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The Florida Senate

2009 Florida Statutes

SECTION 3177
Required and optional elements of comprehensive plan; studies and surveys.
Section 163.3177, Florida Statutes 2009

163.3177  Required and optional elements of comprehensive plan; studies and surveys.--

(1)  The comprehensive plan shall consist of materials in such descriptive form, written or graphic, as may be appropriate to the prescription of principles, guidelines, and standards for the orderly and balanced future economic, social, physical, environmental, and fiscal development of the area.

(2)  Coordination of the several elements of the local comprehensive plan shall be a major objective of the planning process. The several elements of the comprehensive plan shall be consistent, and the comprehensive plan shall be financially feasible. Financial feasibility shall be determined using professionally accepted methodologies and applies to the 5-year planning period, except in the case of a long-term transportation or school concurrency management system, in which case a 10-year or 15-year period applies.

(3)(a)  The comprehensive plan shall contain a capital improvements element designed to consider the need for and the location of public facilities in order to encourage the efficient use of such facilities and set forth:

1.  A component that outlines principles for construction, extension, or increase in capacity of public facilities, as well as a component that outlines principles for correcting existing public facility deficiencies, which are necessary to implement the comprehensive plan. The components shall cover at least a 5-year period.

2.  Estimated public facility costs, including a delineation of when facilities will be needed, the general location of the facilities, and projected revenue sources to fund the facilities.

3.  Standards to ensure the availability of public facilities and the adequacy of those facilities including acceptable levels of service.

4.  Standards for the management of debt.

5.  A schedule of capital improvements which includes publicly funded projects, and which may include privately funded projects for which the local government has no fiscal responsibility, necessary to ensure that adopted level-of-service standards are achieved and maintained. For capital improvements that will be funded by the developer, financial feasibility shall be demonstrated by being guaranteed in an enforceable development agreement or interlocal agreement pursuant to paragraph (10)(h), or other enforceable agreement. These development agreements and interlocal agreements shall be reflected in the schedule of capital improvements if the capital improvement is necessary to serve development within the 5-year schedule. If the local government uses planned revenue sources that require referenda or other actions to secure the revenue source, the plan must, in the event the referenda are not passed or actions do not secure the planned revenue source, identify other existing revenue sources that will be used to fund the capital projects or otherwise amend the plan to ensure financial feasibility.

6.  The schedule must include transportation improvements included in the applicable metropolitan planning organization's transportation improvement program adopted pursuant to s. 339.175(8) to the extent that such improvements are relied upon to ensure concurrency and financial feasibility. The schedule must also be coordinated with the applicable metropolitan planning organization's long-range transportation plan adopted pursuant to s. 339.175(7).

(b)1.  The capital improvements element must be reviewed on an annual basis and modified as necessary in accordance with s. 163.3187 or s. 163.3189 in order to maintain a financially feasible 5-year schedule of capital improvements. Corrections and modifications concerning costs; revenue sources; or acceptance of facilities pursuant to dedications which are consistent with the plan may be accomplished by ordinance and shall not be deemed to be amendments to the local comprehensive plan. A copy of the ordinance shall be transmitted to the state land planning agency. An amendment to the comprehensive plan is required to update the schedule on an annual basis or to eliminate, defer, or delay the construction for any facility listed in the 5-year schedule. All public facilities must be consistent with the capital improvements element. The annual update to the capital improvements element of the comprehensive plan need not comply with the financial feasibility requirement until December 1, 2011. Thereafter, a local government may not amend its future land use map, except for plan amendments to meet new requirements under this part and emergency amendments pursuant to s. 163.3187(1)(a), after December 1, 2011, and every year thereafter, unless and until the local government has adopted the annual update and it has been transmitted to the state land planning agency.

2.  Capital improvements element amendments adopted after the effective date of this act shall require only a single public hearing before the governing board which shall be an adoption hearing as described in s. 163.3184(7). Such amendments are not subject to the requirements of s. 163.3184(3)-(6).

(c)  If the local government does not adopt the required annual update to the schedule of capital improvements, the state land planning agency must notify the Administration Commission. A local government that has a demonstrated lack of commitment to meeting its obligations identified in the capital improvements element may be subject to sanctions by the Administration Commission pursuant to s. 163.3184(11).

(d)  If a local government adopts a long-term concurrency management system pursuant to s. 163.3180(9), it must also adopt a long-term capital improvements schedule covering up to a 10-year or 15-year period, and must update the long-term schedule annually. The long-term schedule of capital improvements must be financially feasible.

(e)  At the discretion of the local government and notwithstanding the requirements of this subsection, a comprehensive plan, as revised by an amendment to the plan's future land use map, shall be deemed to be financially feasible and to have achieved and maintained level-of-service standards as required by this section with respect to transportation facilities if the amendment to the future land use map is supported by a:

1.  Condition in a development order for a development of regional impact or binding agreement that addresses proportionate-share mitigation consistent with s. 163.3180(12); or

2.  Binding agreement addressing proportionate fair-share mitigation consistent with s. 163.3180(16)(f) and the property subject to the amendment to the future land use map is located within an area designated in a comprehensive plan for urban infill, urban redevelopment, downtown revitalization, urban infill and redevelopment, or an urban service area. The binding agreement must be based on the maximum amount of development identified by the future land use map amendment or as may be otherwise restricted through a special area plan policy or map notation in the comprehensive plan.

(f)  A local government's comprehensive plan and plan amendments for land uses within all transportation concurrency exception areas that are designated and maintained in accordance with s. 163.3180(5) shall be deemed to meet the requirement to achieve and maintain level-of-service standards for transportation.

(4)(a)  Coordination of the local comprehensive plan with the comprehensive plans of adjacent municipalities, the county, adjacent counties, or the region; with the appropriate water management district's regional water supply plans approved pursuant to s. 373.0361; with adopted rules pertaining to designated areas of critical state concern; and with the state comprehensive plan shall be a major objective of the local comprehensive planning process. To that end, in the preparation of a comprehensive plan or element thereof, and in the comprehensive plan or element as adopted, the governing body shall include a specific policy statement indicating the relationship of the proposed development of the area to the comprehensive plans of adjacent municipalities, the county, adjacent counties, or the region and to the state comprehensive plan, as the case may require and as such adopted plans or plans in preparation may exist.

(b)  When all or a portion of the land in a local government jurisdiction is or becomes part of a designated area of critical state concern, the local government shall clearly identify those portions of the local comprehensive plan that shall be applicable to the critical area and shall indicate the relationship of the proposed development of the area to the rules for the area of critical state concern.

(5)(a)  Each local government comprehensive plan must include at least two planning periods, one covering at least the first 5-year period occurring after the plan's adoption and one covering at least a 10-year period.

(b)  The comprehensive plan and its elements shall contain policy recommendations for the implementation of the plan and its elements.

(6)  In addition to the requirements of subsections (1)-(5) and (12), the comprehensive plan shall include the following elements:

(a)  A future land use plan element designating proposed future general distribution, location, and extent of the uses of land for residential uses, commercial uses, industry, agriculture, recreation, conservation, education, public buildings and grounds, other public facilities, and other categories of the public and private uses of land. Counties are encouraged to designate rural land stewardship areas, pursuant to paragraph (11)(d), as overlays on the future land use map. Each future land use category must be defined in terms of uses included, and must include standards to be followed in the control and distribution of population densities and building and structure intensities. The proposed distribution, location, and extent of the various categories of land use shall be shown on a land use map or map series which shall be supplemented by goals, policies, and measurable objectives. The future land use plan shall be based upon surveys, studies, and data regarding the area, including the amount of land required to accommodate anticipated growth; the projected population of the area; the character of undeveloped land; the availability of water supplies, public facilities, and services; the need for redevelopment, including the renewal of blighted areas and the elimination of nonconforming uses which are inconsistent with the character of the community; the compatibility of uses on lands adjacent to or closely proximate to military installations; lands adjacent to an airport as defined in s. 330.35 and consistent with s. 333.02; the discouragement of urban sprawl; energy-efficient land use patterns accounting for existing and future electric power generation and transmission systems; greenhouse gas reduction strategies; and, in rural communities, the need for job creation, capital investment, and economic development that will strengthen and diversify the community's economy. The future land use plan may designate areas for future planned development use involving combinations of types of uses for which special regulations may be necessary to ensure development in accord with the principles and standards of the comprehensive plan and this act. The future land use plan element shall include criteria to be used to achieve the compatibility of lands adjacent or closely proximate to military installations, and lands adjacent to an airport as defined in s. 330.35 and consistent with s. 333.02 In addition, for rural communities, the amount of land designated for future planned industrial use shall be based upon surveys and studies that reflect the need for job creation, capital investment, and the necessity to strengthen and diversify the local economies, and may not be limited solely by the projected population of the rural community. The future land use plan of a county may also designate areas for possible future municipal incorporation. The land use maps or map series shall generally identify and depict historic district boundaries and shall designate historically significant properties meriting protection. For coastal counties, the future land use element must include, without limitation, regulatory incentives and criteria that encourage the preservation of recreational and commercial working waterfronts as defined in s. 342.07 The future land use element must clearly identify the land use categories in which public schools are an allowable use. When delineating the land use categories in which public schools are an allowable use, a local government shall include in the categories sufficient land proximate to residential development to meet the projected needs for schools in coordination with public school boards and may establish differing criteria for schools of different type or size. Each local government shall include lands contiguous to existing school sites, to the maximum extent possible, within the land use categories in which public schools are an allowable use. The failure by a local government to comply with these school siting requirements will result in the prohibition of the local government's ability to amend the local comprehensive plan, except for plan amendments described in s. 163.3187(1)(b), until the school siting requirements are met. Amendments proposed by a local government for purposes of identifying the land use categories in which public schools are an allowable use are exempt from the limitation on the frequency of plan amendments contained in s. 163.3187 The future land use element shall include criteria that encourage the location of schools proximate to urban residential areas to the extent possible and shall require that the local government seek to collocate public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and community centers, with schools to the extent possible and to encourage the use of elementary schools as focal points for neighborhoods. For schools serving predominantly rural counties, defined as a county with a population of 100,000 or fewer, an agricultural land use category is eligible for the location of public school facilities if the local comprehensive plan contains school siting criteria and the location is consistent with such criteria. Local governments required to update or amend their comprehensive plan to include criteria and address compatibility of lands adjacent or closely proximate to existing military installations, or lands adjacent to an airport as defined in s. 330.35 and consistent with s. 333.02, in their future land use plan element shall transmit the update or amendment to the state land planning agency by June 30, 2012.

(b)  A traffic circulation element consisting of the types, locations, and extent of existing and proposed major thoroughfares and transportation routes, including bicycle and pedestrian ways. Transportation corridors, as defined in s. 334.03, may be designated in the traffic circulation element pursuant to s. 337.273 If the transportation corridors are designated, the local government may adopt a transportation corridor management ordinance. The traffic circulation element shall incorporate transportation strategies to address reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

(c)  A general sanitary sewer, solid waste, drainage, potable water, and natural groundwater aquifer recharge element correlated to principles and guidelines for future land use, indicating ways to provide for future potable water, drainage, sanitary sewer, solid waste, and aquifer recharge protection requirements for the area. The element may be a detailed engineering plan including a topographic map depicting areas of prime groundwater recharge. The element shall describe the problems and needs and the general facilities that will be required for solution of the problems and needs. The element shall also include a topographic map depicting any areas adopted by a regional water management district as prime groundwater recharge areas for the Floridan or Biscayne aquifers. These areas shall be given special consideration when the local government is engaged in zoning or considering future land use for said designated areas. For areas served by septic tanks, soil surveys shall be provided which indicate the suitability of soils for septic tanks. Within 18 months after the governing board approves an updated regional water supply plan, the element must incorporate the alternative water supply project or projects selected by the local government from those identified in the regional water supply plan pursuant to s. 373.0361(2)(a) or proposed by the local government under s. 373.0361(8)(b). If a local government is located within two water management districts, the local government shall adopt its comprehensive plan amendment within 18 months after the later updated regional water supply plan. The element must identify such alternative water supply projects and traditional water supply projects and conservation and reuse necessary to meet the water needs identified in s. 373.0361(2)(a) within the local government's jurisdiction and include a work plan, covering at least a 10 year planning period, for building public, private, and regional water supply facilities, including development of alternative water supplies, which are identified in the element as necessary to serve existing and new development. The work plan shall be updated, at a minimum, every 5 years within 18 months after the governing board of a water management district approves an updated regional water supply plan. Amendments to incorporate the work plan do not count toward the limitation on the frequency of adoption of amendments to the comprehensive plan. Local governments, public and private utilities, regional water supply authorities, special districts, and water management districts are encouraged to cooperatively plan for the development of multijurisdictional water supply facilities that are sufficient to meet projected demands for established planning periods, including the development of alternative water sources to supplement traditional sources of groundwater and surface water supplies.

(d)  A conservation element for the conservation, use, and protection of natural resources in the area, including air, water, water recharge areas, wetlands, waterwells, estuarine marshes, soils, beaches, shores, flood plains, rivers, bays, lakes, harbors, forests, fisheries and wildlife, marine habitat, minerals, and other natural and environmental resources, including factors that affect energy conservation. Local governments shall assess their current, as well as projected, water needs and sources for at least a 10-year period, considering the appropriate regional water supply plan approved pursuant to s. 373.0361, or, in the absence of an approved regional water supply plan, the district water management plan approved pursuant to s. 373.036(2). This information shall be submitted to the appropriate agencies. The land use map or map series contained in the future land use element shall generally identify and depict the following:

1.  Existing and planned waterwells and cones of influence where applicable.

2.  Beaches and shores, including estuarine systems.

3.  Rivers, bays, lakes, flood plains, and harbors.

4.  Wetlands.

5.  Minerals and soils.

6.  Energy conservation.

The land uses identified on such maps shall be consistent with applicable state law and rules.

(e)  A recreation and open space element indicating a comprehensive system of public and private sites for recreation, including, but not limited to, natural reservations, parks and playgrounds, parkways, beaches and public access to beaches, open spaces, waterways, and other recreational facilities.

(f)1.  A housing element consisting of standards, plans, and principles to be followed in:

a.  The provision of housing for all current and anticipated future residents of the jurisdiction.

b.  The elimination of substandard dwelling conditions.

c.  The structural and aesthetic improvement of existing housing.

d.  The provision of adequate sites for future housing, including affordable workforce housing as defined in s. 380.0651(3)(j), housing for low-income, very low-income, and moderate-income families, mobile homes, and group home facilities and foster care facilities, with supporting infrastructure and public facilities.

e.  Provision for relocation housing and identification of historically significant and other housing for purposes of conservation, rehabilitation, or replacement.

f.  The formulation of housing implementation programs.

g.  The creation or preservation of affordable housing to minimize the need for additional local services and avoid the concentration of affordable housing units only in specific areas of the jurisdiction.

h.  Energy efficiency in the design and construction of new housing.

i.  Use of renewable energy resources.

j.  Each county in which the gap between the buying power of a family of four and the median county home sale price exceeds $170,000, as determined by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, and which is not designated as an area of critical state concern shall adopt a plan for ensuring affordable workforce housing. At a minimum, the plan shall identify adequate sites for such housing. For purposes of this sub-subparagraph, the term "workforce housing" means housing that is affordable to natural persons or families whose total household income does not exceed 140 percent of the area median income, adjusted for household size.

k.  As a precondition to receiving any state affordable housing funding or allocation for any project or program within the jurisdiction of a county that is subject to sub-subparagraph j., a county must, by July 1 of each year, provide certification that the county has complied with the requirements of sub-subparagraph j.

The goals, objectives, and policies of the housing element must be based on the data and analysis prepared on housing needs, including the affordable housing needs assessment. State and federal housing plans prepared on behalf of the local government must be consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the housing element. Local governments are encouraged to use job training, job creation, and economic solutions to address a portion of their affordable housing concerns.

2.  To assist local governments in housing data collection and analysis and assure uniform and consistent information regarding the state's housing needs, the state land planning agency shall conduct an affordable housing needs assessment for all local jurisdictions on a schedule that coordinates the implementation of the needs assessment with the evaluation and appraisal reports required by s. 163.3191 Each local government shall utilize the data and analysis from the needs assessment as one basis for the housing element of its local comprehensive plan. The agency shall allow a local government the option to perform its own needs assessment, if it uses the methodology established by the agency by rule.

(g)1.  For those units of local government identified in s. 380.24, a coastal management element, appropriately related to the particular requirements of paragraphs (d) and (e) and meeting the requirements of s. 163.3178(2) and (3). The coastal management element shall set forth the policies that shall guide the local government's decisions and program implementation with respect to the following objectives:

a.  Maintenance, restoration, and enhancement of the overall quality of the coastal zone environment, including, but not limited to, its amenities and aesthetic values.

b.  Continued existence of viable populations of all species of wildlife and marine life.

c.  The orderly and balanced utilization and preservation, consistent with sound conservation principles, of all living and nonliving coastal zone resources.

d.  Avoidance of irreversible and irretrievable loss of coastal zone resources.

e.  Ecological planning principles and assumptions to be used in the determination of suitability and extent of permitted development.

f.  Proposed management and regulatory techniques.

g.  Limitation of public expenditures that subsidize development in high-hazard coastal areas.

h.  Protection of human life against the effects of natural disasters.

i.  The orderly development, maintenance, and use of ports identified in s. 403.021(9) to facilitate deepwater commercial navigation and other related activities.

j.  Preservation, including sensitive adaptive use of historic and archaeological resources.

2.  As part of this element, a local government that has a coastal management element in its comprehensive plan is encouraged to adopt recreational surface water use policies that include applicable criteria for and consider such factors as natural resources, manatee protection needs, protection of working waterfronts and public access to the water, and recreation and economic demands. Criteria for manatee protection in the recreational surface water use policies should reflect applicable guidance outlined in the Boat Facility Siting Guide prepared by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. If the local government elects to adopt recreational surface water use policies by comprehensive plan amendment, such comprehensive plan amendment is exempt from the provisions of s. 163.3187(1). Local governments that wish to adopt recreational surface water use policies may be eligible for assistance with the development of such policies through the Florida Coastal Management Program. The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability shall submit a report on the adoption of recreational surface water use policies under this subparagraph to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the majority and minority leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives no later than December 1, 2010.

(h)1.  An intergovernmental coordination element showing relationships and stating principles and guidelines to be used in the accomplishment of coordination of the adopted comprehensive plan with the plans of school boards, regional water supply authorities, and other units of local government providing services but not having regulatory authority over the use of land, with the comprehensive plans of adjacent municipalities, the county, adjacent counties, or the region, with the state comprehensive plan and with the applicable regional water supply plan approved pursuant to s. 373.0361, as the case may require and as such adopted plans or plans in preparation may exist. This element of the local comprehensive plan shall demonstrate consideration of the particular effects of the local plan, when adopted, upon the development of adjacent municipalities, the county, adjacent counties, or the region, or upon the state comprehensive plan, as the case may require.

a.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall provide procedures to identify and implement joint planning areas, especially for the purpose of annexation, municipal incorporation, and joint infrastructure service areas.

b.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall provide for recognition of campus master plans prepared pursuant to s. 1013.30 and airport master plans under paragraph (k).

c.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall provide for a dispute resolution process as established pursuant to s. 186.509 for bringing to closure in a timely manner intergovernmental disputes.

d.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall provide for interlocal agreements as established pursuant to s. 333.03(1)(b).

2.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall further state principles and guidelines to be used in the accomplishment of coordination of the adopted comprehensive plan with the plans of school boards and other units of local government providing facilities and services but not having regulatory authority over the use of land. In addition, the intergovernmental coordination element shall describe joint processes for collaborative planning and decisionmaking on population projections and public school siting, the location and extension of public facilities subject to concurrency, and siting facilities with countywide significance, including locally unwanted land uses whose nature and identity are established in an agreement. Within 1 year of adopting their intergovernmental coordination elements, each county, all the municipalities within that county, the district school board, and any unit of local government service providers in that county shall establish by interlocal or other formal agreement executed by all affected entities, the joint processes described in this subparagraph consistent with their adopted intergovernmental coordination elements.

3.  To foster coordination between special districts and local general-purpose governments as local general-purpose governments implement local comprehensive plans, each independent special district must submit a public facilities report to the appropriate local government as required by s. 189.415

4.a.  Local governments shall execute an interlocal agreement with the district school board, the county, and nonexempt municipalities pursuant to s. 163.31777 The local government shall amend the intergovernmental coordination element to provide that coordination between the local government and school board is pursuant to the agreement and shall state the obligations of the local government under the agreement.

b.  Plan amendments that comply with this subparagraph are exempt from the provisions of s. 163.3187(1).

5.  The state land planning agency shall establish a schedule for phased completion and transmittal of plan amendments to implement subparagraphs 1., 2., and 3. from all jurisdictions so as to accomplish their adoption by December 31, 1999. A local government may complete and transmit its plan amendments to carry out these provisions prior to the scheduled date established by the state land planning agency. The plan amendments are exempt from the provisions of s. 163.3187(1).

6.  By January 1, 2004, any county having a population greater than 100,000, and the municipalities and special districts within that county, shall submit a report to the Department of Community Affairs which:

a.  Identifies all existing or proposed interlocal service delivery agreements regarding the following: education; sanitary sewer; public safety; solid waste; drainage; potable water; parks and recreation; and transportation facilities.

b.  Identifies any deficits or duplication in the provision of services within its jurisdiction, whether capital or operational. Upon request, the Department of Community Affairs shall provide technical assistance to the local governments in identifying deficits or duplication.

7.  Within 6 months after submission of the report, the Department of Community Affairs shall, through the appropriate regional planning council, coordinate a meeting of all local governments within the regional planning area to discuss the reports and potential strategies to remedy any identified deficiencies or duplications.

8.  Each local government shall update its intergovernmental coordination element based upon the findings in the report submitted pursuant to subparagraph 6. The report may be used as supporting data and analysis for the intergovernmental coordination element.

(i)  The optional elements of the comprehensive plan in paragraphs (7)(a) and (b) are required elements for those municipalities having populations greater than 50,000, and those counties having populations greater than 75,000, as determined under s. 186.901

(j)  For each unit of local government within an urbanized area designated for purposes of s. 339.175, a transportation element, which must be prepared and adopted in lieu of the requirements of paragraph (b) and paragraphs (7)(a), (b), (c), and (d) and which shall address the following issues:

1.  Traffic circulation, including major thoroughfares and other routes, including bicycle and pedestrian ways.

2.  All alternative modes of travel, such as public transportation, pedestrian, and bicycle travel.

3.  Parking facilities.

4.  Aviation, rail, seaport facilities, access to those facilities, and intermodal terminals.

5.  The availability of facilities and services to serve existing land uses and the compatibility between future land use and transportation elements.

6.  The capability to evacuate the coastal population prior to an impending natural disaster.

7.  Airports, projected airport and aviation development, and land use compatibility around airports, which includes areas defined in ss. 333.01 and 333.02

8.  An identification of land use densities, building intensities, and transportation management programs to promote public transportation systems in designated public transportation corridors so as to encourage population densities sufficient to support such systems.

9.  May include transportation corridors, as defined in s. 334.03, intended for future transportation facilities designated pursuant to s. 337.273 If transportation corridors are designated, the local government may adopt a transportation corridor management ordinance.

10.  The incorporation of transportation strategies to address reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

(k)  An airport master plan, and any subsequent amendments to the airport master plan, prepared by a licensed publicly owned and operated airport under s. 333.06 may be incorporated into the local government comprehensive plan by the local government having jurisdiction under this act for the area in which the airport or projected airport development is located by the adoption of a comprehensive plan amendment. In the amendment to the local comprehensive plan that integrates the airport master plan, the comprehensive plan amendment shall address land use compatibility consistent with chapter 333 regarding airport zoning; the provision of regional transportation facilities for the efficient use and operation of the transportation system and airport; consistency with the local government transportation circulation element and applicable metropolitan planning organization long-range transportation plans; and the execution of any necessary interlocal agreements for the purposes of the provision of public facilities and services to maintain the adopted level-of-service standards for facilities subject to concurrency; and may address airport-related or aviation-related development. Development or expansion of an airport consistent with the adopted airport master plan that has been incorporated into the local comprehensive plan in compliance with this part, and airport-related or aviation-related development that has been addressed in the comprehensive plan amendment that incorporates the airport master plan, shall not be a development of regional impact. Notwithstanding any other general law, an airport that has received a development-of-regional-impact development order pursuant to s. 380.06, but which is no longer required to undergo development-of-regional-impact review pursuant to this subsection, may abandon its development-of-regional-impact order upon written notification to the applicable local government. Upon receipt by the local government, the development-of-regional-impact development order is void.

(7)  The comprehensive plan may include the following additional elements, or portions or phases thereof:

(a)  As a part of the circulation element of paragraph (6)(b) or as a separate element, a mass-transit element showing proposed methods for the moving of people, rights-of-way, terminals, related facilities, and fiscal considerations for the accomplishment of the element.

(b)  As a part of the circulation element of paragraph (6)(b) or as a separate element, plans for port, aviation, and related facilities coordinated with the general circulation and transportation element.

(c)  As a part of the circulation element of paragraph (6)(b) and in coordination with paragraph (6)(e), where applicable, a plan element for the circulation of recreational traffic, including bicycle facilities, exercise trails, riding facilities, and such other matters as may be related to the improvement and safety of movement of all types of recreational traffic.

(d)  As a part of the circulation element of paragraph (6)(b) or as a separate element, a plan element for the development of offstreet parking facilities for motor vehicles and the fiscal considerations for the accomplishment of the element.

(e)  A public buildings and related facilities element showing locations and arrangements of civic and community centers, public schools, hospitals, libraries, police and fire stations, and other public buildings. This plan element should show particularly how it is proposed to effect coordination with governmental units, such as school boards or hospital authorities, having public development and service responsibilities, capabilities, and potential but not having land development regulatory authority. This element may include plans for architecture and landscape treatment of their grounds.

(f)  A recommended community design element which may consist of design recommendations for land subdivision, neighborhood development and redevelopment, design of open space locations, and similar matters to the end that such recommendations may be available as aids and guides to developers in the future planning and development of land in the area.

(g)  A general area redevelopment element consisting of plans and programs for the redevelopment of slums and blighted locations in the area and for community redevelopment, including housing sites, business and industrial sites, public buildings sites, recreational facilities, and other purposes authorized by law.

(h)  A safety element for the protection of residents and property of the area from fire, hurricane, or manmade or natural catastrophe, including such necessary features for protection as evacuation routes and their control in an emergency, water supply requirements, minimum road widths, clearances around and elevations of structures, and similar matters.

(i)  An historical and scenic preservation element setting out plans and programs for those structures or lands in the area having historical, archaeological, architectural, scenic, or similar significance.

(j)  An economic element setting forth principles and guidelines for the commercial and industrial development, if any, and the employment and personnel utilization within the area. The element may detail the type of commercial and industrial development sought, correlated to the present and projected employment needs of the area and to other elements of the plans, and may set forth methods by which a balanced and stable economic base will be pursued.

(k)  Such other elements as may be peculiar to, and necessary for, the area concerned and as are added to the comprehensive plan by the governing body upon the recommendation of the local planning agency.

(l)  Local governments that are not required to prepare coastal management elements under s. 163.3178 are encouraged to adopt hazard mitigation/postdisaster redevelopment plans. These plans should, at a minimum, establish long-term policies regarding redevelopment, infrastructure, densities, nonconforming uses, and future land use patterns. Grants to assist local governments in the preparation of these hazard mitigation/postdisaster redevelopment plans shall be available through the Emergency Management Preparedness and Assistance Account in the Grants and Donations Trust Fund administered by the department, if such account is created by law. The plans must be in compliance with the requirements of this act and chapter 252.

(8)  All elements of the comprehensive plan, whether mandatory or optional, shall be based upon data appropriate to the element involved. Surveys and studies utilized in the preparation of the comprehensive plan shall not be deemed a part of the comprehensive plan unless adopted as a part of it. Copies of such studies, surveys, and supporting documents shall be made available to public inspection, and copies of such plans shall be made available to the public upon payment of reasonable charges for reproduction.

(9)  The state land planning agency shall, by February 15, 1986, adopt by rule minimum criteria for the review and determination of compliance of the local government comprehensive plan elements required by this act. Such rules shall not be subject to rule challenges under s. 120.56(2) or to drawout proceedings under s. 120.54(3)(c)2. Such rules shall become effective only after they have been submitted to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives for review by the Legislature no later than 30 days prior to the next regular session of the Legislature. In its review the Legislature may reject, modify, or take no action relative to the rules. The agency shall conform the rules to the changes made by the Legislature, or, if no action was taken, the agency rules shall become effective. The rule shall include criteria for determining whether:

(a)  Proposed elements are in compliance with the requirements of part II, as amended by this act.

(b)  Other elements of the comprehensive plan are related to and consistent with each other.

(c)  The local government comprehensive plan elements are consistent with the state comprehensive plan and the appropriate regional policy plan pursuant to s. 186.508

(d)  Certain bays, estuaries, and harbors that fall under the jurisdiction of more than one local government are managed in a consistent and coordinated manner in the case of local governments required to include a coastal management element in their comprehensive plans pursuant to paragraph (6)(g).

(e)  Proposed elements identify the mechanisms and procedures for monitoring, evaluating, and appraising implementation of the plan. Specific measurable objectives are included to provide a basis for evaluating effectiveness as required by s. 163.3191

(f)  Proposed elements contain policies to guide future decisions in a consistent manner.

(g)  Proposed elements contain programs and activities to ensure that comprehensive plans are implemented.

(h)  Proposed elements identify the need for and the processes and procedures to ensure coordination of all development activities and services with other units of local government, regional planning agencies, water management districts, and state and federal agencies as appropriate.

The state land planning agency may adopt procedural rules that are consistent with this section and chapter 120 for the review of local government comprehensive plan elements required under this section. The state land planning agency shall provide model plans and ordinances and, upon request, other assistance to local governments in the adoption and implementation of their revised local government comprehensive plans. The review and comment provisions applicable prior to October 1, 1985, shall continue in effect until the criteria for review and determination are adopted pursuant to this subsection and the comprehensive plans required by s. 163.3167(2) are due.

(10)  The Legislature recognizes the importance and significance of chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, the Minimum Criteria for Review of Local Government Comprehensive Plans and Determination of Compliance of the Department of Community Affairs that will be used to determine compliance of local comprehensive plans. The Legislature reserved unto itself the right to review chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, and to reject, modify, or take no action relative to this rule. Therefore, pursuant to subsection (9), the Legislature hereby has reviewed chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, and expresses the following legislative intent:

(a)  The Legislature finds that in order for the department to review local comprehensive plans, it is necessary to define the term "consistency." Therefore, for the purpose of determining whether local comprehensive plans are consistent with the state comprehensive plan and the appropriate regional policy plan, a local plan shall be consistent with such plans if the local plan is "compatible with" and "furthers" such plans. The term "compatible with" means that the local plan is not in conflict with the state comprehensive plan or appropriate regional policy plan. The term "furthers" means to take action in the direction of realizing goals or policies of the state or regional plan. For the purposes of determining consistency of the local plan with the state comprehensive plan or the appropriate regional policy plan, the state or regional plan shall be construed as a whole and no specific goal and policy shall be construed or applied in isolation from the other goals and policies in the plans.

(b)  Each local government shall review all the state comprehensive plan goals and policies and shall address in its comprehensive plan the goals and policies which are relevant to the circumstances or conditions in its jurisdiction. The decision regarding which particular state comprehensive plan goals and policies will be furthered by the expenditure of a local government's financial resources in any given year is a decision which rests solely within the discretion of the local government. Intergovernmental coordination, as set forth in paragraph (6)(h), shall be utilized to the extent required to carry out the provisions of chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code.

(c)  The Legislature declares that if any portion of chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, is found to be in conflict with this part, the appropriate statutory provision shall prevail.

(d)  Chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, does not mandate the creation, limitation, or elimination of regulatory authority, nor does it authorize the adoption or require the repeal of any rules, criteria, or standards of any local, regional, or state agency.

(e)  It is the Legislature's intent that support data or summaries thereof shall not be subject to the compliance review process, but the Legislature intends that goals and policies be clearly based on appropriate data. The department may utilize support data or summaries thereof to aid in its determination of compliance and consistency. The Legislature intends that the department may evaluate the application of a methodology utilized in data collection or whether a particular methodology is professionally accepted. However, the department shall not evaluate whether one accepted methodology is better than another. Chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, shall not be construed to require original data collection by local governments; however, local governments are not to be discouraged from utilizing original data so long as methodologies are professionally accepted.

(f)  The Legislature recognizes that under this section, local governments are charged with setting levels of service for public facilities in their comprehensive plans in accordance with which development orders and permits will be issued pursuant to s. 163.3202(2)(g). Nothing herein shall supersede the authority of state, regional, or local agencies as otherwise provided by law.

(g)  Definitions contained in chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, are not intended to modify or amend the definitions utilized for purposes of other programs or rules or to establish or limit regulatory authority. Local governments may establish alternative definitions in local comprehensive plans, as long as such definitions accomplish the intent of this chapter, and chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code.

(h)  It is the intent of the Legislature that public facilities and services needed to support development shall be available concurrent with the impacts of such development in accordance with s. 163.3180 In meeting this intent, public facility and service availability shall be deemed sufficient if the public facilities and services for a development are phased, or the development is phased, so that the public facilities and those related services which are deemed necessary by the local government to operate the facilities necessitated by that development are available concurrent with the impacts of the development. The public facilities and services, unless already available, are to be consistent with the capital improvements element of the local comprehensive plan as required by paragraph (3)(a) or guaranteed in an enforceable development agreement. This shall include development agreements pursuant to this chapter or in an agreement or a development order issued pursuant to chapter 380. Nothing herein shall be construed to require a local government to address services in its capital improvements plan or to limit a local government's ability to address any service in its capital improvements plan that it deems necessary.

(i)  The department shall take into account the factors delineated in rule 9J-5.002(2), Florida Administrative Code, as it provides assistance to local governments and applies the rule in specific situations with regard to the detail of the data and analysis required.

(j)  Chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, has become effective pursuant to subsection (9). The Legislature hereby directs the department to adopt amendments as necessary which conform chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, with the requirements of this legislative intent by October 1, 1986.

(k)  So that local governments are able to prepare and adopt comprehensive plans with knowledge of the rules that will be applied to determine consistency of the plans with provisions of this part, it is the intent of the Legislature that there should be no doubt as to the legal standing of chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, at the close of the 1986 legislative session. Therefore, the Legislature declares that changes made to chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, prior to October 1, 1986, shall not be subject to rule challenges under s. 120.56(2), or to drawout proceedings under s. 120.54(3)(c)2. The entire chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, as amended, shall be subject to rule challenges under s. 120.56(3), as nothing herein shall be construed to indicate approval or disapproval of any portion of chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, not specifically addressed herein. No challenge pursuant to s. 120.56(3) may be filed from July 1, 1987, through April 1, 1993. Any amendments to chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code, exclusive of the amendments adopted prior to October 1, 1986, pursuant to this act, shall be subject to the full chapter 120 process. All amendments shall have effective dates as provided in chapter 120 and submission to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall not be required.

(l)  The state land planning agency shall consider land use compatibility issues in the vicinity of all airports in coordination with the Department of Transportation and adjacent to or in close proximity to all military installations in coordination with the Department of Defense.

(11)(a)  The Legislature recognizes the need for innovative planning and development strategies which will address the anticipated demands of continued urbanization of Florida's coastal and other environmentally sensitive areas, and which will accommodate the development of less populated regions of the state which seek economic development and which have suitable land and water resources to accommodate growth in an environmentally acceptable manner. The Legislature further recognizes the substantial advantages of innovative approaches to development which may better serve to protect environmentally sensitive areas, maintain the economic viability of agricultural and other predominantly rural land uses, and provide for the cost-efficient delivery of public facilities and services.

(b)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the local government comprehensive plans and plan amendments adopted pursuant to the provisions of this part provide for a planning process which allows for land use efficiencies within existing urban areas and which also allows for the conversion of rural lands to other uses, where appropriate and consistent with the other provisions of this part and the affected local comprehensive plans, through the application of innovative and flexible planning and development strategies and creative land use planning techniques, which may include, but not be limited to, urban villages, new towns, satellite communities, area-based allocations, clustering and open space provisions, mixed-use development, and sector planning.

(c)  It is the further intent of the Legislature that local government comprehensive plans and implementing land development regulations shall provide strategies which maximize the use of existing facilities and services through redevelopment, urban infill development, and other strategies for urban revitalization.

(d)1.  The department, in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection, water management districts, and regional planning councils, shall provide assistance to local governments in the implementation of this paragraph and rule 9J-5.006(5)(l), Florida Administrative Code. Implementation of those provisions shall include a process by which the department may authorize local governments to designate all or portions of lands classified in the future land use element as predominantly agricultural, rural, open, open-rural, or a substantively equivalent land use, as a rural land stewardship area within which planning and economic incentives are applied to encourage the implementation of innovative and flexible planning and development strategies and creative land use planning techniques, including those contained herein and in rule 9J-5.006(5)(l), Florida Administrative Code. Assistance may include, but is not limited to:

a.  Assistance from the Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts in creating the geographic information systems land cover database and aerial photogrammetry needed to prepare for a rural land stewardship area;

b.  Support for local government implementation of rural land stewardship concepts by providing information and assistance to local governments regarding land acquisition programs that may be used by the local government or landowners to leverage the protection of greater acreage and maximize the effectiveness of rural land stewardship areas; and

c.  Expansion of the role of the Department of Community Affairs as a resource agency to facilitate establishment of rural land stewardship areas in smaller rural counties that do not have the staff or planning budgets to create a rural land stewardship area.

2.  The department shall encourage participation by local governments of different sizes and rural characteristics in establishing and implementing rural land stewardship areas. It is the intent of the Legislature that rural land stewardship areas be used to further the following broad principles of rural sustainability: restoration and maintenance of the economic value of rural land; control of urban sprawl; identification and protection of ecosystems, habitats, and natural resources; promotion of rural economic activity; maintenance of the viability of Florida's agricultural economy; and protection of the character of rural areas of Florida. Rural land stewardship areas may be multicounty in order to encourage coordinated regional stewardship planning.

3.  A local government, in conjunction with a regional planning council, a stakeholder organization of private land owners, or another local government, shall notify the department in writing of its intent to designate a rural land stewardship area. The written notification shall describe the basis for the designation, including the extent to which the rural land stewardship area enhances rural land values, controls urban sprawl, provides necessary open space for agriculture and protection of the natural environment, promotes rural economic activity, and maintains rural character and the economic viability of agriculture.

4.  A rural land stewardship area shall be not less than 10,000 acres and shall be located outside of municipalities and established urban growth boundaries, and shall be designated by plan amendment. The plan amendment designating a rural land stewardship area shall be subject to review by the Department of Community Affairs pursuant to s. 163.3184 and shall provide for the following:

a.  Criteria for the designation of receiving areas within rural land stewardship areas in which innovative planning and development strategies may be applied. Criteria shall at a minimum provide for the following: adequacy of suitable land to accommodate development so as to avoid conflict with environmentally sensitive areas, resources, and habitats; compatibility between and transition from higher density uses to lower intensity rural uses; the establishment of receiving area service boundaries which provide for a separation between receiving areas and other land uses within the rural land stewardship area through limitations on the extension of services; and connection of receiving areas with the rest of the rural land stewardship area using rural design and rural road corridors.

b.  Goals, objectives, and policies setting forth the innovative planning and development strategies to be applied within rural land stewardship areas pursuant to the provisions of this section.

c.  A process for the implementation of innovative planning and development strategies within the rural land stewardship area, including those described in this subsection and rule 9J-5.006(5)(l), Florida Administrative Code, which provide for a functional mix of land uses, including adequate available workforce housing, including low, very-low and moderate income housing for the development anticipated in the receiving area and which are applied through the adoption by the local government of zoning and land development regulations applicable to the rural land stewardship area.

d.  A process which encourages visioning pursuant to s. 163.3167(11) to ensure that innovative planning and development strategies comply with the provisions of this section.

e.  The control of sprawl through the use of innovative strategies and creative land use techniques consistent with the provisions of this subsection and rule 9J-5.006(5)(l), Florida Administrative Code.

5.  A receiving area shall be designated by the adoption of a land development regulation. Prior to the designation of a receiving area, the local government shall provide the Department of Community Affairs a period of 30 days in which to review a proposed receiving area for consistency with the rural land stewardship area plan amendment and to provide comments to the local government. At the time of designation of a stewardship receiving area, a listed species survey will be performed. If listed species occur on the receiving area site, the developer shall coordinate with each appropriate local, state, or federal agency to determine if adequate provisions have been made to protect those species in accordance with applicable regulations. In determining the adequacy of provisions for the protection of listed species and their habitats, the rural land stewardship area shall be considered as a whole, and the impacts to areas to be developed as receiving areas shall be considered together with the environmental benefits of areas protected as sending areas in fulfilling this criteria.

6.  Upon the adoption of a plan amendment creating a rural land stewardship area, the local government shall, by ordinance, establish the methodology for the creation, conveyance, and use of transferable rural land use credits, otherwise referred to as stewardship credits, the application of which shall not constitute a right to develop land, nor increase density of land, except as provided by this section. The total amount of transferable rural land use credits within the rural land stewardship area must enable the realization of the long-term vision and goals for the 25-year or greater projected population of the rural land stewardship area, which may take into consideration the anticipated effect of the proposed receiving areas. Transferable rural land use credits are subject to the following limitations:

a.  Transferable rural land use credits may only exist within a rural land stewardship area.

b.  Transferable rural land use credits may only be used on lands designated as receiving areas and then solely for the purpose of implementing innovative planning and development strategies and creative land use planning techniques adopted by the local government pursuant to this section.

c.  Transferable rural land use credits assigned to a parcel of land within a rural land stewardship area shall cease to exist if the parcel of land is removed from the rural land stewardship area by plan amendment.

d.  Neither the creation of the rural land stewardship area by plan amendment nor the assignment of transferable rural land use credits by the local government shall operate to displace the underlying density of land uses assigned to a parcel of land within the rural land stewardship area; however, if transferable rural land use credits are transferred from a parcel for use within a designated receiving area, the underlying density assigned to the parcel of land shall cease to exist.

e.  The underlying density on each parcel of land located within a rural land stewardship area shall not be increased or decreased by the local government, except as a result of the conveyance or use of transferable rural land use credits, as long as the parcel remains within the rural land stewardship area.

f.  Transferable rural land use credits shall cease to exist on a parcel of land where the underlying density assigned to the parcel of land is utilized.

g.  An increase in the density of use on a parcel of land located within a designated receiving area may occur only through the assignment or use of transferable rural land use credits and shall not require a plan amendment.

h.  A change in the density of land use on parcels located within receiving areas shall be specified in a development order which reflects the total number of transferable rural land use credits assigned to the parcel of land and the infrastructure and support services necessary to provide for a functional mix of land uses corresponding to the plan of development.

i.  Land within a rural land stewardship area may be removed from the rural land stewardship area through a plan amendment.

j.  Transferable rural land use credits may be assigned at different ratios of credits per acre according to the natural resource or other beneficial use characteristics of the land and according to the land use remaining following the transfer of credits, with the highest number of credits per acre assigned to the most environmentally valuable land or, in locations where the retention of open space and agricultural land is a priority, to such lands.

k.  The use or conveyance of transferable rural land use credits must be recorded in the public records of the county in which the property is located as a covenant or restrictive easement running with the land in favor of the county and either the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a water management district, or a recognized statewide land trust.

7.  Owners of land within rural land stewardship areas should be provided incentives to enter into rural land stewardship agreements, pursuant to existing law and rules adopted thereto, with state agencies, water management districts, and local governments to achieve mutually agreed upon conservation objectives. Such incentives may include, but not be limited to, the following:

a.  Opportunity to accumulate transferable mitigation credits.

b.  Extended permit agreements.

c.  Opportunities for recreational leases and ecotourism.

d.  Payment for specified land management services on publicly owned land, or property under covenant or restricted easement in favor of a public entity.

e.  Option agreements for sale to public entities or private land conservation entities, in either fee or easement, upon achievement of conservation objectives.

8.  The department shall report to the Legislature on an annual basis on the results of implementation of rural land stewardship areas authorized by the department, including successes and failures in achieving the intent of the Legislature as expressed in this paragraph.

(e)  The Legislature finds that mixed-use, high-density development is appropriate for urban infill and redevelopment areas. Mixed-use projects accommodate a variety of uses, including residential and commercial, and usually at higher densities that promote pedestrian-friendly, sustainable communities. The Legislature recognizes that mixed-use, high-density development improves the quality of life for residents and businesses in urban areas. The Legislature finds that mixed-use, high-density redevelopment and infill benefits residents by creating a livable community with alternative modes of transportation. Furthermore, the Legislature finds that local zoning ordinances often discourage mixed-use, high-density development in areas that are appropriate for urban infill and redevelopment. The Legislature intends to discourage single-use zoning in urban areas which often leads to lower-density, land-intensive development outside an urban service area. Therefore, the Department of Community Affairs shall provide technical assistance to local governments in order to encourage mixed-use, high-density urban infill and redevelopment projects.

(f)  The Legislature finds that a program for the transfer of development rights is a useful tool to preserve historic buildings and create public open spaces in urban areas. A program for the transfer of development rights allows the transfer of density credits from historic properties and public open spaces to areas designated for high-density development. The Legislature recognizes that high-density development is integral to the success of many urban infill and redevelopment projects. The Legislature intends to encourage high-density urban infill and redevelopment while preserving historic structures and open spaces. Therefore, the Department of Community Affairs shall provide technical assistance to local governments in order to promote the transfer of development rights within urban areas for high-density infill and redevelopment projects.

(g)  The implementation of this subsection shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter, chapters 186 and 187, and applicable agency rules.

(h)  The department may adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(12)  A public school facilities element adopted to implement a school concurrency program shall meet the requirements of this subsection. Each county and each municipality within the county, unless exempt or subject to a waiver, must adopt a public school facilities element that is consistent with those adopted by the other local governments within the county and enter the interlocal agreement pursuant to s. 163.31777

(a)  The state land planning agency may provide a waiver to a county and to the municipalities within the county if the capacity rate for all schools within the school district is no greater than 100 percent and the projected 5-year capital outlay full-time equivalent student growth rate is less than 10 percent. The state land planning agency may allow for a projected 5-year capital outlay full-time equivalent student growth rate to exceed 10 percent when the projected 10-year capital outlay full-time equivalent student enrollment is less than 2,000 students and the capacity rate for all schools within the school district in the tenth year will not exceed the 100-percent limitation. The state land planning agency may allow for a single school to exceed the 100-percent limitation if it can be demonstrated that the capacity rate for that single school is not greater than 105 percent. In making this determination, the state land planning agency shall consider the following criteria:

1.  Whether the exceedance is due to temporary circumstances;

2.  Whether the projected 5-year capital outlay full time equivalent student growth rate for the school district is approaching the 10-percent threshold;

3.  Whether one or more additional schools within the school district are at or approaching the 100-percent threshold; and

4.  The adequacy of the data and analysis submitted to support the waiver request.

(b)  A municipality in a nonexempt county is exempt if the municipality meets all of the following criteria for having no significant impact on school attendance:

1.  The municipality has issued development orders for fewer than 50 residential dwelling units during the preceding 5 years, or the municipality has generated fewer than 25 additional public school students during the preceding 5 years.

2.  The municipality has not annexed new land during the preceding 5 years in land use categories that permit residential uses that will affect school attendance rates.

3.  The municipality has no public schools located within its boundaries.

(c)  A public school facilities element shall be based upon data and analyses that address, among other items, how level-of-service standards will be achieved and maintained. Such data and analyses must include, at a minimum, such items as: the interlocal agreement adopted pursuant to s. 163.31777 and the 5-year school district facilities work program adopted pursuant to s. 1013.35; the educational plant survey prepared pursuant to s. 1013.31 and an existing educational and ancillary plant map or map series; information on existing development and development anticipated for the next 5 years and the long-term planning period; an analysis of problems and opportunities for existing schools and schools anticipated in the future; an analysis of opportunities to collocate future schools with other public facilities such as parks, libraries, and community centers; an analysis of the need for supporting public facilities for existing and future schools; an analysis of opportunities to locate schools to serve as community focal points; projected future population and associated demographics, including development patterns year by year for the upcoming 5-year and long-term planning periods; and anticipated educational and ancillary plants with land area requirements.

(d)  The element shall contain one or more goals which establish the long-term end toward which public school programs and activities are ultimately directed.

(e)  The element shall contain one or more objectives for each goal, setting specific, measurable, intermediate ends that are achievable and mark progress toward the goal.

(f)  The element shall contain one or more policies for each objective which establish the way in which programs and activities will be conducted to achieve an identified goal.

(g)  The objectives and policies shall address items such as:

1.  The procedure for an annual update process;

2.  The procedure for school site selection;

3.  The procedure for school permitting;

4.  Provision for infrastructure necessary to support proposed schools, including potable water, wastewater, drainage, solid waste, transportation, and means by which to assure safe access to schools, including sidewalks, bicycle paths, turn lanes, and signalization;

5.  Provision for colocation of other public facilities, such as parks, libraries, and community centers, in proximity to public schools;

6.  Provision for location of schools proximate to residential areas and to complement patterns of development, including the location of future school sites so they serve as community focal points;

7.  Measures to ensure compatibility of school sites and surrounding land uses;

8.  Coordination with adjacent local governments and the school district on emergency preparedness issues, including the use of public schools to serve as emergency shelters; and

9.  Coordination with the future land use element.

(h)  The element shall include one or more future conditions maps which depict the anticipated location of educational and ancillary plants, including the general location of improvements to existing schools or new schools anticipated over the 5-year or long-term planning period. The maps will of necessity be general for the long-term planning period and more specific for the 5-year period. Maps indicating general locations of future schools or school improvements may not prescribe a land use on a particular parcel of land.

(i)  The state land planning agency shall establish a phased schedule for adoption of the public school facilities element and the required updates to the public schools interlocal agreement pursuant to s. 163.31777 The schedule shall provide for each county and local government within the county to adopt the element and update to the agreement no later than December 1, 2008. Plan amendments to adopt a public school facilities element are exempt from the provisions of s. 163.3187(1).

(j)  The state land planning agency may issue a notice to the school board and the local government to show cause why sanctions should not be enforced for failure to enter into an approved interlocal agreement as required by s. 163.31777 or for failure to implement provisions relating to public school concurrency. If the state land planning agency finds that insufficient cause exists for the school board's or local government's failure to enter into an approved interlocal agreement as required by s. 163.31777 or for the school board's or local government's failure to implement the provisions relating to public school concurrency, the state land planning agency shall submit its finding to the Administration Commission which may impose on the local government any of the sanctions set forth in s. 163.3184(11)(a) and (b) and may impose on the district school board any of the sanctions set forth in s. 1008.32(4).

(13)  Local governments are encouraged to develop a community vision that provides for sustainable growth, recognizes its fiscal constraints, and protects its natural resources. At the request of a local government, the applicable regional planning council shall provide assistance in the development of a community vision.

(a)  As part of the process of developing a community vision under this section, the local government must hold two public meetings with at least one of those meetings before the local planning agency. Before those public meetings, the local government must hold at least one public workshop with stakeholder groups such as neighborhood associations, community organizations, businesses, private property owners, housing and development interests, and environmental organizations.

(b)  The local government must, at a minimum, discuss five of the following topics as part of the workshops and public meetings required under paragraph (a):

1.  Future growth in the area using population forecasts from the Bureau of Economic and Business Research;

2.  Priorities for economic development;

3.  Preservation of open space, environmentally sensitive lands, and agricultural lands;

4.  Appropriate areas and standards for mixed-use development;

5.  Appropriate areas and standards for high-density commercial and residential development;

6.  Appropriate areas and standards for economic development opportunities and employment centers;

7.  Provisions for adequate workforce housing;

8.  An efficient, interconnected multimodal transportation system; and

9.  Opportunities to create land use patterns that accommodate the issues listed in subparagraphs 1.-8.

(c)  As part of the workshops and public meetings, the local government must discuss strategies for addressing the topics discussed under paragraph (b), including:

1.  Strategies to preserve open space and environmentally sensitive lands, and to encourage a healthy agricultural economy, including innovative planning and development strategies, such as the transfer of development rights;

2.  Incentives for mixed-use development, including increased height and intensity standards for buildings that provide residential use in combination with office or commercial space;

3.  Incentives for workforce housing;

4.  Designation of an urban service boundary pursuant to subsection (2); and

5.  Strategies to provide mobility within the community and to protect the Strategic Intermodal System, including the development of a transportation corridor management plan under s. 337.273

(d)  The community vision must reflect the community's shared concept for growth and development of the community, including visual representations depicting the desired land use patterns and character of the community during a 10-year planning timeframe. The community vision must also take into consideration economic viability of the vision and private property interests.

(e)  After the workshops and public meetings required under paragraph (a) are held, the local government may amend its comprehensive plan to include the community vision as a component in the plan. This plan amendment must be transmitted and adopted pursuant to the procedures in ss. 163.3184 and 163.3189 at public hearings of the governing body other than those identified in paragraph (a).

(f)  Amendments submitted under this subsection are exempt from the limitation on the frequency of plan amendments in s. 163.3187

(g)  A local government that has developed a community vision or completed a visioning process after July 1, 2000, and before July 1, 2005, which substantially accomplishes the goals set forth in this subsection and the appropriate goals, policies, or objectives have been adopted as part of the comprehensive plan or reflected in subsequently adopted land development regulations and the plan amendment incorporating the community vision as a component has been found in compliance is eligible for the incentives in s. 163.3184(17).

(14)  Local governments are also encouraged to designate an urban service boundary. This area must be appropriate for compact, contiguous urban development within a 10-year planning timeframe. The urban service area boundary must be identified on the future land use map or map series. The local government shall demonstrate that the land included within the urban service boundary is served or is planned to be served with adequate public facilities and services based on the local government's adopted level-of-service standards by adopting a 10-year facilities plan in the capital improvements element which is financially feasible. The local government shall demonstrate that the amount of land within the urban service boundary does not exceed the amount of land needed to accommodate the projected population growth at densities consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan within the 10-year planning timeframe.

(a)  As part of the process of establishing an urban service boundary, the local government must hold two public meetings with at least one of those meetings before the local planning agency. Before those public meetings, the local government must hold at least one public workshop with stakeholder groups such as neighborhood associations, community organizations, businesses, private property owners, housing and development interests, and environmental organizations.

(b)1.  After the workshops and public meetings required under paragraph (a) are held, the local government may amend its comprehensive plan to include the urban service boundary. This plan amendment must be transmitted and adopted pursuant to the procedures in ss. 163.3184 and 163.3189 at meetings of the governing body other than those required under paragraph (a).

2.  This subsection does not prohibit new development outside an urban service boundary. However, a local government that establishes an urban service boundary under this subsection is encouraged to require a full-cost-accounting analysis for any new development outside the boundary and to consider the results of that analysis when adopting a plan amendment for property outside the established urban service boundary.

(c)  Amendments submitted under this subsection are exempt from the limitation on the frequency of plan amendments in s. 163.3187

(d)  A local government that has adopted an urban service boundary before July 1, 2005, which substantially accomplishes the goals set forth in this subsection is not required to comply with paragraph (a) or subparagraph 1. of paragraph (b) in order to be eligible for the incentives under s. 163.3184(17). In order to satisfy the provisions of this paragraph, the local government must secure a determination from the state land planning agency that the urban service boundary adopted before July 1, 2005, substantially complies with the criteria of this subsection, based on data and analysis submitted by the local government to support this determination. The determination by the state land planning agency is not subject to administrative challenge.

(15)(a)  The Legislature finds that:

1.  There are a number of rural agricultural industrial centers in the state that process, produce, or aid in the production or distribution of a variety of agriculturally based products, including, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, timber, and other crops, and juices, paper, and building materials. Rural agricultural industrial centers have a significant amount of existing associated infrastructure that is used for processing, producing, or distributing agricultural products.

2.  Such rural agricultural industrial centers are often located within or near communities in which the economy is largely dependent upon agriculture and agriculturally based products. The centers significantly enhance the economy of such communities. However, these agriculturally based communities are often socioeconomically challenged and designated as rural areas of critical economic concern. If such rural agricultural industrial centers are lost and not replaced with other job-creating enterprises, the agriculturally based communities will lose a substantial amount of their economies.

3.  The state has a compelling interest in preserving the viability of agriculture and protecting rural agricultural communities and the state from the economic upheaval that would result from short-term or long-term adverse changes in the agricultural economy. To protect these communities and promote viable agriculture for the long term, it is essential to encourage and permit diversification of existing rural agricultural industrial centers by providing for jobs that are not solely dependent upon, but are compatible with and complement, existing agricultural industrial operations and to encourage the creation and expansion of industries that use agricultural products in innovative ways. However, the expansion and diversification of these existing centers must be accomplished in a manner that does not promote urban sprawl into surrounding agricultural and rural areas.

(b)  As used in this subsection, the term "rural agricultural industrial center" means a developed parcel of land in an unincorporated area on which there exists an operating agricultural industrial facility or facilities that employ at least 200 full-time employees in the aggregate and process and prepare for transport a farm product, as defined in s. 163.3162, or any biomass material that could be used, directly or indirectly, for the production of fuel, renewable energy, bioenergy, or alternative fuel as defined by law. The center may also include land contiguous to the facility site which is not used for the cultivation of crops, but on which other existing activities essential to the operation of such facility or facilities are located or conducted. The parcel of land must be located within, or within 10 miles of, a rural area of critical economic concern.

(c)1.  A landowner whose land is located within a rural agricultural industrial center may apply for an amendment to the local government comprehensive plan for the purpose of designating and expanding the existing agricultural industrial uses of facilities located within the center or expanding the existing center to include industrial uses or facilities that are not dependent upon but are compatible with agriculture and the existing uses and facilities. A local government comprehensive plan amendment under this paragraph must:

a.  Not increase the physical area of the existing rural agricultural industrial center by more than 50 percent or 320 acres, whichever is greater.

b.  Propose a project that would, upon completion, create at least 50 new full-time jobs.

c.  Demonstrate that sufficient infrastructure capacity exists or will be provided to support the expanded center at the level-of-service standards adopted in the local government comprehensive plan.

d.  Contain goals, objectives, and policies that will ensure that any adverse environmental impacts of the expanded center will be adequately addressed and mitigation implemented or demonstrate that the local government comprehensive plan contains such provisions.

2.  Within 6 months after receiving an application as provided in this paragraph, the local government shall transmit the application to the state land planning agency for review pursuant to this chapter together with any needed amendments to the applicable sections of its comprehensive plan to include goals, objectives, and policies that provide for the expansion of rural agricultural industrial centers and discourage urban sprawl in the surrounding areas. Such goals, objectives, and policies must promote and be consistent with the findings in this subsection. An amendment that meets the requirements of this subsection is presumed to be consistent with rule 9J-5.006(5), Florida Administrative Code. This presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence.

(d)  This subsection does not apply to an optional sector plan adopted pursuant to s. 163.3245, a rural land stewardship area designated pursuant to subsection (11), or any comprehensive plan amendment that includes an inland port terminal or affiliated port development.

(e)  Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to confer the status of rural area of critical economic concern, or any of the rights or benefits derived from such status, on any land area not otherwise designated as such pursuant to s. 288.0656(7).

History.--s. 7, ch. 75-257; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 1, ch. 80-154; s. 6, ch. 83-308; s. 1, ch. 85-42; s. 6, ch. 85-55; s. 1, ch. 85-309; s. 7, ch. 86-191; s. 5, ch. 92-129; s. 6, ch. 93-206; s. 898, ch. 95-147; s. 3, ch. 95-257; s. 4, ch. 95-322; s. 10, ch. 95-341; s. 10, ch. 96-320; s. 24, ch. 96-410; s. 2, ch. 96-416; s. 2, ch. 98-146; s. 4, ch. 98-176; s. 4, ch. 98-258; s. 90, ch. 99-251; s. 3, ch. 99-378; s. 40, ch. 2001-201; s. 64, ch. 2001-279; s. 24, ch. 2002-1; s. 58, ch. 2002-20; s. 70, ch. 2002-295; s. 2, ch. 2002-296; s. 904, ch. 2002-387; s. 61, ch. 2003-286; s. 2, ch. 2004-230; s. 4, ch. 2004-372; s. 2, ch. 2004-381; s. 2, ch. 2005-36; s. 1, ch. 2005-157; s. 2, ch. 2005-290; s. 10, ch. 2005-291; s. 2, ch. 2006-220; s. 57, ch. 2007-196; s. 1, ch. 2007-198; s. 2, ch. 2007-204; s. 2, ch. 2008-191; s. 10, ch. 2009-21; s. 3, ch. 2009-85; s. 3, ch. 2009-96; s. 1, ch. 2009-154.