
Revise Revise target year to 2030; add “and as may be needed to support the
local economy”
Policy 4.1:
The County shall maintain an Indian River County Consortium for Life Science Research and Technology Advancement
with appropriate local governments, employment agencies, institutions of higher education and other applicable
entities, whose mission shall be to:
1. Promote and support the growth of existing key and emerging economic sectors; and
2. Provide legislative and governmental policies to support economic development; and
3. Make available physical infrastructure to support development, manufacturing, and commercialization of products;
and
4. Provide and support emerging technologies; and
5. Leverage the county’s current K-12 schools with a focus on enhancing the Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics related foundation for education; and
6. Create a profusion of higher education opportunities within the targeted sectors to enhance our competitive
opportunities; and
7. Provide entrepreneurial, management expertise, a well trained, skilled, educated workforce; and
8. Foster a synergy and interaction of venture capital, legal, scientists, entrepreneurs, and financers to create product
development; and
9. Identify and increase investments needed to enhance a competitive advantage; and
10. Provide the awareness, advocacy, and expressed will of stakeholders to support economic development.
No Change
Policy 4.2: The County shall maintain its policies, regulations, information, and application forms on the county website. No Change
Policy 4.3:
The County shall continue to maintain its database of capacity and demand information for all concurrency related
services and facilities. The county will use this database to program capital improvements to ensure that all services and
facilities have adequate capacity to accommodate projected growth and development.
No Change Possible Cross-reference with appropriate Infrastructure Element
Policy 4.4:
The County, through its Planned Development process and PD zoning, shall allow
industrial/business/technology/research park developers and the county to designate the type of uses appropriate for
applicable new industrial/business/technology/research parks.
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 4.5:
Through the time horizon of the plan, the county shall designate sufficient land on its Comprehensive Plan Future Land
Use Map for future commercial/industrial uses and shall provide infrastructure (potable water and roads, and to the
extent feasible sanitary sewer) for these lands to facilitate development of industrial/business/technology/research
parks within the county.
No Change
Policy 4.6:
The County shall assist private industrial/business/technology/research park developers to establish
industrial/business/research/technology parks at the SR 60/I-95, CR 512/I-95, and Oslo Road/74th Ave.
commercial/industrial nodes, and at other appropriate locations within the county. Assistance will include providing pre-
application meetings to determine needs and requirements of potential industrial/business/technology/research park
developers, expediting the permitting process, assisting with appropriate grant applications, and providing information
pertaining to available incentives.
No Change Ongoing Policy and programs
Policy 4.7:
The County shall, as needed or as part of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report, re-evaluate the size and location of its
commercial/industrial nodes. The Commercial/Industrial Data Source document shall be posted on the County’s website.
This document consists of planning, zoning, and land use information helpful to businesses desiring to relocate.
No Change Not required as part of the formal EAR process; can retain as a
benchmark on when to reassess if desired.
Policy 4.8:
The County shall be pro-active in assisting commercial and industrial developers through pre-application meetings and
Technical Review Committee meetings, by reviewing procedures, identifying needed permits, and providing information
and providing feedback to applicants to expedite the permitting process. The county shall also assist applicants by
providing information on non-county required permits or reviews and provide contact information.
No Change
Objective 5:
Intergovernm
ental
Coordination
By 2011, there will be an adopted Interlocal agreement between the County and the municipalities that provides for
coordinated economic development funding and economic development activities. Revise Update target year
Policy 5.1: The County shall involve all necessary stakeholders needed to approve or assist any economic development project
wishing to expand or re-locate within the County so the approval process happens expeditiously. No Change
Policy 5.2:
The County, through the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Division, shall
request that all local governments within the county provide information pertaining to possible site locations for
economic development prospects.
No Change
Objective 6:
Tourism
Development
Through the plan time horizon, tourism will increase within the County to the point that by FY 2014/15 the County’s
annual local option tourist tax revenue will be at least $1,600,000 (FY 2007/08 tourist tax revenue = $1,496,835.35). Revise Remove specificity.
Policy 6.1:
The County shall provide revenue from the bed tax to the Tourism Division of the Indian River County Chamber of
Commerce and other tourism groups designated by the Board of County Commissioners to market eco -tourism and
cultural tourism in relation to the county’s environmental amenities and cultural offerings. The Tourism Division shall
publish advertisements, which market the county’s environmental amenities and cultural offerings. A representative of
the Chamber of Commerce shall present those advertisements and any results to the Tourist Development Council.
No Change
Policy 6.2:
The County shall provide Tourist bed tax to the Tourism Division of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and
other tourism groups designated by the Board of County Commissioners, to partner with local resorts, hotels, and
attractions to market the county as a destination. Marketing activities shall include various methods of advertising,
promotion, travel shows, personal contacts and building relationships at a regional, national, and an international level.
A representative of the Chamber of Commerce shall report to the Tourist Development Council on their marketing
actions.
No Change
PAGE 76
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 6.3:
The County shall provide Tourist bed tax to the Tourism Division of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce to
collaborate with other tourism groups, environmental, cultural, sports organizations, attractions and event organizers to
promote area events, attractions, and Indian River County as a destination resulting in overnight stays in county hotels.
No Change
Policy 6.4: The County, through its Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Regulations, shall maintain and/or improve the
County’s environmental, cultural, and aesthetic characteristics to attract tourists and businesses to Indian River County. No Change
Objective 7:
Economic
Development
Community
Acceptance
Through the plan time horizon, a majority of the County’s population will recognize the importance of and support
County economic development activities by supporting the County’s economic development initiatives, such as tax
abatement program referendums, needing voter approval.
No Change General comment; difficult to measure and make assumption
Policy 7.1:
The county, through the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Council, and other
economic development groups designated by the Board of County Commissioners, shall provide speakers to educate
private citizens, service organizations, and special interest groups about the county's economic development positions
and strategies.
No Change
Policy 7.2:
The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and its Economic Development Division shall continue its efforts to
maintain and increase the level of public and private funding support for economic development to be competitive with
comparable communities.
No Change
PAGE 77
Capital Improvements Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal It is the goal of Indian River County to provide needed capital improvements through the use of sound fiscal decision
making. No Change
Objective 1 By 2028, the county will have completed those capital improvements schedule projects that replace obsolete or worn -
out facilities, eliminate existing deficiencies or accommodate desired future growth. No Change Updated recently during annual 2023 Element update.
Policy 1.1:
The county shall maintain a five-year capital improvement program and pursuant to Section 163.3177(3)(b) F.S. evaluate
and update that program every year to reflect existing and future public facility needs of the county. This capital
improvement program will ensure that the plan is financially feasible and that the adopted level-of-service standards are
achieved and maintained.
No Change
Policy 1.2:
The county and the School District shall undertake only those capital improvements included within this element’s
adopted capital improvements program. Pursuant to Section 163.3177(3)(b) F.S., the Capital Improvements Element will
be reviewed every year. If any facility identified in the Schedule of Capital Improvements is delayed or deferred in
construction, or is eliminated from the capital improvements program, and this delay, deferral, or elimination will cause
the level-of-service to deteriorate below the adopted minimum level of service standard for the facility, a comprehensive
plan amendment will be required to adjust the Schedule of Capital Improvements. The annual update of the capital
improvement element shall be done with a single public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners and a copy
of the ordinance amending the Capital Improvements Element shall be transmitted to DEO.
Revise (minimal) Update reference from DEO to “state land planning agency”
Policy 1.3:
The county shall evaluate and prioritize its capital improvement projects based on following criteria. These criteria are
ranked in order of importance.
• Preservation of the health and safety of the public by eliminating public hazards;
• Compliance with all mandates and prior commitments;
• Elimination of existing deficiencies;
Maintenance of adopted level-of-service standards;
• Provision of infrastructure concurrent with the impact of new development;
• Protection of prior infrastructure investments;
• Consistency with the county plan and plans of other agencies;
• Accommodation of new development and redevelopment facility demands;
• Consistency with plans of state agencies and water management districts that provide public facilities within the local
government's jurisdiction;
• Promotion of compact development by discouraging growth outside of urban service areas;
• Demonstration of linkages between projected growth and facility location;
• Utilization of the economies of scale and timing of other improvements;
• Reduction of operating costs;
• Adjustment for unseen opportunities, situations, and disasters.
No Change
Policy 1.4:
The county shall implement the policies of the Potable Water, Sanitary Sewer, and Solid Waste sub-elements of the
Comprehensive Plan. Since these are enterprise account funded elements, capital expenditures identified in these
elements shall be funded principally from revenues derived from the applicable systems.
No Change
Policy 1.5: The county shall prioritize and implement the programs identified in the Transportation, Recreation and Open Space,
Stormwater Management, Conservation, and Future Land Use Elements of the Comprehensive Plan. No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.6:
The county shall not eliminate or reallocate budgeted appropriations for road improvement projects required to meet
the adopted level-of-service standards unless the applicable projects will be constructed by other means and remain
concurrent with the county’s Schedule of Capital Improvements.
No Change
Policy 1.7: The county shall continue to allocate funds for the replacement and the renewal of infrastructure in an amount which
will minimize the operating costs of the infrastructure and maximize the life of the infrastructure. No Change
Policy 1.8: The county shall manage its long-term general obligation debt in such a manner that the ratio of the debt service millage
to the countywide operating millage does not exceed 20%. No Change
Policy 1.9: The county hereby defines a capital improvement as an improvement with a cost that exceeds $100,000. No Change
Policy 1.10: The Schedule of Capital Improvements shall contain a mix of capital expenditures, including projects to eliminate existing
deficiencies, to upgrade and replace existing facilities, and to construct new facilities. No Change
Policy 1.11:
The county shall maintain a procedure in its annual budget review requiring each county department to include in its
annual budget request applicable expenditures as identified in the capital improvements program of the appropriate
Comprehensive Plan Element as well as department’s capital improvements.
No Change
Policy 1.12:
The county hereby adopts the 2023-2024 through 2027-2028 Indian River County School District Five-Year Facilities
Work Plan. The Indian River County School District Five-Year Facilities Work Plan will be evaluated and updated annually
to reflect existing and future public-school facility needs of the county. This will ensure that the Indian River County
School District Five-Year Facilities Work Plan is financially feasible and that the adopted level-of-service standard for
public schools is achieved and maintained.
No Change Updated recently in annual 2023 Element update.
Objective 2 Through 2030, development in coastal high hazard areas will not increase beyond the density or intensity levels
indicated on the current Future Land Use Map. Revise Update target year; also consider using Peril of Flood
reference/terminology from FS
Policy 2.1: The coastal high hazard area is defined as the area of the county designated as evacuation zones for a category one
hurricane. Revise
Note, these policies are also contained in other Elements and are
generally duplicative; can retain here for ease of reference ; can also
provide FS reference to CHHA and provisions
Policy 2.2: The county shall not increase land use density and intensity, in the coastal high hazard area, beyond that reflected in the
county’s current Future Land Use Map. No Change
Policy 2.3: The county shall make appropriations for infrastructure in coastal high hazard areas only to maintain the adopted level -
of-service standards. No Change
Policy 2.4: The county shall ensure that the replacement of infrastructure in the coastal high hazard area will be limited to
maintaining the adopted level-of-service standards. No Change
Policy 2.5:
The county shall require that all developments and all single-family units in coastal high hazard areas fully pay the cost
for required infrastructure improvements through impact fees, capacity charges, developer dedications, assessments,
and contributions.
No Change
Policy 2.6: The county shall not use public funds to subsidize increased density or intensity of urban development in coastal high
hazard areas; however, public beach, shoreline access, resource restoration, or similar projects may be constructed. No Change
Objective 3 Through 2030, adopted levels-of-service will be maintained for all concurrency facilities. Revise Update horizon year
Policy 3.1:
The county hereby adopts the concurrency management system as described within this element. The county shall
maintain Land Development Regulation (LDR) Chapter 910, Concurrency Management System, which implements the
plan’s concurrency management system. In accordance with the concurrency management system of this plan and LDR
Ch. 910, the county will not approve any development project where the impacts of such a project would lower the
existing level-of-service on any facility below that facility’s adopted minimum level-of-service standard.
No Change
Policy 3.2: The county shall approve development only in accordance with the utility connection matrix identified in the Sanitary
Sewer and Potable Water Sub-Elements. No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 3.3:
The county shall, concurrent with the impact of new development, provide the infrastructure necessary to maintain the
levels-of-service identified in the various elements of the Comprehensive Plan. Where development is proposed and is
consistent with all applicable regulations but one or more public facilities is/are operating at an inadequate service level,
the applicant may at his expense make facility improvements to increase facility capacity when such improvements are
consistent with county plans and receive county approval.
No Change Generally also addressed in FLU Element; however, okay to retain here
as well for consistency
Policy 3.4: The county shall make land use decisions based on the planned availability of facilities to maintain adopted level-of-
service standards. No Change
Policy 3.5:
The county hereby adopts Concurrency Management level-of-service standards for public facilities that are established
in the other Comprehensive Plan Elements and which are stated below:
Stormwater Management:
The county hereby adopts the following level-of-service standard for all new drainage systems within the unincorporated
county:
• New development requiring major site plan approval or subdivision platting shall construct a complete drainage
system to mitigate the impacts of a 25 year/24 hour design rainfall event using the soil conservation service type
2 modified rainfall curves.
• Post development runoff for any drainage basin shall not exceed pre-development runoff unless a maximum
discharge rate has been adopted and the discharge does not exceed that rate. If a maximum discharge rate has
not been adopted for a basin, post development discharge may not exceed pre-development discharge.
By 2027, all existing roadways in the county shall be improved to meet the following level-of-service standards:
• Minimum road crown elevation for existing roads shall be raised during resurfacing/rebuilding to the flood
elevation resulting from the 2 year/24 hour storm event on local streets.
• The center two lanes of rebuilt roads must be at or above flood levels resulting from a 10 year 24 hour storm
event on Arterial and Collector roads.
• All drainage basins will meet the following level of service standard:
10-Year/24 Hour Storm Event
The county hereby adopts the following water quality level-of-service standard:
• As a minimum, retention of the first one inch of rainfall is required prior to offsite discharge. An additional 50%
treatment is required for all direct discharge into the Sebastian River and into the Indian River Lagoon due to its
designation as an outstanding Florida water, as required by state law.
Potable Water
The following level-of-service standard is adopted for the county's potable water facilities, and shall be utilized for
determining the availability of facility capacity and demand generated by a development:
• Countywide level-of-service standard of 250 gallons per day per equivalent residential unit.
Solid Waste
The following level-of-service standard is adopted for solid waste facilities in the county, and shall be used as the basis
for determining the availability of facility capacity and demand generated by a development:
No Change
Updated (minimally) recently in annual 2023 Element update. Could
consider having Levels of Service in only one place, whether all
contained here or each LOS contained within its specific Element.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Countywide level-of-service standard of 2.2 tons or 3.67 cubic yards per capita for permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population per year.
Sanitary Sewer
The following level-of-service standard is adopted for the county's sanitary sewer facilities, and shall be utilized for
determining the availability of facility capacity and demand generated by a development:
• Countywide level-of-service standard of 250 gallons per day per equivalent residential unit with a peak monthly
flow factor of 1.25.
Recreation & Open Space
The county adopts the following recreation level-of-service standard:
• County wide level-of-service standard of 6.61 recreation acres/1,000 permanent plus weighted peak seasonal
population.
Transportation
The county adopts traffic circulation level-of-service standards as follows:
• Level-of-Service “D” during peak hour, peak season, peak direction conditions, on all TRIP grant funded roads as
well as all freeway, arterial, and collector roadways, with the exception of the following two, which will operate
at level of service “E” plus 20%.
• 27th Ave – South County Line to SR 60
• 43rd Ave – Oslo Road to 16th Street
• Level-of-Service “D” plus 20% during peak hour, peak season, peak direction conditions on the following roads
until such time that a major capacity improvement, as specified below, is constructed. At such time that the
major capacity improvement is constructed, the level of service for that road shall be “D” during peak hour, peak
season, peak direction conditions.
• CR 510 – 66th Avenue to US Highway 1 (scheduled for widening)
• 37th Street – US Highway 1 to Indian River Boulevard (scheduled for widening or alternatively mitigated
by extension of Aviation Boulevard from US 1 to 37th Street)
During the time period before major capacity improvements are provided for these two roads, proposed major
development projects approved by the planning and zoning commission or board of county commissioners that will
impact either or both of the roads may, based on a traffic study approved by the Public Works Director, be approved
with conditions related to provisions for interim roadway improvements that mitigate project impacts on one or both
roads.
For SIS/Florida Intrastate Highway System roadways, level of service “B” is adopted for rural areas, and level of service
“C” is adopted for urban areas.
Policy 3.6: The county hereby adopts level-of-service standards for selected public facilities as follows:
No Change Certain standards are not required by FS and could be removed if
desired by the County
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Correctional Facilities
The county adopts the following correctional facilities level-of-service standard:
• County wide level-of-service standard of 4.5 beds/1,000 permanent plus weighted peak seasonal population
Fire/EMS
The county adopts the following Fire/EMS level-of-service standard:
• County wide (excluding Indian River Shores) level-of-service standard of .089 Stations per 1,000 permanent plus
weighted peak seasonal population
Law Enforcement
The county adopts the following Law Enforcement level-of-service standard:
• Unincorporated County level-of-service standard of 2.09 officers per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population
Libraries
The county adopts the following Libraries level-of-service standards:
• County wide level-of-service standard of 580 building square feet per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population
• County wide level-of-service standard of 3,200 library material items per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population
• County wide level-of-service standard of 0.7 computers per 1,000 permanent plus weighted peak seasonal
population
• County wide level-of-service standard of 0.2 other library equipment items per 1,000 permanent plus weighted
peak seasonal population
Public Buildings
The county adopts the following Public Buildings level-of-service standard:
• County wide level-of-service standard of 1.99 building square feet per capita for permanent plus weighted peak
seasonal population.
Schools
The county adopts the following Schools level-of-service standard:
Schools (School Service Areas):
• 100 percent of Florida Inventory of School Houses (FISH) capacity for each public school type (elementary,
middle, and high).
Transit
The County adopts the following transit level-of-service standard:
• One-hour headways shall be maintained on all fixed transit routes.
Objective 4 Through 2030, new developments will bear a proportionate share of the cost required to maintain adopted level-of-
service standards. Revise Revise target year consistent with Planning Horizon
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 4.1:
The county shall use impact fees, capacity charges, assessments, developer dedications and contributions, to pay for
infrastructure improvements and services needed to satisfy future needs while maintaining adopted level -of-service
standards.
No Change
Policy 4.2: The county shall conduct research to identify new sources of revenue for funding capital improvement projects. No Change
Objective 5 Through 2030, the county will ensure that it is able to fund and provide required services and facilities. Revise Revise target year consistent with Planning Horizon
Policy 5.1: The county shall not approve land use amendment requests unless those requests are consistent with the concurrency
management system requirements of this element. No Change Can retain but also generally duplicative with other Elements
Policy 5.2:
In the event that the planned capacity of public facilities is insufficient to serve all applicants for development orders, the
county shall schedule capital improvements to serve developments in the following order of priority:
• Single-family units in existing platted subdivisions or on existing legal, buildable parcels
• Affordable housing projects
• New development orders permitting redevelopment
• New development orders permitting new developments where the applicant funds the infrastructure expansion
in exchange for future reimbursement
• New development orders permitting new developments without developer participation
No Change
Policy 5.3:
The county shall extend facilities and services to serve areas only within the existing Urban Service Area or as allowed by
Policy 5.7 of the Potable Water Sub-Element and Policy 5.8 of the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element of the Comprehensive
Plan.
No Change Revise and update cross references
Policy 5.4:
The county shall coordinate with other local, state, and federal agencies as well as private entities to create an efficient
capital improvements schedule that provides the following general benefits while minimizing the financial burden of
providing facilities and services:
• Reduction of overall capital and operating expenditures by the development of multi-use facilities;
• More efficient land use patterns and phasing;
• Reduction of overlapping, duplicating, and administrative procedures;
• Implementation of adopted physical, social, and economic goals and policies in a least-cost manner;
• Better coordination of public capital investment with private capital expenditures.
No Change
Policy 5.5: The county shall continue utilizing enterprise funds for the provision of Sanitary Sewer, Potable Water, and Solid Waste
facilities. The debt for enterprise funds is to be paid by user fees, capacity charges, and other appropriate sources. No Change
Policy 5.6:
The county shall finance the capital cost of non-enterprise fund supported public facilities (e.g., roads, stormwater
management, and parks) from current revenue, bond issues, impact fees, capacity charges, assessments, and other
appropriate sources.
No Change
Policy 5.7:
The county shall use general obligation bonds and other sources to raise the funding required to provide those public
facilities that cannot be constructed with user fees, revenue bonds, impact fees, capacity charges, or other dedicated
revenue sources.
No Change
Policy 5.8:
Developments, which require public facility infrastructure improvements that will be financed by county debt, shall have
their development orders conditioned on the issuance of the county debt or the substitution of a comparable amount of
non-debt revenue.
No Change
Policy 5.9:
Pursuant to state law, the Schedule of Capital Improvements may be adjusted by ordinance and not deemed to be an
amendment to the Comprehensive Plan when the amendment relates to corrections, updates, or modifications
concerning costs, revenue sources, acceptance of facilities pursuant to dedications which are consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan, or the date of construction of any facility except transportation facilities enumerated in the
Schedule of Capital Improvements. For transportation facilities, a delay in construction of a facility which causes the
No Change
PAGE 83
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
level-of-service of that facility to deteriorate below the adopted minimum level-of-service standard for the roadway will
require a comprehensive plan amendment.
Policy 5.10:
The county shall ensure that all capital improvements identified in the various elements of the Comprehensive Plan are
completed according to schedule. The only acceptable delays will be those which are subject to one of the following:
Ø Projects providing capacity equal to, or greater than, the delayed project are accelerated within or added to the
Schedule of Capital Improvements;
Ø Modification of development orders issued conditionally or subject to the concurrent availability of public facility
capacity provided by the delayed project. Such modification shall restrict the allowable amount and schedule of
development to that which can be served by the capacity of public facilities according to the revised schedule; or
Ø Amendment of the plan to reduce the adopted standard for the level-of-service for public facilities until the fiscal year
in which the delayed project is scheduled to be completed.
No Change
Objective 4 Through 2030, new developments will bear a proportionate share of the cost required to maintain adopted level-of-
service standards. Revise Revise target year consistent with Planning Horizon
Policy 4.1:
The county shall use impact fees, capacity charges, assessments, developer dedications and contributions, to pay for
infrastructure improvements and services needed to satisfy future needs while maintaining adopted level -of-service
standards.
No Change
Policy 4.2: The county shall conduct research to identify new sources of revenue for funding capital improvement projects. No Change
Objective 5 Through 2030, the county will ensure that it is able to fund and provide required services and facilities. Revise Revise target year consistent with Planning Horizon
Policy 5.1: The county shall not approve land use amendment requests unless those requests are consistent with the concurrency
management system requirements of this element. No Change
Policy 5.2:
In the event that the planned capacity of public facilities is insufficient to serve all applicants for development orders, the
county shall schedule capital improvements to serve developments in the following order of priority:
• Single-family units in existing platted subdivisions or on existing legal, buildable parcels
• Affordable housing projects
• New development orders permitting redevelopment
• New development orders permitting new developments where the applicant funds the infrastructure expansion
in exchange for future reimbursement
• New development orders permitting new developments without developer participation
No Change
Policy 5.3:
The county shall extend facilities and services to serve areas only within the existing Urban Service Area or as allowed by
Policy 5.7 of the Potable Water Sub-Element and Policy 5.8 of the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element of the Comprehensive
Plan.
No Change
Policy 5.4:
The county shall coordinate with other local, state, and federal agencies as well as private entities to create an efficient
capital improvements schedule that provides the following general benefits while minimizing the financial burden of
providing facilities and services:
• Reduction of overall capital and operating expenditures by the development of multi-use facilities;
• More efficient land use patterns and phasing;
• Reduction of overlapping, duplicating, and administrative procedures;
• Implementation of adopted physical, social, and economic goals and policies in a least-cost manner;
• Better coordination of public capital investment with private capital expenditures.
No Change
PAGE 84
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 5.5: The county shall continue utilizing enterprise funds for the provision of Sanitary Sewer, Potable Water, and Solid Waste
facilities. The debt for enterprise funds is to be paid by user fees, capacity charges, and other appropriate sources. No Change
Policy 5.6:
The county shall finance the capital cost of non-enterprise fund supported public facilities (e.g., roads, stormwater
management, and parks) from current revenue, bond issues, impact fees, capacity charges, assessments, and other
appropriate sources.
No Change
Policy 5.7:
The county shall use general obligation bonds and other sources to raise the funding required to provide those public
facilities that cannot be constructed with user fees, revenue bonds, impact fees, capacity charges, or other dedicated
revenue sources.
No Change
Policy 5.8:
Developments, which require public facility infrastructure improvements that will be financed by county debt, shall have
their development orders conditioned on the issuance of the county debt or the substitution of a comparable amount of
non-debt revenue.
No Change
Policy 5.9:
Pursuant to state law, the Schedule of Capital Improvements may be adjusted by ordinance and not deemed to be an
amendment to the Comprehensive Plan when the amendment relates to corrections, updates, or modifications
concerning costs, revenue sources, acceptance of facilities pursuant to dedications which are consistent with the
Comprehensive Plan, or the date of construction of any facility except transportation facilities enumerated in the
Schedule of Capital Improvements. For transportation facilities, a delay in construction of a facility which causes the
level-of-service of that facility to deteriorate below the adopted minimum level-of-service standard for the roadway will
require a comprehensive plan amendment.
No Change
Policy 5.10:
The county shall ensure that all capital improvements identified in the various elements of the Comprehensive Plan are
completed according to schedule. The only acceptable delays will be those which are subject to one of the following:
• Projects providing capacity equal to, or greater than, the delayed project are accelerated within or added to the
Schedule of Capital Improvements;
• Modification of development orders issued conditionally or subject to the concurrent availability of public facility
capacity provided by the delayed project. Such modification shall restrict the allowable amount and schedule of
development to that which can be served by the capacity of public facilities according to the revised schedule; or
• Amendment of the plan to reduce the adopted standard for the level-of-service for public facilities until the fiscal
year in which the delayed project is scheduled to be completed.
No Change
PAGE 85
Housing Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Vision
Goals, objectives, and policies considered appropriate for assuring an adequate and affordable supply of housing in the
county, conservation of the housing stock, prevention of blight and removal of blight-housing, and identification of roles
and responsibilities for achieving stable housing conditions in the county are set forth in the following section.
Revise Include reference to coordination with adjacent cities and counties.
Goal
A housing supply which permits all households to enjoy safe, healthful, and affordable living accommodations which
meet accepted standards of affordability and which are located in pleasant environments where a sense of civic pride
and personal well-being can be achieved.
Revise Consider rewording for consistency between Goals in the Plan (awkward
as written); also “sense of civic pride” is aspirational
Objective 1
By 2020, the number of owner-occupied households paying more than 30% of their income for housing will be less than
the 19% of owner-occupied households paying more than 30% of their income for housing in 2000, while the number of
renter-occupied households paying more than 30% of their income for rent will be less than the 39% of renter-
occupied households who paid more than 30% of their income for rent in 2000.
Revise Remove target year and specific percentage baselines/targets. Rewrite
to maintain intent but be more general.
Policy 1.1:
By 2015, all codes, ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures regarding residential development review and
construction shall be reviewed by the Community Development Department staff to determine their impact on housing
development costs. Those components which unnecessarily increase the cost of housing without impairing the health,
sanitation, fire safety, structural integrity and maintenance requirements shall be eliminated.
Revise Adjust Year. Revise Policy language to reflect Live Local Act.
Policy 1.2: The county shall encourage infill development by providing infrastructure to infill areas, removing blighting influences,
stabilizing neighborhoods, and providing private developers with information regarding available funding. Remove Remove, per County Staff.
Policy 1.3:
The County shall coordinate with the Florida Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to identify federal, state and other sources
of funding, such as Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program
funds, earmarked for very low, low, and moderate income housing and actively pursue those funds for local use by
applying for funds when appropriate. The county shall also assist and support private applicants applying for these
funds.
Revise (Minimal) Change to Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
Policy 1.4:
The county shall continue to participate in housing bond programs (such as the Escambia County bond program) in
order to provide below market rate loans to very low, low, and moderate income households for home purchases. The
county shall inform financial institutions of the availability of the bond programs.
Revise Remove reference to Escambia County. Use “County” reference.
Policy 1.5: By 2012, the county shall, establish a web based permitting process. Revise
Remove year. Not statutorily required, but could revise to indicate the
County will regularly request and review user feedback to determine
what changes are necessary to ease or better the online permitting
process.
Policy 1.6:
The county shall take all necessary steps to eliminate delays in the review of affordable housing development projects.
In order to define delay, the county hereby establishes the following maximum timeframes for approval of projects
when an applicant provides needed information in a timely manner:
• Administrative approval - 5 days;
• Minor site plan - 5 weeks;
• Major site plan - 6 weeks;
• Special exception approval - 13 weeks.
Whenever these review times increase by 150% or more due to the work load of the review staff, the county will begin
prioritizing the review of affordable housing development project applications. In prioritizing affordable housing
development project applications, staff will schedule affordable housing project applications for review before other
Consolidate and
Remove
Affordable Housing is defined in the DIA. Assuming this definition
applies here.
County Staff experience challenges with the identified timeframes.
Explore increasing the flexibility while staying compliant with Florida
Statutes and still committing to faster reviews of affordable housing
developments.
Policies 1.6, 1.8, and 1.9 all discuss expedited reviews. As part of
revising this policy, it should be consolidated with 1.8 and 1.9.
Specific approval timeframes should be included in LDRs.
PAGE 86
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
types of project applications to ensure that maximum review timeframes are not exceeded for affordable housing
projects.
Policy 1.7:
As part of the adoption process for any county regulation which could affect housing development, county planning
staff shall prepare a Financial Impact Statement to assess the anticipated impact of the proposed regulation on the cost
of housing. When proposed regulatory activities are anticipated to increase the estimated cost per unit for the
development of housing, the Financial Impact Statement shall include an estimated increased cost per unit projection.
The financial impact statement then will be reviewed by the Professional Services Advisory Committee, the Planning
and Zoning Commission, and, if possible, the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. Those groups shall consider the
regulation’s effect on housing cost in making their recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners. The Board
of County Commissioners will consider the financial impact statement in making its final decision on the adoption of any
proposed regulations.
Revise Remove references to PSAC from Plan.
Policy 1.8: The county shall expedite permits for housing projects utilizing new construction technologies, including green building
programs and Energy STAR® Program. Revise
No longer required by FS but encouraged; may want to add "and or
other technologies to support alternatives beyond Green and
EnergyStar”
Policies 1.6, 1.8, and 1.9 all discuss expedited reviews. As part of
revising this policy, it should be consolidated with 1.6 and 1.9.
Policy 1.9: The county shall support housing developments near transportation hubs, major employment centers, and mixed use
development by expediting the permit process for these types of housing projects.
Consolidate and
Remove
Policies 1.6, 1.8, and 1.9 all discuss expedited reviews. As part of
revising this policy, it should be consolidated with 1.6 and 1.8.
Objective 2
Within its residential areas, Indian River County will have adequate sites to accommodate current and anticipated
housing demand for all income groups and groups with special housing needs. These sites shall have an appropriate
land use and zoning designation which allows for a balanced housing market with a mixture of housing types, including
mobile and manufactured homes.
No Change General comment, this is and or should be referenced in FLU. This was
also identified in the Vision study
Policy 2.1: The county shall maintain and enforce its adopted local fair housing ordinance to ensure equal housing opportunity in
accordance with Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Florida Fair Housing Act, Chapter 760.020, F.S. No Change
Policy 2.2:
Indian River County shall continue to designate on its future land use plan map sufficient land area with adequate
density to accommodate the projected 2020 population. Accordingly, the county’s Future Land Use Map residential
designations vary in density from 1 unit per acre to 10 units per acre. All of this residentially designated land is located
within the Urban Service Area where adequate infrastructure is available to accommodate a wide variety of housing
types, including mobile homes, farmworker housing, housing for very low-, low-, and moderate-income households,
and group homes and foster care facilities. As structured, the county’s land use designations accommodate housing
units with a wide range of costs and physical characteristics (lot sizes, setbacks, and land use mixes). These future land
use map designations are situated to allow for residential development that has:
1. Proximity to public transportation, employment centers, recreational facilities, and community services such as
shopping, personal services, schools, daycare facilities, and health care facilities; and
2. Compatibility with adjacent land uses and existing neighborhoods.
The County’s Residential Land Use Districts
Revise/ Remove
Remove target year. Review updated population projections. Consider:
"Indian River County shall continue to designate on its future land use
map sufficient land area with adequate density to accommodate the
projected 2030 population of XXXXXXX."
Generally, good policy. Could delete everything before ""The County's
Future Land Use Map residential designations vary in density from 1
unit per ...."" and keep policy as is.
Recommend removing/eliminating this language here and instead cross-
reference to the FLU Policy to minimize future text amendments if
either a new designation and or revisions to the densities are proposed
by the County.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Net Max Type of Residential
District Acres Density Development
M-2 1071 10 MF, SF, Mobile Home, Farmworker housing, Group homes
M-1 5158 8 MF, SF, Mobile Home, Farmworker housing, Group homes
L-2 13532 6 MF, SF, Farmworker housing, group homes
L-1 12574 3 MF, SF, Farmworker housing, group homes
R 956 1 SF, Farmworker housing, group homes
Policy 2.3: The county shall provide technical assistance to existing and future community development corporations. No Change
Policy 2.4:
The county’s general services department shall, pursuant to section 125.379 F.S., maintain an inventory of all surplus
county-owned land and foreclosed properties that are appropriate for affordable housing and dispose of those
properties consistent with section 125.379 F.S. requirements.
No Change
Policy 2.5:
The county shall maintain its affordable housing density bonus provision for planned development projects, allowing
eligible affordable housing projects with a market value of affordable housing units not to exceed 2 ½ times the
county’s median household income, to receive up to a 20% density bonus based on the following table.
Revise Suggest revising language from "up to 20%" to "between 10%-20%"
UNLESS the density bonus is going to be increased.
Policy 2.6: The county shall maintain its current transfer of density provisions through the planned development process. No Change
Policy 2.7:
The county shall provide for the creation and preservation of affordable housing for all current and anticipated future
residents and households with special housing needs including rural residents and farmworkers by allowing affordable
housing in all residential areas, rehabilitating existing units with SHIP funds, utilizing CDBG funds for housing
rehabilitation and neighborhood revitalization, and undertaking other measures to minimize the need for additional
local services and avoid a concentration of affordable housing units in specific areas.
No Change
Objective 3 By 2015, the number of sub-standard housing units (units lacking complete plumbing and units with no heating
facilities) will be 10% less than the number of sub-standard units identified in 2010 census. Revise
Remove years and make this more of a goal.
Note: Recommended striving to keep the number of substandard units
beneath 5%, but Staff may wish to set a different percentage based on
experience.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 3.1:
The Indian River County Property Maintenance Code shall continue to be the county's standard for public health, safety,
and welfare with regard to occupancy limits based on unit size, provision of adequate plumbing facilities, and
prevention of exterior physical deterioration. This code will be enforced by the building division and code enforcement
section staffs.
Revise
IRC has adopted a modified version of the Maintenance Code (with
some language duplicated in the LDRs). Suggest making language more
generalized and in keeping with that already in the LDRs.
Policy 3.2:
The county shall do a periodic inventory of housing conditions, as permitted by funding and staffing, on a neighborhood
by neighborhood basis to identify units suitable for concentrated code enforcement, rehabilitation, demolition, or other
actions to achieve a suitable residential environment.
No Change
Policy 3.3:
In areas with a high percentage of substandard housing units, the county shall provide property owners with consumer
information and technical assistance on new housing products and their applications in order to encourage improved
housing maintenance.
No Change
Policy 3.4: The county shall improve the appearance of housing units within low-income neighborhoods by participating in the
World Changers Program. Remove Could remove if County does not do this any longer. County Staff agreed
to removal.
Policy 3.5:
The county shall offer rehabilitation loan assistance through its local housing assistance program, cooperative ventures
with non-profit groups, or Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) type programs to effect spot removal of
blighted structures and blighting influences.
No Change
Policy 3.6: The County shall continue to apply its SHIP program “Minimum Standards for Rehabilitation of Residential Properties”
to all SHIP rehabilitation work activities. No Change
Policy 3.7: The county shall work with community-based organizations to inform and encourage people to rehabilitate their home
by utilizing the county’s local housing assistance program. No Change
Objective 4 Annually, at least 40 income eligible households will receive assistance through county’s local housing assistance
program. Revise Consider replacing specific target with “as many as feasible” or similar
language.
Policy 4.1:
The Board of County Commissioners shall request the Housing Authority to provide an annual report of its activities to
the Board of County Commissioners by July 1 of each year. The report shall also identify the agency’s objectives
regarding the number and types of recipients the Authority is able to serve annually.
No Change
Policy 4.2:
The Board of County Commissioners shall evaluate the annual activity report prepared by the Housing Authority and
take appropriate actions through funding, policy revisions, and program initiatives to assist the authority to support,
augment, and facilitate assistance to households who are unable to provide housing within acceptable cost limits of
30% of gross household income, or who require rehabilitation, financial, and/or technical assistance to assure safe,
healthful, and affordable housing.
No Change
Policy 4.3: The county shall maintain its current policy of financing water and sewer capacity charges for newly constructed
housing units. Remove Not strictly required and unclear if the County still adheres to this
Policy.
Policy 4.4:
The county shall maintain its Housing Trust Fund which provides below-market interest rate financing, for
downpayment/closing cost loans, impact fee/capacity charge loans, rehabilitation loans, land acquisition loans,
emergency/disaster loans, and Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program matching grants for affordable housing
units in the county. Disbursements from the Housing Trust Fund will be revolving loans, with borrowers paying back
principal and applicable interest into the trust, therefore ensuring a permanent source of financing.
No Change Presuming the fund still exists
Policy 4.5:
The county shall enter into interlocal agreements with any county municipality which, because of unusually high
property values or coastal high hazard area constraints, cannot meet its affordable housing needs within its jurisdiction,
and desires to contribute to the Housing Trust Fund. The amount and method of payment will be established prior to
execution.
Consolidate Consider consolidating with Objective 9 and its respective Policies
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 4.6: The county shall maintain its affordable housing partnership with financial institutions for leveraging State Housing
Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) funds. Keep / Consolidate
Determine the extent of relationship(s) and how it impacts SHIP fund
leveraging. Consider consolidating or removing policy if relevance has
decreased.
Policy 4.7:
The county shall encourage increased home ownership by providing downpayment/closing cost loan assistance to
eligible very low income, low income, and moderate-income households through the county’s local housing assistance
program.
No Change
Policy 4.8:
The county shall utilize all appropriate federal, and state subsidy programs for provision of affordable housing within
the county by supporting private developers who are applying for funding from programs such as the Low -Income
Housing Tax Credit Program.
No Change
Policy 4.9:
The county shall require all applicants for downpayment/closing cost loan assistance from the Indian River County Local
Housing Assistance Program to attend a homebuyers’ educational program workshop as a prerequisite for getting a
loan. The homebuyers’ educational program provides useful information to people wanting to buy their own home.
Typical subjects presented are as follows:
• Preparing for homeownership (including budgeting, saving, etc.)
• Shopping for a home
• Obtaining a mortgage (qualifying, processing, etc.)
• Understanding mortgages and the closing process
• Life as a homeowner (includes maintenance and responsibilities)
• Credit and credit reports
No Change
Policy 4.10: The county shall assist non-profit housing organizations in establishing Community Land Trusts (CLT) by providing
technical support to those organizations. Consolidate Consolidate 4.10 and 4.11 into one policy
Policy 4.11: The county shall assist non-profit organizations in establishing Community Development Corporations (CDC) by
providing technical support to those organizations. Consolidate Consolidate 4.10 and 4.11 into one policy
Policy 4.12: The county shall assist employers with establishing employer assisted housing projects by providing technical support to
those employers. Keep or Remove Not strictly required by statute. The County should determine whether
this effort is ongoing. Remove policy if not.
Policy 4.13: The county shall create a new private/public housing trust fund. Remove Upon review, County Staff suggest removal of this policy.
Objective 5 By 2020, the county, through assessment process or grants, will have provided paved roads, drainage facilities, and/or
centralized water systems to at least 5 additional existing subdivisions currently without sufficient infrastructure. Revise Remove year and reference to five (5) subdivisions. Make language
more general.
Policy 5.1: The county shall apply for federal and state funding such as the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) funds to provide necessary improvements to neighborhoods with existing infrastructure deficiencies. No Change
Policy 5.2: The county shall send a memorandum to property owners of subdivisions lacking infrastructure to inform them of
opportunities for obtaining infrastructure improvements to existing neighborhoods. Remove Difficult to implement and not ongoing.
Policy 5.3: The county shall offer more flexible petition paving requirements for neighborhoods where at least 50 percent of
residents are very low- and low-income households. Keep or Remove
Good policy supporting lower income neighborhoods without
burdensome standards. Confirm with Engineering if this is ongoing.
Remove policy if it is not.
Objective 6 By 2020, The County will have sufficient lands in residential areas to accommodate group homes and care facilities and
will have at least 1,215 beds in group homes and care facilities. Revise Remove target year and make language more generalized to remove
specificity of exact number of beds.
Policy 6.1: Indian River County shall require group homes and care facilities applicants to obtain appropriate permits from the
State Department of Children and Families. No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 6.2: The county shall provide demographic and technical information to private and non-profit sponsors willing to develop
group and foster care facilities for county residents. No Change
Policy 6.3: The county shall enact regulations requiring that all foster and group home developments include barrier -free design
features. Revise Revise language from “barrier-free design features” to “universal
design”
Policy 6.4:
The county shall maintain its land development regulations that allow group homes and foster care facilities in all
residential districts. Group homes must obtain a valid license from the Department of Children and Families and meet
all the requirements of Ch. 419, F.S.
Revise Partially redundant to Policy 6.1. Suggest deleting second sentence.
Policy 6.5: The county shall provide supporting infrastructure and public facilities needed for development of group homes, foster
care facilities, and residential care facilities. Revise Add geographic limitation (Urban Service Area). Staff should consider
any additional specifications that should govern this policy.
Objective 7
Through 2015, Indian River County will preserve the existing farmworker housing stock and ensure that there will be no
net loss in the number of farmworker housing units within the county (in 2009, farmworker camps in the county had a
414 person capacity).
Revise Suggest revising to: "Indian River County will preserve the existing
farmworker housing stock to the greatest extent possible."
Policy 7.1:
The county shall provide assistance to private agricultural businesses to secure funding for construction and/or
rehabilitation of farmworker housing. The county’s assistance will include, but not be limited to, providing information
regarding rural and farmworker housing needs, ensuring the availability of lands with sufficient density and adequate
infrastructure to support farmworker housing developments, and providing funding assistance for farmworker housing
development.
Revise
Include within FLU as well as a cross-reference. This was also discussed
in the Visioning study and should be referenced as a source of data and
provide the basis for the updated Policy language here and in FLU.
Policy 7.2: The county shall require permanent housing for farmworker households be located in areas which contain
infrastructure necessary for safe and sanitary habitation and in proximity of other public services and facilities. No Change Also, should cross reference with FLU
Policy 7.3: The county shall permit seasonal farmworker housing as an accessory on-site use in agricultural areas. This housing
shall be required to have on-site infrastructure, as required by county land development regulations. No Change
Policy 7.4: The county shall provide an outreach program for farmworkers and shall target State Housing Initiatives Partnership
Program (SHIP) funds to provide housing assistance for farmworkers. No Change
Objective 8 By 2020, at least 200 of Indian River County’s historic properties will be in excellent or good condition. Revise
Use language of: "The County shall preserve housing resources
identified as historically significant and, where possible, maintain these
resources for residential uses or adaptive reuse."
Potential
Policy
The County shall encourage the continued identification, analysis, and preservation of the County's historical resources.
Such efforts may include determination of their significance and vulnerability, as well as implementation of historic
preservation management policies.
Add New Policy
Potential
Policy
The County shall assist the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historically significant housing through available
technical and economic assistance programs. These efforts shall be coordinated with the State Division of Historical
Resources (DHR).
Add New Policy
Policy 8.1:
Technical assistance shall be provided by the County staff to individuals and organizations having individual or collective
interests in conserving historic or architecturally-significant structures, neighborhoods, and areas. Assistance will, at a
minimum, include preparation of applications for the Historic Preservation Grants-In-Aid program administered by the
Division of Archives, History and Records Management Bureau of the Florida Department of State.
Revise
Use language of: "The County shall assist property owners of
historically significant housing in applying for and using available state
and federal assistance programs."
Policy 8.2: The county shall maintain and implement its Historic and archeological resource protection Ordinance (Ch. 933, LDRs). Revise (Minimal) Remove LDR reference.
Objective 9 By 2012, Indian River County will have interlocal agreements with the municipalities within the county to provide
housing assistance to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households. Revise
Consolidate policy 4.5 into Objective 9 and its policies.
Remove year. Suggest using this language: "Indian River County will
continue to engage in interlocal agreements with the municipalities
PAGE 91
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
within, and adjacent to, the County in order to provide housing
assistance to very low-, low-, and moderate-income households."
Policy 9.1:
The county shall maintain its local housing assistance programs. As part of this coordination process, the county will
accept funds, land, in-kind services, or other types of payments for housing assistance purposes from local
municipalities which are unable to provide sites for low-cost housing within their jurisdictions.
No Change
Policy 9.2: The county will inform the municipalities within the county of the existence of the county’s housing trust fund and of
the opportunity for the municipalities to contribute to the fund in order to meet their share of county housing needs. Remove/Revise Replaced with policy 4.5.
Policy 9.3:
The county shall, as an economic solution to affordable housing, provide incentives as listed in the Economic
Development Element of the plan for job creation and shall coordinate with the jobs and education partnership
program council and Indian River State College for job training for county residents.
No Change
Objective 10 Through the time horizon of the plan, Indian River County will maintain a relocation housing policy for persons
displaced by public action or public activities. No Change
Policy 10.1: Residents displaced by housing rehabilitation and redevelopment or other publicly-initiated activities shall be provided
with a list of possible housing opportunities and financial assistance to expedite their relocation. No Change
Policy 10.2: The Board of County Commissioners shall provide funding to the Housing Authority on an emergency basis to ensure
that households displaced by public action or public activity are guaranteed adequate housing. No Change
PAGE 92
Conservation Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal It is the goal of Indian River County to protect, conserve, enhance, or appropriately use the County's natural resources
in a manner which maximizes their natural functions and values. No Change
Objective 1 Through 2020, air quality within Indian River County will continue to exceed state and federal minimum ambient air
quality standards. Revise
Revise: Through 2045, air quality within Indian River County will
continue to exceed state and federal minimum ambient air quality
standards.
Policy 1.1:
The county shall require that a burn permit be issued by the Fire Division prior to allowing burning of land clearing
debris associated with development within the Urban Service Area. Issuance of a burn permit will be contingent upon
the use of an air curtain incinerator, minimum separation distance from residential developments, wind direction,
and/or any other conditions imposed by the Fire Division.
Revise Revise to the following: County shall regulate land clearing debris
burning through the Land Development Regulations.
Policy 1.2: In coordination with the Office of Radiation Control and the Indian River County Health Department, the county shall
make available information on the detection and control of radon gas. Revise Revise Office of Radiation Control to Bureau of Radiation Control
Policy 1.3: The county shall coordinate with the State Division of Forestry to ensure that appropriate fire prevention methods are
implemented for the burning of land clearing debris outside the Urban Service Area. Remove Regulated by Chapter 925; can retain if desired as it supports the code
provisions
Policy 1.4:
To reduce air-borne pollution, the county will ensure that land clearing and tree removal associated with urban
development meets the criteria contained in county land development regulations. These criteria include, but are not
limited to: phased clearing, minimizing cleared areas, and stabilizing cleared areas with ground cover. Bona fide
agricultural operations will remain exempt from permitting requirements.
See previous
comment Regulated by Chapter 927 (LDRs).
Policy 1.5:
The county shall regulate excavation and mining activities to reduce air-borne particulates by requiring dust control
measures, by limiting hours of operation, by requiring reclamation that includes soil stabilization, and by requiring
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPs).
No Change
Policy 1.6:
The county shall promote the reduction of vehicular travel and associated emissions by encouraging planned residential
developments, by promoting the establishment of bicycle and walking paths, and by planning for limited retail land uses
closely accessible to residential areas.
No Change
Objective 2 By 2020, water quality throughout the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Sebastian River shall, at a minimum, meet State
Class Ill water quality standards, and State Class II standards, where practicable. Revise
Revise: By 2045, water quality throughout the Indian River Lagoon and
the St. Sebastian River shall, at a minimum, meet State Class Ill water
quality standards, and State Class II standards, where practicable.
Policy 2.1:
Consistent with Policy 2.1 of the Coastal Management Element, the county hereby adopts the State designation of Class
II- "shellfish propagation or harvesting," as defined in the FDEP' s 2008 Surface Water Quality Standards report, as the
minimum water quality standard for the following portions of the IRL located within Indian River County: from the north
county line south to the CR 510 causeway east of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW); south of the CR 510 causeway to
the North Relief Canal, and from the northern tip of Round Island to the south county line.
Revise
Revise: Consistent with Policy 2.1 of the Coastal Management Element,
the county hereby adopts the State designation of Class II- "shellfish
propagation or harvesting," as defined in the FDEP' s 2022 Surface
Water Quality Standards report, as the minimum water quality standard
for the following portions of the IRL located within Indian River County:
from the north county line south to the CR 510 causeway east of the
Intracoastal Waterway (ICW); south of the CR 510 causeway to the
North Relief Canal, and from the SR 60 to the south county line.
Policy 2.2:
Consistent with Policy 2.2 of the Coastal Management Element, the county hereby adopts the State designation of Class
III- "Recreation, propagation, and maintenance of a healthy, well-balanced population offish and wildlife," as defined in
the FDEP's 2008 Surface Water Quality Standards report, as the minimum water quality standard for the following
portions of the IRL located within Indian River County: from the north county line to the CR 510 causeway west of the
ICW, and from the North Relief canal south to the northern tip of Round Island. The county will strive to improve the
surface water quality within the aforementioned sections of the IRL to State Class II water quality standards.
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.3:
The county shall minimize the amount of non-point source storm water runoff draining to the Indian River Lagoon by
requiring stormwater management systems associated with new development, as described in the policies under
Objective 7 of the Stormwater
Management Sub-Element.
No Change
Policy 2.4: The county shall require Storm water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPs) for all new development projects that are
subject to site plan or plat approval. Remove Can consider removing due to Ch 930 and NPDES permitting
requirements; can retain to support the code and standards if desired
Policy 2.5:
Consistent with SJRWMD Rule 40C-2, F.A.C. - Consumptive Use Permit requirements, the county shall prohibit the use
of Floridan aquifer artesian flow wells to recharge new artificially created surface waterbodies in conjunction with
urban development, except for four inch or less diameter wells with working valves.
Remove Rule 40C-2 no longer contains this.
Policy 2.6:
The county shall continue to assist the SJRWMD, FDEP, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), and the County
Environmental Health Department by undertaking code enforcement actions, as necessary, to ensure the protection of
wetlands and surface water quality.
No Change
Policy 2.7:
The county shall prohibit the creation of new navigable canals or waterways connected to the Indian River Lagoon or St.
Sebastian River. Excavation of any existing canal shall not be for the purpose of obtaining fill. Maintenance dredging of
existing artificial navigable canals shall be the minimum necessary to accomplish the dredging purpose and shall be
permitted in accordance with FDEP Rule 40C-4.051(11)(b), F.A.C., and under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act
of1899, as administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Revise
Revise: The County shall prohibit the creation of new navigable canals or
waterways connected to the Indian River Lagoon or St. Sebastian River.
Excavation of any existing canal shall not be for the purpose of obtaining
fill. Maintenance dredging of existing artificial navigable canals shall be
the minimum necessary to accomplish the dredging purpose and shall
be permitted with FDEP and the USACE.
Policy 2.8:
The county, in its land development regulations, shall require littoral zone vegetation plantings for artificially created
ponds on project sites exceeding ten (1 0) acres in area. When littoral zones are required, the following minimum
requirements shall apply:
~ A minimum of30 percent of the waterbody surface area or 21 square feet per lineal foot of shoreline, whichever
is less, shall be planted with native littoral vegetation, and shall be maintained permanently as part of the waterbody;
~ A minimum of one (1) tree, consisting of a native freshwater wetland species, shall be planted for every 500
square feet of littoral zone coverage;
~ The water management system shall be designed to prevent siltation and eutrophication;
~ A design and management plan, specifying remedial methods for correcting potential siltation, eutrophication,
and/or infestation by nuisance species, shall be required;
~ Consistent with Florida Administrative Code (F AC) Section 40C-42.026( 4)( d), the planted littoral zone area shall
consist of a 6:1 or flatter slope.
Revise or Remove Revise and consolidate; possibly remove if in LDRs
Policy 2.9:
Consistent with Policy 4.2 of the Stormwater Management Sub-Element, the county shall, by 2012, request a formal
meeting with representatives from all of the F.S. 298 Special Drainage Districts in the county to discuss the following
issues: conducting comprehensive basin inventories, adopting maximum discharge limitations and pollutant load
reduction goals (PLRGs), and setting level-of-service standards for water quality and flood protection.
Revise
Revise: The County shall meet with representatives from all of the
Special Drainage Districts in the county to discuss the following issues:
conducting comprehensive basin inventories, adopting maximum
discharge limitations and pollutant load reduction goals (PLRGs), and
setting level-of-service standards for water quality and flood protection.
Policy 2.10:
Consistent with Policy 2.5 of the Coastal Management Element and Objective 7 of the Storm water Management Sub-
Element, the county will establish water quality level-of-service (WQLOS) standards for each drainage basin identified in
the Stormwater Management Sub-Element. The county's WQLOS standards will be based on the Pollutant Load
Reduction Goals (PLRGs) being developed by the SJRWMD.
No Change
Policy 2.11:
Consistent with Policy 7.6 of the Stormwater Management Sub-Element, Program Goal I of the Indian River Lagoon
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan and Goal I of the Surface Water Improvement Management
(SWIM) Plan, the county shall reduce the amount of non-point source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon by
Revise
Revise: the County shall reduce the amount of non-point source
pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon by applying for SWIM funds
and Section 319 Grants to improve the pollutant removal of efficiency
PAGE 94
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
applying for SWIM funds and Section 319 Grants to improve the pollutant removal of efficiency of existing storm water
management facilities and~ where feasible, to construct new regional stormwater management facilities.
of existing storm water management facilities and, where feasible, to
construct new regional stormwater management facilities.
Policy 2.12: By 2010, the county will expand sanitary sewer service to all areas identified throughout the county by the SJRWMD as
being "high" and "medium" priority areas of pollutant loading from on-site (septic) disposal systems. Remove
Policy 2.13:
The county shall require the retention of native vegetation adjacent to drainage canals or drainage ditches, where
removal may otherwise result surface water sedimentation, except when such vegetation interferes with canal or ditch
maintenance.
No Change
Policy 2.14: The county shall prohibit all new point sources of discharge not meeting state Class I water quality standards into the
Blue Cypress Marsh Conservation Area. No Change
Policy 2.15:
The county shall monitor water quality data available from other agencies for the Indian River Lagoon and St. Sebastian
River to determine the success or failure of water quality improvement projects, including the St. Sebastian River muck
removal project, the
Sebastian Stormwater Park, the Main Relief Canal Pollution Control Facility, and the Spoonbill Marsh project, and use
the information to assess the need, design, and location of future water quality improvement projects.
Remove Remove. Repeated in Policy 2.11 in Coastal Element.
Policy 2.16: The county shall support federal and state funding for implementation of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan. Revise
Revise: The County shall seek federal and state funding for
implementation of the Indian River Lagoon Master Plan and
Management Plan.
Policy 2.17:
For parcels created after June 18, 1991 along the St. Sebastian River, a 100-foot shoreline protection buffer shall be
provided. The shoreline protection buffer shall be measured from the mean high-water mark of the river or 50 feet
from the landward boundary of jurisdictional wetlands along the river or any tributary, whichever is greater, to any
construction. For parcels of record which existed prior to June 18, 1991, a 50 -foot shoreline protection buffer for
unplatted parcels, and a 25-foot buffer for existing platted lots is required on land parcels bordering the St. Sebastian
River or an Indian River Lagoon aquatic preserve, measured from the mean high-water line to any construction. In no
case, however, with reference to parcels or lots of record which existed prior to June 18, 1991, shall the buffer(s)
exceed twenty percent (20%) of the parcel or lot depth perpendicular to the applicable waterway. Shoreline protection
buffers shall not apply to platted lots with existing seawalls.
o Within the shoreline protection buffer, no development shall be permitted with the exception of docks, boat
ramps, pervious walkways and elevated walkways which provide the property owner with reasonable access to the
waterway.
o No more than twenty percent (20%) or 25 feet, whichever is greater, of any shoreline may be altered for
reasonable access. Native vegetation in the remainder of the shoreline protection buffer shall remain unaltered, except
as may be allowed through county trimming regulations.
o Shoreline alteration shall be prohibited, unless it is in the public interest or prevents or repairs erosion damage,
or provides reasonable access to the water, does not adversely impact water quality, natural habitat or adjacent
shoreline uses, and is permitted by all applicable jurisdictional regulatory agencies.
Revise
Exact specifics/language is already provided in LDR 929.07 – St.
Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Shoreline
Protection Buffer Zone. Shorten and/or generalize this policy.
Policy 2.18:
The county shall take actions recommended in the 2008 update to the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), including actions to eradicate invasive flora and fauna, reduce
sedimentation and assess potential climate change impacts to lagoon resources.
Revise
Revise: The County shall take actions recommended in the 2019 update
to the Indian River Lagoon Master Plan and Management PLan,
including actions to eradicate invasive flora and fauna, reduce
sedimentation and assess potential climate change impacts to lagoon
resources.
Policy 2.19: The county shall coordinate with the Health Department to educate homeowners on the proper maintenance of on-site
disposal system (OSDS), with particular focus on OSDS maintenance on lots proximate to the Indian River Lagoon. The No Change
PAGE 95
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
coordination will involve the county providing technical assistance to the Health Department and assisting with
distribution of education material.
Objective 3
Through 2025, there will be no reduction in the quality or quantity of water in either the surficial aquifer or the Floridan
aquifer in Indian River County. For the purpose of this objective, water quality will be based on SJRWMD's most current
regional groundwater model.
Revise
Revise: The County shall strive for no reduction in the quality or quantity
of water in either the surficial aquifer or the Floridan aquifer in Indian
River County. For the purpose of this objective, water quality will be
based on SJRWMD's most current regional groundwater model.
Policy 3.1:
Consistent with Policy 1.5 of the Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Sub-element, the county shall continue to
enforce existing land development regulations that protect existing and future public water supply wells from
contamination by prohibiting any non-residential land use which stores, handles, or produces a toxic or petroleum-
based product, or any substance regulated under 40 CFR 3 02, 40 CFR 122.21, and! or Chapter 487, F.S., from locating
within 1,000 feet of a public water supply well. The following minimum radial separation distances shall apply to the
previously mentioned land uses:
~ 200 feet for on-site disposal systems, unless approved by the FDEP or DHRS;
~ 300 feet for wet retention/detention areas, unless approved by the SJRWMD;
~ 500 feet for landfill and/or transfer stations, above ground or underground storage tanks, feed lots and animal
facilities, and WWTP effluent discharges, unless approved by the FDEP;
~ 1 ,000 feet from surficial aquifer public supply wells for any nnmng and/or excavation of waterways or drainage
facilities which intersect the water table.
Revise
Revise: Consistent with Policy 1.5 of the Natural Groundwater Aquifer
Recharge Sub-element, the county shall continue to enforce existing
land development regulations that protect existing and future public
water supply wells from contamination by prohibiting any non-
residential land use which stores, handles, or produces a toxic or
petroleum-based product, or any substance regulated under 40 CFR 3
02, 40 CFR 122.21, and or Chapter 487, F.S., from locating within 1,000
feet of a public water supply well.
Policy 3.2:
The county shall use water conservation measures, as described under Objective 4 of the Potable Water Sub-Element
and Objective 4 of the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element, to protect the surficial aquifer and Floridan aquifer from
groundwater quantity depletion.
No Change
Policy 3.3: By 2010, the county will update the Surficial Aquifer Primary Recharge Overlay District (SAPROD) map into a Geographic
Information System (G.I.S.) format. Remove Map is updated; ongoing maintenance only
Policy 3.4: The county will require landscaped areas for new developments to consist of a minimum of 50 percent drought -tolerant
species, and to use treated wastewater effluent for irrigation, if available. No Change
Policy 3.5: The county, in cooperation with the IRSWCD, shall provide technical assistance to agricultural operations and other
large users of irrigation water relating to the design of low-volume irrigation systems. No Change
Policy 3.6:
By 2012, the county will establish an emergency water conservation plan consistent with the SJRWMD's District Water
Shortage Plan, as specified in Chapter 40C-21, F.A.C. The county's emergency water conservation plan shall include the
following criteria:
~ local enforcement procedures relating to the District Water Shortage Plan;
~ availability of public information on water conservation techniques; and
~ advertisement of water restriction requirements and water conservation techniques in the local press during drought
conditions.
Revise
Revise :The county will continue to enforce an emergency water
conservation plan consistent with the SJRWMD's District Water
Shortage Plan, as specified in Chapter 40C-21, F.A.C. The county's
emergency water conservation plan shall include the following criteria:
~ local enforcement procedures relating to the District Water Shortage
Plan;
~ availability of public information on water conservation techniques;
and
~ advertisement of water restriction requirements and water
conservation techniques in the local press during drought conditions.
Policy 3.7: By 2012, the county will coordinate with the SJRWMD and the FDEP to delineate and establish scientifically-based
wellhead protection areas (WHPAs) for all public water supply wells.
Revise: The county will coordinate with the SJRWMD and the FDEP to
delineate and establish scientifically-based wellhead protection areas
(WHPAs) for all public water supply wells.
Policy 3.8: By 2015, the county shall obtain an updated countywide geohydrological study with seismic profiles, or comparable
data. Remove or update Similar to Groundwater Policy 2.4
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Objective 4 Through 2020, there will be no reduction in flood storage capacity or the other natural functions and values of
floodplains in Indian River County. Revise
Revise: Through 2040, there will strive for no reduction in flood storage
capacity or the other natural functions and values of floodplains in
Indian River County.
Policy 4.1:
Consistent with Policy 5.1 of the Stormwater Management Sub-element, the county shall regulate development in areas
designated as regulatory on FEMA' s most current Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Within designated regulatory
floodways, all encroachment shall be prohibited, including: fill, new construction, substantial improvements, and other
development within the adopted regulatory flood that would result in any increase in flood levels within the county
during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
No Change
Policy 4.2: The county shall continue to regulate development within flood prone areas to minimize flood storage capacity
reduction and to afford protection to life and property within floodplains. No Change
Policy 4.3: The county shall maintain its annual certification as a participating community in the National Flood Insurance Program
(NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). No Change
Objective 5 Through 2020, there will be no net loss of the natural functions and values of wetlands or deepwater habitats in Indian
River County. Revise
There will be no net loss of the natural functions and values of wetlands
or deepwater habitats in Indian River County, to the greatest extent
possible.
Policy 5.1: The county shall continue to implement the Comprehensive Wetlands Management Program (CWMP) described in this
Element. No Change
Policy 5.2:
Indian River County shall require the restoration and management of wetlands as mitigation for the limited filling of
degraded wetlands, provided that the following criteria, as defined in LDR Chapter 928, are met:
~ The benefits of the restoration and management of natural functions shall offset the losses of wetland functions
associated with the limited wetland filling;
~ A conservation easement shall be established to ensure protection; in addition, Indian River Mosquito Control
District (IRMCD) will be granted access easements to allow for mosquito inspection, treatment, and management; and
~ The restoration and management plan shall be consistent the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM)
utilized by FDEP and SJRWMD, and with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations, as defined in Section 404 of the Clean
Water Act.
Revise
Revise: Indian River County shall require the restoration and
management of wetlands as mitigation for the limited filling of
degraded wetlands, provided that the criteria, as defined in LDR Chapter
928, are met and FDEP and/or SJRWMD regulations are met.
Policy 5.3: Indian River County shall require a buffer zone of native upland edge vegetation to be retained around wetland and
open water habitats which are constructed or preserved on new development sites. Revise
Revise: Indian River County shall require a buffer zone of native upland
edge vegetation to be retained around wetland and open water habitats
which are constructed or preserved on new development sites. Width
and exceptions to this can be found in Land Development Regulations
Section 928.07.
Policy 5.4:
In recognition of the many natural functions and values of estuarine wetlands, and in recognition of the need to protect
these resources from incompatible land uses for the sake of the public interest, all estuarine wetlands habitats shall be
deemed environmentally-sensitive and designated C-2, Estuarine Wetlands Conservation, on the comprehensive plan
future land use map. Consistent with Future Land Use Policy 1.31, the specific boundaries of estuarine wetlands and the
C-2 designation shall be determined on a site-by-site wetland survey basis.
Revise
Revise to the following: In recognition of the many natural functions and
values of estuarine wetlands, and in recognition of the need to protect
these resources from incompatible land uses for the sake of the public
interest, the environmentally sensitive estuarine wetlands are
designated C-2 within the Conservation District, on the comprehensive
plan future land use map. The specific boundaries of C-2 district shall be
determined on a site-by-site wetland survey basis.
Policy 5.5:
The county shall continue to accept fee-in-lieu payments as a last alternative for mitigation of wetlands alteration when
on-site mitigation is not practicable, but only when consistent with the State's Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method
(UMAM) and only in cases where the affected wetland is a small, isolated, disturbed wetland with minimal functional
Revise
Revise: The County shall continue to accept fee-in-lieu payments as a
last alternative for mitigation of wetlands alteration when on-site
mitigation is not practicable, but only when consistent with the State's
Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) and only in cases
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
value. Funds obtained from fee-in-lieu payments will be earmarked for acquisition, restoration, or management of
similar wetlands elsewhere in the county.
where the affected wetland is a small (less than 0.50-acre), isolated,
disturbed wetland with minimal functional value. Funds obtained from
fee-in-lieu payments will be earmarked for acquisition, restoration, or
management of similar wetlands elsewhere in the county.
Policy 5.6:
The county shall continue to coordinate with jurisdictional regulatory agencies pertaining to wetlands by providing
comments to such agencies in a timely fashion, regarding agency dredge and fill permit applications and other wetland
alteration projects proposed in Indian River County.
Revise or Remove Vague with respect to “in a timely manner”; otherwise Policy is good
Policy 5.7:
Development densities for environmentally sensitive wetlands and shallow water habitats shall be limited to a
maximum density of one (1) unit per 40 gross acres, with a development density transfer credit of one (1) unit per gross
acre.
No Change
Policy 5.8:
Consistent with Policy 8.1 of the Coastal Management Element, Indian River County will participate in the Indian River
Lagoon "Blueways" Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) project to acquire important undeveloped estuarine
wetlands bordering the IRL by providing local funding assistance, and by providing "in-kind" services, such as identifying
environmentally-sensitive parcels.
No Change
Objective 6
Using 2008 conservation land acreage as a baseline, Indian River County shall, by 2020, preserve a minimum of 500
additional acres of upland native plant communities to sustain viable populations of native plant and animal species and
protect representative stands of each habitat type in Indian River County. The additional acreage shall be preserved
through the establishment of conservation easements and/or fee simple acquisition.
Revise
Outdated data; update and also confirm whether target was met or if
still in process. If in process, denote ongoing; if completed, the County
should clarify if additional acreages are desired.
Policy 6.1:
The county shall continue to assist regional, state and federal agencies in the establishment of regional preserves for
sand pine/xeric scrub, tropical/coastal hammock, and coastal strand, pine flatwood, and dry prairie vegetative
communities by identifying lands eligible for acquisition, and by providing local cost-share funding. These preserves
shall be of a sufficient size to function as "wildlife corridors" in order to maintain viable populations of endemic plant
and/or animal species.
No Change
Policy 6.2:
Using 2008 conservation land acreage as a baseline, the county shall, by 2015, restore and manage, or assist in the
restoration and management of, a minimum of 100 additional acres of xeric scrub vegetation in coordination with the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), to ensure that
use and management of the property is compatible with the maintenance of viable populations of endemic plants
and/or animal species. The following sites shall be included: the North Sebastian Conservation Area Addition; the
Cypress Bend Community Preserve; and the Sand Lakes Conservation Area.
Revise
Revise: The County shall restore and manage, or assist in the restoration
and management of, xeric scrub vegetation at the North Sebastian
Conservation Area Addition, Cypress Bend Community Preserve and the
Sand Lake Conservation Area, in coordination with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC), to ensure that use and management of the property
is compatible with the maintenance of viable populations of endemic
plants and/or animal species.
Policy 6.3: The county shall, assist the FDEP and USFWS in the management of publicly owned coastal/tropical hammock and
coastal strand conservation lands on the northern portion of Orchid island by providing "in-kind" services. No Change
Policy 6.4:
The county shall continue to review its environmental land acquisition guide on a regular basis, and shall update the
guide as deemed appropriate.
a. The land acquisition guide shall include factors to be considered to assess and prioritize acquisition proposals, such
as:
1. resource values/physical features, such as proximity and value to other resources, recreational trail systems and
greenways;
2. environmental values, such as lands verified or expected to support rare, endangered, or threatened species;
3. water quality protection, such as whether or not such lands buffer natural surface waters or preserve aquifer
recharge areas;
Revise
Revise: The County shall continue to pursue their land acquisition
process to obtain ecologically valuable parcels.
Note: A land acquisition process was recently created by Conservation
Lands Staff following Resolution 2022-016 (environmental bond
referendum).
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
4. management considerations, such as feasible multiple public use of the property, compatible with resource
conservation;
5. financial considerations, such as funding availability;
6. market considerations;
7. social and economic values, such as historic preservation, environmental education, recreation, and scenic
aspects;
8. agriculture protection, such as preservation of active agricultural use lands through the acquisition of agriculture
conservation easements; and
9. the need for acquisition to protect the natural community where appropriate protection cannot be afforded by
land development regulations.
b. The land acquisition guide shall identify methods of land acquisition to be considered that may be appropriate,
depending on any given proposal, including purchase, donation, exchange, installment sale, and use of intermediaries
(e.g. Natural Conservancy).
c. Land acquisition shall be considered only after all "non-acquisition" options for environmentally sensitive or
environmentally important lands protection have been explored and rejected as inappropriate, including easements,
rental (lease), withdrawal (public domain), zoning, acquisition by other entities, cooperative agreement, permit
restrictions, administrative regulation, and "no action".
Policy 6.5: The county shall require the preservation of native vegetative communities on county-owned land to the maximum
extent feasible, unless otherwise in the public interest. Revise
Revise: The County shall require the preservation of native vegetative
communities on county-owned land to the maximum extent feasible, in
accordance with LDR Section 929.05, unless otherwise in the public
interest.
Policy 6.6:
The county shall continue to encourage the preservation of mature trees on land development sites by providing
landscape credit for the on-site preservation of mature trees and trees of special concern, and by allowing a reduction
in the amount of required parking for the purpose of preserving existing mature trees on site.
No Change
Policy 6.7:
As specific conditions of the site plan approval process, the county shall require the removal of all nuisance exotic
vegetation from new development sites, and require that new development sites remain free of nuisance exotic
vegetation. Furthermore, the county shall continue to prohibit the planting and sale of nuisance exotic vegetation.
No Change
Policy 6.8: The county shall continue to require the removal of and restrict the planting of nuisance exotic vegetation identified on
the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's (FLEPPC's) Category I list. Revise
Revise: The County shall continue to require the removal of and restrict
the planting of nuisance exotic vegetation identified on the Florida
Exotic Pest Plant Council's (FLEPPC's) Category I list and the Florida
Invasive Species Council Plant List.
Policy 6.9:
The county shall, continue to protect all significant groupings of the following vegetative communities: xeric scrub,
coastal strand, and coastal/tropical hammock. These native upland vegetative communities shall be preserved and
protected through fee simple acquisition, the establishment of conservation easements under LDR Chapter 929 -
Upland Habitat Protection, and by enforcing LDR Chapter 927 -Tree Protection and Land Clearing.
No Change
Policy 6.10:
The county shall utilize G.I.S. computer mapping data of vegetative communities, imperiled species, wetlands, cultural
resources and other similar available environmental data in the evaluation and regulation of land development
activities.
Revise
Revise: The county shall continue to utilize G.I.S. computer mapping
data of vegetative communities, imperiled species, wetlands, cultural
resources and other similar available environmental data in the
evaluation and regulation of land development activities.
Policy 6.11:
Undeveloped tracts of xeric scrub and coastal/tropical hammocks 5 acres or larger shall be deemed environmentally
important, in recognition of their scarcity and natural values, and in recognition of the public interest in encouraging the
conservation of plants and animals associated with these vegetation communities. The county shall encourage the
No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
conservation of xeric scrub and coastal/tropical vegetative communities by establishing density transfer and cluster
development incentive land use regulations to apply to these environmentally important areas.
Policy 6.12:
In accordance with LDR Chapter 929, the county shall continue to require development projects five (5) acres or larger,
excluding bona fide agricultural operations, to preserve a minimum of 15 percent of the total acreage of native upland
area of the project site. The upland set-aside area shall be overlain with a conservation easement dedicated in
perpetuity to Indian River County. The following upland ecological communities described in this element shall be
subject to the native upland set-aside requirement:
~ Coastal strand, including dune vegetation;
~ Coastal tropical hammocks;
~ South Florida flatwoods, including pine flatwoods and dry prairies;
~ Xeric scrub, including sand pine scrub;
~ Cabbage palm hammocks; and
~ Upland hardwood hammocks.
Where on-site preservation of the native upland communities is not feasible, the county shall, as a last alternative,
accept a fee-in-lieu payment. The fee-in-lieu payment shall be based on the current "per-acre" fair market appraised
value of the project site multiplied by the number acres that would have been preserved under the 15 percent set-aside
requirement. Fee-in-lieu payments shall be paid prior to issuance of a land development permit, and shall be used to
acquire comparable native habitat preserve areas or to manage such lands.
No Change
Policy 6.13:
The county shall continue to prohibit the disturbance of dune vegetation oceanward of the county dune stabilization
setback line, with the exception of dune walkover construction and other similar minor structures that may be allowed
subject to approval from the FDEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County shall continue to prohibit the
disturbance of dune vegetation oceanward of the county dune
stabilization setback line, with the exception of dune walkover
construction and other similar minor structures that may be allowed
subject to approval from the FDEP permitting requirements.
Policy 6.14:
The county shall prioritize the following pine flatwood/dry prairie communities for acquisition:
~ Flatwoods/dry prairie communities associated with the St. Sebastian River Buffer Preserve;
~ Flatwoods/dry prairie communities in southwest Indian River County, identified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC) as potentially contributing to a
regional "wildlife corridor"; and
~ Flatwood/dry prairie communities complementary to riverine wetlands and other natural systems which
contribute to upland wildlife species diversity.
No Change
Policy 6.15:
The county shall protect the xeric scrub community abutting the St. Sebastian River by limiting densities in the area to a
maximum of 1 unit per 2.5 acres, by encouraging cluster developments through density transfer, and by requiring
residential developments to maintain a river buffer setback consisting of native vegetation in accordance with land
development regulations. No off-site mitigation or fee-in-lieu payments will be accepted for developments proposing to
locate in the area.
No Change
Objective 7
Through 2025, there will be no reduction in the critical habitat of endangered or threatened aquatic and terrestrial
species of flora and fauna occurring in Indian River County. For the purpose of this objective, "critical habitat" is
defamed as the minimum required sum of environmental conditions in a specific area necessary to sustain a given
species. The protection of critical habitat shall be measured and evaluated on a site development basis.
Revise
Revise: Through 2040, there will be no reduction in the critical habitat
of endangered or threatened aquatic and terrestrial species of flora and
fauna occurring in Indian River County. For the purpose of this
objective, "critical habitat" is defined by the USFWS for each protected
species.
PAGE 100
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 7.1:
As set forth in the policies of Objective 1 of the Coastal Management Element, the county shall conserve, appropriately
use and protect non-threatened, non-endangered fisheries, wildlife, wildlife habitat and marine habitat (e.g. seagrass
beds).
No Change
Policy 7.2:
The protection of critical habitat shall be measured and evaluated on a site development basis. For developments on
property known to support endangered or threatened species of plants or animals, or on property expected to
significantly contribute to such species' habitat needs, the developer shall be required to notify the appropriate
regional, state and federal agencies and provide proper protection to the maximum extent feasible.
No Change
Policy 7.3:
The county shall take measures, as set forth in the policies of Objective 5 and Objective 6 of this element, to protect
significant upland, wetland and deepwater communities that provide habitat for threatened or endangered species, as
well as non-threatened,non-endangered species.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County shall continue to implement its
adopted Wetlands and Deepwater Habitat Protection Ordinance to
ensure maximum protection of wetlands and deepwater habitats by
discouraging development activities adjacent to or in such areas that
may adversely affect wetlands and deepwater habitats, and to
encourage restoration of already degraded or destroyed systems. No
alteration of wetlands or deepwater habitat shall be allowed unless a
wetlands/deepwater habitat alteration permit has been issued by
county environmental planning staff.
Policy 7.4: The county shall regulate land development activities, as set forth in Objectives 1, 7 and 16 of the Future Land Use
Element. Remove Not necessary to identify specific FLU policies to be regulated
Policy 7.5:
By 2011, the county, in cooperation with the FDEP Bureau of Protected Species and Florida Marine Patrol, shall evaluate
the need to revise manatee protection and speed zones in certain areas of the St. Sebastian River and the IRL, to
protect the Florida manatee and to promote boating safety.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County created a Manatee Protection and
Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan in 2000, with revisions
in 2025. The county shall use this MPP when reviewing proposals for
new and expanded multi-slip docking. The County shall continue to
enforce the Manatee protection rules that are established by FWC,
encourage the regulation of designated manatee speed zones, and
promote boating safety.
Policy 7.6: The county shall support state and federal land acquisition proposals throughout Indian River County by adopting
resolutions in support of such acquisitions, and by providing "in-kind" services, such as land management. No Change
Policy 7.7:
The county shall protect nesting sea turtles by:
~ conducting compliance inspections during sea turtle nesting season (March 1 -October 31 );
~ providing information to beachfront residents regarding seasonal lighting regulations and alternative methods of
artificial lighting;
~ prohibiting nighttime construction activity associated with rigid shoreline stabilization projects and new
beachfront development during sea turtle nesting season;
~ prohibiting storage of construction materials on the beach/dune system during sea turtle nesting season;
~ requiring daily monitoring of sea turtle nesting activity to be conducted for all shoreline stabilization projects
conducted during sea turtle nesting; and
~ not allowing native dune vegetation oceanward of the county's DSSL to be trimmed more than four ( 4) feet
above the existing grade;
No Change
Policy 7.8:
The county will apply the following criteria when reviewing the lighting plans for beachfront development proposals in
the unincorporated county:
~ Outdoor lighting shall be held to the minimum necessary for security and convenience;
Revise
"The County will apply the following criteria when reviewing the lighting
plans for any new development within view of the beach in the
unincorporated county:
PAGE 101
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
~ Floodlights shall be prohibited;
~ Wall-mounted light fixtures shall be fitted with hoods and low wattage bulbs;
~ Low profile luminaries or shields shall be required for pole-mounted lighting;
~ Tinted of filmed glass shall be used in windows and glass doors fronting the ocean on single and multi-family
structures; and,
~ Shielding requirements for pole-mounted fixtures and security lighting may be reduced if low pressure sodium
bulbs are installed as an alternative to mercury vapor and high pressure sodium bulbs.
~ No light illuminate any area of the beaches during the period of
the year when sea turtles nest (March 1 to October 31). Outdoor
lighting shall be held to the minimum necessary for security;
~ Floodlights shall be prohibited;
~ All exterior light fixtures and pole lights shall be fitted with shields
and directed downward so that no light directly or indirectly illuminates
the beach. Such lighting shall be lamped with a long wavelength (560
nm) light source such as amber or red light emitting diodes (LED), low
pressure sodium, or true red neon as recommended by the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission;
~ Low-profile downward directed luminaries, with shields, shall be
used in parking lots, balconies, and along dune crosswalks;
~ Tinted or filmed glass shall be used in windows and glass doors
within line-of-sight of an observer standing anywhere on the beach on
single and multistory structures. "
Policy 7.9:
By 2015, the county, in cooperation with the USFWS, the City of Sebastian, City of Fellsmere, Indian River County School
Board, and other appropriate agencies, will adopt a county-wide Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the endangered
Florida scrub jay. Cost-share funding for the countywide HCP will be sought from participating municipalities and
agencies, and county mitigation funds will be used to fund the County's share of costs.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County, in cooperation with the USFWS, the
City of Sebastian, City of Fellsmere, Indian River County School Board,
and other appropriate agencies, will adopt a county-wide Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP) for the federally threatened Florida scrub-jay.
Cost-share funding for the countywide HCP will be sought from
participating municipalities and agencies, and county mitigation funds
will be used to fund the County's share of costs.
Policy 7.10:
By 2011, the county will establish one or more state certified recipient sites for relocation of displaced gopher tortoises
to county-owned conservation land. In establishing gopher tortoise recipient site(s), the county will collect fees from
developers relocating gopher tortoises to county lands, with the fees to be used to fund management of such sites for
gopher tortoises. In establishing recipient site(s), the county will identify and reserve certain receiving areas for county
government projects.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County will establish one or more state
certified recipient sites for relocation of displaced gopher tortoises to
county-owned conservation land. In establishing gopher tortoise
recipient site(s), the county will collect fees from developers relocating
gopher tortoises to county lands, with the fees to be used to fund
management of such sites for gopher tortoises. In establishing recipient
site(s), the county will identify and reserve certain receiving areas for
county government projects.
Policy 7.11:
The county shall take actions recommended by the Committee for a Sustainable Treasure Coast to sustain quality
natural systems in Indian River County, including use of land acquisition, development cluster requirements,
conservation easements, transfer of development rights and mitigation banks to conserve natural systems.
Remove Committee no longer exists to the best of Staff knowledge.
Objective 8
Using 2008 recreational and open space land acreage as a baseline, the county, by 2020, shall increase, by a minimum
of 500 acres, the amount of recreational and open space land accessible to the public for resource-based passive
recreation, compatible with natural resource conservation.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County, by 2045, shall increase the amount
of recreational and open space land accessible to the public for
resource-based passive recreation, compatible with natural resource
conservation by 20%. All areas credited as meeting the minimum
recreation space requirement shall be preserved and maintained as
recreation space.
Policy 8.1: As set forth in Objective 6 of the Recreation and Open Space Element, the county shall take measures to provide
sufficient resource-based parks, access, and outdoor recreational opportunities for the residents of Indian River County. No Change
PAGE 102
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
These measures shall include developing public access improvements on county-acquired beachfront and riverfront
conservation lands.
Policy 8.2: The county shall preserve native vegetative communities on county-owned recreational and open space land in
conjunction with development design, to the maximum extent feasible. No Change
Policy 8.3:
The county shall coordinate with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, and other appropriate agencies to ensure that rare, threatened, or endangered plant or animal species
identified or expected to occur on
county recreational and open space lands are protected from adverse development impacts. Protection measures shall
include: conducting an environmental survey prior to site development, preserving native vegetative communities on
county-owned land to the maximum extent feasible, and where feasible, relocating animals to undeveloped portion of
the site.
No Change
Policy 8.4: The county will pursue grant funding from the Florida Inland Navigation District's Waterway Assistance Program, or
other appropriate grant programs, to fund construction of restroom facilities on the Lost Tree Islands and Prange Island. No Change
Policy 8.5: The county shall support the establishment of-recreational access sites and improvements in the Upper St. Johns River
Basin in Indian River County by providing construction funding assistance and, where feasible, construction materials. No Change
Objective 9
Through 2025, the county will provide opportunities for the commercial use of natural resources. Notwithstanding,
there will be no adverse environmental impacts in Indian River County attributed to the commercial use of natural
resources.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County shall continue to provide
opportunities for the commercial use of natural resources to the extent
their will be no adverse environmental impacts in Indian River County
attributed to the commercial use of natural resources.
Policy 9.1:
The county, through LDR Chapter 934, shall regulate and issue permits for all proposed excavation/mining projects in
the unincorporated county. County regulations for excavation/ mining projects shall include:
~ a requirement that pollution prevention plans addressing wind and water erosion be depicted on mining site
plans and approved by County engineering staff prior to Planning and Zoning Commission review;
~ a requirement that baseline water quality data be collected at project outfall points;
~ a requirement that applicants monitor discharge at outfall points to ensure no increase in levels of turbidity at
outfall points; and
~ a requirement of comprehensive dust control plans as part of mining site plans.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County, through the LDRs, shall regulate
and issue permits for all proposed excavation/mining projects in the
unincorporated county. County regulations for excavation/ mining
projects shall include:
~ a requirement that a national pollutant discharge elimination
system (NPDES) pollution prevention plan addressing wind and water
erosion be depicted on mining site plans and approved by County
engineering staff prior to Planning and Zoning Commission review;
~ a requirement that baseline water quality data be collected at
project outfall points;
~ a requirement that applicants monitor discharge at outfall points
to ensure no increase in levels of turbidity at outfall points and
compliance with state and federal water quality standards; and
~ a requirement of comprehensive dust and spillage control plans
as part of mining site plans.
Policy 9.2:
As set forth in the policies under Objective 2 of the Coastal Management Element, Objective 2 of the Conservation
Element, and Objective 7 of the Stormwater Management Sub-element, the county shall undertake measures, such as
establishing Water Quality Level of Service standards and prohibiting new point source discharges to increase the
productivity of fishery habitat, to improve estuarine water quality, and to protect the estuarine ecological systems of
the IRL, especially emergent and submergent aquatic vegetation.
No Change
Policy 9.3: The county shall support the City of Sebastian's efforts to preserve and reestablish working waterfronts in Sebastian by
seeking grants to restore the Archie Smith Fish House to a demonstration working waterfront. Remove Structure has been removed based on available records.
PAGE 103
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 9.4:
The county shall continue to prohibit, by legal document, the planting of agricultural disease host plants in development
projects that are subject to county site plan approval. The legal document will be structured to sunset the prohibition if
circumstances change such that the prohibition is no longer necessary.
No Change
Policy 9.5: The county shall evaluate energy conservation actions identified under the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC)
green building certification program and adopt such actions when economically feasible. No Change
Objective 10 Through 2025, there will be no adverse off-site soil erosion impacts associated with land development and agricultural
activities and beach shoreline systems will be stabilized. Revise Remove date
Policy 10.1:
Consistent with Policy 7.9 of the Stormwater Management Sub-element, the county, in cooperation with the Indian
River Soil and Water Conservation District (IRSWCD), shall provide technical assistance to agricultural operations in
implementing conservation plans and non-structural best management practices (BMPs). Non-structural BMPs, as
defined by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), include: land use planning, preservation of wetlands and
floodplains, education, and erosion control methods.
No Change
Policy 10.2:
The county shall enforce its tree protection ordinance to ensure that wind and water erosion associated with urban
land-clearing activities is minimized through the use of erosion control techniques such as temporary seeding and
mulching, sodding, diversion berms, interceptor ditches, sediment barriers, sediment basins, and related appurtenances
or devices. A Storm water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) addressing erosion control shall be required for all
development projects.
No Change
Policy 10.3:
The county shall undertake beach shoreline stabilization activities including:
~ monitoring of the experimental Pre-fabricated Erosion Protection ("PEP") reef to determine the need for
supplemental beach stabilization, such as sand renourishment;
~ determining a funding source for public beach stabilization projects, including consideration of establishing a
beach taxing district;
~ coordinating with the Sebastian Inlet Tax District and the City of Vero Beach on beach restoration projects; and
~ continuing meetings of a beach preservation and restoration advisory committee concerning recommendations
unrelated issues.
Revise
Revise to the following: The County shall continue to implement the
Beach Preservation Plan (BPP) including beach shoreline stabilization
and conduct updates at least every five years for the following activities:
~ monitoring of the experimental Pre-fabricated Erosion Protection
(""PEP"") reef to determine the need for supplemental beach
stabilization, such as sand renourishment;
~ determining additional funding sources for public beach
stabilization projects, including consideration of establishing a beach
taxing district; The County should also continue to use the Tourist
Development Tax and the Local Option Sales Tax to match State funds
for financing future Indian River County beach projects,
~ coordinating with the Sebastian Inlet Tax District and the City of
Vero Beach on beach restoration projects; and
~ continuing meetings of with the Beach and Shore Preservation
Advisory Committee concerning recommendations on related issues.
Policy 10.4:
To protect existing dune communities and reduce shoreline soil erosion, the county shall continue to prohibit
development encroachment oceanward of the county dune stabilization setback line (DSSL), with the exception of dune
walkovers and other similar minor structures subject to approval by the FDEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems.
By 2012, the county will evaluate the location of the DS SL and will consider relocating the DSSL westward.
Revise
Revise to the following: To protect existing dune communities and
reduce shoreline soil erosion, the County shall continue to prohibit
development encroachment, excavation or manmade structure
seaward of the county dune stabilization setback line (DSSL), with the
exception of dune approved dune crossover structures or other similar
minor structures as defined by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP).
PAGE 104
Policy 10.5:
The county hereby adopts the following specific criteria pertaining to shoreline stabilization within the unincorporated
portion of Indian River County and within the municipal limits of the City of Vero Beach:
~ Only structures vulnerable to erosion from a 15 year or less storm event shall be permitted to construct rigid
shoreline stabilization structures;
~ All shoreline stabilization projects shall be approved by the Community Development Department, excluding
those projects eligible for an emergency permit under Chapter 161, F .S., as authorized by the Public Works Director;
~ Rigid shoreline stabilization structures shall not be permitted on vacant properties;
~ The property owner( s) shall be required to assume responsibility for and agree to mitigate any adverse
environmental impacts attributed to the stabilization project, including increased down-drift erosion to the adjacent
property, throughout the life of the stabilization project;
~ Construction activity oceanward of the County's Dune Stabilization Setback Line (D.S.S.L.) shall be avoided to
maximum extent possible, and prohibited during sea turtle nesting season (March 1 to October 31) unless expressly
approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
~ Daily monitoring of sea turtle nesting activity shall be conducted by an individual certified by the FDEP in
conjunction with any construction activity oceanward of the D.S.S.L. during sea turtle nesting season. In the event a nest
is discovered, the FDEP Bureau of Protected Species Management and the Environmental Planning Section shall be
notified immediately. The individual responsible for sea turtle monitoring shall submit a nesting activity report to the
Environmental Planning Section and FDEP Bureau of Protected Species Management on a weekly basis.
~ All dune vegetation oceanward of the D.S.S.L. removed or damaged as a result of construction activity shall be
replanted with native dune vegetation material capable of obtaining a minimum height of four (4) feet above the
existing grade within two (2) years of planting;
~ The contractor shall be required to meet on-site with the County's Coastal Engineer or a designee assigned by the
Public Works Director prior to commencing construction;
~ Prior to commencing construction, the applicant shall have received a Notice to Proceed from the FDEP's Bureau
of Beaches and Coastal Systems;
~ Nighttime construction activity associated with shoreline stabilization projects shall be prohibited during sea
turtle nesting season; and,
~ Storage of construction materials on the beach/dune system during sea turtle nesting season shall be prohibited.
Revise
The County hereby adopts the following specific criteria pertaining to
shoreline stabilization within the unincorporated portion of Indian River
County and all oceanfront properties lying within the municipal limits of
the City of Vero Beach:
~ Rigid permanent shoreline protection structures shall be
permitted if: The bulkhead or seawall is necessary to protect real
property improvements from a twenty-five-year or less intensity storm
event, utilizing methods approved by the Division of Beaches as Shores
of the Florida Department of Natural Resources;
~ Rigid structures may be permitted if the county engineering
department and the Division of Beaches and Shores of the Florida
Department of Natural Resources recommendations include the
utilization of a rigid structure over other alternatives;
~ All shoreline stabilization projects shall be approved by the
Community Development Department, excluding those projects eligible
for an emergency permit under Chapter 161, F .S., as authorized by the
Public Works Director;
~ Rigid shoreline stabilization structures shall not be permitted on
vacant properties;
~ The subject property owner assumes responsibility and agrees to
mitigation of any adverse environmental impacts, including increased
downdrift erosion of adjacent property, throughout the life of the
stabilization project;
~ Construction activity oceanward of the County's Dune
Stabilization Setback Line (D.S.S.L.) shall be avoided to maximum extent
possible, and prohibited during sea turtle nesting season (March 1 to
October 31) unless expressly approved by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP).
~ The County should continue to enforce its sea turtle protection
ordinance in order to protect sea turtles along the County's beaches.
Efforts shall be made to make beachfront lighting ordinances within the
County uniform;
~ It is the policy of the Indian River County board of county
commissioners that no light illuminate any area of the beaches of
unincorporated Indian River County, Florida, during the period of the
year when sea turtles nest (March 1 to October 31). Lighting associated
with such construction or development must be in compliance with
FWC recommendations;
~ It is the policy of the Indian River County board of county
commissioners that no light illuminate any area of the beaches of
unincorporated Indian River County, Florida, during the period of the
year when sea turtles nest (March 1 to October 31). Lighting associated
with such construction or development must be in compliance with
FWC recommendations;
PAGE 105
~ Within the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Vero Beach,
New coastal construction occurring seaward of the primary dune during
any portion of the marine turtle nesting season shall be conducted
during daylight hours only; Any person who anticipates beginning or
continuing coastal construction during any portion of the nesting season
or any person whose coastal construction project will permanently alter
natural shoreline characteristics shall prepare a sea turtle protection
plan in accordance to the state department of environmental
protection. A copy of the approved sea turtle protection plan shall be
provided to the city prior to commencement of construction; Daily logs,
monitoring results, and all similar records maintained pursuant to a
state department of environmental protection approved sea turtle
protection plan shall be provided to the city by the permit holder
responsible for implementing and conducting the sea turtle protection
plan;
~ Restored and stabilized dunes shall be vegetated with authorized
native, salt-tolerant plants suited to the beach/dune environment and
irrigated by hand watering methods only in a manner which does not
broadcast water seaward of the toe of the primary dune;
~ The County shall enforce the St. Sebastian River and Indian River
Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Shoreline Protection Buffer Zone established in
the Indian River County Upland Habitat Protection Ordinance.
~ The preservation of existing native vegetation shall be required along
the shoreline. The use of rigid structural alternatives will not be
permitted unless non-structural methods have proven ineffective; the
proposed seawall is part of a comprehensive plan for shoreline
stabilization and revegetation, which includes a mitigation plan for all
adversely impacted shoreline and aquatic vegetative species; the
proposed seawall is adjacent to buildable upland property and does not
increase the seaward (outward) projection of the property; and
coordination with reviewing agencies and permits have been approved
PAGE 106
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 10.6:
The county shall require the banks of properties bordering the St. Sebastian River and the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic
Preserve to be stabilized in conjunction with construction of a single-family residence and single-family docks. The
preservation of existing native vegetation shall be required along the shoreline. When excessive shoreline erosion is
present, the planting of native vegetation, especially red mangroves, in conjunction with installation of rip-rap will be
encouraged. The use of rigid structural alternatives will not be permitted unless non-structural methods have proven
ineffective or are otherwise impractical. Where structural alternatives are deemed appropriate, they will be required to
be located on the upland portion of the site.
Revise
The County shall require the banks of properties bordering the St.
Sebastian River and the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve to be
stabilized in conjunction with construction of a single-family residence
and single-family docks, in accord with all requirements listed in Policy
10.5. When excessive shoreline erosion is present, the planting of native
vegetation, especially red mangroves, in conjunction with installation of
rip-rap will be encouraged.
Policy 10.7: To reduce siltation loading to the IRL, the county shall promote petition road paving projects within the IRL watershed. No Change
Objective 11 Through 2025, there will be no new sites in Indian River County where domestic or industrial waste is improperly
managed or illegally disposed. Revise
Revise to the following: The County shall continue to implement
programs and legislation that monitor and ensure proper waste disposal
activities.
Policy 11.1: To extend the life of the sanitary landfill, the county shall continue to expand recycling opportunities to the residents
and business of Indian River County. No Change
Policy 11.2:
To maintain compliance with Title III (Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act) of the federal Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), the county Emergency Services Department will maintain an update-to-
date comprehensive inventory of the location, storage, manufacture, handling and/or transport of all hazardous
materials in Indian River County.
Revise
Revise to the following: To maintain compliance with Title III
(Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act) of the federal
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), the county
Emergency Services Department will maintain an update-to-date
comprehensive inventory of the location, storage, manufacture,
handling and/or transport of all hazardous materials in Indian River
County. Regulated industries/facilities are required to submit annual
reports to the State of Florida Emergency Response Commission and
the local municipal fire department for hazardous and/or extremely
hazardous substances stored, used or manufactured on site.
Policy 11.3:
To reduce improper management of hazardous and solid waste, the county will continue to investigate illegal waste
disposal practices, evaluate current enforcement policies, and revise county enforcement policies if deemed
appropriate.
No Change
Policy 11.4: Existing known hazardous waste contaminated sites shall be monitored and remediated, when feasible. Keep Okay as written; should reference some data source, map or similar as a
means of identifying and tracking
Objective 12 By 2020, 80% of the county's conservation lands shall be restored to viable ecological condition and improved for
compatible passive recreational public access. Revise
Revise to the following: To the greatest extent possible, the County's
conservation lands shall be restored to viable ecological condition and
improved for compatible passive recreational public access.
Policy 12.1:
The county, in cooperation with the State Division of Forestry, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission, will conduct prescribed burns on a rotational basis at the Wabasso Scrub
Conservation Area, the North Sebastian Conservation Area, and other county-owned scrub habitat.
No Change
Policy 12.2: By 2010, the county shall adopt an interagency management agreement on implementation of the Sebastian Area-wide
Florida Scrub-jay Habitat Conservation Plan. Remove Policy is out of date.
Policy 12.3: By 2010, the county shall enter into a written inter local agreement with the City of Vero Beach regarding management
of the Orange Islands Conservation Area. Revise Remove date.
Policy 12.4:
For land tracts acquired through the Environmental Lands Program, the county shall require a site specific management
plan be adopted within one year of acquisition. Such management plans shall be subject to the review and
recommendations of the County Conservation Lands Advisory Committee (CLAC). The County will, where feasible,
construct public access improvements within two years of management plan adoption.
Revise
Revise to the following: For land tracts acquired through the
Environmental Lands Program, the county shall require a site-specific
management plan be adopted. Such management plans shall be subject
to the review and recommendations of the County Conservation Lands
PAGE 107
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Advisory Committee (CLAC). The County will, where feasible, construct
public access improvements.
Policy 12.5:
The county shall solicit grants from regional, state and federal agencies to supplement management funds for acquired
lands. Funding will be used for the following purposes:
1. restoration and enhancement of impacted wetland and upland areas;
2. establishment and/or improvement of public access;
3. promotion of environmental education/awareness;
4. eradication of nuisance exotic vegetation;
5. posting of signage and boundary markers; and
6. prescribed burning on scrub lands.
Revise
Revise to include "The County shall coordinate with federal, state and
local agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, in acquiring and
managing natural areas and open space."
Policy 12.6: County staff shall attend meetings concerning land acquisition and management issues for lands owned and managed
by the SJRWMD, FDEP and the USFWS. No Change
Policy 12.7: Suitable lands acquired under the Environmental Lands Program will be opened to the public for passive recreation.
Passive recreation shall include the following: hiking, environmental education, fishing, and wildlife viewing. No Change
Policy 12.8:
To achieve management objectives on conservation lands while minimizing costs, the county shall allow private
development off-site mitigation projects, subject to county staff oversight, on county conservation lands. In allowing
such private mitigation on county conservation lands, the following conditions shall apply:
o the private developer shall be responsible for annual reporting to permitting agencies;
o the private developer shall be responsible for follow-up treatments and plantings to satisfy permitting agencies'
requirements, for a minimum of five years; and
o opportunities for mitigation on conservation lands shall be reserved for county public works and utilities projects.
No Change
Policy 12.9: By 2010, the county will establish a dedicated funding source for ongoing management of county-owned and managed
environmental lands. Revise Revise/update date; has this been done? If so can remove
Policy 12.10: By 2010, the county shall evaluate the need to hire additional conservation land management staff and establishment
of a distinct Conservation Lands Management Section within the Parks Division or Planning Division. Revise Revise/update date; has this been done? If so can remove
Policy 12.11: The county shall coordinate with federal, state and local agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, in acquiring and
managing natural areas and open space. No Change Generally similar to 12.5 and may consider consolidating
PAGE 108
Coastal Management Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal
To protect, maintain and enhance coastal resources and provide for the enjoyment of the social, economic and natural
benefits of these resources, while reducing the potential loss of life, and public and private expenditures in the coastal
zone.
No Change
Objective 1 Through 2020, there will be no reductions in the overall amount of terrestrial and marine resources within the coastal
zone of Indian River County compared to 2009 baseline data. Revise
Revise: Through 2040, there will be no reductions in the overall amount
of terrestrial and marine resources within the coastal zone of Indian
River County compared to 2009 baseline data.
Policy 1.1:
"The county shall not permit development in areas deemed environmentally-sensitive and environmentally-important
unless the criteria established in the following sections of the Comprehensive Plan are met:
• Comprehensive Wetlands Management Program (CWMP), as outlined in the Conservation Element;
• Policies 1.6 and 1.7 of the Future Land Use Element; and,
• Policies of Objectives 5 and 6 of the Conservation Element."
No Change Confirm cross references
Policy 1.2:
"As set forth in the CWMP and Policy 1.6 of the Future Land Use Element, all estuarine wetlands and deepwater
habitats in Indian River County shall be deemed environmentally-sensitive and designated as C-2 on the future land use
map. The extent of estuarine wetlands on C-2 designated lands shall be based on a jurisdictional wetlands boundary
determination, as verified by the Environmental Planning Section, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection or the St. Johns River Water Management District. Land designated C-2 shall
be afforded the following protective measures:
• Development on C-2 designated wetlands shall be limited to one (1) unit per 40 acres, subject to approval of
jurisdictional agency wetlands alteration permits;
• For development projects having C-2 designated lands and contiguous uplands, the county shall allow a density
transfer of one (1) unit per acre from the wetlands portion to the upland portion of the subject property, provided
that the underlying zoning density of the receiving upland portion is not increased by more than 50 percent. Such
density transfers shall be limited to planned residential developments (PDs).
• No density transfers from off-site lands, and no density bonuses shall be permitted within PD projects on C-2
designated lands; and,
• The county shall allow a density transfer of one (1) unit per acre from C -2 estuarine wetlands to non-contiguous
uplands, provided that the receiving uplands are developed as a residential PD, and the underlying zoning density of
the receiving uplands is not increased by more than 20 percent. "
No Change Confirm cross references
Policy 1.3:
All significant tracts of xeric scrub and coastal/tropical hammock communities larger than five (5) acres shall be
deemed environmentally-important, and shall be afforded protective measures, including transfer of density rights
(TDRs), cluster development requirements, and native upland set-aside requirements, as set forth in Policy 6.12 of the
Conservation Element.
No Change
Policy 1.4:
Environmental surveys shall be required for developments proposed in environmentally-sensitive and environmentally-
important areas. The focus of these surveys shall be: jurisdictional wetland boundaries, natural vegetative
communities, the presence of existing or potential wildlife habitat and/or the presence of threatened or endangered
species of flora or fauna.
No Change
Policy 1.5: As set forth in Policy 7.2 of the Conservation Element, the county shall coordinate field inspections, environmental
survey reviews, and habitat preservation measures on a site development basis with federal and state agencies No Change
PAGE 109
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
concerning the protection of endangered species, threatened species, and species of special concern. Where
appropriate, the county will require a habitat conservation plan.
Policy 1.6: The county shall protect sea turtles and their nesting habitats by implementing the protection measures listed under
Policy 7.7 of the Conservation Element. No Change
Policy 1.7: When the Manatee and Boating Safety Comprehensive Plan (MPP) undergoes its five-year evaluation, the county shall
reassess the appropriateness of manatee protection speed zones. Revise
Revise: With each Manatee and Boating Safety Comprehensive Plan
(MPP) update, the County shall evaluate, as appropriate, manatee
protection speed zones.
Policy 1.8:
As set forth in the policies and objectives of the Conservation Element, the county shall protect and preserve significant
coastal vegetative communities, such as coastal (maritime) hammocks and coastal strand, through conservation
easements and fee simple acquisition.
No Change
Policy 1.9:
Consistent with Policy 6.1 of the Conservation Element, the county shall continue to assist the USFWS and the FDEP in
acquiring undeveloped tracts of tropical/coastal hammock and coastal strand by identifying lands eligible for
acquisition, evaluating local cost-share funding, and by providing “in-kind” services, such as land management.
No Change
Policy 1.10: Indian River County shall support the SJRWMD’s efforts to establish update-to-date and accurate maps of submerged
aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities by providing in-kind mapping and surveying services. No Change
Policy 1.11: Indian River County shall continue to promote both commercial and private fishing activities within the county through
management of marine habitats and permitting of fishing resources. Revise
Revise: Indian River County shall continue to monitor both commercial
and private fishing activities within the County through management of
marine habitats and permitting of fishing resources.
Policy 1.12:
"All non-water-related and non-water-dependent uses shall be subject to setbacks from the St. Sebastian River and the
Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves in order to afford a shoreline protection buffer as set forth in LDR Chapter 929.
The shoreline protection buffer setbacks are as follows:
No Change
Policy 1.13: Indian River County shall apply for gopher tortoise receiver site certification from the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) for county-owned conservation lands. No Change
Policy 1.14 "The county shall use the following tools to preserve natural systems and wildlife corridors in the county: No Change
Objective 2:
Estuarine Water
Quality
Through 2020, there will be no reduction in the water quality of the Indian River Lagoon or the St. Sebastian River. Revise Revise: Through 2040, there will be no reduction in the water quality of
the Indian River Lagoon or the St. Sebastian River.
Policy 2.1:
The county hereby adopts the State designation of Class II - “shellfish propagation or harvesting,” as defined in the
2008 Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Surface Water Quality Standards report, as the water quality
standard for the following portions of the IRL located within the unincorporated county: Sebastian Inlet extending
south to C.R. 510, east of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW); South of C.R. 510 extending to an east -west line transecting
the North Relief Canal (both sides of the ICW); south of an east-west line transecting the north tip of Round Island and
east of the ICW. (Ref. Figure 9.10)
Revise
Revise: The County hereby adopts the State designation of Class II -
“shellfish propagation or harvesting,” as defined in the 2022 Florida
Department of Environmental Protection’s Surface Water Quality
Standards report, as the water quality standard for the portions of the
IRL located within the unincorporated county, as noted in 62-302 F.A.C.
Policy 2.2:
The county hereby adopts the State designation of Class III suitable for “Recreation, propagation, and maintenance of a
healthy, well-balanced population of fish and wildlife,” as defined in the 2008 Florida Department of Environmental
Protection’s Surface Water Quality Standards report , as the minimum water quality standard for the following portions
of the IRL located within Indian River County: Sebastian Inlet extending south to C.R. 510, west of the ICW; south of an
east-west line transecting the North Relief Canal extending to an east-west line transecting the north tip of Round
Island (both sides of the ICW); south of an east-west line transecting the north tip of Round Island east of the ICW(Ref.
Figure 9.10).
Revise
Revise: The County hereby adopts the State designation of Class III
suitable for “Recreation, propagation, and maintenance of a healthy,
well-balanced population of fish and wildlife,” as defined in the 2022
Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Surface Water
Quality Standards report, as the minimum water quality standard for
portions of the IRL, as defined in 62-302 F.A.C.
Policy 2.3: In accordance with the Indian River Lagoon Act, the county shall prohibit all new point-source discharges into the
Indian River Lagoon. No Change
PAGE 110
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 2.4:
The county shall implement the recommendations to reduce non-point source pollution entering the Indian River
Lagoon contained in the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program’s (IRLNEP) 2008 Indian River Lagoon
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), and the SRJWMD’s Surface Water Improvement and
Management (SWIM) Plan.
Revise
Revise: The County shall implement the recommendations to reduce
non-point source pollution entering the Indian River Lagoon contained
in the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program’s (IRLNEP) 2019
Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management
Plan (CCMP), and the SRJWMD’s Surface Water Improvement and
Management (SWIM) Plan.
Policy 2.5: By 2010, the county will establish Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) established by FDEP and EPA for each drainage
basin within the county. Revise
Revise: By 2040, the county will establish Total Maximum Daily Loads
(TMDLs) established by FDEP and EPA for each drainage basin within
the County.
Policy 2.6:
"Indian River County shall improve the quality of and reduce the overall amount of freshwater inflow to the Indian River
Lagoon by:
• requiring all new development in the coastal zone to utilize on-site retention or detention methods consistent with
the provisions of the Stormwater Management Sub-Element prior to being discharged to the IRL;
• requiring new development to utilize natural drainage features, such as impounded and unimpounded wetlands
and swales, to the maximum extent possible for stormwater management;
• requiring all new development to retain, at minimum, the first one (1) inch of stormwater runoff. In addition, the
county will require retrofitting to achieve compliance with existing stormwater requirements where renovations or
additions of greater than 50% to existing structures occur;
• initiating a program to regularly inspect stormwater management facilities to ensure proper operation and
maintenance, and invoke penalties for malfunctioning, altered, abused or neglected systems; and requiring littoral
zones on all waterbodies located within new development project sites exceeding 10 acres."
No Change
Policy 2.7:
The county shall require that all marina facilities, single-family docks, bulkheads, and other similar structures
constructed in, adjacent to, or directly affecting the surface waters of Indian River County shall be located and designed
in order to allow for maximum water circulation, and to minimize impacts to submerged aquatic vegetation and other
marine resources.
No Change
Policy 2.8: The county shall require all dredge and fill operations to utilize proper mitigation techniques and devices, in addition to
obtaining all applicable federal, state and local permits. No Change
Policy 2.9: The county shall prohibit the discharge of any waste and/or pollutant material into surface waters by any commercial,
public or private vessel, when such activity is under county jurisdiction. No Change
Policy 2.10:
The county shall implement the policies under Objective 2 of the Conservation Element and Objective 7 of the
Stormwater Management Sub-Element to improve water quality within the Indian River Lagoon and the other surface
waters of Indian River County.
No Change
Policy 2.11:
To measure the success or failure of water quality improvement projects, such as the Main Relief Canal Pollution
Control Facility and the Spoonbill Marsh, the county shall assess water quality data from the Indian River Lagoon and
the St. Sebastian River.
No Change
Policy 2.12: Indian River County shall support state and federal funding for implementation of the Indian River Lagoon
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Revise
Revise: Indian River County shall seek state and federal funding for
implementation of the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan.
Objective 3:
Boat Facility and
Boat Ramp
Through 2030, there shall be no loss of estuarine wetlands, mangrove fringe, seagrass beds, or reductions in water
quality associated with the development or expansion of boat facilities or boat ramps in Indian River County. Revise Revise: Through 2040, there shall be no loss of estuarine wetlands,
mangrove fringe, seagrass beds, or reductions in water quality
PAGE 111
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Siting and
Construction
associated with the development or expansion of boat facilities or boat
ramps in Indian River County.
Policy 3.1:
The siting of new or expansion, rearrangement, or slip conversion of all boat facilities and boat ramps in Indian River
County, and in each municipal government with jurisdiction over a portion of the inland waters of Indian River County,
shall be consistent with the assessment criteria and policies established in the Indian River County Manatee Protection
and Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan (MPP).
No Change
Policy 3.2:
"Boat Facility Siting Zones (1-9), as described in the Analysis section of the MPP, are hereby established. The purpose
of these Zones is to provide the public with guidance as to the potential for the siting of new boat facilities or for the
expansion, rearrangement, or conversion of an existing boat facility. The regulatory criteria to be applied to each zone
represent the baseline criteria that all proposed projects must meet.
In these Zones, specific criteria will be applied to each request for a new boat facility or the expansion, rearrangement,
or conversion of an existing boat facility. These criteria are as follows:
1. The siting of new boat facilities, or the expansion or slip conversion of existing boating facilities, shall be prohibited in
the following areas of Indian River County:
• All of the St. Sebastian River west of the U.S. 1 Bridge; and
• All of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.
2. The siting of new boat facilities, or the expansion, slip conversion or rearrangement of existing boating facilities, shal l
be prohibited in the following areas:
• Within the Town of Orchid;
• Within the Town of Indian River Shores;
• Within the area known as the Jungle Trail Narrows; and
• Within any area designated as both a High Manatee Use area and a High Watercraft-related Manatee Mortality area,
as defined in the MPP"
Exceptions: The siting of new residential marinas, or the expansion, rearrangement or slip conversion of existing
residential marinas, may be allowed in the prohibited areas identified in this Policy Subsection 3.2.2 under the following
conditions:
a. The proposed new or expanded residential marina is in lieu of single-family docks that could otherwise be built
through riparian rights at riverfront lots within the development served by the residential marina, and the residential
marina will result in less environmental impact than the alternative single-family docks, provided the residential marina
will not breach the 1:100 powerboat slip to linear-foot shoreline ratio set forth in Policy 3.14. Under this section, an
applicant for a new or expanded residential marina in lieu of single-family docks shall be required to record a
conservation easement, in favor of the County or the State, along the shoreline of the riverfront lots that would
otherwise be eligible for single-family docks.
b. Slip conversions of existing boat facilities may be allowed on a one-time basis at a density of 1.5 total powerboat
slips per 100 feet of shoreline if the facility is not located in an area of high manatee use and high manatee mortality
based on the definitions and criteria in the MPP, and if the powerboat to shoreline restriction has been in place prior to
July 1993, when the countywide speed zone rule was posted.
c. The physical rearrangement of boat facilities may be authorized in the above noted areas of prohibition provided
the following criteria are met:
i. The number of slips at the boat facility is not increased (i.e., expansion);
ii. The number of boats that can moor at the boat facility is not increased;
Revise
Revise: The County's MPP shall establish the Boat Facility Siting Zones
(1-9) and the baseline criteria that all proposed projects must meet.
The siting of new residential marinas, or the expansion, rearrangement
or slip conversion of existing residential marinas, may be allowed in
prohibited areas (defined in the County's MPP) under certain
conditions which are outlined in the MPP.
Remove remaining items of this Policy
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
iii. The size of the rearranged slips or mooring area is not increased;
iv. The resulting footprint of the structure is not increased; and
v. The rearrangement will result in the removal or cessation of any non-water dependent structure or activity
associated with the existing boat facility, as applicable.
In every case, the rearrangement shall result in a net benefit to manatee and manatee habitat protection.
3. The siting of new or the expansion, rearrangement, or slip conversion, of existing boating facilities shall be
prohibited when one or more of the following conditions are met:
a. The footprint of the boating facility (including all docks, access walkways, finger piers, mooring areas, turning basins,
and ingress and egress pathways) has submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) coverage of ten (10) percent or greater
using a scientifically acceptable method of coverage determination and such determination is made between the
months of May through October;
b. The water depth within mooring areas, turning basins, and ingress and egress pathways is less than -4 feet at MLW
unless the following criterion is met:
• One-foot clearance at MLW between the lowest portion of the vessel (with the engine in the down position) and
submerged aquatic vegetative resources (or submerged bottom, in areas devoid of vegetative resources) within the
mooring areas, turning basins, and ingress and egress pathways.
c. There is less than a 150' distance between the waterward most projection of the boat facility (including mooring
pilings and boats) and the ICW channel.
4. The siting of new or the expansion, rearrangement, or slip conversion, of existing boating facilities shall be
evaluated using all the following criteria:
a. No more than 100 linear feet of native shoreline vegetation shall be altered (trimmed, cut, removed, killed, or
destroyed);
b. A site located within a High Manatee Use area, or a High Watercraft-related Manatee Mortality area, as defined in
the MPP, shall be subject to site-specific design restrictions to minimize potential adverse manatee impacts, including
(but not limited to): restrictions on the total number of boat slips allowed; use of more upland storage instead of wet
storage; restrictions on the maximum size of boats that use the facility (powerboat:sailboat ratio); re-design of the
facility/marina; establishment of a powerboat to length of shoreline ration (e.g., one powerboat per 100 feet of
shoreline); and/or reduction in the size of the facility/marina; and
c. The following sections of the MPP Action Plan: Objective 1, Boat Facility and Marina Siting and Construction,
Sections 1.2, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.14, and 1.15.
Using the evaluation criteria in Section 4 above may result in additional restrictions on the design, size, shape, and use
of the boating facility/marina. These restrictions may include, but are not limited to: the total number of boat slips
allowed, use of more upland storage instead of wet storage, restricting the maximum size of boats that use the
facility/marina, restricting the number of powerboats that use the facility (powerboat to sailboat ratio), re-designing
the facility/marina, establishing a powerboat to length of shoreline ratio (e.g., one powerboat per 100 feet of
shoreline), or reducing the size of the facility/marina.
5. In addition, any new boating facility or the expansion, or rearrangement, or slip conversion, of existing boating
facilities will be required to comply with all applicable state and federal permitting and authorization processes.
6. Notwithstanding the other criteria of this Policy 3.2, slip conversions of existing boat facilities in Indian River County
may be allowed on a one-time basis at a density of 1.5 total powerboat slips per 100 feet of shoreline if the facility is
not located in an area of high manatee use and high manatee mortality based on the definitions and criteria in the
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
MPP, and if the powerboat to shoreline restriction on the existing facility has been in place prior to July 1993, when the
countywide speed zone rule was posted.
Policy 3.3:
The following boat ramp siting criteria shall be used to evaluate any new boat ramp or the rearrangement or expansion
of an existing boat ramp. These criteria shall be applied to all boat ramps (e.g., new, existing, private, public,
commercial, recreational, multi-family, or individual single-family).
1. The rearrangement of existing boat ramps shall not be subject to the boat ramp siting criteria unless any one of the
following are true:
a. The rearrangement will result in more lanes than currently exist (i.e., expansion);
b. The rearrangement will result in the boat ramp being able to increase the volume of traffic (e.g., increase the
number of parking spaces, make the boat ramp more accessible, deepen or widen the access channel);
c. The rearrangement will result in the boat ramp being able to be used by larger vessels (e.g., increase the size of the
parking spaces, deepen or widen the access channel); or
d. The rearrangement or the associated construction will destroy, alter, or disturb any native upland, shoreline
vegetation, or SAV.
2. The siting of new or the rearrangement or expansion of existing boat ramps shall be prohibited in the following
areas of Indian River County:
• All of the St. Sebastian River west of the U.S. 1 Bridge;
• All of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge;
• The area known as Jungle Trail Narrows;
• Town Limits of Orchid;
• Town Limits of Indian River Shores;
• If the proposed site is within a High Manatee Use area AND a High Watercraft-related Manatee Mortality area, as
defined in this MPP.
3. The siting of new or the rearrangement or expansion of existing boat ramps shall be prohibited when one or more
of the following conditions are met:
a. The footprint of the new boat ramp or the rearrangement or expansion of the existing boat ramp (including all
proposed lanes, docks, access walkways, finger piers, mooring areas, turning basins, and ingress and egress pathways)
has a SAV coverage of ten (10) percent or greater using a scientifically acceptable method of coverage determination
and such determination is made between the months of May through October;
b. The site, whether new or existing, is located within a High Manatee Use area, AND a High Watercraft-related
Manatee Mortality area as defined in the MPP; or
c. The site, whether new or existing, is located such that new dredging will be required or necessary to provide access
to the ICW or to deeper water AND the site is located within or on land adjacent to a FDEP designated Aquatic
Preserve. This does not include manmade waterbodies such as canals or basins, or privately owned submerged
bottom.
In the event that all the required or necessary dredging is determined by the FDEP or the SJRWMD to be maintenance
dredging, then this subsection [3(c)] does not apply. The determination of maintenance dredging shall be made in
writing by the FDEP or SJRWMD
and submitted to County Planning staff. It is the responsibility of the applicant, the property owner, or developer to
secure this written documentation. If any of the required or necessary dredging is determined to not be maintenance
dredging (i.e., new dredging) then that part of the proposed project involving the proposed new dredging and any
other activity or structures associated with the proposed new dredging, is prohibited.
Consolidate/Remove Consolidate with Policy 3.2 or remove from Plan and adopt by
ordinance into the LDRs.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 3.4:
Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, private residential marinas shall be permitted with
administrative permit approval in the following Residential Single-family (RS), and Residential Multi-family (RM) zoning
districts: RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, RS-6, RT-6, RM-3, RM-4, RM-6, RM-8, and RM-10.
Remove Code oriented language
Policy 3.5:
Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, public/private residential marinas shall be permitted with
special exception approval in the following Residential Single-family (RS), and Residential Multi-family (RM) zoning
districts: RS-1, RS-2,RS-3, RS-6, RT-6, RM-3, RM-4, RM-6, RM-8, and RM-10.
Remove See previous comment
Policy 3.6:
Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, recreational marinas shall be permitted in general
commercial (CG) and heavy commercial (CH) zoning districts. Recreational marinas shall be permitted with special
exception approval in the following zoning districts: office-commercial-residential (OCR), neighborhood commercial
(CN), and limited commercial (CL).
Remove See previous comment
Policy 3.7
Within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County, commercial marinas shall be permitted in the following
zoning districts: heavy commercial (CH), light industrial (IL), and general industrial (IG). Commercial marinas shall be
permitted in the general commercial (CG) zoning district with administrative permit approval.
Remove See previous comment
Policy 3.8
The county shall require an on-site mitigation plan to be submitted as part of any proposal to site or expand a boat
facility within an area of the IRL exhibiting environmental constraints, such as manatee use, the presence of seagrass
beds and/or shoreline vegetation. Off-site restoration and/or mitigation to seagrass beds or estuarine wetlands are
alternative techniques that may be considered in the event that on-site mitigation is not practical. No fee-in-lieu
payments will be accepted as mitigation.
No Change
Policy 3.9
Concurrent with the five-year evaluation and update of the MPP, the county shall coordinate with the Town of Indian
River Shores, the Town of Orchid, the City of Sebastian and the City of Vero Beach concerning siting of marina/boat
facilities and the overall implementation of the MPP. That coordination shall include holding public workshops and
soliciting comments from the staff and elected officials of those municipal governments.
Revise
Revise: Concurrent with the update of the MPP, the County shall
coordinate with the Town of Indian River Shores, the Town of Orchid,
the City of Sebastian and the City of Vero Beach concerning siting of
marina/boat facilities and the overall implementation of the MPP. That
coordination shall include holding public workshops and soliciting
comments from the staff and elected officials of those municipal
governments.
Policy 3.10
In the event that an existing marina is destroyed by a natural disaster, the marina may be re-built within the same
footprint of the damaged structure provided that the marina was in compliance with regulations at the time of its
construction. Existing Marinas that are re-built shall be consistent with the policies listed under Objective 1 of the
MPP.
Revise
Revise: In the event that an existing marina is destroyed by a natural
disaster, the marina may be re-built within the same footprint of the
damaged structure provided that the marina was in compliance with
regulations at the time of its construction. Existing Marinas that are re-
built shall be consistent with the County codes and policies listed in the
MPP.
Policy 3.11 Covered boat slips, covered terminal platforms, and unwalled boat shelters shall not be permitted in areas where SAV
coverage is ten (10) percent or greater. No Change
Policy 3.12 Floating docks and dock designs that have the potential to entrap manatees or prevent them from accessing foraging
areas shall be prohibited. No Change
Policy 3.13
By 2010, the County Environmental Planning Section, in cooperation with the FWC’s Bureau of Protected Species
Management, will produce a map titled Constraints to Boat Facility Siting in the IRL. This map will display the areas of
high, medium and low constraints throughout the county. Density thresholds and limitations for development shall
apply to sites within these locations. This map will be kept on file in the Community Development Department and will
be used to conduct site-specific reviews of boat facility siting and expansion proposals.
Revise
Revise: The County shall produce a Boat Facility Siting Map displaying
area of high, medium, and low constraints throughout the county.
Density thresholds and limitations for development shall apply to sites
within these locations. This map will be kept on file in the Community
Development Department and will be used to conduct site-specific
reviews of boat facility siting and expansion proposals.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 3.14 A maximum density threshold of one (1) powerboat slip per 100 feet of shoreline along the IRL shall apply in Zone 1,
Zone 2, Zone 4, the portion of Zone 6 lying within the Town of Indian River Shores, Zone 8, and Zone 9. Remove Code oriented language
Policy 3.15
The county shall encourage the expansion and upgrading of existing boat facilities as an alternative to constructing new
boat facilities by considering the removal of the 1:100 powerboat shoreline density ratio on a case-by-case basis from
the following Marina Siting Zones: Zone 3, Zone 5, the portion of Zone 6 lying within the City of Vero Beach, and Zone 7.
As a minimum a 1:100 powerboat-shoreline density ratio may be applied, if warranted, using the criteria in Section 1.2.
Revise
Revise: The County shall encourage the expansion and upgrading of
existing boat facilities as an alternative to constructing new boat
facilities.
Objective 4:
Beaches and
Dunes
Through 2030, all natural functions of the beach and dune system in Indian River County shall be protected and no
unmitigated human-related disturbance of the primary dune system shall occur. Revise
Revise: Through 2040, all natural functions of the beach and dune
system in Indian River County shall be protected and no unmitigated
human-related disturbance of the primary dune system shall occur.
Policy 4.1:
The county shall continue to recognize the 1981 Florida Department of Natural Resources (FDNR) Coastal Construction
Control Line (CCCL), as established by Chapter 161.053, F.S., and recorded on June 10, 1981 in Plat Book 10, Pages 93-
93H, as being the county’s line of regulatory prohibition, or Dune Stabilization Setback Line (DSSL). Construction
encroachment, except for the following, shall be prohibited oceanward of the DSSL:
• federal, state and locally permitted erosion control stabilization and beach renourishment projects;
• the construction of dune cross-over structures and other minor structures;
• public navigational projects, markers or other control structures;
• maintenance and/or restoration of legal nonconforming structures not requiring greater than 50 percent
construction, per Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations;
• use of emergency equipment and/or activities, such as removal of ordnance and debris, to protect life and/or loss
of upland property;
• structural and non-structural stabilization techniques to protect coastal buildings from a 15 year or less storm
event.
Revise
Revise: The county shall continue to recognize the Florida Department
of Environmental Protection Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL),
as established by Chapter 161.053, F.S., and recorded on June 10, 1981
in Plat Book 10, Pages 93-93H, as being the county’s line of regulatory
prohibition, or Dune Stabilization Setback Line (DSSL). Construction
encroachment, except for the following, shall be prohibited oceanward
of the DSSL:
- federal, state and locally permitted erosion control stabilization and
beach renourishment projects;
- the construction of dune cross-over structures and other minor
structures;
- public navigational projects, markers or other control structures;
- maintenance and/or restoration of legal nonconforming structures
not requiring greater than 50 percent construction, per Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations;
- use of emergency equipment and/or activities, such as removal of
ordnance and debris, to protect life and/or loss of upland property;
- structural and non-structural stabilization techniques to protect
coastal buildings from a 15 year or less storm event.
Policy 4.2: In light of the potential for increased coastal erosion from climate change, sea level rise and other factors, the county
shall, by 2012, evaluate the location of the DSSL and consider relocating that line further west. Revise
Remove date reference; Revise: In light of the potential for increased
coastal erosion from climate change, sea level rise and other factors,
the county will continue to evaluate the location of the DSSL through
2040 and consider relocating that line further west.
Policy 4.3:
To ensure appropriate protection of the beach and dune system, the county shall review all proposed beach and dune
projects in the unincorporated area of the county and within the city limits of Vero Beach and shall review and submit
comments regarding permit applications of all appropriate federal, state and local agencies governing beach and dune
management.
Revise
Revise: To ensure appropriate protection of the beach and dune
system, the county shall review all proposed beach and dune projects
in the unincorporated area of the county and within the city limits of
Vero Beach, and shall review and submit comments regarding permit
applications of all appropriate federal, state and local agencies
governing beach and dune management. Shoreline stabilization criteria
will follow Policy 10.5 of the Conservation Element.
Policy 4.4: The county shall solicit cost-share funding for beach renourishment and shoreline stabilization from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. No Change
PAGE 116
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 4.5:
The county shall require dune cross-over structures for all new public and private development desiring beach access.
The county shall not approve plans which do not include FDEP approved dune cross-over structures at beach access
points.
No Change
Policy 4.6:
Indian River County shall protect and preserve natural beach and dune systems by adopting the specific criteria for
shoreline stabilization within the unincorporated portion of Indian River County and within the municipal limits of the
city of Vero Beach, as outlined in Policy 10.5 of the Conservation Element.
Remove Consolidate with Policy 4.3
Policy 4.7:
The county shall continue to prohibit motorized vehicles on the beach/dune area, except for vehicles engaged in
emergency activities, permitted government vehicles and permitted vehicles associated with approved construction,
restoration and/or scientific projects.
No Change
Policy 4.8: The county shall enforce its beach and dune protection land development regulations by requiring mitigation or
restoration of dune disturbances, and imposing fines as warranted in association with code violations. No Change
Policy 4.9: County staff will attend meetings held by the Sebastian Inlet Tax District and will participate in evaluating technical
studies prepared by the District. Remove
Policy 4.10: The county shall continue to monitor the PEP reef to evaluate the effects of the reef on shoreline stabilization. Revise
Revise: The County shall continue to monitor the Prefabricated Erosion
Prevention (PEP) reef to evaluate the effects of the reef on shoreline
stabilization.
Policy 4.11: The county shall continue to study alternatives to fund shoreline stabilization for the areas of critical erosion identified
in the 2008 Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Critically Eroded Beaches in Florida report. Revise
Revise: The County shall continue to study alternatives to fund
shoreline stabilization for the areas of critical erosion identified in the
2022 Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Critically
Eroded Beaches in Florida report.
Policy 4.12:
The county shall assist the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) in the development of a Florida-wide Habitat Conservation Plan for coastal beaches by
providing local data on sea turtle nesting, erosion events, potential coastal mitigation sites, and other coastal data as
may be requested by the FWC and DEP.
No Change
Policy 4.13 -
NEW
Addition: The county shall coordinate with all state and federal
agencies in the funding and implementing of beach stabilization
projects.
Policy 4.14 -
NEW
Addition: Indian River County shall permit the utilization of local funds
for shoreline stabilization and beach renourishment projects. Priority
shall be given to those projects which demonstrate the best benefit-
cost ratio while having the least impact to the offshore reef, and the
nearshore beach and dune ecological communities.
Objective 5:
Limiting Public
Expenditures in
the Coastal
High-Hazard
Area
Through 2030, there will be no expansion of infrastructure within the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) other than that
which is deemed necessary to maintain existing levels-of-service. Revise
Revise: Through 2040, there will be no expansion of infrastructure
within the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) other than that which is
deemed necessary to maintain existing levels-of-service.
Policy 5.1:
The county hereby designates the "Coastal High-Hazard Area" (CHHA) as the area below the storm surge line of a
category 1 hurricane, as established by a Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) computer model.
The CHHA shall be depicted on the County’s Future Land Use Map. Figure 9.11 of this element is hereby adopted as the
county’s CHHA designation map.
Revise
Revise: The County hereby designates the "Coastal High-Hazard Area"
(CHHA) as the area below the storm surge line of a category 1
hurricane, as established by a Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from
PAGE 117
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Hurricanes (SLOSH) computer model. The CHHA is depicted on the
County's Future Land Use Map series.
Policy 5.2:
The county shall not subsidize public facilities within the CHHA, other than those which are deemed necessary to
maintain existing level-of-service standards, and those which are directly related to public access and/or resource
management. Furthermore, the county shall adopt Objective 2 and its associated policies of the Capital Improvements
Element.
No Change
Policy 5.3:
Following a storm event, the Public Works Department shall assess all county facilities in the CHHA that were damaged,
and shall make recommendations to reduce future expenditures and potential damage risks. In addition, the Public
Works Department shall conduct a cost/benefit analysis to evaluate the relocation of storm damaged infrastructure or
infrastructure which is repeatedly threatened by potential storm damage.
No Change
Policy 5.4:
The county shall maintain, at a minimum, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Rating System
(CRS) classification of “6” by continuing to enforce LDR Chapter 930 - Stormwater Management and Flood Protection,
and by evaluating structures for compliance with the FEMA’s 50% Rule, as described in Policies 7.4 and 7.5 of this
Element.
No Change
Objective 6:
Reduction of
Hurricane
Evacuation
Times of Reduce
Public Risk
Through 2020, Indian River County will maintain an estimated evacuation time of 12 hours or less for a Category III
hurricane. Revise
Revise: Through 2040, there will be no expansion of infrastructure
within the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) other than that which is
deemed necessary to maintain existing levels-of-service.
Policy 6.1:
The county hereby designates the "Coastal High-Hazard Area" (CHHA) as the area below the storm surge line of a
category 1 hurricane, as established by a Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) computer model.
The CHHA shall be depicted on the County’s Future Land Use Map. Figure 9.11 of this element is hereby adopted as the
county’s CHHA designation map.
No Change
Policy 6.2
The county will continue to monitor existing schools, municipally-owned buildings, and county-owned buildings to
identify those buildings that are appropriately designed and located to serve as hurricane evacuation shelters. The
county will solicit state funding for retrofitting primary shelters to increase hurricane-proofing of such structures as
warranted.
No Change
Policy 6.3
To ensure that all new developments within the CHHA incorporate hazard mitigation techniques, such as dedication of
emergency accesses, the county shall continue to assess the vulnerability of public infrastructure, private residences,
and businesses within the CHHA through the County’s inter-departmental development review process.
No Change
Policy 6.4
Indian River County shall continue to coordinate with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council (TCRPC), Brevard
County and St. Lucie County concerning evacuation routes and populations involved to assess the impact of regional
growth on local evacuation times.
No Change
Policy 6.5
To maintain current evacuation times, the county shall implement Objective 11 of the Coastal Management Element
and Objective 17 of the Future Land Use Element and their associated policies relating to no increase in the density of
land use within the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA).
No Change
Policy 6.6 The county shall coordinate with the Florida East Coast Railroad (FECRR) and other concerned agencies to ensure that
train movements will be stopped during hurricane evacuations. No Change
Policy 6.7 The county shall prohibit the location of new adult congregate living facilities, nursing homes, and other similar medical
facilities that serve the county’s special needs population within the CHHA. Consolidate Consolidate with Policy 15.7
PAGE 118
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Objective 7:
Post-Disaster
Recovery and
Redevelopment
Consistent with the requirements of Chapter 163, F.S., the county shall have a Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) as an
annex to the Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). The LMS shall list and
prioritize disaster mitigation projects.
No Change
Policy 7.1:
Consistent with the CEMP, the county will perform an initial damage assessment, immediately following a natural
disaster event, in order to determine the extent of damage and prioritize allocation of recovery resources. If the scope
of damage exceeds the county’s ability to recover, the county shall declare a local state of emergency, pursuant to
Chapter 252, F.S. and County Ordinance# 91-18. Once a local state of emergency has been declared, the county will
request assistance from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM).
No Change
Policy 7.2: The county shall continue to maintain its LMS and to implement the short-term and long-term recommendations
contained in the LMS. No Change
Policy 7.3:
Following a natural disaster, principal structures and uses located east of the County’s Dune Stabilization Setback Line
(DSSL) which sustain greater than 50 percent of MAI (Member of Appraisal Institute) assessed current market value
damage from a naturally occurring storm shall be required to relocate upland of their location and, when possible, west
of the DSSL. Prior to reconstruction, principal structures east of the 1987 State Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL)
exhibiting damage from a naturally occurring storm event, greater than 50 percent of MAI assessed market value, shall
be required to obtain all applicable permits and comply with all applicable building codes concerning coastal
construction.
No Change
Policy 7.4:
Consistent with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements, any structure predating 1989 FEMA Flood
Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and located within a flood hazard area that sustains “substantial damage” due to a
natural disaster (i.e. repair costs that exceed 50% or more of the building’s value) shall be required to be elevated a
minimum of six (6) inches above the base flood elevation (BFE), as depicted on current FIRMs.
No Change
Policy 7.5:
Consistent with NFIP requirements, any proposed “substantial improvement” (i.e. additions, renovations, or
modifications that exceed 50% or more of the building’s value) to a pre-FIRM structure located within a within a flood
hazard area shall be required to be elevated a minimum of six (6) inches above the BFE, as depicted on curren t FIRMs.
The list contained in Annex IV of the CEMP will be used to determine the total value of “substantial improvement.”
No Change
Policy 7.6:
The county shall continue to regulate development and manage natural resources within the Coastal Zone by:
• Continuing to enforce LDR Chapter 932 - Coastal Management, and LDR Chapter 402 - Coastal Construction Code;
• Preserving flood storage capacity in the 100-year floodplain, in accordance with the policies listed under Objective 5
of the Stormwater Management Sub-Element;
• Maintaining or reducing land use density allowances in the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) in accordance with the
policies under Objective 17 of the Future Land Use Element and Objective 11 of this element;
• Minimizing beach and dune disturbance in accordance with Coastal Management Element Policy 4.8 and County
Code Chapter 932; and
Reviewing, in coordination with the FDEP Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, all emergency seawall permit
applications within the unincorporated area of Indian River County and within the City Limits of Vero Beach.
Remove Addressed in different Objective and in separate policies
Policy 7.7:
Indian River County shall assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in its Flood Insurance Rate Map
(FIRM) modernization project by making local drainage studies available to FEMA and by conducting public information
workshops to advise development professionals, as well as the general public, of the floodplain map modernization
project.
No Change
PAGE 119
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 7.8: By 2012, The County shall establish formal procedures in its Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) to address the removal of
marine debris, including boats abandoned in the Indian River Lagoon. Revise
Remove date and Revise: The County shall establish formal procedures
in its Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) to address the removal of marine
debris, including boats abandoned in the Indian River Lagoon.
Objective 8:
Public Access
By 2012, the number of public access points to natural resources within the coastal zone of Indian River County,
including beaches, the St. Sebastian River, and the shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon, will be increased by a minimum
of five public access points.
Revise
Eliminate date and Revise: The number of public access points to
natural resources within the coastal zone of Indian River County,
including beaches, the St. Sebastian River, and the shoreline of the
Indian River Lagoon, will be increased.
Policy 8.1:
Indian River County will participate in the Florida Forever Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) program to acquire
the remaining undeveloped estuarine wetlands bordering the IRL by providing local funding assistance, and by
providing “in-kind” services, such as identifying environmentally-sensitive parcels.
No Change
Policy 8.2: Indian River County shall accept donations of shoreline lands suitable to increase public coastal access, provided this
acceptance is in the best interest of the county. No Change
Policy 8.3: By 2012, the county shall seek funding from the Florida Inland Navigation District Waterway Assistance Program to
construct a boat ramp at the eastern terminus of Gifford Dock Road (a.k.a., 45th Street), on the Indian River Lagoon. Remove Policy has been completed
Policy 8.4:
The county shall prohibit the net loss of public access and facilities by:
• requiring any displaced or removed public access to be replaced at a minimum of a one-to-one (1:1) ratio;
• requiring private property owners to provide public access to beaches which are renourished or enhanced with
public funds. This requirement may include provisions for the establishment, relocation or enhancement of public
accesses provided that such established, relocated or enhanced accesses will not adversely impact existing
residential neighborhoods or adversely impact existing natural resources; and
providing public vehicular parking at more than 50 percent of all new public beach accesses.
Revise
Revise: The county shall prohibit the net loss of public access and
facilities by:
-requiring any displaced or removed public access to be replaced
at a minimum of a one-to-one (1:1) ratio;
- private property owners will be encouraged to provide public
access, through the dedication of private easements, to beaches which
are renourished or enhanced with public funds. This requirement may
include provisions for the establishment, relocation or enhancement of
public accesses provided that such established, relocated or enhanced
accesses will not adversely impact existing residential neighborhoods or
adversely impact existing natural resources; and
- providing public vehicular parking at more than 50 percent of all
new public beach accesses.
Policy 8.5: By 2015, the county will add a limited beach access facility to the Captain Forster Hammock Preserve oceanfront. Revise Revise: The county will add a limited beach access facility to the Captain
Forster Hammock Preserve oceanfront.
Policy 8.6: The county shall provide ongoing assistance to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by emptying trash receptacles and
maintaining restrooms at the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. No Change
Policy 8.7:
The county will increase passive recreational opportunities on lands acquired through the county’s Environmental
Lands Program as set forth in Objective 12 of the Conservation Element and the objectives and policies contained in the
Recreation and Open Space Element.
No Change
Objective 9:
Historic
Resources
Through 2020, there will be no adverse impact to the historic integrity of roads, sites or structures deemed historically
or archaeologically significant in Indian River County. Revise
Remove date Revise: Adverse impacts will be minimized to the historic
integrity of roads, sites or structures deemed historically or
archaeologically significant in Indian River County.
Policy 9.1:
Consistent with Policy 8.2 of the Future Land Use Element, the county shall continue to use incentives such as transfer
of development rights, tax relief, mitigation, and public acquisition to protect and preserve historic and archaeological
resources in the Coastal Zone.
Revise
Revise: Indian River County shall use incentives such as transfer of
development rights, tax relief, mitigation, and public acquisitions; and
penalties such as fines and imprisonment, to protect and preserve
historically and archaeologically important resources, consistent with
Future Land Use Policy 8.2.
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 9.2: The county shall pursue state and federal funding to acquire and/or to preserve cultural and historic sites recognized as
important and/or significant. Revise
Revise: The County shall pursue state and federal funding to acquire
and/or to preserve cultural and historic sites in coastal areas recognized
as important and/or significant.
Policy 9.3: The county shall provide developers with incentives, such as transfer of development rights, tax incentives and others,
in return for preserving historic resources. Revise
Revise: The County shall provide developers with incentives, such as
transfer of development rights, tax incentives and others, in return for
preserving historic resources in coastal areas.
Policy 9.4:
The county shall require developments which include historical resource sites to submit archaeological surveys prior to
commencing construction activities. Developers shall be required to preserve these resources while maintaining a
reasonable use of the land.
Revise
Revise: The County shall require developments in coastal areas which
include historical resource sites to submit archaeological surveys prior
to commencing construction activities. Developers shall be required to
preserve these resources while maintaining a reasonable use of the
land.
Policy 9.5: The county shall recognize and properly manage its historical resources by implementing Objective 8 of the Future
Land Use Element. Revise Revise: The County shall recognize and manage its historical resources
by implementing Objective 8 of the Future Land Use Element.
Policy 9.6: By 2012, the county will develop management plans for the following scenic/ historic roads: Fellsmere Grade, Quay
Dock Road, Old Winter Beach Road, and Gifford Dock Road. Revise
Revise: The County will develop management plans for the following
scenic/ historic roads: Fellsmere Grade, Quay Dock Road, Old Winter
Beach Road, and Gifford Dock Road.
Objective 10:
Infrastructure in
the Coastal Zone
Through 2030, the level of service (LOS) for traffic circulation, recreational facilities, stormwater management, and
potable water and sewer service in the coastal zone of Indian River County will be consistent with the LOS standards set
forth in the concurrency section of the Capital Improvements Element.
Revise
Revise: Through 2040, the level of service (LOS) for traffic circulation,
recreational facilities, stormwater management, and potable water and
sewer service in the coastal zone of Indian River County will be
consistent with the LOS standards set forth in the concurrency section
of the Capital Improvements Element.
Policy 10.1:
The county shall identify and assess all infrastructure located within the CHHA to determine its vulnerability. This
vulnerability assessment will based on data from FIRMs, The Arbiter of Storms (TAOS) computer model, and the Sea,
Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes (SLOSH) map. Any decision to abandon or relocate infrastructure outside
the CHHA following a natural disaster will be based on a benefit-cost analysis of vulnerable infrastructure. This benefit-
cost analysis will be included in the Local Mitigation Strategy, once completed.
No Change
Policy 10.2: The county shall coordinate with all state and federal agencies in the funding and implementing of beach stabilization
projects. Remove Move to Objective 4
Policy 10.3:
Indian River County shall permit the utilization of local funds for shoreline stabilization and beach renourishment
projects. Priority shall be given to those projects which demonstrate the best benefit-cost ratio while having the least
impact to the offshore reef, and the nearshore beach and dune ecological communities.
Remove Move to Objective 4
Policy 10.4: The county shall not allow new underground storage tanks or septic facilities to be located oceanward of the county’s
Dune Stabilization Setback Line (DSSL). No Change
Policy 10.5:
The county shall maintain the standards, phasing and funding of infrastructure in the coastal zone, as set forth in the
Transportation Element, and the Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge, Sanitary Sewer, Potable Water and
Stormwater Management Sub-Elements of the Indian River County Comprehensive Plan.
No Change
Objective 11:
Limit Densities
in the Coastal
High Hazard
Area (CHHA)
Through 2030, there will be no increase in the density of land use within the Coastal High Hazard Area. Revise Revise date through 2040
PAGE 121
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 11.1:
Lands acquired by the county under its Environmental Lands Program shall include property located within the
Hurricane Vulnerability Zone (HVZ). This land shall be used for either natural resource conservation, passive recreation
or both.
No Change
Policy 11.2: Within the CHHA, the county will not make infrastructure improvements to accommodate development more intense
than allowed by the comprehensive plan. No Change
Policy 11.3: The county shall utilize all applicable state and federal regulations and the appropriate objectives and policies of the
Indian River County Comprehensive Plan to limit public and private development in the CHHA. No Change
Objective12:
Boating Safety
and Law
Enforcement
Through 2015, the annual boating accident rate in Indian River County will be at or below the 1995 baseline rate of 131
accidents per 100,000 registered boaters. Furthermore, there will be no incidence of watercraft-related human
fatalities.
Revise Revise date through 2040; update data including year as available
Policy 12.1:
"By 2010, the county shall request that the FWC adopt the following speed zone amendments for Indian River County:
• Gifford Cut: Extend the “unregulated” speed zone north toward Channel Marker 127;
• Wabasso Causeway: Establish a year-round slow speed zone within 300 feet of the western shoreline of Wabasso
Island, continuing 300 feet north and south of Wabasso Causeway (C.R. 510); and
• Create a 400-foot “Idle Speed” zone, within the ICW, centered under each bridge over the Indian River Lagoon; and
Eliminate the “Slow Speed” zone in the ICW north of the Barber Bridge (SR 60). "
Remove
Policy 12.2:
The County shall provide ongoing support for the Vero Beach Power Squadron’s and the Vero Beach Coast Guard
Auxiliary’s educational and voluntary marine patrol operations by providing in-kind services and assistance in applying
for grant funding for program operations.
No Change
Objective 13:
Education/Public
Awareness
By 2010, informational kiosks displaying manatee protection practices, safe boating practices, and the designated
speed zones of the inland waters of the county will be installed at all public boat ramps in Indian River County. Revise
Remove year; Revise: Informational kiosks displaying manatee
protection practices, safe boating practices, and the designated speed
zones of the inland waters of the county will be installed at all public
boat ramps in Indian River County.
Policy 13.1: By 2010, the county shall obtain funding from the FIND and the FWC to construct informational kiosks at boat ramps
and other strategic locations, such as fishing piers. Revise
Revise: The County shall obtain funding from the FIND and the FWC to
construct informational kiosks at boat ramps and other strategic
locations, such as fishing piers.
Policy 13.2:
The county, in cooperation with the FWC, USFWS, FIND, and the ELC, will distribute manatee awareness and boating
safety materials to local boaters at the time of yearly boat registration and other appropriate locations such as marinas,
bait and tackle shops, and public parks.
No Change
Policy 13.3: By 2010, the county shall initiate a monofilament line recycling program by placing marked collection receptacles at
boat ramps, marinas, bridges, and strategic locations. Revise
Revise: The County shall initiate a monofilament line recycling program
by placing marked collection receptacles at boat ramps, marinas,
bridges, and strategic locations.
Policy 13.4: All existing and new boat facilities (public and private) shall be required to post manatee awareness signs. No Change
Policy 13.5: By 2010, all rental vessels, including personal watercraft, in Indian River County shall be required to display stickers or
plasticized cards with boating safety and manatee protection information. Revise
Revise: All rental vessels, including personal watercraft, in Indian River
County shall be required to display stickers or plasticized cards with
boating safety and manatee protection information, to the greatest
extent practicable.
Objective 14:
Manatee
Through 2015, the annual number of manatee mortalities in Indian River County shall be no more than five (5),
excluding unusual events such as red tide or disease outbreaks. Of these annual mortalities, no more than one (1)
mortality shall be watercraft-related.
Remove
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Protection
Measures
Policy 14.1:
The county, in cooperation with the City of Vero Beach Utilities Department and the FWC Bureau of Protected Species
Management will ensure that disruptions to outflow, and/or inadequate temperatures to sustain manatees during
winter are minimized, and that all necessary precautions to minimize hazards at the power plant are initiated.
Remove
Policy 14.2: The county shall continue to assist the Indian River Mosquito Control District to identify and retrofit any remaining
culverts or pipes that pose a threat of manatee entrapment. Remove
Objective 15:
Sea Level Rise
Adaptation
Strategies
Through 2060, the County shall adopt, implement, and pursue strategies that increase community resiliency and
protect property, infrastructure, and cultural and natural resources from the impacts of sea level rise. Revise
Remove date; Revise: The County shall adopt, implement, and pursue
strategies that increase community resiliency and protect property,
infrastructure, and cultural and natural resources from the impacts of
sea level rise.
Policy 15.1:
By 2022, Public properties and infrastructure, including but not limited to water and wastewater facilities, stormwater
systems, roads, bridges, governmental buildings, hospitals, coastal wetlands, transit infrastructure and other public
assets that may be at risk to sea level rise impacts shall be identified. Based on risk inventory findings, resiliency
improvements and relocation of infrastructure shall be considered as part of capital improvement plans, where
warranted.
Revise
Revise: Public properties and infrastructure, including but not limited to
water and wastewater facilities, stormwater systems, roads, bridges,
governmental buildings, hospitals, coastal wetlands, transit
infrastructure and other public assets that may be at risk to sea level
rise impacts shall be identified. Based on risk inventory findings,
resiliency improvements and relocation of infrastructure shall be
considered as part of capital improvement plans, where warranted.
Policy 15.2:
During major evaluations and overall updates to the comprehensive plan, the best available data and sea level rise
projections such as those made by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Association, and the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, shall be taken into consideration when
evaluating or updating policies related to sea level rise.
No Change
Policy 15.3:
Beginning in 2022, and every 5 years thereafter, the County shall review the best available data on local sea level rise
projections and County sea level rise inundation maps and shall update inundation maps and related analysis, as
warranted.
Revise
Revise: The County shall review the best available data on local sea
level rise projections and County sea level rise inundation maps and
shall update inundation maps and related analysis, as warranted.
Policy 15.4: The County shall coordinate with local municipalities regarding sea level rise adaptation and mitigation measures. No Change
Policy 15.5:
The County hereby adopts the Coastal High Hazard Area (CHHA) as an “Adaptation Action Area” (AAA) as defined in this
Coastal Management Element to identify the geographic areas most vulnerable to the impacts of projected potential
sea level rise and most appropriate for mitigation measures and resiliency improvements. Furthermore, the County
shall apply this Element’s Objective 5 CHHA policies to limit public infrastructure expenditures within the AAA.
No Change
Policy 15.6: By 2023, the County shall re-evaluate flood zone requirements and mitigation strategies within the AAA. Revise
Revise: The County shall review the best available data on local sea
level rise projections and County sea level rise inundation maps and
shall update inundation maps and related analysis, as warranted.
Policy 15.7: The County shall prohibit location within the AAA of new adult congregate living facilities, nursing homes, and other
similar facilities that serve special needs populations. Revise
Revise: The county shall prohibit the location of new adult congregate
living facilities, nursing homes, and other similar medical facilities that
serve the county’s special needs population within the CHHA and AAA.
Policy 15.8: No increase in land use designation density shall be approved by the County for properties that lie within the AAA. Remove
PAGE 123
Recreation and Open Space Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended
Action Comments/Rationale
Goal
It is the goal of Indian River County to provide a recreation and open space system which meets the needs of all
residents of the county, is accessible to all residents of the county, and maximizes the county's physical, cultural and
historical resources.
No Change Could also add "that capitalizes on the County's various environments
(i.e., coastal, rural, habitats, etc.)
Objective 1:
Adequate
Parklands and
Recreation
Facilities
Through 2030, adopted recreation levels-of-service will be maintained to ensure that adequate parklands and
recreation facilities are available and accessible for public use. Revise Update for new planning horizon.
Policy 1.1: The county hereby adopts a recreation level-of-service standard of 6.61 recreation acres per 1,000 permanent
population plus weighted seasonal population. Revise
Revise as deemed appropriate by the County; no uniform standard. 1
park per 3,132 residents is the NRPA standard. Consider comparing to
communities of a similar size and character.
Policy 1.2:
For level-of service purposes, the county shall measure parkland acres per 1000 population by summing the total
county owned park acreage and dividing by the current estimate of unincorporated county permanent population,
plus weighted seasonal population.
Revise Remove seasonal population. Per Staff, the population is becoming
more stable throughout the year.
Policy 1.3: The county shall maintain its concurrency management system, which allows proposed developments only if there is
sufficient parkland to serve the proposed development. Revise Consider adding Proportionate Share
Policy 1.4: The county hereby adopts the facility standards identified in Table 10.1 as guidelines to be used in developing
parklands. Revise
May consider alternative parks/facilities and their standards including
"non-specific" facilities which can be used for multiple events based on
Visioning Plan/comments above
Policy 1.5:
By 2018, the county shall complete a needs analysis of its recreation services. This analysis will include an
assessment of the type of parks and facilities needed in Indian River County, the quantity of facilities needed, the
location where those facilities are needed, the current use of facilities, and a comparison of county needs to national
standards for recreation services, and unique local conditions relevant to recreation services.
Remove
Policy 1.6: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall evaluate the existing user fee structure and include full cost recovery for
adult programs. Revise Revise date to at a minimum 2024
Policy 1.7: By 2017, the Recreation Department shall revise its fee structure for county recreational programs and reservation of
county park facilities to include a surcharge for out of county residents. Consolidate Consolidate with Policy 1.6
Policy 1.8: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall evaluate the current per capita expenditure in the north and south areas
(with S.R. 60 as a dividing line) and utilize the collected data to guide placement of needed park facilities in each area. Remove Repetitive with Policy 1.5
Policy 1.9: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall evaluate new funding options, including privatization and partnerships. Revise
Generalize - "The Division shall seek and consider a wide variety of
funding and revenue options including public-private partnerships,
grants, selling facility naming rights, selling concessions…."
Policy 1.10: By 2017, the Recreation Department shall evaluate new revenue opportunities such as facility naming rights, beach
and park concessions, and others. Consolidate Consolidate with Policy 1.9
Policy 1.11: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall evaluate the feasibility of creating a foundation to develop and receive
donations for parks capital and infrastructure needs. Revise "The Division may establish a system to receive donations for parks
capital and infrastructure needs." also update date
Policy 1.12: The county shall continue to charge park and recreation impact fees to fund a portion of the park system’s capital
budget needs. No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended
Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.13: The Recreation Department shall continue to apply user fees for those facilities and programs where the benefit is
quantifiable and where the fee can be effectively implemented. Revise
Consider word choices – charge user fees or similar. Update
department name where it occurs to “Parks, Recreation, &
Conservation Department”
Policy 1.14: The county shall, as part of its user fee program, develop a method to subsidize recreation user fees for low-income
residents so that there will be minimal effects of user fees on participation at sites or programs. No Change Could also consolidate with Policy 1.5
Policy 1.15: The county shall identify state and federal recreation grant programs. When applicable, the county shall apply for
available grant funds, for recreation facility or program funding. No Change
Policy 1.16: The county shall maintain land development regulations that require certain planned residential development
projects to provide recreation areas and facilities that meet the county’s recreation level-of-service standards. No Change
Objective 2:
Parklands in the
South District
By 2020, the county will have 461 acres of parkland south of S.R. 60. Revise
Addressed in Policy 1.B; modify language "The County will continue to
develop parkland south of S.R. 60 to meet area needs." Incorporate
under Master Plan objective (see recommendation in Policy 1.5).; also
recommend removing the specific acreage which may conflict with
population especially if the population is disproportionately located
elsewhere. If desire to keep then "strive to acquire..."
Policy 2.1: By 2018, the county will, based on funding availability, complete remaining improvements identified in the South
County Regional Park Master Plan. Remove Will be addressed with Master Plan
Policy 2.2:
The county shall, based on funding availability, include active recreation facilities such as baseball fields, basketball
courts, tennis courts, jogging trails, swimming pools and others in its future south county parks if those facilities are
consistent with the 2012 updated south county regional park master plan.
Revise
Incorporate under Master Plan objective. "The County shall prepare a
Recreation Master Plan to analyze needs and guide development…".
Move policies related to master planning under this new objective.
Will the master plan have a subsection focused on South District?
incorporate this plan by reference and expand the reference to include
author
Policy 2.3: The county shall give parkland acquisition priority to the area south of SR 60, west of 43rd Avenue. Revise (minimal)
Objective 3:
Parkland
Development
By 2020, the county will have developed at least 65 percent of its currently undeveloped existing park acreage. Revise Establish this objective in future Parks Master Plan.
Policy 3.1: By 2020, the county shall complete phase II of the Treasure Shores Park. Remove Not relevant
Policy 3.2: By 2018, the county shall develop a new master plan for the fairgrounds, indicating needed facilities and necessary
structures. Revise Incorporate into Master Plan Objective and Policies
Policy 3.3: The county shall add facilities to existing parks having undeveloped area. Some parkland will remain undeveloped for
a variety of reasons, including environmental, regulatory, and aesthetics. Remove
Policy 3.4: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall update the North County Regional Park and the South County Regional
Park Master Plans. Revise See comment Policy 3.2
Objective 4:
Access to
Parklands and
Recreation
Facilities
Throughout the time horizon of the plan, all new parks and recreational facilities will be located near population
centers and will be handicap accessible. Revise
Strike "handicap". Consider "universally" in its place. also need to be
mindful that lands near the population centers may not be feasible and
or could be addressed through a joint agreement with the respective
City(s) especially if those areas (population centers) are in close
proximity to city boundaries.
Policy 4.1: The county shall continue to design all new parks and recreational facilities to provide barrier-free access. No Change
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended
Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 4.2: The county shall locate new park facilities in close proximity to the population to be served based upon service radius
for different park types. No Change
Policy 4.3: The county shall provide vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle access consistent with the Bikeway/Sidewalk Development
Plan to all county owned parks in conjunction with park development. Revise Revise to “multimodal access”
Objective 5:
Access to Natural
Resources
Through the time horizon of the plan, the current 57 access points to the county's major water resources, including
the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, St. Sebastian River, and freshwater lakes, will be maintained. Revise
Additional information to be provided per Master Plan; will update
post Plan or update to provide cross reference from this Plan to the
Parks Master Plan
Policy 5.1: The county shall use beachfront and riverfront lands that have been acquired through the county’s Environmental
Lands Acquisition Program for public access to the county’s major natural water resources. No Change
Policy 5.2 :
The county hereby designates the Indian River Lagoon, the St. Sebastian River, and associated coastal resources as a
greenway (a.k.a. “blueway”) and waterway trail system. Consistent with Policy 8.1 of the Coastal Management
Element, Indian River County will participate in the Indian River Lagoon “Blueway” Florida Forever (f.k.a.
“Conservation and Recreation Lands”) project to acquire and provide passive recreational access to coastal resources
bordering the Indian River Lagoon by providing local funding assistance, and by providing “in-kind” services, such as
identifying environmentally-sensitive parcels.
No Change Good policy
Objective 6:
Recreation
Programs
Through the time horizon of the plan, at least 142 recreation programs per year will be provided. Revise Revise and use Master Plan to identify target number of programs
Policy 6.1: The county shall provide supervised recreation activities at all appropriate park sites. Remove Address per Master Plan and service delivery
Policy 6.2:
The county may allow private leisure and recreation groups to use park areas for recreation programs and activities
provided that the following conditions are met:
• The area of the park to be used must not currently be in use by the general public or designated for future
use on the park master plan;
• A lease specifying duration of use, characteristics of use, insurance requirements, and other applicable
conditions must be executed by the Board of County Commissioners;
• A site plan or temporary use permit must be approved by the planning department;
• Any improvements made to the leased site must be done and paid for by the lessee with the improvements
conveying to the county when the lease expires.
Revise Conditions are more appropriate in code
Policy 6.3: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall conduct a survey to determine the demand for existing recreational
programs and to prioritize demand for new programs. Revise To be accomplished and additional detail in Parks Master Plan
Policy 6.4: The Recreation Department shall annually identify CORE recreation programs, and services as part of its annual
budget request. Revise Remove or revise: "The Division shall consider recreation programs and
services as part of its annual budget request."
Policy 6.5: By 2018, the Recreation Department shall establish an automated recreational program system which allows users to
reserve park facilities or to sign up for recreation programs online. Revise Online system appears to be functioning; can move to "monitor and
maintain" and remove the year reference
Policy 6.6: The Recreation Department shall formalize multi-year agreements with all long-term user groups for utilizing
county’s public recreation facilities. No Change This is a good policy
Policy 6.7: The Recreation Department shall coordinate with the IRC school district to structure an agreement for public access
to school recreational facilities. Remove
It is understood the School District does not allow open public access.
According to staff, County has agreement with schools to use specific
facilities for programs/activities. Remove here and noting under Obj 8.
Policy 6.8: The County shall manage the county’s shooting range to make it available to all county residents. Remove Not a requirement of the Comprehensive Plan; could (should) be part
of the County's Parks Master Plan and Parks Policies (not comp plan).
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended
Action Comments/Rationale
Objective 7: Open
Space
Through the time horizon of the plan, there will be no decrease in the amount of publicly-owned or publicly-
controlled open space within the county. Revise
Need to clarify, through the Master Plan, total acres available, etc. Also
difficult to control and could add language, etc, to strive to increase
acreage.
Policy 7.1:
The county shall acquire those environmentally sensitive areas programmed for acquisition in the conservation
element of this plan. These areas will be used as open space, passive recreation areas, and historical sites, as
appropriate.
No Change
Policy 7.2:
The county hereby designates the following roadways as scenic/historic roads:
• Jungle Trail (management plan developed)
• Fellsmere Grade (management plan drafted)
• Quay Dock Road
• Old Winter Beach Road
• Gifford Dock Road
Revise Confirm cross reference and listing with Transportation Element;
Policy 7.3:
By 2015 the county shall develop management plans for each of the scenic/historic roads. These management plans
shall provide for the protection of open space resources adjacent to these roads and shall designate areas suitable
for open space acquisition. These roads will be used as access ways, open space, and corridors incorporating passive
and active recreational activities while maintaining their primary historical importance.
Revise See previous comment; consider removing due to Transportation
Element language
Policy 7.4:
Consistent with the Transportation Element, the county shall acquire sufficient right-of-way for future roads to
provide additional green (open space) areas by:
• Using rural cross sections including grassed swales unless precluded by physical constraints;
• Providing for grassed and landscaped medians on divided roadways where conditions allow; and
• Designing roadways to provide for grassed and landscaped roadway-recovery areas.
No Change
Policy 7.5: The county, through its land development regulations, shall continue to apply its open space definitions and
standards as reflected in this element. No Change
Policy 7.6: The county shall, through its land development regulations, continue to specify minimum open space requirements
by land use type. No Change
Policy 7.7:
The county shall, through its land development regulations, continue to require the recording of conservation
easements for all environmentally sensitive areas from which density is transferred, and other such areas that are to
be maintained as open space.
No Change
Objective 8:
Intergovernmental
Coordination
By 2011, the county will have agreements with municipalities for county-wide programs and for special events that
impact other jurisdictions. Revise Remove date and rewrite as objective as opposed to policy language
Policy 8.1: The county shall continue to coordinate with the St. Johns River Water Management District through representation
on the district’s regional recreation advisory committee. Remove
Policy 8.2:
To enhance recreation opportunities, the county shall coordinate with and support state and federal agencies in their
land acquisition programs by:
• Compiling information;
• Conducting site analyses;
• Contacting owners; and
• Providing staff assistance.
No Change
Policy 8.3: By 2011, the county shall coordinate with the school board to exchange the county’s 16th Street complex for an
equal value regional park property within the unincorporated area of the county. Remove
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GOP Number GOP Language Recommended
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Policy 8.4: The county Recreation Department’s staff shall meet with municipalities’ staff as needed for the provision of
countywide programs and for special events. Revise Agreed incorporate into agreement. Then generalize for
intergovernmental coordination.
Objective 9: Arts
and Cultural
Programs
By 2012, the county will have a comprehensive cultural plan for the county (this plan will be developed by the
Cultural Council of Indian River County (CCIRC)). Revise
Revise/remove dates in Objective and corresponding policies
Recommended language: The County shall consider the Cultural
Council of Indian River County (CCIRC) as the county’s designated
cultural agency.
Policy 9.1: By 2012, the county shall participate with the Cultural Council of Indian River County in developing a comprehensive
cultural plan for the county and shall encourage public/private partnerships, as appropriate. Revise See previous comment
Policy 9.2: The County shall, when possible, support cultural and heritage activities by providing financial support through
tourist tax revenue. No Change
Policy 9.3: The County shall cooperate with the CCIRC to establish a program for art in public places. This will involve the
coordination, administration and display of loaned, local artwork in appropriate public buildings and open spaces. No Change
Policy 9.4:
The County shall support the sale of the “State of the Arts” License plates promoted by the Cultural Council of Indian
River County. The CCIRC, as the County’s designated Local Arts Agency, will receive and dispense funds related to the
sales of the Arts License Plates, as required.
Remove Vague on dispensing, etc. Not necessarily appropriate in this Plan
Policy 9.5:
"The County shall consider the Cultural Council of Indian River County (CCIRC) as the county’s designated cultural
agency. As such, the Cultural Council shall represent the various arts and culture groups in the County, serving as a
liaison for all cultural requests to the county. In so doing, the Cultural Council may annually submit a funding request
to the county on behalf of the county’s arts and culture organizations. That funding request shall include the
following information:
Revise Remove first sentence and put as objective.
Policy 9.6:
Through the Cultural Council, the County shall support cultural and heritage organizations’ applications for state,
federal and private foundation grants. The county’s support may include providing customized demographic
information, leveraging the County’s grant eligibility, providing letters of support, and providing other support as
appropriate.
No Change
Policy 9.7: The county shall assist the Cultural Council with the dissemination of a calendar of cultural events in Indian River
County prepared by the CCIRC. This assistance will involve making information available at government facilities. No Change
Policy 9.8:
The county will assist the Cultural Council in providing avenues for nonprofit and artist networking such as:
A. Providing workshops, seminars and one-on-one assistance for cultural organizations, artists and educators to
enhance their effectiveness, viability and long-term survival.
B. Promoting the use of its web-based tools to support and facilitate business transactions within the cultural
community.
C. Providing opportunities for cultural leaders of all kinds to meet and learn from each other, creat ing networks that
foster collaboration and cooperation.
No Change
Policy 9.9: The Board of County Commissioners shall, upon request by the CCIRC, designate October of each year as National
Arts and Humanities month. Revise or remove Not necessary in the Plan
PAGE 128
Intergovernmental Coordination Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal
It is the goal of Indian River County to have an effective intergovernmental coordination system to ensure
consistency among local, regional, state, and federal plans and policies, to identify and resolve conflicts, and to
promote cooperation regarding implementation of growth management plans within Indian River County.
No Change
Objective 1:
Coordination
Among All Local
Plans
Through the time horizon of the plan, there will be no inconsistencies or conflicts between the county’s
comprehensive plan, the plans of municipalities within the county, the plans of adjacent counties, the plans of the
school board, and the plans of other units of local government providing services but not having regulatory authority
over the use of land.
Revise Inconsistencies and conflicts may occur despite best efforts. This
mechanism should act as a way to work through them.
Policy 1.1:
The county shall utilize the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council's and the Department of Community Affairs
review and comment process for comprehensive plan and plan amendment proposals of other local governments in
order to ensure consistency between the County Comprehensive Plan and the local comprehensive plans of
municipalities within the county, and the comprehensive plans of Brevard, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Osceola
counties.
Revise Change DCA to FloridaCommerce (fka DEO)
Policy 1.2: The county shall continue to utilize the Comprehensive Plan Technical Advisory Committee to provide coordination
between Indian River County planning activities and the planning activities of the municipalities within the county. Consolidate Consolidate to policy 1.5 eliminate group
Policy 1.3:
By, 2012, the county shall establish interlocal agreements with all municipalities, requiring that applications for
changes in land use or zoning for areas located within 500 feet of corporate boundaries be referred to the affected
agency (city or county) for staff review and comment prior to any changes in land use or zoning are adopted.
Revise Eliminate year, keep as a goal. The County shall continue to support….
Policy 1.4: The county shall use the mediation and dispute resolution procedures of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning
Council when interjurisdictional incompatibilities are identified. No Change
Policy 1.5: The county shall coordinate planning activities mandated by the various elements of its comprehensive plan with
plans and activities of other governmental entities. No Change
Policy 1.6: The county shall review proposed comprehensive plan amendments and evaluation and appraisal reports submitted
by adjacent counties and municipalities within Indian River County. No Change
Policy 1.7: By 2012, the county shall contact the staffs of the municipalities in the county and the adjacent counties to develop
joint notification and plan review procedures. Revise Based on available information, quarterly meetings occurring; modify
language to reference continue to meet…
Policy 1.8:
To ensure coordinated management of the Indian River Lagoon, the county shall continue active participation with
the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) by:
• Providing information to the IRLNEP on environmental issues related to land development;
• Participating in meetings of the IRLNEP.
The county will continue coordination with the SJRWMD on the SWIM plan and with other agencies that regulate the
Indian River Lagoon. The county will continue to coordinate with the SJRWMD on the SWIM plan by:
• Applying for SWIM funds for implementation of programs designed to improve surface water quality;
• Submitting regular reports to the SJRWMD on progress of the programs.
The county will continue to coordinate drainage related issues with the municipalities in the county and the 298
drainage districts by implementing policies of the drainage sub-element.
Move Move language to Coastal Element
Policy 1.9:
By 2011, the county shall enter into an agreement with the Fellsmere Farms Water Control District to ensure access
to and use of the water control district’s canal/road right-of-ways by adjacent property owners and to establish
maintenance responsibilities for the access roads.
Revise Update target year; if completed, note and change to “monitor“ or
similar to show ongoing review and coordination
PAGE 129
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 1.10: The county shall conduct joint meetings with other jurisdictions, as needed for siting of facilities with countywide
significance, including locally unwanted land uses, such as solid waste disposal facilities. No Change
Policy 1.11:
By 2015, county staff shall coordinate with the staffs of local municipalities and adjacent counties and prepare a
report identifying inconsistencies and conflicts between the county plan and each local plan and identify ways to
resolve inconsistencies and conflicts.
Revise Eliminate year but continue to support policy.
Policy 1.12: The county shall request that the legislature prohibit the sale of conservation land by water management districts
unless the land sale is approved by the local government in whose jurisdiction the land is located. Remove Aspirational and lacking accountability.
Objective 2:
Coordination of
Level of Service
Standards
By 2015 the county will have an adopted formal mechanism for coordination of adopted comprehensive plan level-
of-service standards with municipalities, adjacent counties, the region, and the state. Revise Completed. Update to “maintain”.
Policy 2.1: On an annual basis, the county shall review revisions to the State Comprehensive Plan and the Strategic Regional
Policy Plan and subsequently amend the Indian River County Comprehensive Plan, as needed. No Change
Policy 2.2:
By 2011, the county shall compare its comprehensive plan level-of-service standards with the level of service
standards adopted by the municipalities within the county and meet with municipal staff to discuss the possibility of
developing countywide level-of-service standards.
Remove Assume this is occurring with quarterly meetings between staff; if not,
retain and update date and provide new target
Policy 2.3:
The county shall utilize its existing review and permitting process to coordinate level-of-service standards for public
facilities and services with any state, regional and local entity having operational and maintenance responsibilities for
such facilities and services within the county.
No Change
Policy 2.4: The county utilities department shall approve potable water concurrency for new projects only when adequate
water supplies and potable water facility capacity are available to accommodate new development project demand. Remove Move to Potable Water sub-element
Policy 2.5:
The county shall not issue a building permit for any project that is served by the City of Vero Beach utilities
department until the city notifies the county that adequate water supplies and potable water facility capacity are
available.
No Change
Policy 2.6:
The county utilities department will participate with the SJRWMD in the development of the SJRWMD’s Water
Supply Assessment and District Water Supply Plan and other water supply development-related initiatives by
reviewing and commenting on the SJRWMD’s assessment reports and by implementing recommendations of the
SJRWMD’s water supply plan.
Revise
Per the SJRWMD, revise to: “The county utilities department will
participate with the SJRWMD in the development of the SJRWMD’s
Water Supply Assessment and District Regional Water Supply Plan and
other water supply development-related initiatives by reviewing and
commenting on the SJRWMD’s assessment reports and by
implementing recommendations of the SJRWMD’s water supply plan.”
Policy 2.7:
Prior to 2011, the County will coordinate with the City of Vero Beach and the Town of Indian River Shores to prepare
a financial analysis of options related to the possibility of consolidation of utility services. This analysis may consist of,
but is not limited to: the possibility of the County serving utilities to the Town of Indian River Shores, currently served
by the City of Vero Beach and the Unincorporated area of the South Barrier Island, currently served by the City of
Vero Beach, full consolidation of the City of Vero Beach Utility with the Indian River Co. Utility or making no changes
in the existing utility service areas. Based on the results of a financial analysis of the various service options, the
Board of County Commissioners will consider implementing the results that show the best financial and operational
benefits. The county shall also review its agreement with the City of Vero Beach for provision of electricity to
portions of the unincorporated county to determine the best available option for the unincorporated county
residents being currently served by the City.
Revise Update / remove target year; remove specificity
PAGE 130
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Objective 3:
Impact of
Development in
Other Jurisdictions
By 2012, the county will have an established formal coordination mechanism with municipalities and adjacent
counties to ensure that development in one jurisdiction does not adversely affect the adequacy of public facilities
and services in other jurisdictions.
Revise Similar to Policy 1.3; remove target year and update to “determine
feasibility” instead of “will have” etc
Policy 3.1:
The county shall maintain its concurrency management system to ensure the availability of public facilities and
services needed to support development concurrent with the impact of such development in the unincorporated
areas.
Revise Add target year.
Policy 3.2: By 2012, the county shall identify all facilities and services which can be affected by the plans and developments in
other jurisdictions and monitor facility and service capacity through multi-jurisdictional coordination. Revise Revise target year
Policy 3.3:
By 2012, the county shall enter into interlocal agreements with the municipalities within the county to exchange
information and to coordinate the timing, location, and capacity of public facility improvements to ensure that
required services will be available when needed and economically feasible.
Revise Revise target year
Policy 3.4: The county shall notify the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council of development proposals likely to affect other
local governments in the region. No Change
Policy 3.5: The county shall maintain the level of service standards set in various elements of the comprehensive plan and notify
other local governments of the level-of-service standards. Move Move to Objective 2
Policy 3.6:
By 2012, the county shall enter into a formal coordination agreement with adjacent counties and the municipalities
in Indian River County to identify joint planning areas (JPA) and to address the following areas:
• Improvement in communication between the county and various local, regional, and state agencies
• Identification of local and regional resources
• Identification of activities having extra-jurisdictional impact
• Identification of locally unwanted land uses
• Identification of expected impacts
• Notification of affected jurisdictions
• Development of measures to mitigate impacts
• Development of a process to resolve disputes
Remove Per County Staff, Remove.
Objective 4:
Coordination of
Annexation Areas
By 2020, the number of enclave areas in the county will be reduced by fifty percent (50%) compared to the 2008
number. Revise The County will continue to reduce the number of enclaves within
Indian River County.
Policy 4.1: The county shall continue to work with the municipalities within the county to develop and adopt an Interlocal
Service Boundary Agreement (ISBA). Remove Per County Staff, Remove.
Policy 4.2: The county, through coordination with municipalities within the county, shall ensure that future annexation will not
create enclave areas. No Change
Policy 4.3: By 2010, the county shall identify and inventory parcels, owners, and existing uses of enclaves. Revise Eliminate or update target year; should maintain active database of
enclaves
Policy 4.4: By 2011, the county shall notify enclave landowners of annexation procedures and assist them in requesting
annexation in appropriate municipalities. Revise Eliminate or update target year; if already accomplished may want to
consider contacting on a biannual or similar”
Policy 4.5: The county shall prepare an annual report on enclave annexation results. No Change
Objective5:
Coordination with
School Board
Through the time horizon of the plan, the county, municipalities, and the school board shall maintain a formal
agreement for sharing information, for coordinating plans and projects, for implementing school concurrency, for
planning infrastructure improvements, for siting school facilities, and for co-locating facilities.
Revise Cross reference with Schools Element
PAGE 131
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 5.1:
The county’s Land Development Regulations shall allow schools within all residential, commercial (excluding the
heavy commercial district), planned development, and agricultural zoning districts. School sites within the
agricultural zoning districts will be limited to mixed use projects and traditional neighborhood design projects or to
school sites outside but contiguous to the Urban Service Area boundary.
No Change
Policy 5.2: Within its residential districts, the county shall designate sufficient lands to accommodate the projected needs for
schools. Revise Cross reference to FLU; “Within any applicable district”
Policy 5.3: The county shall notify the school board of all proposed residential development projects as a part of the review
process for school concurrency. No Change
Policy 5.4: The county and school board shall share data on a regular basis. No Change
Policy 5.5: The county shall obtain school board input on proposed sidewalk and road construction projects. Revise “The County shall coordinate…..”
Policy 5.6: The county and school board jointly will determine the consistency of proposed school sites and proposed school
development projects with the comprehensive plan, as early in the design phase as possible. No Change
Policy 5.7: The county and school board will hold joint meetings as needed. No Change
Policy 5.8: The county and school board shall maintain and implement the 2008 Interlocal Agreement for Coordinated Planning
and School Concurrency. No Change
Policy 5.9:
The county shall review site plans for school development projects consistent with the development standards
identified in Ch. 163, F.S., Ch. 1013 F.S., and the 2008 Interlocal Agreement for Coordinated planning and School
Concurrency. Site plan review for school projects shall include but not be limited to:
• compatibility with the surrounding properties
• environmental concerns
• health, safety, and welfare concerns
With respect to compatibility, the following standards shall apply:
• Schools will be designed to minimize adverse traffic impacts on adjacent properties.
• Outside lighting will be designed to shield adjacent properties from school light sources.
• Play areas, athletic areas and other outside areas will be designed to limit noise impacts on adjacent properties.
• School buildings will be designed to complement the surrounding area in terms of height, bulk, landscaping, and
architectural design.
• Vegetative buffers, open space areas, and setbacks may be used to mitigate potential compatibility problems.
Revise
Initial language is acceptable; consider moving 2nd half of the policy to
the code or similar.
Staff additionally requested removal of specific CH references and the
year 2008.
Objective 6:
Coordination of
New Dredge Spoil
Disposal Sites
Through the time horizon of the plan, the county will maintain sufficient designated dredge spoil disposal sites. No Change
Policy 6.1: The county shall coordinate with the navigation and inlet districts and other appropriate state and federal agencies
and the public in identifying dredge spoil disposal sites. No Change
Policy 6.2: The county shall utilize the dispute resolution process of the coastal resource interagency management committee
to resolve conflicts between the county and public agencies seeking a dredge spoil disposal site. No Change
PAGE 132
Public School Facilities Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal Indian River County shall have a public school system that offers a high quality educational environment, provides
accessibility for all of its students, and ensures adequate school capacity to accommodate enrollment demand.
General Comment for This Element – upon amendment or adoption
of a new Schools Long Range Plan or similar, policies within this
Element will need to be updated for consistency.
Planning Periods and references to Plans should be updated.
Objective 1 Throughout the planning period (2010 – 2030), there will be no deficiencies within the Indian River County public
school system.
Policy 1.1: The County hereby adopts the LOS standards for public schools at 100% of FISH permanent capacity.
Policy 1.2: The County hereby adopts the School Board's current public school attendance boundaries as the School Service
Areas (SSA). The SSAs exclude magnet and charter schools.
Policy 1.3:
The County and the School District, shall utilize the following procedures for modifying SSAs:
a. The School District will transmit a proposed SSA modification with data and analysis to support the change to the
Cities, the County, and the Staff Working Group (SWG). Any proposed change to the SSAs shall require a
demonstration that the change complies with the public school LOS standard, and that transportation costs, court
approved desegregation plans, and other factors have been taken into account to ensure the maximum utilization of
school capacity to the greatest extent possible.
b. The SWG will review the proposed modification and send their comments to the School District within 45 days of
receipt of the proposed change.
c. The modification of the SSAs shall be effective upon adoption by the School Board.
Objective 2 Through the time plan horizon, there will be adequate school facility capacity within the Indian River County public
school system to accommodate projected development at the adopted level of service.
Policy 2.1:
The County shall not approve any non-exempt residential development application for comprehensive plan
amendments, rezonings, conceptual plans, preliminary plats, site plans or their functional equivalents until the
School District has issued a School Capacity Availability Determination Letter (SCADL) verifying available capacity.
Policy 2.2:
The County shall consider the following residential uses exempt from the requirements of school concurrency:
a. Lots and parcels of record legally created prior to July 1, 2008.
b. Any new multi-family residential development that has a final site plan approval or its functional equivalent
granted prior to July 1, 2008.
c. Any amendment to any previously approved residential development that does not increase the number of
dwelling units or otherwise does not increase the estimated number of students generated by the development.
d. Age restricted communities with no permanent residents under the age of 18. Exemption of an age restricted
community will be subject to a restrictive covenant limiting the age of permanent residents to 18 years and older.
Policy 2.3:
Except for the exclusions allowed under Policy 2.2, no development order shall be approved unless the appropriate
SCADL verifying adequate capacity has been issued. The following table identifies the type of concurrency certificate
required for each development order type.
• A Conditional SCADL is a determination that adequate school capacity is available at the time of evaluation but
does not vest school capacity. If applicable, a Conditional SCADL may list feasible mitigation options that would be
required of the developer to provide sufficient school capacity to vest the project.
PAGE 133
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
• A Final SCADL vests school capacity. A Final SCADL shall not be required in conjunction with a building permit if the
residential unit is already vested through a previously issued Final SCADL.
Development Order | SCADL Required | Vesting Allowed | Vesting Required
1. Comprehensive Plan Land Use Conditional No No
Amendment and Rezonings
2. Conceptual Development Plan Conditional No No
3. Preliminary Plans Conditional Yes No
4. Final Site Plans and Land Conditional or Yes No
Development Permits for Roads, Final
Drainage, and Utilities
5. Building Permits Final Yes Yes
Vesting is allowed for projects with a proportionate share agreement or an approved developer’s agreement for a
major roadway improvement.
Policy 2.4:
The County, through its land development regulations, shall maintain a school concurrency review process for all
non-exempt residential projects. The minimum process requirements are described below:
a. A School Impact Analysis is submitted to the County in conjunction with any residential development application
(such as a land use map amendment, rezoning, site plan or preliminary plat). The School Impact Analysis indicates
the location of the development, number of dwelling units and unit types (single-family,multi-family, apartments,
etc.), and age restrictions for occupancy, if any.
b. The County determines if the application is sufficient for processing and, when sufficient, transmits the application
to the School District for review.
c. The School District reviews the application for available capacity and issues either a conditional SCADL or a Final
SCADL as allowed in Policy 2.3:
1. If capacity is available within the affected SSA, the School District issues a SCADL verifying available
capacity. Issuance of a Conditional SCADL identifying that adequate capacity exists at the time of capacity evaluation
does not guarantee that school facilities will be available at the time of any subsequent concurrency review.
2. If capacity is not available within the affected SSA, contiguous SSAs are reviewed for available capacity.
3. If capacity is available in the contiguous SSAs, the School District issues a SCADL verifying available
capacity, noting the SSA with capacity.
4. If capacity is not available in the contiguous SSAs, then the School District issues a SCADL indicating that
the development is not in compliance with the adopted LOS and offers the developer a 90 -day negotiation period for
identification of mitigation options acceptable to the School District.
d. The County and the School District shall review mitigation options during the 90-day negotiation period.
1. Mitigation options may include, but are not limited to:
PAGE 134
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
i. Contribution of land in conjunction with the provision of additional school capacity; or
ii. Provision of additional Permanent Student Stations through the donation of buildings for use
as a primary or alternative learning facility; or
iii. Provision of additional Permanent Student Stations through the renovation of existing buildings
for use as learning facilities; or
iv. Construction of Permanent Student Stations or Core Capacity; or
v. Construction of a school in advance of the time set forth in the School District Five-Year
Facilities Work Program: or
vi. Construction of a charter school designed in accordance with School District standards,
providing permanent School Capacity to the District’s inventory of student stations. Use of a charter school for
mitigation must include provisions for its continued existence, including but not limited to the transfer of ownership
of the charter school property and/or operation of the school to the School Board if requested and approved by the
School Board.
2. For a Conditional SCADL, the School District shall identify the mitigation options that may be acceptable
to it. The School District shall not enter into an enforceable and binding agreement with a developer as part of a
Conditional SCADL. Such an agreement may be entered into only in conjunction with a Final SCADL.
3. If all mitigation options are denied at the Conditional SCADL stage or if mitigation is denied at the Final
SCADL stage, the County must deny the development application based upon no available school capacity
e. The County shall not issue a building permit for a non-exempt residential unit unless the unit is vested for school
concurrency purposes, and the County shall not vest approval of any Proposed Residential Development for such
purposes until (i) confirmation is received from the School District that there is sufficient Available School Capacity
to accommodate the development and (ii) impact fees have been paid.
f. The County shall be responsible for notifying the School District when a Proposed Residential Development has
paid its impact fees and when the Development Order for the Proposed Residential Development expires.
g. The School District shall update its School Concurrency Database to reflect the number of students that will be
generated from the newly vested residential unit, decreasing the number of available student stations for each
school type within the designated school service areas.
Policy 2.5:
The County, in conjunction with the School District, shall review developer proposed applications for proportionate
share mitigation projects to add the school capacity necessary to satisfy the impacts of a proposed residential
development.
Policy 2.6: The County shall, upon acceptance of a mitigation option identified in Policy 2.4, enter into an enforceable binding
agreement with the School District and the developer.
Policy 2.7: The County shall notify the School District within 10 working days of receiving payment of school impact fees and
vesting school concurrency for any residential development. Change to 30 days; take out working.
Policy 2.8: The County shall notify the School District within 10 working days of issuance of a building permit for an exempt
residential use and shall notify the School District of each residential certificate of occupancy issued. Change to 30 days; take out working.
Objective 3
All new public schools built within the County will be consistent with the appropriate jurisdiction’s future land use
map designation, will be co-located with other appropriate public facilities, will have needed supporting
infrastructure, and when possible will serve as community focal points.
Policy 3.1: The County, in conjunction with the School District, shall jointly determine the need for and timing of on-site and off-
site improvements necessary to support a new school.
PAGE 135
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Policy 3.2:
The County shall enter into an agreement with the School Board identifying the timing, location, and the party or
parties responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining off-site improvements necessary to support a new
school.
Policy 3.3:
The County shall encourage the location of schools near residential areas by:
a. Assisting the School District in the identification of funding and/or construction opportunities (including developer
participation or County capital budget expenditures) for sidewalks, traffic signalization, access, water, sewer,
drainage and other infrastructure improvements.
b. Reviewing and providing comments on all new school sites.
c. Allowing schools within all residential land use categories.
Policy 3.4: The County, in conjunction with the School District, shall seek opportunities to co-locate public facilities with schools,
such as parks, libraries, and community centers, as the need for these facilities is identified.
Policy 3.5: The County hereby designates the SWG as the monitoring group for coordinated planning and school concurrency in
Indian River County.
Policy 3.6: The County shall maintain school concurrency provisions in its Land Development Regulations (LDR).
Policy 3.7:
The County, in conjunction with the School District and the municipalities within the County, shall identify issues
relating to public school emergency preparedness, such as:
1. The determination of evacuation zones, evacuation routes, and shelter locations.
2. The design and use of public schools as emergency shelters.
3. The designation of sites other than public schools as long-term shelters, to allow schools to resume normal
operations following emergency events.
Policy 3.8:
The County shall advise the School District whether or not proposed changes to the School District’s Long Range
Public School Facilities Map are consistent with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map. Any
changes to the School District’s Long Range Public School Facilities Map will be consistent with the County’s
Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map.
Objective 4 The five-year schedule of capital improvements will include those school projects necessary to address existing
deficiencies and future needs.
Policy 4.1:
The County shall, no later than December 1st of each year, incorporate into the Capital Improvements Element the
“Summary of Capital Improvements Program” and “Summary of Estimated Revenue” tables from the School District’s
annually adopted Five-Year Capital Facilities Plan prepared by the School Board and submitted to the County by
December of the previous year.
Policy 4.2:
The County, in conjunction with the School District, shall annually review the Public School Facilities Element and
maintain a long-range public school facilities map series, including the planned general location of schools and
ancillary facilities for the five-year planning period and the long-range planning period.
PAGE 136
Property Rights Element
GOP Number GOP Language Recommended Action Comments/Rationale
Goal
Indian River County shall make decisions with respect for property rights and
with respect for people’s rights to participate in decisions that affect their lives
and property.
General Comment: due to the nature of the Property Rights Element and
statutory language, no comments or recommendations are provided for this
Element
Objective 1 Indian River County shall respect judicially acknowledged and constitutionally
protected property rights.
Policy 1.1:
The County shall consider in its decision-making the right of a property owner
to physically possess and control his or her interests in the property, including
easements, leases, or mineral rights.
Policy 1.2:
The County shall consider in its decision-making the right of a property owner
to use, maintain, develop, and improve his or her property for personal use or
for the use of any other person, subject to state law and local ordinances.
Policy 1.3: The County shall consider in its decision-making the right of a property owner
to dispose of his or her property through sale or gift.
Policy 1.4: The County shall consider in its decision-making the right of a property owner
to dispose of his or her property through sale or gift.
PREPARED BY:
Indian River County
Comprehensive Plan
Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR)
Appendix B. Public Engagement Summary
EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT 2024
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
PREPARED BY:
Public Engagement
Summary Report
Fall 2023
EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT 2024
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
PREPARED BY:
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES OVERVIEW 1
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS 1
PUBLICCOORDINATE 2
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS 3
ONE WORD – ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION 3
ONE WORD – RESULTS 4
RANKING – ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION 5
RANKING – RESULTS 6
THOUGHT WALL – ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION 6
THOUGHT WALL – RESULTS 7
MAPPING EXERCISE – ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION 9
MAPPING EXERCISE - RESULTS 10
PUBLICCOORDINATE & ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS 12
PUBLICCOORDINATE 12
RESULTS 13
ONLINE SURVEY 16
RESULTS 16
EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT 2024
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
PREPARED BY:
Acknowledgments
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
John Titkanich, Jr., ICMA-CM, AICP
Andrew Sobczak
Chris Balter
Rebeca Guerra
Cindy Thurman
KIMLEY-HORN & ASSOCIATES, INC.
Kelley Klepper, AICP
William Roll, Jr., AICP, CNU-A
Heather Glisson, AICP
Morgan McMullen
Jill Grimaldi, BCES
Tori Bacheler, M.S., PWS
Lisa Celano, M.S., Environmental
Adam Kerr, P.E.
Shelby Graziani, E.I.
Kristina Belt
Molly Williams, P.E.
Kim Arnold, PG
Madeleine Kender, P.E.
PREPARED BY:
FALL 2023
1
EVALUATION AND APPRAISAL REPORT 2024
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
Introduction
In March 2023, Indian River County (the “County”) initiated the process of completing an
Evaluation and Appraisal Review (EAR) of their 2030 Comprehensive Plan (the “Plan”). Each
local government in the state of Florida (the “State”) is required to assess its comprehensive plan
every seven (7) years to determine if plan amendments are necessary to reflect a minimum
planning period of at least 10 years as provided in Florida Statutes (F.S.) 163.3177(5) or to reflect
changes in state requirements in this part since the last update of the comprehensive plan. The
County engaged the support of Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., (“Kimley-Horn”) to complete
the EAR in conjunction with County Staff (“Staff”). Further, the County invited citizens into this
process to collect community input on its Comprehensive Plan (the “Plan”) and inform any
recommendations for updates to the Plan, now and in the near future. Indian River County
hosted public engagement activities during the fall of 2023; these activities and their
results are summarized in this report.
Engagement Activities Overview
In-Person and Online Public Workshops
The County facilitated six (6) public workshops over the course of three (3) separate days.
Hybrid Meeting: In-Person and via Zoom.
‡ Due to technical difficulties, audio was not recorded for this hybrid meeting.
In addition to a brief presentation explaining the EAR process and eight (8) key elements – out of
twelve (12) elements – of the Plan. These public workshops focused on:
Future Land Use
Public Infrastructure
Transportation
Economic Development
Housing
Coastal Management
Conservation
Parks & Recreation
Each workshop included five (5)
stations to collect community input
using thought-provoking activities. Station activity descriptions will be provided in more detail
No
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6:30pm -7:30pm No
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6:30pm -7:30pm De
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
while exploring the input collected in this report. Attendees were also invited to speak directly to
on-site County Staff to ask questions and provide input. They were given the opportunity to
provide miscellaneous feedback through an Additional Comments open-ended response form.
Approximately 298 people attended these public workshops, based on Sign-In Sheets.
PublicCoordinate
Using Kimley-Horn’s proprietary software,
PublicCoordinate, community feedback was
collected through an interactive online map and
multi-question survey hosted through
SurveyMonkey and available as part of the
PublicCoordinate landing page. PublicCoordinate
enables the public to select a topic, place a point for
that topic on the map to provide a location reference
for the comment, and then provide an open-ended
comment on the point they placed. PublicCoordinate
is a secure software with measures in place to
prevent spam comments. PublicCoordinate meets
ADA web accessibility standards and provides
language translation options, to make the software
as accessible to the public as possible. This tool was available between November 16, 2023,
through December 31, 2023, and received a total of 284 responses. The interactive map and
survey were made available again temporarily between February 1, 2024, through February 15,
2024. No additional responses were received during the temporary reopening of these systems.
Copies of the Workshop presentation and substantially unedited collected data are available in the Appendices.
Responses were edited for brevity and/or profanity, but the comment's intent was retained to the extent feasible.
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In-Person and Online Public Workshops
A total of six (6) public workshops were held in three different locations. Four of the six meetings
were hybrid, offering a Zoom alternative to listen to the meeting presentation and provide
feedback or ask questions via the Zoom chat feature, which was monitored closely during all
hybrid meetings.
At each workshop, Staff introduced the purpose and importance of the workshop, then introduced
the Consultant team supporting Staff in this important document review, Kimley-Horn. Kimley-
Horn provided a brief presentation to all in attendance, discussing what a comprehensive plan is,
what it isn’t, and some of the most important elements in the comprehensive plan on which we
were seeking their perspective.
This section of the report provides a brief description of each activity and a summary of the results.
Each sub-section will further note which Appendix provides the unedited raw data.
One Word – Activity Description
The One Word station enabled in-person attendees to review three separate One Word topics,
as shown in the images below. Attendees were asked to provide one word in response to each
question on the slip of paper and to respond to each topic area.
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One Word – Results
Today & The Future
Highest Estimated Growth
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - TODAY
The top results for what the community desires
more of include: Beautiful, Quiet, Comfortable,
Small Town Feel, Livable.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – THE FUTURE
The top results for what the community desires less
of include: Crowded; Congested; Busier; with
Controlled or Planned Growth and Conservative
Growth tying for the last two spots.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - GROWTH
The top concerns related to the
County reaching its maximum
growth potential include: Traffic and
Environment, followed by a tie between
Transportation, Congestion, Sprawl,
Water, and Jobs.
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Less of/More of
Ranking – Activity Description
Attendees were provided a set of six (6)
stickers featuring key themes in the long-
term planning process and asked to rank
them individually in order of importance. The six (6) themes included Economic Development,
Land Use & Development,
Environmental Conservation,
Transportation, Parks &
Recreation, and Housing.
The ranking board was
provided as a 24” x 36”
printout, and each of the six
(6) workshops were provided
with fresh activity boards.
1 equals lowest priority
6 equals highest priority
MORE OF
The top results for what the community desires
more of included: Affordable Housing, Conservation,
High Paying Jobs, Multiuse Trails, and Green Spaces.
LESS OF
The top results for what the community desires less
of included: People, Storage Units, Traffic, Car Washes,
and Restrictions [on development].
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Ranking – Results
The results of the ranking activity across all
sessions are shown on the left. Land Use
was ranked, on balance, as the
community's number one priority,
whereas Economic Development ranked
at the bottom. It is worth noting that on
average, each category ranked nearly the
same in priority, ranging from only 3.14 to
4.29. Regardless, these averages further
confirm the results shown on the left,
reflecting the same order of priority.
Land Use 4.29
Environmental Conservation 4.15
Housing 3.92
Transportation 3.33
Parks and Recreation 3.22
Economic Development 3.14
Thought Wall – Activity Description
The Thought Wall provides six (6) thematic boards: Economic Development, Land Use,
Environmental Conservation, Parks & Recreation, Housing, and Transportation. Attendees were
provided three (3) yellow post-its and one (1) pink post-it. The yellow post-its are
to provide any thoughts related to a particular topic and post them to that topic. Attendees
are asked to write their most important thought on the pink post-it.
Land Use
Environmental Conservation
Housing
Transportation
Parks & Recreation
Economic Development
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Thought Wall – Results
This exercise collects numerous, miscellaneous thoughts limited to the six thematic categories to
inform the Plan’s understanding of existing conditions. By having participants self-select a
planning theme for each of their thoughts, a frequency of priority (post-its per theme) and an
intensity of priority (most important thoughts per theme) may be determined.
This data visualization provides the flowing insights:
1. High Priority Themes (based on total number of comments): Land Use & Development,
Transportation, and Environmental Conservation.
2. Priority Thoughts (pink post-its) were highest for Housing, Transportation, and
Environmental Conservation respectively.
3. General Thoughts (yellow post-its) were fairly evenly spread across topics, peaking at
49 entries for Land Use & Development, whereas the fewest were applied to Housing,
though this may be associated with the high rate of pink post-its applied there.
4. Least Popular: In alignment with the Ranking Activity previously discussed, Parks &
Recreation and Economic Development received the fewest comments among the
categories.
On the following page, a table provides a summary of needs and suggestions provided by
attendees from all workshop sessions combined. The comments received via this exercise have
not been reproduced below verbatim but combined and summarized as appropriate. Italicized
Words or phrases were included on pink post-its one or more times between all six sessions.
Italicizing these words and phrases enables an at-a-glance understanding of the highest-priority
thoughts provided by the community.
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Planning
Theme Summary of Needs and Suggestions1
Transportation
Pedestrian and bicyclist improvements: Safe sidewalks and trails, dedicated bike/multi-use
paths, and prioritize vulnerable road user safety
Better transit services: Increase hours and routes and include more frequent pick-ups
Improve: Street connectivity, road maintenance, street lighting, transit availability in low-
income areas, dirt roads, and the diversity of transportation alternatives
Add green space
Consider and manage the impact of growth on traffic
Encourage walkable mixed-use development
Most respondents not in favor of Brightline Stop in IRC, though one is in favor
Housing
Affordable housing: Must be a top priority. A new approach is needed. Lower-cost areas
should have high access to transit. The diversity of housing options must increase.
Affordable senior living areas and workforce housing should each be encouraged or
incentivized, and accessory dwelling units should be considered.
Plan for housing the homeless
Explore mitigating or reducing trailer parks
Land Use &
Development
Maintain the urban service boundary
Control and manage development, prevent urban sprawl
Increase mixed-use developments
Incentivize green housing and construction
Increase conservation efforts, including but not limited to: Protect the Indian River Lagoon,
and focus on preserving green space, agricultural land, and open spaces
Reduce automobile reliance and disallow septic tanks
Economic
Development
Economic growth (controlled) and job creation in specific areas
Increase job diversification, especially the availability of opportunities for higher-paying jobs,
youth jobs, and jobs for the low-income population
Promote redevelopment of underutilized areas
Eliminate height restrictions west of I-95
Industrial / Development zone
Encourage sustainable industries and promote locally-owned small businesses
Seek innovation, such as through a partnership with a university
Parks &
Recreation
Add green spaces, trails, and recreational facilities for people of all ages and abilities
Maintain existing parks and beaches, including making them more accessible for seniors and
disabled individuals
Create a countywide sidewalk and multi-use recreational trail network
Enhance park amenities based on community needs
Encourage and invite private sector involvement in providing recreation options
Specific suggestions: Increase the number of pickleball courts and public golf courses,
develop more lagoon parks with boat-dock access, schedule County-sponsored activities that
accommodate working individuals, add an “IG type center” in the northern portion of the
County, increase promotion of local recreation opportunities
Environmental
Conservation
Protect and preserve: Water quality, wildlife habitats, agricultural lands, trees, open green
land / natural land.
Maintain and improve stormwater management
Control the negative side effects of growth on the environment, including but not limited to
reducing the removal of mature trees for new development
Designate more conservation areas and increase conservation efforts
Implement stricter environmental protection rules, including requiring sewer hookup and
increasing mitigation costs for developers
Provide ecotourism opportunities
1. Italicized items were priority thoughts provided on one or numerous pink post-its for a given theme.
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Mapping Exercise – Activity Description
For the Mapping Exercise, four (4) maps of the County were provided to display its four quadrants,
allowing for the maps to be zoomed in more closely for increased legibility.
Attendees had up to 21 stickers to choose from across six (6) topics:
Land Use: Shopping Center, Gas Station, Industrial / Manufacturing, Office
Transportation: Bus Stop, Sidewalk / Trail, Bicycle Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure: Water, Sewer, Stormwater/Flooding
Recreation: Recreation Center, Sports Field / Court, Playground, Waterfront Access, Pool
Conservation/Coastal: Habitat Preservation, Wildlife Preservation, Rural Preservation
Housing: Single Family, Duplex / Townhome, Multifamily
Attendees were invited to place stickers on the maps using the available stickers. Placement of a
sticker “as-is” would indicate a desire to see that item in that location, e.g., placing a Shopping
Center sticker “as-is” on the map would indicate that person would like a Shopping Center-like
development there. However, if one did not wish to see something, such as a Gas Station, one
could put an “X” over the gas station on the sticker and then place the sticker on the map as
desired. Attendees were not limited in the number of stickers they could use nor restricted
categorically. For example, an attendee could have picked up five (5) bus stop stickers, two (2)
stormwater stickers, and three (3) bicycle infrastructure stickers. That person then had the
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freedom to place all ten (10) stickers on one of the quadrant maps or place them on various maps.
Additionally, it’s important to note that the quadrant maps have overlapping land areas, which
were minimized to the extent feasible, but may influence the frequency of a particular topic in a
particular location, such as if attendees applied the same sticker to the same land area on more
than one quadrant map. Despite this conceptual duplication of data, it is favorably interpreted in
this write-up to represent the intensity of the importance of the topic to the attendees.
Mapping Exercise - Results
The mapping exercise results must be considered from multiple perspectives. This report focuses
on the frequency of the presence of each topic, in each quadrant and across all quadrants totaled.
It is equally important to consider the placement of the stickers, which is best done by reviewing
the map results from each session, available separately from this document.
The Northeast and Southeast maps each received the most stickers, and given this is largely the
urban area, that is to be expected. Attendees across all sessions primarily placed stickers related
to wanting:
Preservation (12% habitat, 11% rural land, and 12% wildlife)
Residential Development (6% single family, 7% duplex/townhouse, and 5% multifamily)
Public Infrastructure (4% sewer extension or improvements and 5%
stormwater/flooding extension or improvements)
Recreational Opportunities (3% recreation centers and 3% waterfront access)
Transportation Infrastructure (7% for bicycle infrastructure extension or improvements
and 7% for sidewalk/trail extension or improvements)
One (1) sticker specifically noted that any single-family housing developments should be
affordable, and approximately five (5) stickers specified that equestrians were the type of wildlife
that should be preserved.
As for developments or services not wanted, attendees primarily noted where they did not wish
to see any multifamily (24%) or single-family (24%) developments.
See the next page for a tabular breakdown of sticker frequency.
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Map Quadrant Topic NW NE SW SE Total % Xs %
Commercial Development: Office(s) 0 2 0 2 4 1% 0 0%
Commercial Development: Gas Station(s) 0 5 0 9 14 3% 3 6%
Commercial Development: Shopping Centers 0 3 0 9 12 3% 3 6%
Housing - Duplex/Townhouse Development(s) 1 9 1 16 27 7% 7 14%
Housing - Multifamily Development(s) 1 12 1 8 22 5% 12 24%
Housing - Single Family Development(s) 1 7 1 16 25 6% 12 24%
Industrial Manufacturing Developments 2 4 4 10 20 5% 3 6%
Preservation - Habitat 11 17 8 11 47 12% 0 0%
Preservation - Rural Land 11 10 13 9 43 11% 0 0%
Preservation - Wildlife 12 18 9 8 47 12% 0 0%
Public Infrastructure: Sewer Extension or Improvements 0 10 0 8 18 4% 1 2%
Public Infrastructure: Stormwater / Flooding Extension or Improvements 2 11 1 5 19 5% 0 0%
Public Infrastructure: Water Extension or Improvements 0 4 0 4 8 2% 1 2%
Recreational Opportunities: Playground(s) (New or Improvements) 1 0 0 1 2 0% 0 0%
Recreational Opportunities: Public Pool 0 2 0 3 5 1% 1 2%
Recreational Opportunities: Recreation Center 0 8 0 3 11 3% 1 2%
Recreational Opportunities: Sports Field(s)/Court(s) 0 4 0 1 5 1% 1 2%
Recreational Opportunities: Waterfront Access 0 3 0 8 11 3% 2 4%
Transportation Infrastructure: Bicycle Extension or Improvements 12 9 3 6 30 7% 3 6%
Transportation Infrastructure: Bus Stop(s) (New or Improved) 0 3 0 3 6 1% 0 0%
Transportation Infrastructure: Sidewalk/Trail Extension or Improvement 4 7 1 16 28 7% 0 0%
Totals 58 148 42 156 404 100% 50 100%
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
Geographically, the community expressed interest in preservation (habitat, rural land, and wildlife)
especially in the County's northeast, northwest, and southwest areas, which is on balance
consistent with the existing development patterns in the County. The community would like to see
more housing and commercial or industrial developments in the eastern portion of the County, a
portion that is generally urbanized. Recreational opportunity desires were focused in the
northeast. Finally, bicycle infrastructure extensions or improvements were primarily requested in
the northern portion of the County while sidewalk/trail infrastructure extensions or improvements
were primarily requested in the eastern portion of the County.
PublicCoordinate & Online Survey Results
PublicCoordinate
PublicCoordinate, a proprietary mapping software created by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.,
shares project information with the public and gathers comments online and interactively in a
user-friendly map-based platform. In addition to collecting geographically specific feedback on
any project, it integrates seamlessly with SurveyMonkey to display custom surveys within the map
sidebar. The software meets web accessibility guidelines to which state and federal agencies are
required to adhere.
Indian River County’s PublicCoordinate project was available between November 16, 2023,
through December 31, 2023, during which time 284 comments were made on the map. The
County’s project map was briefly reopened for the first two weeks of February 2024, during which
time no new comments were received.
Users had the opportunity to select between six themes: Commercial / Office, Conservation,
Housing, Infrastructure, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation. Users then may place that
theme in an area of the map on which they would like to leave a comment related to that theme.
Comments are open-ended responses, and other users can reply to comments, which are
similarly open-ended. The following table shows the breakdown of comments and replies received
by category.
Theme Total Parent Comments Total Replies
Commercial / Office 16 19
Conservation 11 51
Housing 7 21
Infrastructure 17 35
Parks and Recreation 27 48
Transportation 10 22
Totals 88 196
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
Results
Note: The following comments have not been edited for grammatical accuracy. Further, they are
provided as a representative summary of comments received for each theme.
Transportation
Location: 27°43'56.8"N 80°40'06.7"W
“These train horns need to be stopped as was done in PBC. With Brightline laying on the
horn 32 times a day. It’s out of control. Also early morning horns are 4:30am, 5:30 –
unacceptable!!!
o “Agree”
o “Agree, the crossing gates and light should be sufficient.”
o “If we have more protected crossings it would reduce horns.”
Location: Riverside Park
“Consider a ferry service that goes from Riverside park to the future "power plant"
redevelopment area. Combine this with a regular trolley service from riverside park to
Ocean avenue on the island side ... and a regular trolley on the mainland side that
connects the power plant area, miracle mile, downtown (14th). These three routes
together would connect a number of major entertainment/retail/tourist locations via public
transport. Ideally we could designate more of the area at riverside park for parking or find
another location that connects into these routes thereby making ALL sites accessible
without driving between them.”
o “This idea is critical to the proper development of the Power Plant property.”
Location: Intersection of US-1 and 41st St
“We need a road that goes over the railroad tracks and provides access to the hospital
from the west that is not interrupted by trains. 41st is the best bet. Create a bridge over
the RR tracks and highway 1. The land to the east of 1 and to the south of 4st is mostly
open and we could build a road that connects into the hospital area easily. A civil engineer
with road experience could design something better but my ammeter eyes on the map
shows that SOMETHING is doable here. Do this before that open area off 41st toward the
hospital is built out!”
“Every city should have some roadways that are not interrupted by train travel. This is a
potential disaster situation especially since most of the crossings are so close to US 1
where even short delays can cause huge tie up.”
“This is the ideal place to have an overpass that crosses the railroad tracks from west to
east and provides access to the hospital. The area to the south of 41st to the east of
highway 1 is largely undeveloped and a road to the hospital could easily be built. Moreover
creating such a route would create the opportunity for a "healthcare zone" between 41st
and 37th along the new road.”
“We should have more than one overpass over the rail crossings.”
Location: 20th Street downtown
“Control of vehicle speeds through downtown should be encouraged and alternative
higher speed through access should be encouraged around and outside downtown.”
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
“If you wish lower speed post the limits and then enforce it. Speeding is not discouraged
in this city. There are speeders in some locations every day. Our police do nothing to
discourage it. Please look at the bridges, or A1A Beach side. It's everywhere. Take a look
at the stop signs also, in Vero Beach it has come to mean slow down and roll on through.”
“I would be cautious about planning an "alternative higher speed thru-way access"
around/outside downtown VB. It will disincentivize drivers from visiting downtown VB and
bypass the city altogether. The only ones who would drive into the downtown would be
the workers. And, if no one is coming into downtown to spend $$ (shops, restaurants, etc),
there will be no places to work!”
Commercial / Office
Location: Area NW of the intersection of Oslo Rd and 82nd Avenue
“This isn't for comm'l/retail, but there isn't an option for industrial development. I am looking
forward to the interchange being completed, as this area is designated for industrial use,
per the county's FLU map.”
Location: Intersection of 14th Ave and 21st St
“This is a key intersection and we should explore how we can build around it. 14th avenue
restaurants. Revitalize area galleries. Look to encourage other destination
establishments. If there is a downtown revitalization it will start her and extend past 20th
street in a north/south pattern.”
Location: General Downtown Vero Beach
“Mixed use housing/commercial should be incentivized in the Vero Beach core of the
existing downtown and penalties should be place to reduce sprawl.”
Parks & Recreation
Location: Vero Beach Municipal Power Plant
“Tear Down this ugly power plant. The only people that care about preserving such an
eyesore are not the people that will drive the future of this city or this area. The American
Icon Brewery was a different story - a cool brick building with a little history.”
“The building has height that can't be replicated. The American Icon Brewery building was
an ugly eyesore for years, the renovation is what made it beautiful and relevant once
again. Our former power plant can also be transformed similar to the renovation in
Savannah GA.”
Location: South of Intersection of Indian River Blvd and Tarpon Drive
“Greenways should be encouraged and major public thoroughfares should relieve greater
attention to landscaping.”
o “I agree and would encourage green space when possible.”
Location: CubeSmart Self Storage (901 20th St, Vero beach, FL 32960)
“Why was this allowed to become a massive mini-storage facility located in the heart of
downtown Vero Beach? This should not have occurred in 2023, planners and politicians
should understand the consequences of this sort of decision.”
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
“This was the largest open space within our city that our leaders claim they wish to
revitalize. They should have changed the current zoning to prevent the waste of this
valuable space.”
“I so agree, where was the planning on this?”
Infrastructure
Location: Intersection of US-1 and S Indian River Dr
“Need traffic light. Past growth and new growth plans makes this dangerous.”
“It's obvious, try to pull out here without getting killed.”
Housing
Location: Indian River Mall
“I would love to see some sort of housing mix take over the closed stores at the IR Mall.
Other communities have done this successfully. It might be worth contacting the owners
to see what their interest level is.”
Location: Vero Beach Downtown
“Mixed use housing/commercial should be incentivized in the Vero Beach core of the
existing downtown and penalties should be place to reduce sprawl.”
“This thought would have worked well where we now have a giant storage facility.”
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
Online Survey
The online survey was hosted through SurveyMonkey and available through PublicCoordinate.
300 responses were received, though not all surveys were fully completed since most questions
were optional. There were approximately 19 questions on the survey. Not all questions are
summarized below, as they related to understanding who was responding to the survey, not
questions on their feedback to the County’s comprehensive planning questions.
Results
Q1: What type of Land Use does Indian River County need?
The most commonly reported land uses needed include Conservation, Housing, and Agriculture.
Respondents were also welcome to provide open-ended responses, of which there were 51. The
main points respondents made were:
There is a need for affordable housing, parks, green spaces, recreational facilities, more
shopping options, and urgent care facilities.
Recreational tourist sites such as museums and aquariums are important destinations.
It is necessary to:
o Refurbish main streets while preserving their character
o Preserve the natural environment, including the Indian River and mangroves
o Balance development with conservation
o Ensure all members of the community have access to affordable housing and
quality amenities
Q2: Where is new development or redevelopment needed? Please identify the type and location (e.g.,
address, intersection, or general location).
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 212 respondents
answered the question. A summary of the responses is provided:
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
Some people express a need for more industry and job creation, while others emphasize the
importance of protecting natural resources. Many suggest that redevelopment of existing
buildings and areas should be prioritized over new development. Affordable housing, higher-
density housing, and community gardens are also mentioned as potential areas of focus. Some
areas are specifically identified as ripe for revitalization, including South County, Wabasso, and
Gifford. There is also a call for more sidewalks and bike paths throughout the county.
Respondents expressed that there is no need for new development in the HOA Housing area, but
instead, the redevelopment of 21st Street is necessary, along with better shopping and retail
options to improve its overall appearance. Along Route 1/5, various businesses such as car
washes, motels, and random businesses need to be refreshed, while the businesses along Route
60 from 74th Avenue to 95 are also an eyesore. Lastly, there is a mention of the Indian River Mall
and the West of I-95 region.
Q3: If the County reaches its highest estimated growth potential, what would be your top concern?
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 273 respondents
answered the question. A summary of the responses is provided:
Respondents discuss a variety of concerns related to growth and development, including the
conservation of green areas and open spaces, creating parks, compromising water quality,
improving roads and traffic signals, traffic congestion and roadway capacity, there being too many
people for the fragile ecosystem, lack of affordable housing for workers, too much low-quality
housing, inadequate infrastructure, loss of wildlife habitats, the proliferation of strip malls, and the
impact of the growth on the environment and the County’s quality of life. The community
encourages balancing growth and conservation, promoting environmentally responsible
development, improving infrastructure, preserving open spaces, promoting diverse housing
options, and cultivating a diverse economy.
Q4: What are the most important environmental issues in Indian River County?
The most important environmental issues in Indian River County include: the quality of beaches,
rivers, and lakes; open space/habitats; wildlife preservation; and drinking water quality.
Of 50 open-ended comments submitted for this question, respondents mentioned various
environmental concerns such as toxins in the environment, sea level rise, stormwater, lagoon
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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY Indian River County EAR
pollution, natural habitat preservation, flooding, septic tanks, and climate change. Additionally,
there is a call to leave Vero natural and undeveloped and mention the benefits of reduced traffic
and overcrowding. Community members additionally expressed concerns about traffic, noise
pollution, and overbuilding. Several people want the County’s natural beauty maintained and for
sustainable practices to be promoted, including providing organic waste pickup services.
Q5: What natural/environmental resources are most important to the County? How should these resources
be protected? Please identify the resource and why it should be protected.
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 234 respondents
answered the question. A summary of the responses is provided:
Water is abundant and can be used for outdoor recreation and fishing, but it needs to be
uncontaminated, and chemicals should not be used.
Protecting seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon can prevent biodiversity loss.
Preserving land and water is important, and limiting housing development can reduce
traffic, pollution, and water problems.
Protecting the waterways, particularly the Indian River Lagoon and Blue Cypress Lake, is
of utmost importance for the natural environment and the county's economic vitality.
Development should be slowed, and no more housing developments should be built to
protect the land and water.
Wetlands, scrub jay, and gopher tortoise habitats should be preserved and conserved.
Stricter boating and septic regulations are necessary to improve water quality.
Water treatment plants should be used instead of septic tanks, and everyone should be
hooked up to sewer.
The sheriff's department should be given the resources and responsibility for protecting
County wildlife and parks.
Ditches and canals can serve the community for outdoor recreation and fishing, but
chemicals should not be used.
Rural areas, ranches, and farms should be conserved, and agriculture should be
encouraged.
Q6: What are the biggest transportation needs in Indian River County?
Respondents identified the biggest transportation needs in the County as roadway improvements,
better sidewalks and crosswalks, safety improvements, better transit service, more on-street bike
lanes, and additional parking.
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended answers to this question as well, and 71
comments were received. A summary of the responses is provided:
Request for a light to be installed at the intersection of S Indian River Drive and US 1
Suggestion for landscaping public rights of way
Concerns about bike lanes being potentially dangerous. More bike lanes and paths are
desired, as well as increased police presence to deter dangerous driving.
Request for unpaved roads to be paved
Promote natural trails instead of concrete sidewalks, including a proposal for hiking trails
to be created in existing conservation areas
Reduce speed limits and enforce traffic laws
Synchronize traffic signals
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Improve roadways at rail crossing intersections to improve safety
Add electric charging stations
Increase connectivity between communities through public transit
Q7: Are there specific streets that need to be improved? If so, how? Please identify the street segment and
the improvement that is needed (e.g., address, intersection, or general location).
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 171 respondents
answered the question. A summary of the responses is provided:
Respondents identified various complaints and issues related to road maintenance and traffic in
Vero Beach. These include unpaved and unkept roads in residential areas; flooding on 73rd Street
(east of Route 1), 18th Street, Jungle Trail, and 5th Court; disruptive road work during the season,
reduction in Twin Pairs lanes to manage speed, and the need for a 4-lane road from US 1 to 512
at Shark Mart intersection. Some comments requested a larger focus on walking and/or biking
trails along roadways, including Roseland Road. The community emphasized preparing for future
development, especially industrial, and encouraged connections to existing and new roadways to
support the movement of goods, services, and people. US-1 and 510 were both identified more
than once as unsafe for bicyclists. Respondents recommend adding right-turn lanes along US 1,
between 8th Street and 20th Street, or providing a different solution, such as overpasses, to reduce
the bottleneck through traffic experiences. Guard rails were requested on 4th Street, 8th Street,
12th Street, 16th Street, and 20th Avenue. 12th Street between 58th and 66th is identified as a
dangerous road that needs to be improved as soon as possible. Paving unpaved roadways was
requested, with “16 and 12 Avenues east of 98 Street” being called out in particular. Many
respondents expressed concerns about the ability of the transportation network to handle future
capacity needs. The community at large called for more walkable downtowns, better paving
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across the entire network, and additional parking for downtown. One respondent noted that the
Oslo crossing at the railroad east of Old Dixie is especially dangerous, as they have twice
witnessed cars stopped on the tracks due to the topography and roadway geometry. Road
maintenance issues identified across the network include poorly maintained roadway paint,
resulting in confusion, as well as overgrowth from bushes and trees creating blind spots. Many
community members call for stricter speed restrictions and/or stronger enforcement of such
restrictions.
Q8: Indian River County needs more: ________
Respondents identified affordable housing,
as well as housing for young adults,
families, new residents, and retirees as
equally important needs for the County.
The County additionally needs workforce
housing and conventional neighborhoods.
Respondents additionally left 62 comments on this question. In summary:
Several concerns were raised, including a request to stop building as there is enough,
enforcement of loitering in parks, adding conservation areas to green spaces, preserving the quiet
and unique character of Vero, and a general sentiment against more development in Indian River
County. Respondents recommended: farms (agricultural, citrus, and/or co-op), innovative
residential development regulations and patterns (clustered subdivisions, granny flats, “land-
efficient” housing, low-impact development [LID] practices, and inclusive housing), affordable
housing for low-wage earners, more middle-class housing, senior-friendly housing, community-
focused developments with improved aesthetics and walkability, transportation-oriented
development, more green space, and mixed-use neighborhoods.
FALL 2023
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Q9: Where should new households be located (e.g., in existing neighborhoods; in undeveloped areas; in
downtown; in mixed-use developments)?
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 211 respondents
answered the question. A summary of the responses is provided:
One respondent suggested disallowing new housing unless it will positively impact the
community's current water infrastructure issues, and that no development should be permitted to
destroy natural habitats completely. Respondents recommend mixed-use development (vertically
and horizontally), in-fill development in existing neighborhoods, and a combination of approaches
for new households, focusing on areas where services like water and sewer can be or are already
provided before moving on elsewhere. Adaptive reuse of existing buildings to create housing is
suggested. Finally, the community is concerned about urban sprawl. Increasing density in built-
up areas, adapting non-residential buildings into housing, and in-fill development in existing
neighborhoods are the three main themes across responses.
One contributor wrote:
“At IRNA [Indian River Neighborhood Association], we believe that new low-income
housing should be strategically located to support community integration and access to
essential services. Integrating affordable housing within existing neighborhoods can foster
diverse, inclusive communities and prevent the segregation of income groups. It's also
beneficial to consider locations near downtown areas, where residents can have easy
access to employment opportunities, public transportation, and amenities. Mixed-use
developments are particularly promising, as they combine residential living with
commercial, cultural, and institutional entities. This approach can reduce the need for
transportation, lower living costs, and create a vibrant, active community. Additionally,
developing low-income housing in areas planned for growth, where infrastructure can
support increased density, ensures that such development is sustainable and beneficial
for the entire community. In all cases, it's essential that these housing initiatives are
undertaken with a focus on smart growth principles, ensuring that they enhance rather
than detract from the existing character and needs of the county's diverse regions. We at
IRNA are committed to advocating for housing solutions that not only provide affordability
but also contribute positively to the overall quality of life for all residents.”
Despite the overarching themes described above, there are community proponents of
development being pushed to undeveloped areas, especially western portions of the County.
FALL 2023
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Q10: What park amenities does Indian River County need more of?
Respondents identified the biggest transportation needs in the County as roadway improvements,
better sidewalks and crosswalks, safety improvements, better transit service, more on-street bike
lanes, and additional parking.
Respondents additionally left 49 comments on this question. In summary, these comments
recommended:
Better maintenance of existing resources
Developing a greenway on Dixie Highway in Roseland
Playgrounds incorporated into natural areas
Dog beaches and parks
Water and open space conservation
More pickleball facilities, basketball courts, safe places to hike, affordable campgrounds,
marinas and boat storage facilities, public pools, bike trails, boat and kayak launches,
skateparks, racquetball courts, outdoor fitness parks, passive recreation areas such as for
birding, and indoor/outdoor music venues
More senior programming and summer activities for low-income children
Separate fee structures for County versus non-County residents
Adaptive reuse of the old power plant as an event or entertainment venue
Q11: Where are parks needed and where are there existing parks that need improvements? Please identify
the type and location (e.g., address, intersection, or general location).
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 132 respondents
answered the question. A summary of the responses is provided.
Residents in Indian River County have expressed their desire for improved maintenance of
existing parks, more access to natural areas, and better distribution of parks throughout the
County. Some specific requests include more sports fields, better bike paths, more dog-friendly
parks, and an expanded park and picnic area at the north tip of Indian River County. There is also
a growing need for specialized parks that cater to specific ages, interests, and activities such as
dog parks, skate parks, and community gardens. The Indian River Neighborhood Association
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(IRNA) encourages prioritizing natural parks and trails that preserve the County's beautiful
landscapes and wildlife habitats while providing residents with serene spaces for outdoor
activities. IRNA also advocates for the expansion of trails that connect different parts of the
County, promote a healthy lifestyle, and provide safe, non-motorized routes for commuting and
leisure. Finally, IRNA is committed to ensuring that these parks are integrated thoughtfully into
the county's planning and provide maximum benefit to the community while preserving the
environmental integrity of our natural surroundings.
The community emphasized the importance of protecting and maintaining beach fronts and dunes
with limited access to certain areas. They have noticed an increasing amount of litter.
The respondents generally suggested:
Acquire properties for active or passive recreation, such as
Acquire properties for conservation, such as near the river off 73rd Place
Build walking trails other than sidewalks and off-street bicycle facilities
Parks are needed in a variety of places – some respondents named specific subdivisions
while others named general community areas. This includes Vero Lakes Estate, West
Vero Corridor, south of Oslo Road, off 58th south side, land at the “point of US 1 and Indian
River Drive before the bridge to Brevard County”, Wabasso Beach, the south end of the
County, near 66th Avenue, waterfront parks, Vero Beach, Sebastian, the western area of
the County,
Park improvements are needed at Pocahontas Park, 14th Street Downtown Park, the
boardwalk (specifically plantings), Charles Park,
Provide recreation areas that provide good viewing areas for Space Port launches
Add a swimming pool in the southern area of the County, potentially near the IG Center
Increase the frequency of invasive species removal in conservation areas, such as the
North Sebastian Conservation Area
Future housing developments be required to provide recreational space
Captain Forster Hammock Preserve has great potential but the current trails are limited
and not maintained
Develop a complex like the IG Center in the northern area of the County
Acquire land to develop a facility similar to Markham Park in Broward County which has
something for everyone.
Improve local neighborhoods with pocket parks
FALL 2023
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PREPARED BY:
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Q12: What kind of economic development does Indian River County need (commercial, office, or industrial)?
196 respondents answered this question. Half of the respondents determined the County needs
commercial development. Of the remaining respondents, industrial development was emphasized
over office development.
Q13: Where do you envision new or redeveloped economic development opportunities going in the County?
Please identify a location (e.g., address, intersection, or general location) and type of development.
Respondents were invited to provide open-ended responses to this question. 173 respondents
answered the question. A summary of the responses is provided.
People suggest various locations for economic development opportunities in Indian River County.
Several people mention the need for industrial and commercial development, particularly in the
west of the County, near I-95 and Route 60. There is also a desire for more commercial amenities,
such as grocery stores, closer to downtown and residential areas, and for more local businesses
to set up shop. Some people suggest attracting new industries, such as the tech industry or space
travel program, to replace the lost agriculture industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic
that resulted in a shift to increased remote workers, it is suggested the County should invest in its
digital infrastructure, create coworking spaces, and advertise its high quality of life to position
Indian River County as an attractive destination for remote workers. Finally, there are concerns
about traffic congestion in residential areas and the need for more medical office space in
Sebastian. Responses emphasized redevelopment over new development.
The community generally envisions new or redeveloped economic development opportunities
occurring:
Along 14th Avenue, Route 60, 512, US 1, Highway 110, the Miracle Mile area, Aviation
Boulevard, and 85th Street between US 1 and 86th Avenue
At the Indian River Mall, “Three Corners”, “Four Corners”
Via adaptive reuse of existing buildings, especially the old power plant
Near I-95 interchanges such as Route 60 and the future Oslo Road interchange –
industrial development is the preference here
Where it will support sustainable growth and minimize environmental impact
To attract Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe’s
In Fellsmere, downtown Vero, or by the airport
By the Lagoon, similar to Bayfront Park in Miami, which features businesses, restaurants,
entertainment, marina, boat slips, and fishing all in one spot
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Q14: What is your email address (to join mailing list)?
Due to the personally identifying nature of this question, no summary of responses will be
provided in this report.
Q15: Which of the following best describe you?
248 respondents answered this question. The majority of respondents (87.9%) are full-time
residents of the County. Approximately 16% own a business or own property in the County,
comparatively.
FALL 2023
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Q16: If you are a resident, how long have you lived here?
244 respondents answered this question. Nearly 40% of respondents have lived in the County
for more than 15 years. Otherwise, the majority (approximately 45%) have lived in the County
for less than 10 years.
FALL 2023
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Q17: What is your age?
248 respondents answered this question. The majority (55.24%) of respondents were 65 years
of age or older. Of the remaining respondents, most were between 45 and 64. No respondents
identified as 17 or younger, and only 1 respondent identified as between 18 and 24.
FALL 2023
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Q18: Do you own or rent your home?
243 respondents answered this question. The majority of survey takers own their own home.
Q19: Do you have any additional comments?
This final question was an open-ended response opportunity. 132 respondents answered this
question. Some of the main themes include a desire for more grassroots efforts, relationship
building between public service and residents, public/private sector collaboration, and a plan for
growth that balances economic and environmental goals. Many residents expressed concerns
about uncontrolled growth, crime, traffic, lack of healthcare, and the impact on the local economy.
There are also calls for more walking and biking trails and a focus on sustainable development
practices.
Individual Maps and Comments received during the Community Workshops are provided in the
following section of this Appendix.