New Horizon 2035 Lee Plan--Three Key Elements for Review, including Transportation

The final phase of the Comp Plan (Horizon 2035) update process is scheduled to be completed in February and March, when the remaining revised elements are reviewed. The update process moves the County forward towards the goal of revising Lee County's growth management plans to bring the vision of a Livable Lee to reality.  The schedule for what revised elements will be reviewed by the committees in the next two months is provided below. 

The latest three Comp Plan elements (communities; community safety and well being; and transportation) now going thru 2nd/final review.  Note that these three elements will be reviewed by the CSAC on 2/19 and the LPA on 2/24 and an opportunity for public comment is provided at both meetings (the public can also submit comments in writing prior to the meetings).  

In addition, the 2/24 LPA agenda includes action on LDC Amendments for Complete Streets. Click on the agenda package for the proposal. (agenda item #5)
 

Background

Over the past two years, the county staff and its committees have been working through the elements of the Comp Plan Horizon 2035 update, following the vision adopted in the County's 2011 Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR).  This new vision of Lee County in 2035 - an economically and environmentally desirable place to live, work and visit - was crafted through an extensive community planning effort that included over 40 public workshops. The Comp Plan update process is revising Lee County’s growth management plans to bring that vision of a Livable Lee to reality. 

 

In June, the Local Planning Agency (LPA) completed its first round review of all the Comp Plan elements, and the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) completed its review in May. The Horizon Council also reviewed the plan with staff over the past four months.  Over the past four months, county planning staff also conducted 43 public workshops to discuss the key changes in the Comp Plan that are being proposed.  Finally, the County's online Town Hall tool (New Horizon 2035) provided another opportunity for citizens to comment and provide their input.

Over the summer, the staff started the process of revising the elements to address these comments.  

Final committee review of elements

 At the September 23rd LPA meeting, and the Oct. 16th CSAC meeting the first three revised Comp Plan amendment elements were reviewed:

1.  Vision Statement

2.  Historic Preservation

3.  Parks, Recreation, and Open Space

The next three elements were reviewed at the Oct. 28th LPA meeting and the Nov. 20th CSAC meeting:

1.  Intergovernmental Coordination

2.  Economic

3.  Housing

The next two elements were reviewed at the November 20th CSAC meeting and the Dec. 4th LPA meeting:
1.  Capital Improvement Element
2.  Conservation and Coastal Management Element 

In January, the committees (CSAC on 1/15/14 and LPA on 1/27) reviewed the following elements:

1. Community Facilities and Services

In February, the committees (CSAC on 2/20 and LPA on 2/24) will review the following elements:  [Note that the CSAC working group will review these elements in a meeting on Feb. 17th and present their recommendations to the full CSAC on 2/20.  The Complete Streets working group will jointly review the Transportation element with the CSAC New Horizon working group.]

1. Community Safety and Well-being
2. Communities
3.  Transportation 

In March, the committees (CSAC on 3/19 and LPA on 3/24) will review the following elements: [Note: it is anticipated that the Transportation element discussion will continue into the March meeting.]

1. Future Land Use
2. Maps
3. Glossary
4. Tables

There is an opportunity for public comment on these elements at every CSAC and LPA meeting, and the public is encouraged to participate.

 BikeWalkLee focus:

Integration of land use and transportation planning is key to complete streets and complete communities, so these two elements will continue to be a major focus of BikeWalkLee's attention. These revised elements are scheduled for review in February and March.

 For background on BikeWalkLee's views, click below:

·        BWL comments to county Local Planning Agency on land use elements (4/5/13)

·        BikeWalkLee overview comments on 10/26/12 Draft Transportation Element (11/25/12)

      See BikeWalkLee's last blog post about the 2035 Horizon Plan.

   

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