1176 Capital Improvement 5 yr Schedule RevisedORDINANCE NO. 1176
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; UPDATING
THE FIVE-YEAR SCHEDULE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AS MANDATED BY FLORIDA STATUTES
SECTION 163.3177(3)(b); PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR
SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Florida Statutes Section 163.3177(3)(b) requires local governments to annually
update a Five -Year Schedule of Capital Improvements which is consistent with the Plan
and may be accomplished by Ordinance rather than as an Amendment to the Local
Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City's Planning Board, acting as the Local Planning Agency, has reviewed the
proposed Five -Year Schedule of Capital Improvements, at its public meeting held on
November 15, 2018, and found it to be consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan and
hereby forwards its recommendation to the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has agreed with the recommendations of the Planning Board that
the proposed Five -Year Schedule of Capital Improvements complies with the
requirements of Florida Statutes Section 163.3177(3)(b), that the proposed
improvements are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to adopt this Schedule to guide future development of
the City and protect the public's health, safety, and welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained before the City Council for the City of Okeechobee,
Florida; presented at a duly advertised public meeting; and passed by majority vote of
the City Council; and properly executed by the Mayor or designee, as Chief Presiding
Officer for the City:
SECTION 1: Revision. The City Council hereby revises the Capital Improvements Element of
its Comprehensive Plan by updating the Five -Year Schedule of Capital Improvements (Five -
Year Capital Improvement Plan) attached as Exhibit "A".
SECTION 2: Conflict. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed.
SECTION 3: Severability. If any provision or portion of this ordinance is declared by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be void, unconstitutional, or unenforceable, then all remaining
provisions and portions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 4: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
INTRODUCED for First Reading and set for Final Public Hearing on this 27th day of
November, 2018.
ATTEST:
L
Lane Gamiotea,
MC, City Clerk
Ordinance No. 1176 Page 1 of 4
Dowling R. atfor , Jr., Mayor
PASSED AND ADOPTED after Second and Final Public Hearing this 18th day of December,
2018.
ATTEST:
ane amiotea, MC, City Clerk
REVIEWED FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
John R. Cook, City Attorney
7//:/(177A'',
Dowling R. Watford, Jr., Mayor
Ordinance No. 1176 Page 2 of 4
Projected Revenues
Ordinance No. 1176
Exhibit "A"
Funding
Source
FY 18-19 FY 19-20 FY 20-21 FY 21-22 FY 22-23
Public Facility Revenues
Local Option Gas Tax
Local Alter Fuel User Fee
SRS Eight Cent Motor Fuel
Ninth Cent Fuel Tax
SCOP (Small County Grant Prog)
Subtotal
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
SCOP
364,880
224,965
64,225
62,975
177,537
894,582
$ 372,178
$ 229,464
$ 65,510
$ 64,235
$ 731,387
379,621
234,054
66,820
65,519
746,014
387,214
238,735
68,156
66,830
760,935
394,958
243,509
69,519
68,166
776,152
General Fund Revenues
Ad Valorem Tax
Intergovernmental Revenues
Fines and Forfeitures
Use of Money
Other Revenues
Subtotal
General
General
General
General
General
$ 2,181, 694
$ 1,645,216
$ 9,775
$ 100,000
$ 28,114
$ 3,964,799
$ 2,225,328
$ 1,678,120
$ 9,971
$ 102,000
$ 28,676
$ 4,044,095
$ 2,269,834
$ 1,711,683
$ 10,170
$ 104,040
$ 29,250
$ 4,124,977
$ 2,315,231
$ 1,745,916
$ 10,373
$ 106,121
$ 29,835
$ 4,207,476
$ 2,361,536
$ 1,780,835
$ 10,581
$ 108,243
$ 30,431
$ 4,291,626
Other Grants
State Appropriation Fund
State Grant $ 209,000 $
Subtotal $ 209,000 $
Projected Expenditures
Funding
Source
Transportation Projects
Median Replacement & Right of Way
Install Baffle Box & Raise Road Elevation
Asphalt Program
Sidewalk Program
Sign Repair/replacement
Traffic Signal Upgrades
Street improvements -SE 8th Ave
Sub Total
Gas Tax
SCOP
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
10,000
177,537
120,000
15,000
15,000
12,500
209,000
559,037
10,000
55,000
15,000
15,000
12,500
200,000
307,500
10,000
200,000 $
15,000 $
15,000 $
12,500 $
252,500
10,000
10,000
$ 300,000
15,000 $ 15,000
15,000 $ 15,000
12,500 $ 12,500
52,500
352,500
Stormwater Projects
ROW Drainage
R&M Roads and Culverts
Storm Water Infiltration Repair
Storm Water Ditch Adjustments
Sub Total
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
Gas Tax
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
40,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
40,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
40,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
40,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
40,000
Parks & Recreation Projects
Tree Program
Centennial Park- Solar Area Lights
Centennial Park- Chickees
Centennial Park - Picnic Tables
Centennial Park - Playground Equipment
Centennial Park - Landscaping
Centennial park -Concrete for pads
Sub Total
General
General
General
General
General
General
General
15,000
6,000
20,000
5,000
10,000
10,000
2,000
68,000
15,000 $
15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000
15,000 $
15,000
15,000
Total Expenditures
Source: City of Okeechobee 2018-2019 Annual Budget
$ 667,037 $ 362,500 $ 307,500 $ 107,500 $ 407,500
Ordinance No. 1176 Page 3 of 4
Ordinance No. 1176
Exhibit "A"
Okeechobee County School District
Summary of Revenue/Expenditures Available for New Construction and Remodeling Projects Only
Project
Description
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Five Year
Total
Total
Revenues
$0
($6,489,479)
($5,104,479)
($4,719,479)
($4,809,479)
($21,122,916)
Total
Project
Costs
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Difference
(Remaining
Funds)
$0
($6,489,479)
($5,104,479)
($4,719,479)
($4,809,479)
($21,122,916)
Source: Okeechobee County School District 2018-19 Work Plan
Okeechobee County School District Capacity Project Schedules
Project
Description
Location
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
Total
Funded
Project
description
not
specified
Location
not
specified
Planned
Cost:
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
No
Student Stations
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Classrooms
0
0
0
0
0
0
Gross Sq Ft
0
0
0
0
0
0
District
Totals
Planned Cost
SO
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
Student Stations
0
0
0
0
0
0
Total Classrooms
0
0
0
0
0
0
Gross Sq Ft
0
0
0
0
0
0
Source: Okeechobee County School District 2018-19 Work Plan
Ordinance No. 1176 Page 4 of 4
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF OKEECHOBEE
Before the undersigned authority personally appeared
Katrina Elsken, who on oath says she is the Publisher of the Lake
Okeechobee News, a three times a week Newspaper published at
Okeechobee, in Okeechobee Couty,1Florida, that the attached
copy of advertisement being a P �`L �--- i'\k` I l C_Q_"
in the matter of
in the 19th Judicial District of the Circuit Court of Okeechobee
County, Florida, was published in said newspaper in the issues of
1��-hljkog
Affiant further says that the said Lake Okeechobee News is a
newspaper published at Okeechobee, in said Okeechobee County,
Florida, and that said newspaper has heretofore been published
continuously in said Okeechobee County, Florida each week and
has been entered as second class mail matter at the post office in
Okeechobee, in said Okeechobee County, Florida, for a period of
one year next preceding the first publication of the attached copy
of advertisement, and affiant further says that she has neither
paid nor promised any person, firm or corporation any discount,
rebate, commission or refund for the purpose of securing this
advertisement for publication in/the
said newspaper.
Katrina Elsken
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
'7t�' day of '�_DUQ0 )"�'r 22Q1K AD
Notary Public, State of Florida at Large
=o�Y:Yti
ANGIE BRIDGES
MY COMMISSION # FF 916149
:oe
'%'-f
EXP IRES:ApdI20,2020
zr ��q".•'
Bonded Thru Notary Public Underwriters
Lake Okeechob' News
107 SW 17th Street, Suite:D:
Okeechobee, Florida 34974
863-763-3134
QTYOFOKEECHOBEE
PUBLIC IXNKE
COtJSHERATION OFADOPnMA QTY ORDIILMKf
NOIICEISHEREErYGWMtha ftCtyGot dofftoQwya�EdgGee,
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or as won Unita at 4y Fes, 55 SE 3rd Ave, Okmdnbae. FL,
ID oordder brat nffieq� of the foiorvig On* M rota 6x Na
1176: AN ORD OF TtiE QTY OF010=EQiDBE� FLARIDA;
UPDATING THE FIVE-YEAR SCHEDULE OF CAPITAL IMPROVE -
1. I OF'RM GUYS COMP IVE PLAN AS MANDATED 6Y
HDRIDA SfATUiES SECTION 1Gi.3177((33xbp PROVIDING FOR
OOIVF7ICF; PROVIDING FORS>:tIERABDITY; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE
Al nwbers of the pubic are enmma aged to atend and h sad
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Po,a AM-4:30PM,ernptfa'td'days. .
ANY PERSON DECIDING TO APPEAL arty dedson rade by the aw
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BEADVISED Uetst Ldd Wu kftid W SIM an/doamer>k vidm
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City of Okeechobee, Florida
Comprehensive Plan
Adoption Date: March 19, 1991
Amended: February 5, 2019
LaRue Planning & Management Services, Inc.
2
History of Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan
Date Ordinance Number Description or Petition
September 19, 2000 753 & 754 Petition #00-001-SSA
February 20, 2007 965 06-1 (Cycle I 2007 Amendments)
August 20, 2008 1022 08-PEFE1 (Public School Facilities)
March 3, 2009 1041 CIE Update
October 18, 2011 1076 10-RWSP1 (Water Supply Work Plan)
December 6, 2011 1077 Petition #11-001-SSA
January 15, 2013 1092 13-1ESR (Modifying FLU designations)
June 18, 2013 1098 Petition 13-001-SSA (SF to IND)
September 3, 2013 1103 CIE Update
November 19, 2013 1099 13-2 ER (EA Based Amendment)
April 1, 2014 1109 Petition #14-001-SSA
June 17, 2014 1107 14-1 ESR, (Ltd Ag, etc)
January 20, 2015 1117 Petition #14-002-SSA
May 5, 2015 1121 Petition #15-001-SSA
June 21, 2016 1134 Petition #16-001-SSA
July 13, 2016 1137 Petition #16-002-SSA
August 16, 2016 1139 Petition #16-004-SSA
October 4, 2016 1144 Petition #16-003-SSA
June 20, 2017 1154 Petition #17-002-SSA
November 14, 2017 1161 Petition #17-003-SSA
December 19, 2017 1162 CIE Update
December 19, 2017 1164 Petition #17-004-SSA
May 15, 2018 1167 Petition #18-001-SSA
December 18, 2018 1176 CIE update
February 5, 2019 1177 Petition # 18-002-SSA
Prepared by:
James G. LaRue, AICP
LaRue Planning & Management Services, Inc.
1375 Jackson Street, Suite 206
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
239-334-3366
www.larueplanning.com
In Conjunction With:
The City of Okeechobee
55 SE 3rd Avenue
Okeechobee, Florida 34974
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Population Projections .....................................................................................................................1
1. Future Land Use Element ........................................................................................................ 1-1
Map 1.1, Future Land Use ............................................................................................ 1-18
2. Traffic Circulation Element ..................................................................................................... 2-1
Map 2.1, Existing Traffic Circulation ..............................................................................2.6
Map 2.2, Future Traffic Circulation (to be revised) ......................................................... 2-7
3. Housing Element ...................................................................................................................... 3-1
4. Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Aquifer
Recharge Element ............................................................................................................ 4-1
5. Conservation Element .............................................................................................................. 5-1
6. Recreation and Open Space Element ....................................................................................... 6-1
7. Intergovernmental Coordination Element................................................................................ 7-1
8. Public School Facilities Element ............................................................................................. 8-1
Appendix A: Map Series ...................................................................................................... 8-7
Figure 1, Existing Elementary School Location and Attendance Boundary Map ........... 8-8
Figure 2, Existing Middle School Location and Attendance Boundary Map .................. 8-9
Figure 3, Existing High School Location and Attendance Boundary Map ................... 8-10
Figure 4, Existing and Future Ancillary Facility Location Map .................................... 8-11
Figure 5, Future School Locations ................................................................................. 8-12
9. Capital Improvements Element................................................................................................ 9-1
Capital Improvements Implementation............................................................................ 9-6
Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements ................................................................. 9-7
10. Comprehensive Plan Monitoring ......................................................................................... 10-1
11. Concurrency Management System ...................................................................................... 11-1
Overview of the Concurrency Management System ..................................................... 11-1
Requirements for Concurrency ...................................................................................... 11-1
Issuance of Development Orders or Permits ................................................................. 11-4
Applicable Goal, Objective and Policy Statements Supporting Concurrency ............... 11-4
Public Facility Capacity and Level of Service Inventory .............................................. 11-8
Concurrency Monitoring System ................................................................................. 11-10
Concurrency Assessment ............................................................................................. 11-11
12. Comprehensive Plan Public Participation Procedures ......................................................... 12-1
Legal Requirements ....................................................................................................... 12-1
Agencies and Their Roles .............................................................................................. 12-1
Local Planning Agency .................................................................................................. 12-1
Public Participation Procedure ....................................................................................... 12-2
13. Consistency with the State Comprehensive Plan ................................................................. 13-1
14. List of Definitions ................................................................................................................ 14-1
POPULATION PROJECTIONS
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan 1
Population Projections (CIE excerpt March 2009)
POPULATION PROJECTIONS
The University of Florida’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BEBR) estimates that
the City’s resident population as of April 1, 2008 was 5,496. Because Okeechobee is a center for
freshwater fishing and other outdoor-related activities, the additional seasonal population and
visitors staying overnight in the community is estimated to be equal to about 40% of the resident
population. The peak seasonal population in 2008 is estimated at 7,694.
Following is a list of residential developments having been approved but not yet constructed
since early 2007. While immediate development of the larger of these developments is unlikely
given the current economic situation, these 1,254 dwelling units approved for these projects can
be expected to be completed within at least the next ten years.
Approved Developments
Project Name Number and Type of
Units
Location/ Type of Development Approval
Date
Anticipated
Population
Central Park Oaks 4 single family units SE quadrant of the City between SR
70 and SE 5th Street.
4/2007 11 persons
O-Town Apts. 40 multi-family units SW quadrant of the city south of SR
70 on SE 10th Avenue between SE 4th
and SE 5th Street
5/2007 108 persons
Southern Trace 217 multi-family
units
NW quadrant of the city and west of
US 441, between NW 11th and NW
14th Streets
9/2007 578 persons
The Lakehouse 136 multi-family
units
SW quadrant of the city on SW 15th
Street between SW 10th and SW 7th
Avenue
10/2007 367 persons
Casa Bella 37 multi-family units NW quadrant of the City west of NW
5th Avenue and between NW 10th and
NW 11th Street
12/2007 99 persons
Visiting Nurses
Association
31 units (assisted
living facility)
SE quadrant of the City east of US
441, on SE 2nd Street
10/2008 37 persons
Bevis 6 multi-family units NE quadrant of the City, at the
northeast corner of NE 10th Street and
NE 3rd Avenue
11/2008 16 persons
Asmussen 14 units (assisted
living facility)
NE quadrant of the City NE 2nd
Avenue, between NE 6th and NE 7th
Streets
12/2008 38 persons
Total Persons 1,254
Source: LaRue Planning & Management Services, Inc. and the City of Okeechobee, 2/09.
Using the 2.70 average household size recorded in the 2000 Census, these 1,254 units can be
expected to increase the City’s resident population by 3,386 persons by the year 2019. It is also
reasonable to expect that some additional, although limited, growth beyond that associated with
already approved projects will take place over the next ten years. Allowing for an average of
another 40 persons per year would result an overall annual growth rate of about 2.5% per year.
The projected resident and peak seasonal populations of the City through the year 2019 are
provided in the following table.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan 2
Population Projections (CIE excerpt March 2009)
Peak Population Forecast
Year Resident Population Seasonal Population Peak Population
2008 5,496 2,198 7,694
2009 5,633 2,253 7,886
2014 6,373 2,549 8,922
2019 7,210 2,884 10,094
Source: LaRue Planning & Management Services, Inc., 2009.
LAND NEEDED TO ACCOMMODATE GROWTH
To date, there have been no insurmountable problems with the allocation of land to meet the
demonstrated needs of the City. Based on the latest information available (EAR, 1999),
approximately 430 acres, or 18%, of the land within the City was vacant with most of this land in
areas currently designated for residential uses. Since that time, it is estimated that less than 20%
of the vacant residential areas have been developed. The current inventory of developable vacant
land is adequate to accommodate the modest population growth expected in the City through the
long-range planning horizon of 2019.
FUTURE LAND USE ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-1
Future Land Use Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: Through a well-planned mix of compatible land uses, the City of Okeechobee
shall continue to maintain a high quality living environment, preserve its
distinctive natural and historic resources, and provide public services to its
residents at a minimum cost.
Objective 1: The location of future development in the City of Okeechobee shall continue
to be guided by the availability and efficient use of public facilities and
services as well as site characteristics such as soil conditions and topography.
Policy 1.1: Approval of development proposals shall continue to be conditioned on the
availability of facilities and services necessary to serve the proposed
development and that the facilities meet adopted level of service standards.
These adopted level of service standards shall be as follows:
Public Facility
LOS Standard
Potable Water Supply
114 gallons/capita/day
Wastewater Disposal
130 gallons/capita/day
Solid Waste Disposal
13 lbs./capita/day
3 years available landfill capacity
Stormwater Drainage
Design storm:
25 year/24 hour duration
Recreation and Open Space
3 acres/1,000 persons
Roads and Traffic Circulation
Principal Arterial: LOS C
All Other Roads: LOS D
Policy 1.2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that needed public facilities
will be in place prior to or concurrent with new development through
implementation of the Concurrency Management System.
Policy 1.3: Where minimum levels of service for parks, roads, and solid waste disposal
are met, new residential development and commercial developments
receiving approval from the Florida Department of Health may make
temporary use of private wells and septic tanks subject to the requirement that
it will connect to public potable water and sanitary sewer service once such
service becomes available.
Policy 1.4: The land development regulations applicable in the City of Okeechobee will
be amended to implement appropriate best management practices described
in A Guide to Sound Land & Water Management (published by the Florida
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-2
Department of Environmental Protection) or limit development densities and
intensities in areas where soil types or topography are not conducive to
development. Permitted densities and intensities in environmentally sensitive
areas shall be as established under Objective 2 and the Future Land Use Map.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that all new development is
consistent with the Future Land Use Element.
Policy 2.1: The following land use designations are established for the purpose of
managing future growth:
a) Single-Family Residential. Permitted uses include single-family
dwellings, mobile home parks, houses of worship, public and private
schools, public facilities, limited agriculture and accessory uses
customary to permissible uses. Other uses related to and consistent
with low density residential development such as boarding houses,
bed and breakfasts, adult family care homes, assisted living facilities,
community centers, indoor and outdoor recreation and public utilities
may be permissible under certain circumstances.
1. Maximum density is four units per acre for residential units
on individual lots, and six units per acre for mobile home
parks. Where affordable housing is provided in accordance
with Housing Policy 1.6, the maximum density for single
family development shall be five units per acre.
2. Zoning districts considered appropriate within this future land
use category include Rural Heritage (RH), Residential Single-
Family One (RSF 1), Residential Mobile Home (RMH), and
Residential Planned Unit Development (PUD-R).
b) Multi-family Residential. Permitted uses include all uses listed as
permissible in the Single-Family Residential future land use category
plus apartments, duplexes, condominiums, and public facilities,
limited agriculture and accessory uses customary to permissible uses.
1. Maximum density shall not exceed 10 units per acre. Where
affordable housing is provided in accordance with Housing
Policy 1.6, the maximum density for multi-family
development shall be 11 units per acre.
2. Zoning districts considered appropriate within this future land
use category include RH, Residential Single-Family Two
(RSF 2), Residential Multiple Family (RMF), and PUD-R.
c) Mixed Use Residential. Intended to accommodate and provide
flexibility for development of multiple uses within a residential
setting. In order for land to be considered for this designation, land
requested to be placed in this category shall be a minimum of 30
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-3
acres. Development within this category would be allowed to be no
more than seven and one-half (7.5) dwelling units per gross acre.
1. All new development within the Residential Mixed Use
Category shall be required to be zoned Mixed Use Planned
Unit Development PUD-M.
2. Development within this Residential Mixed Use Category
will be required to cluster in order to maximize open space
and natural areas. Development within the Residential Mixed
Use Category is permitted to be clustered at higher than gross
density as long as the gross density is not exceeded for the
total acreage within the Residential Mixed Use Category.
3. Development within the Residential Mixed Use Category is
encouraged to provide a mix of uses, including a mix of
residential types, recreational amenities, civic spaces and
convenience and commercial uses intended to serve residents
and their guests in order to minimize trips outside the
Residential Mixed Use Category.
4. Development is encouraged to provide creative site designs,
and clustering is required to provide for greater common open
space and mixed-use development. The planning flexibility
provided through the planned development process shall
encourage and facilitate creative design techniques.
a. Residential Development. These areas shall include
single and/or multiple family home site acreage, and
shall include, but not be limited to, single-family
attached and detached; duplexes and two-family units;
and town homes and other multi-family dwelling
types.
b. Non-residential Development. These areas will
include vehicular and pedestrian ways, commercial
and institutional areas, club houses and associated
facilities, utility buildings, maintenance areas, tennis
courts and associated non-residential uses.
c. Residential and Non-residential Development acreage
may account for no more than 60 percent of the gross
area within the Residential Mixed Use Category.
Intensity and density standards for all uses within this
category are set forth in the Intensity/Density Table
below:
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-4
Percent Aggregate Land Use Mix Within the Mixed Use
Future Land Use Map Category
Land Uses in Mixed Use
Minimum %
Land Use Mix
Maximum %
Land Use Mix
Maximum
Density/Intensity
Residential 45% 50% 7.5 gross du/ac
Commercial/Non-residential 10% 15% .35 FAR (1)
Open Space 40% 53% .25 FAR (1)
(1) Floor Area Ratio
d. Limited Agriculture. The foregoing use limitations
notwithstanding, limited agriculture shall be
permissible as an interim use until such time as urban
development is undertaken in accordance with an
approved planned development.
e. Open Spaces. These areas will include preserved
natural areas, buffers, lakes, parks, golf courses,
nature trails, retention areas, conservation areas,
scenic resources, green belts, wetlands and associated
areas and must account for a minimum of 40 percent
of the property within the Residential Mixed Use
Category. Golf course fairways will account for no
more than fifty percent 50 percent of the open space
of the subject Residential Mixed Use Category. No
development (residential/commercial) structures are
intended, but only recreation oriented buildings and/or
structures.
f. The owners will employ management strategies in and
around any golf course to address the potential for
pesticide/chemical pollution of the groundwater and
surface water receiving areas. The management
practices will include:
i. The use of slow release fertilizers and/or
carefully managed fertilizer applications
which are timed to ensure maximum root
uptake and minimal surface water runoff or
leaching to the groundwater;
ii. The practice of integrated pest management
when seeking to control various pests, such as
weeds, insects, and nematodes. The
application of pesticides will involve only the
purposeful and minimal application of
pesticides, aimed only at identified targeted
species. The regular widespread application of
broad spectrum pesticides is not acceptable.
The management program will minimize, to
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-5
the extent possible, the use of pesticides, and
will include the use of the United States
Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation
Services Soil Pesticide Interaction Guide to
select pesticides that have a minimum
potential for leaching or loss to due runoff
depending on the site-specific soil conditions;
iii. The coordination of the application of
pesticides with the irrigation practices (the
timing and application rates of irrigation
water) to reduce runoff and the leaching of
any pesticides and nutrients;
iv. The utilization of a golf course manager who
is licensed by the State to use restricted
pesticides and who will perform the required
management functions. The golf course
manager will be responsible for ensuring that
the golf course fertilizers are selected and
applied to minimize fertilizer runoff into the
surface water and the leaching of those same
fertilizers into the groundwater; and
v. The storage, mixing and loading of fertilizer
and pesticides will be designed to
prevent/minimize the pollution of the natural
environment.
g. The shorelines of any stormwater management lakes
must be sinuous in configuration, and must be sloped
or bermed. The littoral zones around the ponds must
be planted with native wetland herbaceous plants, and
trees or shrubs can be included within the herbaceous
plants. At least four species must be planted. The
minimum required number of plants will be one plant
per linear foot of lake shoreline as measured at the
control elevation water level. The littoral shelf should
provide a feeding area for water dependent avian
species.
5. As individual zonings to PUD are submitted to the City, they
shall include as a minimum the following information:
a. A showing of the amount of units as a part of the
maximum approved for the parent parcel.
b. A Traffic Analysis submitted verifying that adequate
capacity currently exists or will exist prior to the
issuance of any Certificates of Occupancy.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-6
6. Any lands included or amended into the Residential Mixed
Use Category must demonstrate the non-existence of urban
sprawl by:
a. Submitting a fiscal impact study demonstrating a net
fiscal benefit to the City.
b. Directing new growth to areas where public facilities
exist, are planned within the City or County Five Year
Capital Improvements Plan, or are committed to
through a Developer Agreement, or otherwise assured
to be funded by the appropriate agency.
c. Requiring all development to be connected to central
water and sewer.
d) Commercial. Permitted uses include the full range of offices, retail,
personal and business services, automotive, wholesale, warehousing,
related commercial activities, and accessory uses customary to
permissible uses. Other uses related to and consistent with
commercial development such as houses of worship, public facilities,
public utilities, communications facilities, hospitals, group homes,
adult family care homes, assisted living facilities, and limited
residential use associated with a commercial building, may be
permissible under certain circumstances.
1. Commercial development shall not exceed a floor area ratio of
3.00 and the maximum impervious surface for development
within this category shall not exceed 85 percent of the site.
2. Zoning districts considered appropriate within this future land
use category include Commercial Professional Office (CPO),
Light Commercial (CLT), Heavy Commercial (CHV), and
Central Business District (CBD).
e) Industrial. Permitted uses include large-scale manufacturing or
processing activities, business offices and schools, wholesaling and
warehousing, public facilities, public utilities, limited retail and
service uses, and off-site signs, limited agriculture, and accessory
uses customary to permissible uses. Other uses related to and
consistent with industrial development such as adult entertainment,
salvage yards, fortunetellers, bulk storage of hazardous materials and
manufacturing of chemical or leather products may be permissible
under certain circumstances.
1. Industrial Development shall not exceed a floor area ratio of 3.00
and the maximum impervious surface for development within
this category shall not exceed 85 percent of the site.
2. Zoning districts considered appropriate within this future land
use category include only RH and Industrial (IND).
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-7
f) Public Facility. Permitted uses include public facilities and uses such
as parks, schools, government buildings, fire stations, other
recreational and non-recreational public properties, and accessory
uses customary to permissible uses.
1. The maximum impervious surface for development within this
category shall not exceed 85 percent of the site.
2. Only the Public Use (PUB) Zoning district is considered
appropriate within this future land use category.
Policy 2.2: In accordance with property rights policies adopted by the Central Florida
Regional Planning Council in the Central Florida Regional Policy Plan, the
City of Okeechobee recognizes and shall continue to protect private property
rights. In implementing the Comprehensive Plan, the City shall continue to
ensure that its land development regulations protect the use and value of
private property from adverse impacts of incompatible land uses, activities
and hazards. Planning for land use and public facilities in the City shall
consider private property rights, and ensure citizen input into government
land use decisions affecting property rights.
Policy 2.3: The City shall continue to require that all development proposals be
accompanied by an inventory of wetlands, soils posing severe limitation to
construction, unique habitat, endangered species of wildlife and plants, and
areas prone to periodic flooding. The City shall further require that the extent
to which any development or redevelopment is proposed to be placed in/on,
to disturb, or to alter the natural functions of any of these resources, be
identified. Such identification shall occur at a phase in the development
review process that provides the opportunity for the City to review the
proposed project to ensure that direct and irreversible impacts on the
identified resources are minimized, or in the extreme, mitigated. Where
development is determined to encroach upon a resource, the City shall require
a specific management plan to be prepared by the developer, which results in
no net loss of wetlands and which includes necessary modifications to the
proposed development, specific setback and buffers, and clustering of
development away from site resources, to ensure the protection, preservation
or natural functions of the resource. The minimum buffer for wetlands shall
be 25 feet and the average of all setbacks from the wetland resource shall be
40 feet. Areas designated as buffers shall preserve all natural vegetative
cover, except where drainage ways and access paths are approved to cross the
buffer. Buffers may be supplemented only with native tress, shrubs and
ground covers.
Policy 2.4: The City, through revision of appropriate land development regulations, shall
continue to establish compatibility criteria for adjacent land uses.
Policy 2.5: The City shall amend its Future Land Use Map, as necessary, to address
inconsistent land use areas.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-8
Policy 2.6: Development in conjunction with Comprehensive Plan Amendment #06-
C1-001 shall be limited to a maximum of 200,000 square feet of
commercial development. This amendment is more specifically described
as:
Parcel 1: The West ½ of the Southwest ¼ of the Southeast ¼ of
Section 15, Township 37 South, Range 35 East, Okeechobee County,
Florida, lying North of the North right-of-way line of State Road No.
70; Except the North 50 feet of the West ½ of the West ½ of the
Southwest ¼ of the Southeast ¼ for road purposes; also except the
following described property conveyed to the State of Florida: A
parcel of land in the West ½ of the Southwest ¼ of the Southeast ¼ of
Section 15, Township 37 South, Range 35 East, being more
particularly described as follows: Commence at the South ¼ corner of
said Section 15; thence run Northerly on the ¼ section line a distance
of 36.95 feet to the centerline of State Road 70; thence North
80°54’49” East, on said centerline a distance of 347.10 feet; thence
Northerly at 90° to said centerline a distance of 40 feet to the Point of
Beginning; thence continue Northerly a distance of 17 feet; thence
Easterly at 90° a distance of 20 feet; thence Southerly at 90 degrees a
distance of 17 feet; thence Westerly at 90° a distance of 20 feet to the
point of beginning.
Parcel 2: Beginning at the Southwest corner of the East ½ of the
Southwest ¼ of the Southeast ¼ of Section 15, Township 37 South,
Range 35 East and run North along the West boundary a distance of
594 feet; then run East a distance of 186.3 feet; then run South a
distance of 594 feet to the South boundary of Section 15; then run
West a distance of 186.3 feet to the Point of Beginning. Less and
except the right-of-way for State Road 70.
OR Book 525 Page 1999, Public Records of Okeechobee County,
Florida and is approximately 21.14 acre(s).
Objective 3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to work toward the elimination or
reduction in size or intensity of existing land uses and zoning designations
which are not consistent with the Future Land Use Element.
Policy 3.1: The City shall, by 2001, identify all existing land uses inconsistent with the
Future Land Use Element.
Policy 3.2: The City of Okeechobee shall amend its land development regulations, by
2002, to prevent expansion of existing land uses which are inconsistent with
the Future Land Use Element. These regulations shall be enforced to ensure
that when such land uses are discontinued, they shall not be reestablished.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-9
Policy 3.3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to coordinate with Okeechobee
County in amending the City-County zoning maps to ensure that, all property
in the City is zoned in accordance with the Future Land Use Element.
Objective 4: The City shall continue to ensure the availability of suitable land for public
facilities to support proposed development.
Policy 4.1: Future land use shall continue to include appropriate public facilities to
support proposed development.
Policy 4.2: The City shall continue to amend and enforce the land development
regulations as necessary to ensure that adequate land and/or facilities are
available, at the minimum required level of service standards, to meet the
needs of new development, including but not limited to the following:
a) drainage
b) stormwater management
c) parking
d) open space
e) road right-of-way
f) sewer/water plant sites
g) schools
Policy 4.3: Where new facilities providing a utility service are needed to support a
proposed development, such facilities shall be approved prior to or
simultaneously with approval of the development.
Objective 5: At a minimum, the threshold acreage for new schools shall be as follows:
a) Elementary Schools: A minimum of four (4) acres for the first two
hundred (200) students, plus one (1) acre for each additional one
hundred (100) students.
b) Middle Schools/Junior High Schools: A minimum of six (6) acres for
the first three hundred (300) students, plus one (1) acre for each
additional one hundred (100) students.
c) Senior High Schools: A minimum-of seven (7) acres for the first three
hundred (300) students. plus one (1) acre for each additional fifty (50)
students up to one thousand (1,000) students, plus one (1) acre for
each additional one hundred (100) students thereafter.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-10
d) Area Vocational/Technical School: A minimum of twenty (20) acres
for the first five hundred (500) students, plus one (1) acre for each
additional fifty (50) students up to one thousand (1,000) students.
e) Community College: A main campus site shall be a minimum of one
hundred (100) acres. Each separate center site shall contain a
minimum of forty (40) acres for the first five hundred (500) students,
plus two (2) acres for each additional one hundred (100) students.
Special-purpose center site acreage shall be appropriate to contain the
functions identified in the program.
Policy 5.1: Upon issuance of a development order for a new school, the necessary public
facilities such as, but not limited to sanitary sewer, solid waste, potable water,
drainage, and roads are to be in place to serve the proposed use. Furthermore,
the School Board shall obtain a written agreement from the service provider
assuring adequate capacity is available.
Policy 5.2: Public facilities should be in close proximity, and operating at the adopted
level of service, before a development order can be issued for a new school.
Policy 5.3: Access to the site must be from a collector road (minor Collector or local
road for elementary schools) and avoid the need for slow down zones.
Policy 5.4: Ingress and egress should not create detrimental impacts on roads adjacent to
the site and the site must provide for adequate on-site parking and circulation
of user vehicles.
Policy 5.5: Approaches to the site should be safe for pedestrians, bicycles, cars and
buses.
Policy 5.6: The City of Okeechobee shall advise the School Board of all Plan
amendments that may affect the location of new schools and proposed
improvements.
Objective 6: The City shall identify suitable locations for the siting of future schools.
Policy 6.1: Proposed school sites should be located away from industrial uses, major
arterial roadways, railroads, airports, and similar land uses to avoid noise,
odors, dust, and traffic impacts and hazards.
Policy 6.2: Disrupting influences caused by school yard noises and traffic shall be
buffered to ensure sufficient distances from hospitals, adult communities, and
nursing homes.
Policy 6.3: New schools shall be located within urban growth areas or be compatible
with compact urban growth patterns.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-11
Policy 6.4: School sites shall be located outside flood plains, flood prone areas, or
floodways. New school sites should, whenever possible, avoid wetlands, and
other environmentally sensitive areas, and will not interfere with historic or
archaeological resources.
Policy 6.5: The City of Okeechobee shall facilitate the adequate and efficient provision
of public schools through:
a) Allowing new public elementary, middle, and high schools by right in
the Single Family Residential, Multi-Family Residential, and Public
Land Use categories, and by Special Exception in the Commercial
Future Land Use category subject to locational criteria in the
Comprehensive Plan and development standards in the Land
Development Regulations,
b) Not permitting new public schools for any site prohibited for a public
school in Chapter 235, F.S., and Rule 6A-2, F.A.C.
c) Addressing public school facilities pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 163.3161(3), 163.3164(24) and 163.3177(10) (h), Florida
Statutes.
d) Initiating a coordination process with the School Board in its efforts
on school planning, site selection and construction; and pursuant to
Chapter 235, Florida Statutes.
e) Maintaining for public review, a listing of capacity-deficient public
schools and the School Board’s Educational Plan Survey and Capital
Improvement Program when such information is provided to the City.
Objective 7: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to protect significant natural and
historic resources.
Policy 7.1 The City shall continue to amend and enforce land development regulations
consistent with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s
(FDEP) best management practices referenced in Policy 1.4, which will
minimize the flow into Taylor Creek of organic nutrients, pesticides,
sediment, and other substances having the potential to degrade water quality.
Policy 7.2: The City shall continue to protect environmentally sensitive areas from
development of a type and intensity which would disrupt their natural
functions.
Policy 7.3: The City shall continue to establish development standards to be applied to
any wellfield protection zones which the City may designate to protect any
future public potable water wellfields from contamination, and implement
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-12
them through land development regulations. These standards will, at a
minimum:
a) regulate the use, handling, production and storage of regulated
substances;
b) prohibit new underground fuel and other hazardous chemicals within
these areas;
c) require existing facilities to demonstrate that adequate technology is
being employed on-site to isolate the facility from the water supply;
and
d) require that future wellfield protection zones which are relatively
undeveloped will be planned for low density and intensity land uses.
Policy 7.4: The South Florida Water Management District has established limits and
boundaries of public potable water wellfields, cones of influence, and
groundwater aquifer recharge areas.
Any land use proposed for development within one-half mile of any well
designated as a potable water well is to be reviewed as a Special Exception in
order to determine impact on groundwater resources from the proposed use
and specific development. Such review shall address, but is not limited to,
restrictions on land uses which involve pollutants and/or restrictions on
handling and storage of hazardous/toxic materials in order to minimize the
opportunity for contamination. The City of Okeechobee shall continue to
monitor and implement programs to protect groundwater quality and
eliminate potential sources of contamination. This shall be made measurable
by implementing and enforcing the following policies:
Policy 7.5a: The City’s land development regulations shall designate a protection area of
1,000 feet in radius from each public potable water well as the wellfield
protection zone. The first 300 foot radius closest to the well shall be a zone of
exclusion, where no development activities shall be permitted except that
relate with water supply provision. Within the remainder of the zone of
protection, land uses shall be regulated to prohibit the following:
a) Landfills;
b) Activities that require the storage, use or transportation of restricted
substances the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act’s or the
Environmental Protection Agency’s hazardous wastes lists (including,
but not limited to, landfills, gasoline stationed, petroleum storage, and
pesticide storage and handling;
c) Feedlots or other commercial animal facilities;
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-13
d) Wastewater treatment plants and their ancillary facilities;
e) Mines; and,
f) Excavation of borrow pits, waterways or drainage facilities which
intersect the water table.
Policy 7.5b: The City shall amend its Wellhead Protection Program in the Unified Land
Development Code which, at a minimum, shall establish the following:
a) The zone of contribution for all public potable water supply wells
delineated on the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
topographic quad sheets;
b) Regulations which prohibit potentially high risk land uses from the
established zones of influence such as, but not limited to,
manufacturing and storage of hazardous waste and industrial land
uses;
c) Monitoring programs and procedures to mitigate adverse impacts, if
detected, for existing high risk land uses;
d) Land use and development regulations, including open space and
impervious surface requirements, which protect the function of
natural drainage features and natural groundwater aquifer recharge
areas; and
e) The location of drainage wells, delineated on USGS topographic quad
sheets, maintained by the OUA that could have adverse impacts on
groundwater.
Policy 7.5c: The City shall work with the SFWMD, OUA and COE to ensure that
adequate water is available to meet projected agriculture and population
needs.
Policy 7.5d: The City shall work with the SFWMD and the OUA to identify new water
sources in the City.
Policy 7.5e: Adopt measures that efficiently use the existing water supply by:
a) Increasing agricultural and urban water conservation;
b) Eliminating inefficient water use practices; and,
c) Working with the SFWMD and OUA to identify specific projects and
cost-sharing partnerships with other local governments.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-14
Policy 7.6: The City shall amend its Future Land Use Map from Industrial to Public for
lands used as wellfields.
Policy 7.7: The City of Okeechobee shall, by 2002, complete a survey of all historically
significant properties and, based on available resources, implement programs
and procedures to preserve and protect them. This will include, but not be
limited to, cooperation and coordination with recognized historic preservation
organizations. Upon completion of the City’s historic survey, the City shall:
a) adopt a local historic preservation ordinance addressing all areas of
historic significance;
b) create an historic overlay district;
c) amend the Future Land Use Map to reflect historically significant
areas; and
d) prepare a Historic District Map of all historic sites in the City.
Objective 8: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to encourage the redevelopment and
renewal of blighted areas.
Policy 8.1: The City shall continue to identify and prioritize areas in need of
redevelopment or renewal.
Policy 8.2: The City shall, by 2002, formulate a program of specific activities to be
conducted in renewal of blighted areas, including but not limited to the
following:
a) Establish criteria for identifying structures in need of repair,
rehabilitation or, if there is no feasible alternative, demolition;
b) Seek all available state and federal funds to support renewal
activities;
c) Identify any available alternative housing units for persons displaced
by renewal activities; and
d) Review zoning, building, housing, and other codes for weaknesses
which allow the formation of blighted areas, and make necessary
revisions.
Objective 9: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that proposed land use
activities in the Taylor Creek area are not inconsistent with the stated goal of
the Resource Management Plan for the Lower Kissimmee River and Taylor
Creek Drainage Basins, prepared pursuant to Chapter 380, Florida Statutes.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-15
Policy 9.1: The City of Okeechobee will review the Resource Management Plan for the
Lower Kissimmee River and Taylor Creek Drainage Basins, and coordinate
its activities with those of other local governments addressed in the Resource
Management Plan.
Policy 9.2: The City shall adopt a protection ordinance for the Taylor Creek Drainage
Basin area to eliminate inconsistent land use activities, while maintaining
consistency with the Resource Management Plan.
Policy 9.3: The City shall amend the Future Land Use Map to include a Conservation
land use category for which to designate the Taylor Creek Drainage Basin and
Lower Kissimmee River areas.
Objective10: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to promote the various and innovative
land development techniques.
Policy 10.1: The City shall continue to amend and enforce its land development
regulations to encourage development techniques which mix and distribute
land uses to accomplish the following:
a) make the most efficient possible use of existing facilities;
b) recognize and preserve distinctive natural features of the development
site;
c) protect environmentally sensitive areas within the site;
d) preserve open space;
e) meet specific needs of the City, such as affordable housing; and
f) promote a sense of pride and community for its residents.
Policy 10.2: The City shall continue to amend and enforce its land development
regulations to protect the public safety along its streets and highways by
limiting size and placement of signs and visual obstructions, which can
restrict visibility and pose a distraction to the motorists.
Policy 10.3: The City shall continue to enforce land development regulations addressing
the subdivision of land.
Objective 11: The City of Okeechobee shall integrate the objectives of the Okeechobee
Local Mitigation Strategy into its Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 11.1: As is practicable, applicable provisions of the Local Mitigation Strategy shall
be integrated into the City’s land development regulations and review
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-16
procedures to prevent inconsistency between future uses and any hazard
mitigation report recommendations.
Objective 12: By the year 2002, the Unified Land Development Code shall be revised to
specifically encourage redevelopment, infill development, compatibility with
adjacent uses, and curtailment of uses inconsistent with the character and land
uses of surrounding areas, and shall discourage urban sprawl, as provided in
the following policy:
Policy 12.1: Criteria, standards, and related provisions established in the Land
Development Code for reducing the impacts from any land uses that are not
in conformance or are inconsistent with this Comprehensive Plan shall as a
minimum:
a) Regulate the subdivision and platting of land.
b) Regulate the use, intensity and location of land development in a
manner that is compatible with adjacent land uses and provides
delineation in the Conservation Element.
c) Protect Conservation Use lands designated on the Future Land Use
Map and those delineated in the Conservation Element.
d) Regulate areas subject to seasonal and periodic flooding by requiring
adequate drainage and stormwater.
e) Ensure safe and convenient on-site traffic flow and vehicle parking
needs through the Site Plan review process and off-street parking
regulations.
f) Ensure that public facility, utility and service authorization has been
procured prior to issuing any development order and that construction
of said facilities, utilities, and services is concurrent with
development.
g) Provide that development orders and permits shall not be issued
which result in a reduction of the level of services for affected public
(community) facilities.
The purpose of such regulations shall be to eliminate or reduce use
inconsistent with the character of the surrounding area. Such criteria,
standards, and related provisions shall not cause undue hardship, economic or
otherwise, to the owners of such nonconforming uses.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-17
Objective 13: The City of Okeechobee recognizes that under certain conditions some uses
of land are not compatible in proximity to public use airports and must be
regulated to reduce or eliminate potential hazards to health or safety.
Policy 13.1 The City of Okeechobee shall adopt airport zoning regulations that:
a) prohibit residential construction and educational facilities in the City
to be located within 2,500 feet of a runway at the Okeechobee County
Airport.
b) are consistent with the requirements of Sec. 333.03(1)(c) F.S.
c) prohibit the location of any sanitary landfill that is;
1. within 10,000 feet from the nearest point of any runway used
or planned to be used by turbojet or turboprop aircraft;
2. within 5,000 feet from the nearest point of any runway used
only by piston-type aircraft;
3. outside the perimeters defined in subparagraphs 1. and 2., but
still within the lateral limits of the civil airport imaginary
surfaces defined in 14 C.F.R. part 77.25.
d) require notification of the FAA when a structure located within three
statute miles of the Airport Reference Point and will be higher than
the distance from the end of the runway divided by 100 feet.
e) prohibit, in the interest of air safety and commerce, temporary or
permanent structures that do not comply with Federal Aviation
Administration rules or regulations.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Future Land Use Element 1-18
TRAFFIC CIRCULATION ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Traffic Circulation Element 2-1
Traffic Circulation Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: To develop a traffic circulation system which safely and efficiently meets existing
and future transportation needs, promotes accepted design standards, and achieves
desired levels of service.
Objective 1: The City of Okeechobee, as part of its five-year capital improvements
program, shall continue to identify needed improvements and time frames
for correction of existing roadway deficiencies.
Policy 1.1: The City shall, by 2002, rank proposed roadway projects in order of
priority according to the following guidelines:
Priority 1: The project is needed to protect public health and safety, to
fulfill the City’s legal commitment to provide facilities and services, or to
achieve full use of existing facilities.
Priority 2: The project increases efficiency or reduces maintenance costs
of existing facilities, prevents or reduces future improvement costs,
provides service to developed areas lacking full service, or promotes infill
development.
Priority 3: The project represents a logical extension of facilities and
services within a designated urban service area.
Policy 1.2: The City shall, by 2002, complete a survey of striping, signalization,
signage and other road conditions to identify areas in need of
improvement.
Policy 1.3: The City shall, by 2002, develop and maintain a data file on traffic
accidents and identify any roadway deficiencies contributing to such
accidents.
Policy 1.4: The City shall, by 2002, identify all roadways within the City in need of
resurfacing or widening and include those improvements in the Five-Year
Schedule of Capital Improvements.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to protect existing and future right -
of-way from building encroachment.
Policy 2.1: The City hereby adopts standard minimum right-of-way requirements for
new roadways as follows:
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Traffic Circulation Element 2-2
TYPE OF FACILITY RIGHT-OF-WAY
Arterial Roadway 150'
Collector Roadway 100'
Local Road 70' (swale drainage)
50' (curb and gutter)
Policy 2.2: The City shall enforce provisions in its land development regulations to
require mandatory dedications or fees, as a condition of plat approval, for
the purpose of acquiring adequate right-of-way to serve proposed
developments.
Policy 2.3: The City shall identify the right-of-way needs of existing development as
soon as possible, and enforce provisions in its land development
regulations to establish measures for acquisition or reservation.
Policy 2.4: In cases where width requirements established in Policy 2.1, are
inadequate for a proposed road improvement project, the City shall, after
consulting with FDOT or other appropriate agencies, establish special
setbacks or dedication requirements to meet the need for additional right-
of-way.
Objective 3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to support and encourage FDOT in
the implementation of projects listed in the FDOT 5-Year Work Program
which are under the City's jurisdiction and are consistent with and further
the Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 3.1: The City shall continue to provide necessary coordination and assistance
to FDOT in its work efforts toward widening US 441 between CSX
Railroad and Cemetery Rd., expanding SR 70 from 8th Avenue west and
all other projects included in the 5-Year Work Program covering the
period 2000-2010.
Policy 3.2: The City shall continue to promptly report to FDOT any observed
deficiencies and needed improvements in state roads so that these may be
added to the current work program or inclu ded in upcoming work
programs covering the period 2000-2010.
Objective 4: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to coordinate the planning and
programming of local transportation improvements with the Future Land
Use Element of this plan, Okeechobee County and FDOT.
Policy 4.1: The City shall, by 2002, implement a program to monitor and evaluate the
impacts of existing and proposed development on the transportation
system in order to ensure consideration of transportation issues in local
land use decisions.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Traffic Circulation Element 2-3
Policy 4.2: In order to improve coordination with FDOT, the City shall continually
review applicable FDOT plans and programs for consistency with its own
project planning.
Policy 4.3: As part of its Concurrency Management System, the City shall continue to
notify FDOT when any proposed development would reduce levels of
service on US 441 and SR 70 below adopted minimums.
Policy 4.4: When transportation facilities become backlogged, the City shall continue
cooperation with FDOT in adopting strategies, timetables, and
commitments to bring operating conditions back to acceptable levels of
service over a reasonable period of time.
Policy 4.5: The City shall identify all roadway projects in its Capital Improvements
Plan.
Objective 5: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to coordinate activity with state,
regional, and local jurisdictions to promote a proper mix of funding for
transportation improvements.
Policy 5.1: The City shall continue to aggressively seek funds from FDOT, DCA, the
County and other appropriate agencies, public and private, to meet the
funding necessary for needed transportation improvements.
Objective 6: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to implement a program for
providing roadway needs that integrates acceptable design standards.
Policy 6.1: The City shall continue to consider and adopt criteria published at the
federal, state, and local level relating to the design of transportation
facilities including the FDOT Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for
Design, Construction, and Maintenance of Streets and Highways; and the
American Association of State Highways and Transportation Engineers
Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets.
Policy 6.2: The City shall enforce provisions in its land development regul ations to
establish roadway requirements, including appropriate development
setbacks and right-of-way dedications, addressing the need to acquire and
preserve existing and future rights-of-way.
Policy 6.3: The City shall enforce provisions in its land development regulations,
which meet or exceed FDOT standards, to control access to arterial and
collector roads by limiting new curb cuts and driveway permits, or other
appropriate means.
Objective 7: The City of Okeechobee shall establish a level of service standards that are
acceptable for existing and future conditions.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Traffic Circulation Element 2-4
Policy 7.1: Minimum peak hour operating levels of service for the City of
Okeechobee shall continue to be consistent with those set forth in the
Florida Highway System Plan, Level of Service Standards and Guidelines
Manual as outlined below:
Facility Type Rural/Urban
with population less than 50,000
Principal Arterials C
Minor Arterials D
All Other Roadways D
Policy 7.2: The City’s Concurrency Management System shall continue to use
minimum level of service standards adopted in Policy 7.1 in assessing
whether the transportation impacts of proposed new developments are
acceptable.
Objective 8: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to coordinate development with
the provision of adequate motorized and non-motorized transportation
facilities.
Policy 8.1: The City shall continue to monitor land use development trends and traffic
levels of service to ensure that needed transportation facilities are provided
by developers or appropriate government agencies prior to or concurrent
with development.
Policy 8.2: The City shall not permit new development to occur in locations where the
existing traffic circulation network is insufficient to accommodate the
impacts of the development, unless definite provisions are made to
provide the necessary capacity prior to or concurrent with the
development.
Policy 8.3: As new development is permitted, the City shall continue to reserve and
protect needed right-of-way and/or easements for bicycles and pedestrian
facilities.
Policy 8.4: The City shall enforce provisions in its land development regulations to
require sidewalks in new commercial and residential developments which
are subject to plat or site plan approval, to be linked where possible to the
existing sidewalk system.
Policy 8.5: Areas of the City not currently served by bicycle or pedestrian facilities
shall receive top priority when such facilities are built in the future.
Objective 9: The City of Okeechobee shall encourage efforts to curtail future level of
service standard deterioration, particularly along US Highway 441 and
SR 70.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Traffic Circulation Element 2-5
Policy 9.1: To assist in improving level of service standards, commercial
redevelopment efforts shall be prioritized to mitigate existing “strip”
commercial sites.
Policy 9.2: Access points to commercial centers shall be limited, where feasible, to
decrease traffic congestion along City arterials and other roadways.
Policy 9.3: Efforts shall be made, where appropriate, to separate local traffic from
through traffic in commercial areas.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Traffic Circulation Element 2-6
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Traffic Circulation Element 2-7
HOUSING ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Housing Element 3-1
Housing Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: The City of Okeechobee will plan for the provision of decent, safe and sanitary
housing of appropriate type, size, location and cost, and with adequate supporting
public facilities to meet the current and future needs of all residents of the City.
Objective 1: On an ongoing basis, the City of Okeechobee shall continue to assist the private
sector and other public agencies in providing adequate and affordable housing,
supported by adequate public facilities, for existing and future populations. This
will include regulatory improvements, coordination with the private sector,
applications for funding assistance, and other activities aimed at ensuring
adequate supply of standard condition housing which meets documented current
and projected ranges of household size, income, tenure, and special need (e.g.,
elderly and farmworker housing).
Policy 1.1: New residential development shall continue to be permitted only where facilities
and services such as roads, sanitary sewer, and potable water are available and
adequate, or where such facilities and services are programmed to be provided
during the planning period, based on a fair-share distribution of costs.
Policy 1.2: The City Administrator and other appropriate officials shall continue to meet on a
periodic basis, either formally or informally, with City residents, developers,
builders, non-profit providers of housing, and any other interested persons to
assess and improve the production of housing for all City residents.
Policy 1.3: The City Administrator shall continue to assess and recommend improvements as
necessary, to housing-related regulatory and permitting processes in effect within
the City. This will be done in conjunction with scheduled evaluations and
appraisals of the comprehensive plan, or as otherwise required. Possible
improvements may include, but shall not be limited to:
• elimination or modification of conflicting or excessive regulations;
• establishment of a time limit for the review of development proposals;
• consolidation of multiple public hearings; and
• waiving of processing fees for affordable housing projects.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Housing Element 3-2
Policy 1.4: The City Administrator shall continue to coordinate with the joint City-County
Building and Zoning Department to establish a site review process to guide the
location of and assess the need for and availability of infrastructure to support the
following:
housing for low and moderate income families;
mobile homes;
group homes;
foster care facilities;
farmworker housing; and
housing for other households with special needs.
Policy 1.5: In order to be eligible to receive state and federal housing funds, the City of
Okeechobee shall, by 2002, implement a fair housing ordinance to permit
opportunity in housing selection and prohibit discrimination in the sale or rental of
a dwelling.
Policy 1.6: The City shall enforce provisions in its land development regulations allowing the
following density bonus for residential developments in providing units which
qualify as affordable housing:
10% of total units +1 unit/acre
Policy 1.7: The City shall explore incentives to offer developers for the provision of
affordable housing units, and adopt an incentive program by 2002.
Policy 1.8: The City, through the State Housing Initiative Program (SHIP) funding, shall
more actively participate in providing affordable housing to meet community
needs by rehabilitating deteriorating structures and by providing down payment
assistance for new homes.
Policy 1.9: For purposes of defining housing for very-low, low and moderate income
households the following will apply:
Very low income households = < 30% of median income
Low income households = 30 to 50% of median income
Moderate income households = 50 to 80% of median income
Policy 1.10: By 2002, the City shall amend its Unified Land Development Code to provide
design standards, suitable sites, and technical assistance to the public in the
construction of affordable housing.
Policy 1.11: The City shall, by 2002, permit an adequate amount of residential land near the
cities where most facilities and services are available, and that will provide more
sanitary and decent housing with public centralized sewer and potable water
systems where feasible.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Housing Element 3-3
Policy 1.12: The Unified Land Development Code shall be revised by 2002 to permit and
encourage greater flexibility and affordability in housing site designs.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall, by 2002, formulate and begin to implement a
program to identify, reduce, and/or eliminate substandard housing conditions by
ten percent. This will include amendment of housing and building codes and other
applicable regulations to establish minimum standards for safety and for aesthetic,
structural and/or sanitary conditions in the existing housing stock.
Policy 2.1: The City shall enforce standards for rehabilitation of substandard housing units
incorporating housing quality standards which meet or exceed those of the Federal
Section 8 Existing Housing Program. Building, housing, and zoning codes in
effect within the City shall be amended as necessary to maintain consistency with
these standards.
Policy 2.2: As permitted by funding and personnel constraints, the City shall continue to
bring substandard housing units into compliance with applicable regulations at an
average rate of 10 units per year. This may include rehabilitation as well as
demolition and replacement.
Policy 2.3: The City of Okeechobee shall, by 2002, establish criteria to identify blighted areas
and historically significant housing in need of improvement.
Policy 2.4: The City of Okeechobee shall, by 2001, conduct a review of applicable land
development regulations for weaknesses which allow the formation of blighted
areas, and coordinate with Okeechobee County to make necessary revisions as
part of the required amendment process.
Objective 3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to conserve its standard-condition housing
stock, and improve, as necessary, the structure and aesthetics of existing housing.
In this process, historically significant units will be identified and given special
consideration.
Policy 3.1: Owners/landlords of housing units shall continue to maintain their property in
standard condition. Through a program of code enforcement based, at a minimum,
on response to citizen complaints, substandard conditions shall be brought to the
attention of owners/landlords of housing units, and they shall be required to make
necessary repairs.
Substandard housing shall be defined, based on the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 8 Existing Housing
Program as a housing unit having a deteriorated or dilapidated appearance
and one or more of the following conditions:
1. The only possible access to the unit is through another unit.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Housing Element 3-4
2. There is no alternative means of exit in case of fire which
meets state or local regulations.
3. There is evidence of infestation by mice or vermin.
4. There is an accumulation of garbage or debris.
5. Inadequate covered facilities for refuse disposal are
provided.
6. Neighboring conditions are present which would seriously
and continuously endanger the health or safety of residents
(e.g., evidence of flooding, proximity to open sewage, fire
hazards).
7. Evidence exists of an unsound or hazardous foundations.
8. There are unsound or hazardous stairs, porches, balconies,
or decks.
9. Roof bucks or sags, has holes or decayed soffits.
10. Exterior surfaces are decayed or otherwise defective.
11. Chimney is leaning or disintegrating.
12. Mobile homes are placed on the site in an unstable manner.
Policy 3.2: Work efforts on the part of the City toward conservation, rehabilitation and
demolition of housing units will be carried out in support of the following
principles:
to encourage property owners to make repairs before serious
problems develop within the housing stock;
to reduce blight and decay of neighborhoods;
to maintain the value of housing and the quality of life in the City;
and
to encourage investment in residential areas.
Policy 3.3: The conservation, rehabilitation, or demolition of any documented historic
housing units shall continue to be carried out in cooperation with recognized
historic preservation organizations.
Policy 3.4: Upon completion of the City’s historic survey, all historically significant housing
structures shall be formally identified by the City.
Policy 3.5: The City shall, through Code Enforcement assistance, maintain records to identify
all housing units that are demolished and all housing units that are brought into
Code compliance.
Policy 3.6: The City shall coordinate with both citizen groups and the Department of State to
identify and prepare a Historic Overlay District.
Objective 4: The City of Okeechobee shall enforce zoning, subdivision, housing and other
applicable regulations to ensure adequate sites for housing for low- and
moderate-income families and for mobile homes.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Housing Element 3-5
Policy 4.1: The principles and criteria for siting low and moderate income housing shall be as
follows:
to ensure that low/moderate income families have adequate public
facilities and services based on a fair-share distribution of costs;
to reduce concentrations of low/moderate income housing in the
City;
to provide adequate sites for low/moderate income housing based
on projections and demand for such housing; and
to allow additional density for developments providing affordable
housing (see Policy 1.6).
Policy 4.2: The principles and criteria for siting mobile homes shall be as follows:
to ensure mobile home residents of the availability of adequate
public facilities and services based on a fair-share distribution of
costs;
to require developers of future mobile home parks to provide
adequate hurricane shelter space for hurricane season residents of
such parks;
to provide adequate sites for mobile homes based on projections
and demand for such housing;
to ensure an affordable housing type to residents of the City; and
new mobile homes shall be placed only in mobile home parks or
subdivisions at least 10 acres in size.
Objective 5: The City of Okeechobee shall, on a continuing basis, ensure adequate sites for
group homes and foster care facilities that are licensed or funded by the Florida
Department of Health (DOH).
Policy 5.1: The principles and criteria for siting DOH-licensed or -funded group homes and
foster care facilities shall be as follows:
to ensure that group homes and foster care facilities of a residential
scale will be located in areas of residential character;
zoning shall not be used to prohibit such facilities of a residential
scale in areas of residential character so long as proposed facilities
are compatible with surrounding residential densities; and
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Housing Element 3-6
to provide clients of such facilities adequate public facilities and
services on the basis of a fair-share distribution of costs.
Objective 6: Reserved.
Objective 7: The City of Okeechobee shall, by 2002, establish a technical advisory committee
to evaluate the City's housing efforts and advise the City on adequate and
affordable housing issues and programs.
Policy 7.1: City Officials shall continue to seek and/or otherwise develop appropriate federal,
state, local, and private funding or assistance to offset the costs of City housing
efforts, return tax revenue to the community, provide local employment, and/or
leverage private-sector investment in residential areas.
Policy 7.2: The City shall continue to apply for Small Cities Community Development Block
Grant funds and participate in housing-related activities funded by block grants
and the Farmers Home Administration. The City shall consider participating in
other federal or state-assisted programs that rehabilitate and/or replace housing for
low- and moderate-income families, and households with special housing needs.
Policy 7.3: The City shall continue to participate in the City’s SHIP to find affordable
housing for low- and moderate-income households.
Policy 7.4: Through the assistance of a technical advisory committee, the City shall become
more actively involved in the SHIP program, to acquire funds for a greater
percentage of affordable housing units.
SANITARY SEWER, SOLID WASTE,
DRAINAGE, POTABLE WATER
AND NATURAL GROUNDWATER
AQUIFER RECHARGE ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-1
Amended: October 18, 2011
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage
Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to conserve and protect its water
sources and provide, or coordinate with other entities that provide, needed
public facilities in a manner which protects investments in existing
facilities and promotes orderly growth.
Objective 1: The City of Okeechobee shall, through revision of land development
regulations, continue to implement procedures to ensure that needed
facilities are available or will be available, concurrent with development.
Policy 1.1: The City of Okeechobee shall adopt the following minimum level of
service standards to be used to determine the availability of facility
capacity and the demand generated by development:
Facility Level of Service
Sanitary Sewer Average Sewer Demand of User Population
130 gallons per capita per day
Potable Water Average Daily Water Demand
114 gallons per capita per day
Solid Waste Disposal Average Solid Waste Generation
13 lbs. per capita per day
at least 3 years available capacity in
Okeechobee County landfill (see Policy 1.4)
Drainage/Stormwater
Management
Interim Standard (see Policy 1.5)
Design Storm
25-year frequency
24-hour duration
Facility design standards
as required by Florida Administrative
Code (see Policy 1.5)
Policy 1.2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that all improvements for
replacement, expansion, or increase in capacity of facilities shall be
compatible with the adopted level of service standards for that facility.
Policy 1.3: The City Administrator or his designee shall continue to annually report to
the City Council the best available information on demand and unused
capacity for each facility, providing the most recent available population
estimates for the City and unincorporated areas served by City facilities.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-2
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 1.4: As a component of its adopted level of service for solid waste generation,
the City shall continue to require that no less than three years’ capacity
remain available in the Okeechobee County landfill to accommodate
existing and approved development. The most recent available public
facilities report of the City Administrator, as referenced in Policy 1.3, shall
be consulted to determine whether this capacity exists.
Policy 1.5: The following drainage level of service standards are established on an
interim basis pending completion of a drainage study to produce relevant
data and analysis to support permanent standards. Stormwater treatment
and disposal facilities shall be designed for a 25-year storm event of 24-
hour duration. Such facilities shall meet the design and performance
standards established in Section 17-25.025, F.A.C. The first inch of
stormwater runoff shall be treated on-site, pursuant to Section 17-3.051,
F.A.C. Stormwater discharge facilities shall be designed such that the
receiving water body shall not be degraded below minimum conditions
necessary to assure the suitability of water for the designated use of its
classification as established in Chapter 17-3, F.A.C. These standards shall
apply to all development and redevelopment.
Policy 1.6: The City of Okeechobee shall issue no development orders or
development permits for new construction without first consulting with
the Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA), the City’s potable water service
provider, to determine whether adequate water supplies to serve the
development will be available no later than the anticipated date of
issuance by the City of a certificate of occupancy or its functional
equivalent. The City will also ensure that adequate water supplies and
facilities are available and in place prior to issuing a certificate of
occupancy or its functional equivalent. This determination will require the
demonstration by the Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) at the building
permit stage that a consumptive use permit has been issued to OUA with
sufficient allocation available to serve the new development, given all
other existing commitments for that allocation within the entire OUA
service area.
Policy 1.7: Utility connections mandatory for new development:
All new development and redevelopment within the City of Okeechobee
shall be required to connect to the public potable water and sanitary sewer
systems in the following manner:
(1) Where water and/or sanitary sewer service lines are in place
immediately adjoining the property and service is available, the
property shall be required to connect to the system(s) and no
development permit shall be approved until such time as financial
arrangements with OUA for the payment of connection fees and
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-3
Amended: October 18, 2011
capital outlay fees associated with required connection to the
system(s) have been completed.
(2) Where reuse water service lines are in place immediately adjoining
the property and service is available, the property shall be required
to connect to the system(s) and no development permit shall be
approved until such time as financial arrangements with OUA for
the payment of connection fees and capital outlay fees associated
with required connection to the system(s) have been completed.
(3) Where reuse water service lines are not in place adjoining the
property and reuse service is not available, the developer shall
work to install a water reuse distribution system as feasible, and in
coordination with, OUA.
Policy 1.8 Utility connections mandatory for existing development upon a change in
ownership:
(1) Where potable water and sanitary sewer service lines are in place
and service is available immediately adjoining the property, any
use not connected to the potable water and/or sanitary sewer
system shall be required, at the time of a change in ownership, to
connect to the system(s).
(2) No development permit shall be issued, or other required approval
granted, until such time as financial arrangements with OUA for
the payment of connection fees and capital outlay fees associated
with required connection to the system(s) have been completed.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to maintain a five-year schedule of
capital improvement needs for public facilities, to be updated annually, in
conformance with the comprehensive plan review process for the Capital
Improvements Element.
Policy 2.1: The City Administrator shall continue to evaluate and rank capital
improvements projects proposed for inclusion in the five-year capital
improvements program for which the City has financial responsibility.
Policy 2.2: Capital improvement projects for which the City has financial
responsibility shall be ranked according to the following priority level
guidelines:
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-4
Amended: October 18, 2011
Priority One: The project is needed to protect the public health and
safety, or to fulfill the City’s legal obligation to provide facilities and
services.
Priority Two: The project increases efficiency of existing facilities,
reduces improvement costs, provides service to developed areas lacking
full service, or promotes infill development.
Priority Three: The project represents a logical extension of facilities or
services within a designated service Area.
Policy 2.3: The City shall revise its Capital Improvements Plan to show itemized
capital improvements.
Policy 2.4: The City of Okeechobee recognizes that the Okeechobee Utility Authority
(OUA) provides potable water to the City, its businesses and residents.
Although no capital improvement projects are necessary within the City
for which the City of Okeechobee has financial responsibility in
connection with supply of potable water to the City, its businesses and
residents, the City of Okeechobee will support and coordinate with the
Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA), as necessary, to assist in the
implementation of Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) Capital
Improvements projects for the years 2011-2021.
Objective 3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that existing facilities
will be utilized in an efficient manner and that infrastructure
improvements will not encourage urban sprawl.
Policy 3.1: Land development regulations shall be utilized to require the use of
appropriate public facilities in new developments. These requirements
shall specify which facility or facilities shall be used in each of the various
land use categories established in the Future Land Use Element. Facility
usage shall also be consistent with the wellfield protection ordinance.
Policy 3.2: Reserved.
Objective 4: The City of Okeechobee shall continue coordination with Okeechobee
County and the Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) in the extension of
water and sewer service into unincorporated areas.
Policy 4.1: The City will encourage OUA to not expand water and sewer service
beyond the boundaries of the Urban Residential land use designation as
shown on Okeechobee County’s adopted Future Land Use Map.
Policy 4.2: The City shall continue to coordinate with the County and OUA in
targeting locations for future potable water and sanitary sewer
connections.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-5
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 4.3: The City will monitor and participate in Okeechobee Utility Authority’s
(OUA) water supply planning process, including updates to water supply
facility work plans and consumptive use permits, regarding the City’s
population and demand projections to ensure that Okeechobee Utility
Authority (OUA) accounts for and meets the City’s current and future
waters needs.
Objective 5: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to provide for efficient collection,
environmentally sound disposal, and reduction in volume of solid waste
material which it generates.
Policy 5.1: The City shall continue coordination and assistance with Okeechobee
County in meeting the solid waste management requirements of the Solid
Waste Management Act of 1988.
Policy 5.2: The City shall continue to maintain any and all interlocal agreements
necessary to ensure continuing access to Okeechobee County’s landfill
facilities.
Policy 5.3: If necessary, to maintain its adopted level of service (LOS) for solid waste
generation, the City shall continue to fully utilize any and all of
Okeechobee County’s waste processing facilities and recycling programs
for the reduction of solid waste volume. Even if not necessary to maintain
its adopted LOS, the City shall still consider the feasibility of using such
facilities and programs in its efforts to meet the volume of reduction goals
of the Solid Waste Management Act of 1988.
Policy 5.4: The City shall, by 2002, reduce its level of service standard for solid waste
disposal from 12,000 tons per year to 11,250 tons per year.
Objective 6: The City shall continue to include, as part of its land development
regulations revision, stormwater drainage regulations providing for the
protection of natural drainage features and provisions for ensuring that all
future development utilizes appropriate stormwater management
techniques.
Policy 6.1: The City of Okeechobee’s land development regulations shall enforce
stormwater drainage provisions which ensure that:
(a) new developments are required to manage runoff from the 25-year
frequency, 24-hour duration design storm event on-site so that
post-development runoff rates, volumes and pollutant loads do not
exceed pre-development conditions;
(b) stormwater engineering, design and construction standards for on-
site systems are provided; and
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-6
Amended: October 18, 2011
(c) erosion and sediment controls are used during development.
Policy 6.2: The City shall, by 2001, adopt and enforce a stormwater management plan
to establish techniques for the protection of drainage facilities. This Plan
shall include protection measures for the Taylor Creek Drainage Basin
area.
Objective 7: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to obtain data needed for
correction of existing deficiencies in man-made drainage facilities or
altered natural drainage features.
Policy 7.1: The City shall complete all four phases of its inventory study of the
function and capacity of the City’s existing stormwater drainage facilities
and system by 2001.
Policy 7.2: The City shall amend the Comprehensive Plan to include the
recommendations of the stormwater drainage study, upon its completion.
Policy 7.3: Drainage facility improvements shall continue to be provided according to
the following priorities:
(1) to fulfill the City’s legal obligations;
(2) to prevent further degradation of Taylor Creek;
(3) to provide adequate drainage for existing development in the City;
(4) to provide adequate drainage for new development in the City; and
(5) to extend municipal drainage facilities to areas outside the City.
Policy 7.4: The City shall maintain complete records on any drainage problems so
that facility deficiencies may be better addressed and corrected.
Objective 8: The City of Okeechobee shall strive to maintain its water consumption at a
rate not to exceed 1.82 million gallons per day (MGD) and to save up to
0.29 MGD by year-end 2021 through water conservation efforts.
Policy 8.1: The City shall continue to encourage conservation through special rate
structures to reward customers who minimize their water consumption.
Policy 8.2: The City shall adopt an Ordinance which requires the use of water-
efficient landscaping in all new development and redevelopment, and
require functioning rain-sensor devices on all automatic irrigation systems.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-7
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 8.3: The City will promote water conservation through the enforcement of the
adopted Florida Building Code which requires such items as low-volume
commodes, water flow restrictions for showers and spigots and similar
devices in all new construction and renovations, and will comply with the
appropriate water management district water use restrictions.
Policy 8.4: The City will continue to cooperate with the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) in its efforts to restrict the unnecessary
consumption of potable water, particularly as it relates to irrigation, lawn
watering, and car washing during periods of drought, supply reduction,
and other emergencies.
Policy 8.5: The City shall inform residents and businesses of, and shall encourage
their participation in, conservation programs of the SFWMD, Okeechobee
County or OUA. These information and educational efforts shall include
the following types of efforts:
a. brochures and signage to be made available at City Hall;
b. pursuing funding through SFWMD Community Education Grant and
cooperative funding programs for educational efforts such as
demonstration gardens and prototype landscaping on public properties;
and,
c. inviting speakers for forums or workshops at City Hall.
Policy 8.6: The City shall coordinate local water conservation education efforts with
the SFWMD, the Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA), and the
Okeechobee County School Board.
Policy 8.7: The City will promote and encourage homeowner and landlord
participation in the County’s initiatives and programs for water
conservation through retrofitting indoor plumbing with low flow fixtures,
and the use of low impact development techniques (such as the Florida
Water StarSM program, which is a point based, new home certification
program for water-efficient developments, similar to the federal Energy
Star program).
Policy 8.8: The City will assist in enforcement of the SFWMD’s lawn and landscape
irrigation rule, which limits irrigation to two days per week between the
hours of 4 p.m. and 10 a.m., with some exceptions, as may be revised.
Policy 8.9: The City shall develop a water audit program for all City facilities,
including irrigation by the end of 2014. The City shall also consider
developing a water audit program, including irrigation systems, for the
public.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Recharge Element 4-8
Amended: October 18, 2011
Objective 9: The City shall continue to protect water quality and preserve the function
of recharge areas and natural drainage features.
Policy 9.1: As part of its land development regulations, the City shall enforce
provisions to limit impervious surfaces in new development to protect the
function of natural drainage features and natural groundwater recharge
areas.
Policy 9.2: The City’s land development regulations shall be utilized to provide
special requirements, consistent with the wellfield protection ordinance,
relating to permitted land uses and land development techniques which
will protect groundwater supplies from contamination.
Policy 9.3: The City shall continue to provide public information and seek public
involvement in water supply issues.
CONSERVATION ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Conservation Element 5-1
Amended: October 18, 2011
Conservation Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to conserve, protect, and appropriately
manage the natural resources to promote the highest environmental quality
possible.
Objective 1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that levels of air pollutants
shall not exceed applicable standards set by the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP).
Policy 1.1: Prior to City approval of a Development of Regional Impact (DRI), the
developer shall conduct a study of transportation-related air quality impacts
which may be reasonably expected to result from the project, and provide
measures for mitigating those impacts.
Policy 1.2: New commercial or industrial development which will release toxic or
hazardous substances into the air will be buffered from existing residential,
public, conservation or preservation land uses, as well as areas designated for
these land uses on the Future Land Use Map.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to implement programs and policies
to conserve the supply and maintain the quality of current and projected
potable water sources, as well as protect the quality of surface water.
Policy 2.1: In water shortage emergencies, the City of Okeechobee shall continue to
follow the conservation plans, guidelines and recommendations of the South
Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).
Policy 2.2: Through Policy 2.3 of the Future Land Use Element and land development
regulations based on that policy, the City of Okeechobee shall continue to
restrict the location and/or intensity of land uses which have the potential to
adversely affect the quality or quantity of groundwater. Should municipal
wells be established as a public drinking water source, the City shall fully
cooperate with the SFWMD to identify cones of influence for all public
supply wellfields. In order to finance its support of these activities, the City
shall seek funding assistance from SFWMD and all other appropriate sources.
Land uses within the identified cones of influence shall be regulated in
accordance with Future Land Use Policy 7.3 and associated land development
regulations.
Policy 2.3: As its resources permit, the City of Okeechobee shall continue to cooperate
with and support the SFWMD’s ongoing surface water monitoring program
as it pertains to Taylor Creek. In contributing to these efforts, the City shall
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Conservation Element 5-2
Amended: October 18, 2011
continue to place particular emphasis on documenting its own impact on
water quality in the creek.
Policy 2.4: As its resources permit, the City of Okeechobee shall continue to cooperate
with and support the SFWMD and the DEP and other relevant agencies to
improve water quality in Lake Okeechobee through reduction of pollutant
loading in Taylor Creek.
Policy 2.5: The City will ensure that any new regulation to protect water resources is
consistent with SFWMD’s environmental resource permitting and
consumptive use permitting rules.
Policy 2.6: The City will promote and encourage the use of low impact development
techniques (such as the Florida Water Star℠ program, which is a point based,
new home certification program for water-efficient developments, similar to
the federal Energy Star program).
Objective 3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to conserve and protect its soils and
native vegetative communities from adverse impacts of development.
Policy 3.1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to protect any natural reservations
identified in the Recreation and Open Space Element from adverse impacts of
development.
Policy 3.2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue coordination and cooperation with
Okeechobee County to conserve and protect rare or unique vegetative
communities that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
Policy 3.3: Through Future Land Use Policy 2.3 and implementing land development
regulations, the City shall continue to protect native vegetative communities
from adverse impacts of development.
Objective 4: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to conserve and protect existing
wetlands, fisheries and wildlife habitat from adverse impacts of development.
Policy 4.1: Through Future Land Use Policy 2.3 and implementing land development
regulations, the City shall continue to conserve wetlands and protect water
quality in Taylor Creek from adverse impacts of development.
Policy 4.2: In implementing Future Land Use Policy 2.3, the City shall continue to
request assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission in identifying possible adverse impacts of proposed
development on habitat for endangered and threatened wildlife species.
Policy 4.3: The City shall, by 2002, identify the total acreage of wetlands and other
sensitive habitats within the City.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Conservation Element 5-3
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 4.4: The City of Okeechobee shall, through the implementation of Policy 9.3 of
the Future Land Use Element, designate all wetlands and other
environmentally sensitive lands as Conservation on the Future Land Use Map
by 2003.
Objective 5: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to manage hazardous wastes, establish
criteria for identification of environmentally sensitive areas, and regulate land
uses so as to preserve natural resources.
Policy 5.1: The City shall enforce provisions in its land development regulations to
ensure that new development, regardless of its location in the City, meets the
following conditions:
(a) does not degrade water quality in Taylor Creek;
(b) does not threaten groundwater quality, particularly in the vicinity of
municipal wells;
(c) preserves existing wetland areas;
(d) avoids the disturbance of natural drainage features; and
(e) preserves habitat for endangered and/or threatened wildlife species.
Policy 5.2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to cooperate with Okeechobee County
in the development and implementation of a joint hazardous waste
management program for the proper storage, collection, and disposal of
hazardous wastes in order to protect its natural resources. The
Comprehensive Plan will be amended as necessary to support this program.
Policy 5.3: On an ongoing basis, the City shall continue to participate in the DEP’s
“Amnesty Days” program and any similar program undertaken by
Okeechobee County to collect and safely dispose of hazardous wastes. The
City shall also continue coordination with the County in the establishment of
a joint collection center for household hazardous wastes.
Objective 6: To improve the water quality of Taylor Creek by 2010, the City shall develop
a program to set limits as to the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that can
be discharged into the Creek.
Policy 6.1: By 2012, the City shall adopt land development regulations to help maintain
a high standard for water quality in Taylor Creek by requiring stormwater
treatment systems for new developments adjacent to Taylor Creek to be
designed using a treatment train approach, using Best Management Practices
in a series, to ensure maximum potential treatment of stormwater.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Conservation Element 5-4
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 6.2: The City shall cooperate and coordinate with the South Florida Water
Management District process for purposes of suggesting improvements to the
water quality of Taylor Creek.
Policy 6.3: The City shall re-evaluate the transfer of development rights to allow for
broader use of this function as an effective planning tool.
Policy 6.4: The City, in order to protect surface water quality within its corporate limits
and beyond, shall adopt a numerical standard for nutrients and pollutants of
concern by 2012.
Policy 6.5: The City shall evaluate opportunities to implement Okeechobee Utility
Authority water quality treatment systems within the Taylor Creek area to
improve the quality of surface water discharges.
Policy 6.6: The quality of water to be discharged from new surface water management
systems shall be subject to Federal, State, Regional and Local permitting
programs and regulations that determine compliance with Federal, State and
Local water quality standards. Stormwater discharges from development
must meet relevant water quality and surface water management standards as
set forth in Rules 62-4, 62-40, 62-302, 40E-4, F.A.C. and by local ordinance.
Policy 6.7: The City shall require all new developments to meet the provisions of the
SFWMD Volume IV, Basis of Review for Surface Water Management and
local provisions pursuant to this Comprehensive Plan to protect surface water
quality within the City.
Policy 6.8: Grants and incentives should be sought for the development of surface water
quality treatment system retrofitting projects for old and/or new surface water
management systems that are not effectively managing water volume or flow,
or removing nutrients and other pollutants.
Policy 6.9: The City shall periodically review the Land Development Code to ensure all
codes are conducive to the implementation of such water quality Best
Management Practices.
Policy 6.10: By 2012, the City shall adopt a program which shall require future
developments to employ the provisions of the Florida Yards and
Neighborhoods program.
Policy 6.11: The City shall require periodic updates of the current Wellfield Protection
Ordinance.
RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE
ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Recreation and Open Space Element 6-1
Recreation and Open Space Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: To provide a system of public recreation lands and facilities to serve all
residents and visitors of the City of Okeechobee, while making the most
efficient possible use of public resources.
Objective 1: Land designated for recreational use shall continue to be protected on an
ongoing basis from the establishment of land uses on adjoining properties
which would interfere with its recreational function.
Policy 1.1: The City shall, by 2002, adopt specific definitions and standards for the
designation and protection of open space or recreational lands within
proposed developments. These standards shall include provisions for
improving public access to Taylor Creek.
Policy 1.2: The City shall enforce land use compatibility standards for the protection
of existing and future recreation and open space lands.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue coordination with and seek
assistance from Okeechobee County, relevant state agencies, and the
private sector to enhance recreational opportunities within its boundaries.
Policy 2.1: As recreational needs arise, the City shall continue to identify properties
within its boundaries having the potential to meet those needs, and make
reasonable efforts to secure those properties for recreational use through
financial incentives, direct purchase, or other appropriate means.
Policy 2.2: For types of recreational lands and facilities which cannot be provided
within its corporate limits, the City shall continue to encourage
public/private collaboration to create needed recreational opportunities,
and contribute such staff and funding as may be available toward efforts
involving the city, county, the State of Florida, and the private sector.
Policy 2.3: The City shall continue to provide incentives such as in-lieu-of fees and
direct site transfers to encourage the provision of recreation facilities in
proposed developments.
Policy 2.4: The City shall continue its efforts to solicit funding from the Florida
Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) for improvements
to Flagler Park.
Policy 2.5: The City shall continue to coordinate with the County on maintenance of
recreational facilities.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Recreation and Open Space Element 6-2
Objective 3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to provide an adequate supply and
variety of recreation opportunities to meet public need.
Policy 3.1: The minimum level of service for recreational lands in the City of
Okeechobee shall be 3 acres per 1,000 residents.
Policy 3.2: The City, in an effort to address its shortfall of open space/recreational
facilities, shall prepare a list and map of all current facilities by 2002.
Upon completion of this identification, the City shall then consider
additional sites throughout the City for recreational opportunities, to meet
the minimum level of service requirement.
Objective 4: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that identified recreation
sites are accessible to the public, including persons with special needs.
Policy 4.1: The City shall continue to provide parking spaces and bicycle racks as
needed at city-owned recreation sites which have been opened to public
use.
Policy 4.2: The City shall continue to provide handicapped and pedestrian access as
needed at the city-owned recreation sites which have been opened to the
public use.
Objective 5: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to seek and utilize all available
recreation-related funding from local, state, federal and private sector
sources in providing recreational opportunities.
Policy 5.1: The City shall continue to inventory and monitor appropriate local, state,
federal, and private funding sources for recreational facilities to ensure
that applications for assistance are made in a timely fashion.
Policy 5.2: The City shall continue to schedule identified recreation facility needs in
the Capital Improvements Element of this plan.
Policy 5.3: The City shall continue to provide for a fair-share costs mechanism for
open space and recreation facilities.
Objective 6: The City of Okeechobee and the School Board will seek to coordinate and
cooperate to ensure efficient and joint use of existing and future
park/school sites.
Policy 6.1: The City of Okeechobee and the School Board will seek to utilize existing
school facilities for park and other recreational needs so as to enhance City
resident access to parks and recreation.
Policy 6.2: Whenever possible, future park sites should be adjacent to and designed in
an integrated manner with school sites so as to maximize City resident
access to parks and open spaces.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Recreation and Open Space Element 6-3
Policy 6.3: The City of Okeechobee shall request that the School Board submit for
review, specific information on renovations, additions, and proposed
expansions on property owned by the School Board to assure the
availability of public facilities and infrastructure when they are future
planned improvements.
Policy 6.4: The City of Okeechobee shall advise the School Board of all Plan
amendments that may affect school sites through designated liaisons with
regularly scheduled informal or formal staff meetings.
Policy 6.5: The City of Okeechobee shall coordinate with the School Board through a
Memorandum of Understanding or Interlocal Agreement for the joint use
of parks/school sites.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL
COORDINATION ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Intergovernmental Coordination Element 7-1
Intergovernmental Coordination Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: To achieve greater governmental efficiency and resolve conflicts by
coordinating development activities between the City of Okeechobee and
Okeechobee County, and relevant regional, state, and federal entities.
Objective 1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to coordinate its Comprehensive
Plan with Okeechobee County, the Okeechobee County School Board, and
other relevant state or local agencies through the sharing of information
and by seeking intergovernmental agreements.
Policy 1.1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure coordination of activities
in its Comprehensive Plan with plans of the Okeechobee County School
Board, Okeechobee County, and other state or regional entities through
regular exchange of information. This information shall include, but not be
limited to, building permits, zoning cases, planned land use amendments,
engineering plans, demographics, proposed annexation areas, socio-
economic information, and utility service areas and capacity.
Policy 1.2: The City of Okeechobee shall, at the least, annually provide text and
future land use map updates of its Comprehensive Plan to adjacent local
governments.
Policy 1.3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to request information and
assistance as is feasible from local governments and Okeechobee County,
including the County Comprehensive Plan and any Plan updates.
Policy 1.4: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to notify the Okeechobee County
Manager in writing of all proposed annexations. The City Administrator,
or his designee, will meet with the Okeechobee County Manager, or his
designee, to resolve any potential annexation conflicts or issues.
Policy 1.5: The City of Okeechobee shall maintain a database of interlocal agreements
which provides a listing of active formal agreements. This data/ database
shall be updated at least every five years for the evaluation and appraisal
report on the Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 1.6: The City of Okeechobee shall, where practical, formalize all
intergovernmental agreements within one year of the adoption of these
amendments.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall maintain mechanisms to address
development issues proposed in its Comprehensive Plan, affecting
unincorporated Okeechobee County and other governmental jurisdictions.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Intergovernmental Coordination Element 7-2
Policy 2.1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to utilize the informal mediation
process established by the Central Florida Regional Planning Council
(CFRPC) to attempt to resolve land use conflicts with adjacent local
governments.
Policy 2.2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to request that each of the entities
analyzed in this element designate a representative to act as liaison to the
City for the purpose of providing relevant information to be used in the
planning and development review process.
Policy 2.3: On request, the City Administrator and Planning Director, as liaisons,
shall continue to provide and exchange information pertaining to
significant proposed development among the appropriate local and
regional agencies.
Policy 2.4: For proposed development in the City which may have extra-jurisdictional
impacts due to its size, character or location, the City shall establish
procedures for the review of comprehensive plans and comprehensive plan
amendments which shall include:
1. Identifying intergovernmental issues and conflicts;
2. Identifying the impacts of capital projects listed in the Capital
Improvements Element of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive
Plan upon the provision of basic services; and
3. Determining the relationship of development proposed within the
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan to the development
proposed in the Comprehensive Plan or Comprehensive Plan
Amendments of Okeechobee County and/or adjacent
municipalities. This shall include distributing a copy of relevant
proposed plan amendments to adjacent local governments.
Policy 2.5: The City of Okeechobee shall, at least annually, implement the procedures
established in Policy 2.4. If any issues or negative impacts are identified,
the City shall implement Policy 2.1.
Policy 2.6: The City shall periodically review applications to Okeechobee County for
zoning changes, major development orders, or proposed County Future
Land Use Map Amendments falling within the City of Okeechobee
Planning Area, to ensure consistency with the City of Okeechobee’s
Comprehensive Plan.
Objective 3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to coordinate with FDOT and the
Okeechobee Utility Authority, where appropriate, any change in
established level of service standards for public facilities including, at a
minimum, all 10-year updates of the Okeechobee County Comprehensive
Plan, and 5-year updates to the Okeechobee County Long-Range
Transportation Plan.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Intergovernmental Coordination Element 7-3
Policy 3.1: The City of Okeechobee shall coordinate establishing and changing
roadway level of service standards with FDOT and shall inform
Okeechobee County and any other appropriate governmental entities
within the Okeechobee Planning Area of proposed changes in any level of
service standards.
Policy 3.2: The City of Okeechobee shall, when notified by other governmental
entities of changes in their level of service standards, review and comment
on these changes.
Policy 3.3: The City of Okeechobee in conjunction with the Okeechobee Utility
Authority (OUA) will participate in the development of updates to
SFWMD’s Water Supply assessment and district Water Supply Plan and
in other water supply development related initiatives facilitated by the
SFWMD that affects the City.
Policy 3.4: The City of Okeechobee will maintain a water supply facilities work plan
that is coordinated with SFWMD’s District Water Supply Plan and the
Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) by updating its own work plan
within 18 months of an update to SFWMD’s District Water Supply Plan
that affect the City.
Policy 3.5: The City will monitor and participate in Okeechobee Utility Authority’s
(OUA) water supply planning process, including updates to water supply
facility work plans and consumptive use permits, regarding the City’s
population and demand projections to ensure that Okeechobee Utility
Authority (OUA) accounts for and meets the City’s current and future
water needs.
Objective 4: The City shall continue to coordinate its Comprehensive Plan with the
Resource Management Plan for the Lower Kissimmee River and Taylor
Creek Drainage Basins. Coordination shall take place annually and as new
development is proposed in areas where the two Plans overlap.
Policy 4.1: Comprehensive Plans and Resource Management Plan coordination shall
take place to the extent that coordination is consistent with the principle
that local governments and landowners alone should not be forced to bear
public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the
public as a whole, and would not result in inverse condemnation.
Policy 4.2: The City shall continue to coordinate with the Resource Management Plan
for the Lower Kissimmee River and Taylor Creek Drainage Basins
through the adoption of other objectives and policies contained in this
element and the mutual exchange of information pertaining to
development review so that the City may ensure that direct and
irreversible impacts on environmental sensitive areas are minimized.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Intergovernmental Coordination Element 7-4
Policy 4.3: The City shall continue to coordinate its Comprehensive Plan with the
Resource Management Plan to address drainage problems in the Lower
Kissimmee River and Taylor Creek Drainage Basin regions.
Objective 5: The City of Okeechobee shall cooperate in an effort with the School Board
to ensure that the planning activities, services and facilities of the School
Board are consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 5.1: The City of Okeechobee shall exchange data with the School Board
regarding population projections and the School Board (5-year) facility
plans as such data or plans are updated.
Policy 5.2: The City of Okeechobee shall coordinate major residential project reviews
(pursuant to Chapters 163 and 235, Florida Statutes) to consider joint
park/schools dedications to meet future demands.
Policy 5.3: The City of Okeechobee and the School Board shall coordinate in their
joint efforts to study and implement innovative methods, including
park/school site dedications and contributions, as a means to address
infrastructure needs associated with the City’s growth.
Policy 5.4: The City of Okeechobee shall notify the School Board of all new
residential development projects or modifications to existing residential
developments which increase density as a part of the review process for
school concurrency.
Policy 5.5 The City of Okeechobee shall include a representative of the Okeechobee
County School District, appointed by the School Board, as a nonvoting
member of the Local Planning Agency (LPA) to attend those meetings at
which the LPA considers amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan
and/or Zoning Map that would, if approved, increase residential density on
the property that is the subject of the proposed amendment(s).
Policy 5.6: The City of Okeechobee shall maintain a joint interlocal agreements with
the School Board and the County for Public School Facility Planning
which includes the provisions for the implementation of school
concurrency and a coordination process for locating new schools,
expanding or redeveloping existing school facilities. The School Board
shall be encouraged to locate new educational facilities near urban
residential areas where public infrastructure and services exist to support
the new facilities.
Policy 5.7: The City of Okeechobee shall advise and meet with the School Board as
necessary, regarding all Plan amendments and proposed annexations that
may affect school sites.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Intergovernmental Coordination Element 7-5
Policy 5.8: The City of Okeechobee shall coordinate with the School Board regarding
shared use of recreational facilities owned by either entity. In addition, the
City shall consider all reasonable opportunities to collocate new parks,
libraries, and other facilities with public schools.
Policy 5.9: The City of Okeechobee, although not currently impacted, shall enter into
any appropriate agreement with the State of Florida University System or
the School Board implementing the requirements of Section 240.155 (11 -
15), F.S., regarding campus master plans. A consistency review of the
campus master plans for non-state post-secondary institutions shall also be
considered where a “campus” exists or is planned.
Objective 6: The City of Okeechobee shall establish, maintain, and improve
intergovernmental coordination for collaborative planning efforts
including joint or extra-territorial services, changes to service or corporate
limits, any joint committees for review of locally unwanted land uses, and
regulatory concerns to ensure consistency with the Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 6.1: The City shall encourage annexation of land where service delivery
systems are available, where the formation of enclaves may be prevented,
and where the land is adjacent to and consistent with the incorporated
land’s Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 6.2: The City shall require infrastructure services to be available to proposed
annexation areas at the adopted level of service consistent with the City’s
Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 6.3: The City of Okeechobee shall coordinate with other jurisdictions, as
appropriate, to establish a joint planning process and delineate the
direction and extent of annexation for the planning period.
Policy 6.4: The City of Okeechobee shall notify the appropriate enforcement agencies
of any regulatory violations of which it becomes aware, and shall
cooperate with those agencies in enforcing regulations.
Policy 6.5: The City shall inform the County in a timely manner of proposed
annexations. The City shall notify jurisdictions other than the County of
proposed annexations when the affected area is within approximately one
mile of the other jurisdictions’ limits.
Policy 6.6: The City shall draft a map of potential annexation areas, showing those
areas first being considered for annexation, and the land uses envisioned to
be assigned to these areas. The City shall distribute this map to the School
Board, the County, and any other governmental entities to be impacted by
these annexations.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Intergovernmental Coordination Element 7-6
Policy 6.7: The City shall continue to review interlocal agreements with the
Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) for central potable water and
sanitary sewer facilities and services in terms of extending that agreement
for 10-year periods, as needed.
Policy 6.8: The City shall coordinate with neighboring municipalities, if applicable, to
ensure that each one has a copy of a map delineating the utility service
planning area for their community for the planning period. Each
municipality shall, annually thereafter, discuss the potential need for
reassessing utility service area lines, if relevant, and share any official
service area map updates. Each municipality shall also provide any official
utility service planning area map updates to the County in order to ensure
coordination for County utility and land planning.
Policy 6.9: The City shall coordinate with the County regarding the use of the
Okeechobee County Landfill relative to recycling and reduction of total
wastes by weight.
Policy 6.10: The City shall issue no development orders or development permits for
new construction without having first received certification by the
Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA), the City’s potable water service
provider, that adequate water supplies will be available to serve the
development no later than the anticipated date of issuance by the City of a
certificate of occupancy or its functional equivalent. The City will also
ensure that adequate water supplies and facilities are available and in place
prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy or its functional equivalent. This
determination will require the demonstration by the Okeechobee Utility
Authority (OUA) at the building permit stage that a consumptive use
permit has been issued to OUA with sufficient allocation available to
serve the new development, given all other existing commitments for that
allocation within the entire OUA service area.
Objective 7: The City shall, upon adoption of this objective, coordinate the
Comprehensive Plan with the School Board Five-Year Facilities Plan.
Policy 7.1: In accordance with Section 5 of the Interlocal Agreement for Public
School Facility Planning, the following procedure shall be used to ensure
intergovernmental coordination with the School Board for the location of
educational facilities within the City:
(a) At least sixty (60) days prior to acquiring or leasing property that
may be used for a new public educational facility within the City,
the School Board shall provide written notice to the City.
(b) Upon receipt of a written notice from the School Board informing
the City of the acquisition or leasing of property to be used for new
public educational facilities, the City shall notify the School Board
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Intergovernmental Coordination Element 7-7
within forty-five (45) days a preliminary consistency determination
of the site with the Comprehensive Plan; and
(c) In conjunction with the preliminary consistency determination, the
School Board and the City will jointly determine the need for and
timing of on-site and off-site improvements necessary to support
each new school or the proposed significant renovation of an
existing school, and will enter into a written agreement as to the
timing, location and the party or parties responsible for
constructing, operating and maintaining the required
improvements.
Policy 7.2: In accordance Section 2 of the Interlocal Agreement for Public School
Facility Planning, the City shall coordinate with the County and the
School Board and base plans upon consistent projections for population
growth and student enrollment.
Policy 7.3: In order to coordinate the effective provision and siting of educational
facilities with associated infrastructure and services within the City,
representatives of the City, the County and the School Board shall meet
annually to review the mechanisms and progress made toward educational
facilities planning.
Policy 7.4: The City of Okeechobee shall use the Central Florida Regional Planning
Council’s dispute resolution process when necessary to mediate the
resolution of conflicts with other local governments and regional agencies.
The City may use alternative procedures whenever appropriate for the
matter of imminent dispute, including agreements authorized by Section
163.3177, F.S., or other non-judicial approaches.
Policy 7.5: The City of Okeechobee shall maintain, as a particular area of attention in
its planning program, a systematic review of the aesthetics and physical
conditions between its boundary and those between unincorporated areas
and other cities in an effort to improve the appearance of these areas and
the compatibility and transition between the adjoining communities. Joint
planning area agreements will be implemented if appropriate.
PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES
ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-1
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Public School Facilities Element
Goal, Objectives and Policies
GOAL: To provide a public school system that offers a high quality
educational environment, provides accessibility for all of its students,
and ensures adequate school capacity to accommodate enrollment
demand within a financially feasible School District Capital Plan. [9J-
5.025(3)(a)]
Objective 1: Provide adequate school facilities in Okeechobee County Schools
by adopting a concurrency management system to achieve and
maintain the adopted level of service for the short and long term
planning periods. [9J.-5.025(3)(b)(1)]
Policy 1.1: The City hereby adopts the following Level of Service for schools for
existing and new schools: [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(7)]
School Type School Level of Service
Elementary 100% of permanent FISH capacity
Middle 100% of permanent FISH capacity
K–8 100% of permanent FISH capacity
High 100% of Permanent FISH capacity
Source: Okeechobee County Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning.
Policy 1.2: The City hereby adopts a district-wide School Concurrency Service
Area (SCSA).
Policy 1.3: By school year 2011-12, school concurrency will be applied on a less-
than district-wide basis, using school attendance zones as the SCSAs.
[9J-5.025(3)(c)(1)]
Policy 1.4: The City, the County, and the School District shall utilize the
following procedures for modifying SCSAs: [9J-5.025(3)(c)(1)]
a. Modification shall be made at the same time as the establishment
of modified attendance zones with data and analysis to support the
change. Any proposed change to the SCSAs shall require a
demonstration by the School District that the change complies with
the public school LOS standard and that utilization of school
capacity is maximized to the greatest extent possible.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-2
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
b. All parties subject to school concurrency will review the proposed
modification and send their comments to the School District within
60 days of receipt of the proposed change.
c. The modification of the SCSAs shall be effective upon adoption by
the School Board.
Objective 2: A school concurrency evaluation will be performed by the
Okeechobee County School District to review projected residential
development in order to accommodate new students at the
adopted level of service for adequate school facility capacity. [9J-
5.025(3)(b)(2)]
Policy 2.1: The City shall not approve any non-exempt residential development
application for preliminary plat, site plan or functional equivalent until
the School District School has verified that available capacity exists to
serve the development.
Policy 2.2: The City shall consider the following residential uses exempt from the
requirements of school concurrency:
a. Single family lots of record, existing at the time the school
concurrency implementing ordinance becomes effective.
b. Any new residential development that has a preliminary plat or site
plan approval or the functional equivalent for a site specific
development order prior to the commencement date of the School
Concurrency Program.
c. Any amendment to any previously approved residential
development that does not increase the number of dwelling units or
change the type of dwelling units such as single-family to multi-
family.
d. Age restricted communities with no permanent residents under the
age of 18. Exemption of an age restricted community will be
subject to a restrictive covenant limiting the age of permanent
residents to 18 years and older.
Policy 2.3: The City, through its land development regulations, shall establish a
school concurrency review process for all residential projects that are
not exempt under Policy 2.2. The minimum process requirements are
described below:
a. A residential development application is submitted to the City,
which includes a School Impact Analysis (SIA).
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-3
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
b. The City determines application is sufficient for processing and
transmits the SIA to the School District for review.
c. The School District reviews the application for available capacity
and issues a School Capacity Availability Letter (SCAL) to the
City:
1. If capacity is available within the SCSA, the School
District shall issue a SCAL verifying available capacity.
2. If capacity is not available within in the SCSA, the School
District shall issue a SCAL indicating the development is
not in compliance with the adopted LOS and may offer the
developer a negotiation period to present mitigation
options.
3. The City shall not issue approval any preliminary plat, site
plan or functional equivalent for a residential development
until receiving confirmation of available school capacity in
the form of a SCAL from the School District.
Policy 2.4: If adequate school capacity is not available to support a proposed
residential development, the City, in conjunction with the School
District, shall review proportionate share mitigation options which will
add the school capacity necessary to satisfy the impacts of the
proposed development. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(9)]
a. Acceptable forms of mitigation shall include, but are not limited
to:
1. School construction
2. Contribution of land
3. Expansion of existing permanent school facilities subject to
the expansion being less than or equal to the student
capacity needed for a new school of the same category.
4. Payment for construction and/or land acquisition
5. Cost of financing
b. If mitigation is approved, the City and the School District shall
enter into a legally binding commitment with the residential
developer, and the School District shall issue a SCAL.
c. If mitigation is denied, the City shall deny the application based on
a deficiency in available school capacity to support the residential
development.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-4
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Policy 2.5: The City shall, upon acceptance of a mitigation option identified in
Policy 2.4, enter into a legally binding commitment with the School
District and the developer. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(9)]
Policy 2.6: The City shall be responsible for notifying the School District when a
residential development has received approval, when the development
order for the residential development expires or is revoked, and when
school impact fees have been paid.
Policy 2.7: No later than December 31, 2008, the City shall adopt school
concurrency provisions into its Land Development Regulations (LDR).
Objective 3: Beginning with an effective date in 2008, all new public schools
built within the City will be coordinated to be consistent with the
City’s future land use map designation, will be co-located with
other appropriate public facilities when possible, and will have the
on-site and off-site infrastructure necessary to support the new
school. [9J-5.025(3)(b)(4), 9J-5.025(3)(b)(5), 9J-5.025(3)(b)(6)
Policy 3.1: The City, in conjunction with the School District, shall jointly
determine the need for and timing of on-site and off-site improvements
necessary to support a new school. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(5)]
Policy 3.2: The City shall enter into an agreement with the School Board
identifying the timing, location, and the party or parties responsible for
constructing, operating, and maintaining off-site improvements
necessary to support a new school. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(5)]
Policy 3.3: The City shall encourage the location of schools near residential areas
by: [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(4), 9J-5.025 (3)(c)(5), 9J-5.025 (3)(c)(10)]
a. Assisting the School District in the identification of funding and/or
construction opportunities (including developer participation or
City capital budget expenditures) for sidewalks, traffic
signalization, access, water, sewer, drainage and other
infrastructure improvements.
b. Reviewing and providing comments on all new school sites.
c. Allowing public schools, meeting the minimum land size criteria
established by the State, within all residential land use categories.
Policy 3.4: The City, in conjunction with the School District, shall seek
opportunities to co-locate public facilities with schools, such as parks,
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-5
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
libraries, and community centers, as the need for these facilities is
identified. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(4)]
Policy 3.5: The City, in conjunction with the School District and Okeechobee
County, shall identify issues relating to public school emergency
preparedness, such as: [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(9)]
a. The determination of evacuation zones, evacuation routes, and
shelter locations.
b. The design and use of public schools as emergency shelters.
c. The designation of sites other than public schools as long-term
shelters, to allow schools to resume normal operations following
emergency events.
Policy 3.6: The City, the School District and Okeechobee County hereby establish
an oversight committee to monitor the Interlocal Agreement for Public
School Facility Planning (ILA) which includes provisions for school
concurrency in Okeechobee County. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(3)]
a. The oversight committee shall include three citizen members with
the School Board, County Commission and the City Commission
each appointing one citizen member. The committee shall also
include at a minimum, the Assistant Superintendent for Support
Services, the Director of Operations for the School Board, the City
Administrator and the County Planning Director.
b. The oversight committee shall appoint a chairperson, and meet at
least annually in a publicly advertised meeting with citizen
participation to discuss and share information on the ILA and its
effectiveness. Discussion topics may include but are not limited to
population and student projections, development trends, school
needs, co-location and joint use opportunities, student safety, and
infrastructure improvements needed to support each school.
c. Upon conclusion of the oversight committee’s annual meeting, the
committee shall report to the County, the City and the School
Board on the effectiveness with which the Interlocal agreement is
being implemented.
Objective 4: Beginning with an effective date in 2008, the City’s annually
updated five-year schedule of capital improvements will include
school capacity projects adopted by the School Board. [9J-
5.025(3)(b)(1), 9J-5.025(3)(b)(3)]
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-6
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Policy 4.1: No later than December 1st of each year, the City shall adopt by
reference the School District’s financially feasible and annually
updated five-year capital plan, in accordance with Policy 4.4 of the
Capital Improvements Element. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(2)]
Policy 4.2: The City, in conjunction with the School District and the County, shall
annually review the Public School Facilities Element and the updated
data necessary to maintain a long-range public school facilities map
series, including the planned general location of schools and ancillary
facilities for the five-year planning period and the long-range planning
period. The map series shall be adopted as Appendix A of the Public
School Facilities Element and include at a minimum, maps showing:
[9J-5.025 (3)(c)(3)]
a. Existing public school facilities by type and location of ancillary
plants [9J-5.025 (4)(a)]
b. Public school facilities and ancillary plants generally planned for
the five-year and long-range planning periods [9J-5.025 (4)(b)]
Policy 4.3: The City, in conjunction with the School District, shall coordinate the
long-range public school facilities map with the City’s comprehensive
plan and its future land use map. [9J-5.025 (3)(c)(6)]
Policy 4.4: The City shall include schools as a part of the Annual Concurrency
Report.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-7
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
APPENDIX A
MAP SERIES
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-8
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Figure 1 – Existing Elementary School Location and Attendance Boundary Map
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-9
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Figure 2 – Existing Middle School Location and Attendance Boundary Map
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-10
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Figure 3 – Existing High School Location and Attendance Boundary Map
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-11
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Figure 4: Existing and Future Ancillary Facility Location Map
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public School Facilities Element 8-12
Goal, Objectives and Policies
Revised July 2008
Figure 5 : Future School Locations
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
ELEMENT
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-1
Amended: October 18, 2011
Capital Improvements Element
Goals, Objectives and Policies
Goal: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure that public facilities and
services are provided, on a fair-share costs basis, in a manner which
maximizes the use of existing facilities and promotes orderly growth.
Objective 1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to use the Capital Improvements
Element to schedule construction and identify funding sources for the City’s
capital facility needs in order to accommodate existing and future
development, and to replace obsolete or worn-out facilities.
Policy 1.1: Proposed capital improvements projects shall continue to be ranked and
evaluated according to appropriate policies adopted in other elements of the
Comprehensive Plan. The following criteria will also be considered:
(1) whether the proposed project will eliminate a public hazard;
(2) whether the proposed project will eliminate capacity deficits;
(3) local budget impacts;
(4) locational needs based on projected growth patterns;
(5) accommodation of new development or redevelopment;
(6) financial feasibility; and
(7) plans of state agencies or water management districts that provide
facilities in Okeechobee.
Policy 1.2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to integrate its planning and
budgeting processes such that expenditures which are budgeted for capital
improvements recognize policies related to public facilities and services set
forth in the Comprehensive Plan.
Policy 1.3: In accordance with Policy 7.1 of the Sanitary Sewer... Element, the City shall
complete a stormwater management study to identify drainage deficiencies,
and allocate any available funds for that purpose in its Administrative
Operating Budget for fiscal year 2013. The 5-Year Schedule of Capital
Improvements will be amended as soon as possible to include the study, its
projected cost, and the identified revenue source(s).
Policy 1.4: The City of Okeechobee shall identify its needs for public facility
improvements, the revenues required for project funding, and shall itemize
the costs for such projects in its 5-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements.
Objective 2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to coordinate land use decisions with
the schedule of capital improvements in a manner that maintains the adopted
level of service standards and meets existing and future needs.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-2
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 2.1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to use the following level of service
standards in reviewing the impacts of new development and redevelopment:
Facility
Level of Service
Sanitary Sewer
130 gallons/capita/day (see Sanitary
Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable
Water, and Natural Groundwater
Aquifer Recharge Element)
Potable Water
114 gallons/capita/day (see Sanitary
Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable
Water, and Natural Groundwater
Aquifer Recharge Element)
Solid Waste
Average Solid Waste Generation
13 lbs./person/day
at least 13 years available capacity in
Okeechobee County landfill (see
Policy 1.4 of Sanitary
Sewer...Element)
Principal Arterials
C
Minor Arterials & All Others
D
Recreation and Open Space
3 acres/1,000 persons
Drainage
Interim Standard (see Policy 1.5 of
Sanitary Sewer... Element)
Design Storm
25-year storm
24-hour duration
Facility Design Standards
as required by Florida Administrative
Code (see Policy 1.5 of Sanitary
Sewer... Element)
Public Schools
Existing School Permanent FISH Capacity Considering
Utilization Rate
New Elementary 750
New Middle 1000
New K-8 1200
New High School 1500
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-3
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 2.2: Development orders and permits shall be granted only when required public
facilities and services are operating at the established levels of service, or
shall be available concurrent with the impacts of the development. Such
facilities and services may be provided in phases if development
correspondingly occurs in phases; however, required service levels must be
maintained at all times during the development process.
Policy 2.3: The City of Okeechobee will maintain a water supply facilities work plan that
is coordinated with SFWMD’s District Water Supply Plan and the
Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) by updating its own work plan within
18 months of an update to SFWMD’s District Water Supply Plan that affects
the City.
Policy 2.4: The City of Okeechobee recognizes that it relies upon the Okeechobee Utility
Authority (OUA) facilities for the provision of potable water for its residents,
businesses and visitors, and as such the City is part of the greater SFWMD,
and that the continued supply of potable water will be dependent upon all
local governments striving to maintain demand for potable water at
sustainable levels. As such, the City will:
(1) Continue to maintain relationships with the SFWMD and the
Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) to maintain or reduce potable
water consumption through education, conservation, and participation
in ongoing programs of the region, county and city including
coordinating local conservation education efforts with the SFWMD
and the Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) programs.
(2) Require landscaping in all new development or redevelopment on
public water systems to use water-efficient landscaping and require
functioning rain-sensor devices on all new automatic irrigation
systems.
(3) The City of Okeechobee shall inform residents and businesses of, and
shall encourage their participation in, the Okeechobee Utility
Authority (OUA) water conservation programs if they become
available.
Policy 2.5: The City of Okeechobee recognizes that the Okeechobee Utility Authority
(OUA) provides potable water to the City, its businesses and residents.
Although no capital improvement projects are necessary within the City for
which the City of Okeechobee has financial responsibility in connection with
supply of potable water to the City, its businesses and residents, the City of
Okeechobee will support and coordinate with the Okeechobee Utility
Authority (OUA), as necessary, to assist in the implementation of Okeechobee
Utility Authority (OUA) Capital Improvements projects for the years 2011-
2021.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-4
Amended: October 18, 2011
Objective 3: In order to maintain adopted level of service standards, future development
shall bear a proportionate cost of necessary public facility improvements
equivalent to the benefits it receives from the improvements.
Policy 3.1: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to evaluate potential revenue
available for public facility expenditures through alternative sources such as
user fees, special benefit units, or special assessments.
Policy 3.2: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to maintain adopted levels of service
by using revenue sources considered under Policy 3.1 to ensure that new
development pays a pro rata share of the costs of public facility needs which
it generates.
Policy 3.3: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to continue to apply for and secure
grants or private funds when available to finance the provision of capital
improvements.
Objective 4: The City of Okeechobee shall continue to ensure the provision of needed
public facilities within the City limits, based on adopted levels of service as
set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. Public facilities needs shall be
determined on the basis of previously issued development orders as well as
the City’s budgeting process and its joint activities with Okeechobee County
and the Okeechobee County School District for planning, zoning, and
concurrency management.
Policy 4.1: Existing and future public facilities shall operate at the levels of service
established in this plan.
Policy 4.2: Debt service shall not exceed 20% of annually budgeted revenues.
Policy 4.3: A five-year capital improvements program and annual capital budget shall be
adopted as part of the City of Okeechobee’s annual budgeting process. This
program shall include the annual review, and revision as needed, of the Five-
Year Schedule of Capital Improvements.
Policy 4.4: The financially feasible School District Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan
(Tentative Facilities Work Program) which achieves and maintains the
adopted level of service standards for public schools, as approved by the
Okeechobee County School Board shall be included and adopted each year as
part of the City of Okeechobee’s annual budgeting process.
Objective 5: The City of Okeechobee shall furnish meaningful opportunities for the
School Board to have input and coordination in the City’s development
review process in order to assist the School Board in their provision of
adequate and efficient schools.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-5
Amended: October 18, 2011
Policy 5.1: The City of Okeechobee and the School Board shall coordinate to ensure that
schools are adequately and efficiently provided commensurate with growth.
Key coordinating mechanisms shall include:
(a) promotion of joint infrastructure park/school facilities when feasible;
(b) consideration of the adequacy and availability of educational
infrastructure during appropriate review of development order
applications;
(c) ensuring the provision of adequate infrastructure, on and off site,
normally associated with new or expanded schools where consistent
with state law restrictions on expenditures by the School Board;
(d) evaluation of the School District’s annually updated Capital
Improvement Plan to ensure that it is financially feasible and that the
adopted level-of-service standard for public schools is achieved and
maintained;
(e) seeking that any new major residential development or redevelopment
applicant submit information regarding projected school enrollments
from the project; and
(f) request that the School Board submit site plan information for all
timely new schools.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-6
Amended: October 18, 2011
Capital Improvements Implementation
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital improvement needs identified in the Comprehensive Plan will be met through
implementation of a 5-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements. This schedule is adopted by the City
Council along with Goals, Objectives and Policies, and must be consistent with the Capital
Improvements Element. The purpose of the Schedule is to ensure that the City has adequate revenues
to implement the Comprehensive Plan.
The 5-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements focuses on the capital outlay required to meet
existing deficiencies and to maintain adopted level of service standards planned for public facilities
in the Plan. The City shall advise the OUA on these standards.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-7
Amended: December 18, 2018
FIVE-YEAR SCHEDULE OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Capital Improvements Element 9-8
Amended: December 18, 2018
Okeechobee County School District
Summary of Revenue/Expenditures Available for New Construction and Remodeling Projects Only
2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 Five Year Total
Total
Revenues $0 ($6,489,479) ($5,104,479) ($4,719,479) ($4,809,479) ($21,122,916)
Total Project
Costs $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Difference
(Remaining
Funds)
$0 ($6,489,479) ($5,104,479) ($4,719,479) ($4,809,479) ($21,122,916)
Source: Okeechobee County School District 2018-19 Work Plan
Okeechobee County School District Capacity Project Schedules
Project
Description Location 2016-17 2017-18 2018 - 19 2019 - 20 2020 -
21 Total Funded
Project
description
not
specified
Location
not
specified
Planned
Cost:
$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
No Student Stations 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Classrooms 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gross Sq Ft 0 0 0 0 0 0
District
Totals
Planned Cost $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Student Stations 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Classrooms 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gross Sq Ft 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: Okeechobee County School District 2018-19 Work Plan
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
MONITORING
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Comprehensive Plan Monitoring 10-1
Comprehensive Plan Monitoring
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
The City of Okeechobee will monitor and evaluate its Comprehensive Plan through an
Evaluation and Appraisal Report. The preparation of the report shall be consistent with the
procedures outlined in Rule 9J-5.005(7), Florida Administrative Code, and Chapter 163.3191,
Florida Statutes.
Once the Comprehensive Plan is adopted, the Evaluation and Appraisal Report shall be
prepared every five years. The City Council as the designated Local Planning Agency shall
orchestrate Comprehensive Plan monitoring. The first report shall be completed in 2005, and
shall achieve the following functions:
A. Citizen Participation
Before the Evaluation and Appraisal Report is submitted to the Department of
Community Affairs, a public hearing shall be held to present the document to the citizens
of the City of Okeechobee. The public hearing shall be held by the designated or
contracted Planning Agency and the City Council. The public hearing shall be advertised
and copies of the report shall be on display at City Hall at least one week prior to the
public hearing.
B. Updating Data and Analysis and Measurable Objectives
Appropriate baseline data, such as the decennial United States Census, shall be updated in
the Evaluation and Appraisal Report. Major changes in the magnitude and distribution of
land use information shall be presented and analyzed.
C. Review of Planning Effectiveness
The Evaluation and Appraisal Report shall review the effectiveness of the
Comprehensive Plan, describing the degree to which the goals, objectives and policies
have successfully been attained. Obstacles or problems with implementation shall be
identified.
D. Identification of Future Planning Concerns
The Evaluation and Appraisal Report shall contain new or modified goals, objectives and
policies that correct deficiencies identified in the evaluation process.
CONCURRENCY MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-1
Concurrency Management System
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Overview of the Concurrency Management System
Section 9J-5.0055, F.A.C., requires local governments to prepare and adopt a
Concurrency Management System (CMS) as a mechanism to assist in the implementation of the
goals, objectives, and policies of the Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of the CMS is to ensure
that facilities and services needed to support development will be available concurrent with the
impacts of such development. Prior to the issuance of a development order and development
permits, the CMS must ensure that the adopted level of service standards required for the
following facilities will be maintained:
1. Roads
2. Potable Water
3. Sanitary Sewer
4. Solid Waste
5. Drainage
6. Parks and Recreation
The CMS maintains a record of the existing levels of service and the expected impacts
resulting from proposed development, facility expansions, and other factors affecting the level of
service for a public facility.
Requirements for Concurrency
Upon adoption of this Comprehensive Plan, the City of Okeechobee requires that all
development meet the requirements of concurrency, except for those developments that have
been issued a development order or development permit by the City prior to this plan’s adoption.
The following standards meet the requirements for concurrency, as established in Section 9J-
5.0055(2), F.A.C.:
Minimum Requirements. The City’s concurrency management system will ensure that public
facilities and services needed to support development are available concurrent with the impacts
of such development, and will address the following items:
7. For potable water, sewer, solid waste, and drainage, at a minimum, provisions in this
Comprehensive Plan ensure that he following standards will satisfy the concurrency
requirement:
1. The necessary facilities and services are in place at the time a
development permit is issued; or
2. A development permit is issued subject to the condition that the
necessary facilities and services will be in place when the impacts of the
development occur; or
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-2
3. The necessary facilities are under construction at the time a permit is
issued; or
4. The necessary facilities and services are guaranteed in an enforceable
development agreement that includes the provisions of Section 9J-
5.0055(2)(a)1 - (2)(a)3, F.A.C. An enforceable development agreement
may include, but is not limited to, development agreements pur suant to
Section 163.3220, Florida Statutes, or an agreement or development
order issued pursuant to Chapter 380, Florida Statutes. The agreement
must guarantee that the necessary facilities and services will be in place
when the impacts of the development occur.
8. For parks and recreation, the City of Okeechobee may satisfy the concurrency
requirements by complying with the standards in Sections 9J -5.0055(2)(a)1 - (2)(a)4,
F.A.C., or by complying with comprehensive plan provisions that ensure that the
following standards will be met:
1. At the time a development permit is issued, the necessary facilities and
services are the subject of a binding executed contract which provides
for the commencement of the actual construction of the required
facilities or the provision of services within one year of the issuance of
the development permit; or
2. The necessary facilities and services are guaranteed in an enforceable
development agreement which required the commencement of the actual
construction of the facilities or the provision of services within one year
of the issuance of the applicable development permit. An enforceable
development agreement may include, but is not limited to, development
agreements pursuant to Section 163.3220, Florida Statutes, or an
agreement or development order issued pursuant to Chapter 380,
Florida Statutes.
9. For roads designated in the adopted plan, the City of Okeechobee may satisfy the
concurrency requirement by complying with the standards in Sections 9J-5.0055(2)(a)1 -
(2)(a)4 and Sections 9J-5.0055(2)(b)a and (2)(b)2, F.A.C. In addition, in areas in which
the City of Okeechobee has committed to provide the necessary public facilities and
services in accordance with its five-year schedule of capital improvements, the City may
satisfy the concurrency requirement for roads by the adoption and implementation of a
concurrency management system based upon and adequate capital improvements program
and schedule and adequate implementing regulations which, at a minimum, include the
following provisions:
1. A capital improvements element and a five-year schedule of, capital
improvements which, in addition to meeting all of the other statutory and
rule requirements, must be financially feasible. The capital improvements
element and schedule of capital improvements may recognize and include
transportation projects included in the first three years of the applicable,
adopted Florida Department of Transportation five-year work program.
2. A five-year schedule of capital improvements which must include both
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-3
necessary facilities to maintain the adopted level of service standards to
serve the new development proposed to be permitted and the necessary
facilities required to eliminate those portions of existing deficiencies
which are a priority to be eliminated during the five-year period under the
local government plan's schedule of capital improvements, pursuant to
Section 9J-5.016(4)(a)1, F.A.C.
3. A realistic, financially feasible- funding system based an currently
available revenue sources which must be adequate to fund the public
facilities required to serve the development authorized by the development
order and development permit, and which public facilities are included in
the five-year schedule of capital improvements.
4. A five-year schedule of capital improvements which must include the
estimated date of commencement of actual construction and the estimated
date of project completion.
5. A five-year schedule of capital improvements which must demonstrate that
the actual construction of the road and the provision of services are
scheduled to commence in or before the third year of the five-year
schedule of capital improvements.
6. A provision that a plan amendment would be required to eliminate, defer
or delay construction of any road which is needed to maintain the adopted
level of service standard and which is listed in the five-year schedule of
improvements.
7. A requirement that, in conjunction with the Capital Improvements
Element, the city ensures that development orders and permits arc issued
in a manner that will assure that the accessory public facilities and services
will be available to accommodate the impact of that development
8. A provision that a monitoring system will be adopted which enables the
city to determine whether it is adhering to the adopted level of service
standards and its schedule of capital improvements and that the city has a
demonstrated capability of monitoring the availability of public facilities
and services.
9. A clear designation within the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan of
those areas within which facilities and services will be provided by the city
with public funds in accordance with the five-year capital improvements
schedule.
(d) In determining the availability of public facilities or services, a developer may propose,
and the City of Okeechobee may approve, developments in stages or phases so that public
facilities and services needed for each phase will be available in accordance with the
standards required by Sections 9J-5.0055(2)(a), (2)(b) and (2)(c), F.A.C.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-4
(e) For the requirements of Sections 9J-5.0055(2)(a), (2)(b) and (2)(c), F.A.C., the City of
Okeechobee must develop guidelines for interpreting and applying level of service
standards to applications for development orders and permits and determining when the
test for concurrency must be met. The latest point in the application process for the
determination of concurrency is prior to the approval of an application for a development
order or permit which contains a specific plan for development, including the densities
and intensities of the development.
Issuance of Development Orders or Permits
The CMS will ensure that all development can meet the requirements for concurrency
prior to the issuance of a local development Order or Permit. All applicants for development
orders or permits will be required to provide all information deemed necessary by the city so that
the impacts of the proposed development may be assessed accurately. Once the city has
determined that a proposed development meets the requirements for concurrency, and has issued
a city development order or permit, the city will not revoke that development order or permit
because of a subsequent facility capacity deficiency unless the proposed development would
cause unhealthy or unsafe conditions, or unless the proposed development was issued a
development Order or permit under erroneous information supplied by the proposed developer,
or unless the proposed developer fails to meet the conditions of approval of the development
order or permit once construction has begun. In this latter situation, certificates of occupancy may
also be denied.
The City will establish expiration dates for development orders, development permits,
and for the reserved capacity of public facilities allocated to specific development orders or
permits as required by concurrency.
The City of Okeechobee will annually determine the available capacity for public
facilities for which the city has operational or maintenance responsibility, and for state and
federal roads. Owners or operators of public facilities not operated, maintained or owned by the
city will supply the city with available capacity information annually, or as otherwise reasonable
depending on development activity that requires the use of such facility.
Applicable Goal, Objective and Policy Statements Supporting Concurrency
The following are policy statements of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
which establish the basis for the CMS. These policies address the requirements for concurrency
and the establishment of levels of service. Other policies address mechanisms by which capital
improvements necessary to maintain concurrency may be funded.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-5
Future Land Use Element
Policy 1.1: Approval of development proposals will be conditioned on
tile availability of facilities and services necessary to serve
the proposed development and that the facilities meet
adopted level of service standards [93-5.006(3)(c)3].
Policy 1.2: The City of Okeechobee will ensure that needed public
facilities will be in place prior to or concurrent with new
development through implementation of a Concurrency
Management System [9J-5.006(3)(c)3].
Traffic Circulation Element
Policy 4.3: As part of its Concurrency Management System, the city
will notify FDOT when any proposed development would
reduce levels of service on US 441 and SR 70 below
adopted minimums (9J-5.007(3)(c)1].
Policy 7.1: Minimum peak hour operating levels of service for the City
of Okeechobee shall be consistent with those set forth in
the Florida Highway System Plan, Level of Service
Standards and Guidelines Manual as outlined below [9J-
5.007(3)(c)1]:
Facility Type Rural/Urban
with population less than 50,000
Principal Arterials C
Minor Arterials D
All Other Roadways D
Policy 7.2: The city's Concurrency Management System will use
minimum level of service standards adopted in Policy 7.1 in assessing
whether the transportation impacts of proposed new developments are
acceptable [9J-5,007(3)(c)1].
Sanitary Sewer Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water and Natural Groundwater Aquifer
Recharge Element
Policy 1.1: The City of Okeechobee shall adopt the following
minimum level of service standards to be used to determine
the availability of facility capacity and the demand
generated by development (91-5.011(2)(c)2]:
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-6
FACILITY LEVEL OF SERVICE
Sanitary Sewer Average Sewer Demand of User Population
130 gallons per capita per day
Potable Water Average Daily Water Demand
114 gallons per capita per day
Solid Waste Disposal
Average Solid Waste Generation
13 lbs. per capita per day
at least 3 years’ capacity available in
Okeechobee County landfill
Drainage/Stormwater
Management
Interim Standard (See Policy 1.5)
Design Storm
25-year frequency
24-hour duration
Facility Design Standards
as required in F.A.C.
Policy 1.2: The City of Okeechobee shall ensure that all improvements
for replacement, expansion, or increase in capacity of
facilities shall be compatible with the adopted level of
service standards for that facility (9J-5.011(2)(c)1].
Recreation and Open Space Element
Policy 3.1: The minimum level of service for recreational lands in the
City of Okeechobee shall be 3 acres per 1,000 residents (9J-
5.014(3)(c)4].
Intergovernmental Coordination Element
Policy 3.1: The City of Okeechobee will encourage and participate in
the development of county-wide level of service standards
with Okeechobee County and any other municipalities
which may be established within the county so as ensure
the provision of required public facilities in a uniform
manner [9J-5.015(3)(c)5].
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-7
Capital Improvements Element
Policy 2.1: The City of Okeechobee will use the following level of
service standard reviewing the impacts of new development
and redevelopment:
Facility
Level of Service
Sanitary Sewer
130 gallons/capita/day (see Policy 1.6 of Sanitary
Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water,
and Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge
Element)
Potable Water
114 gallons/capita/day (see Policy 1.6 of Sanitary
Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, Potable Water,
and Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge
Element)
Solid Waste
Average Solid Waste Generation
13 lbs./person/day
at least 13 years available capacity in
Okeechobee County landfill (see Policy
1.4 of Sanitary Sewer. Element)
Principal Arterials
C
Minor Arterials & All Others
D
Recreation and Open Space
3 acres/1,000 persons
Drainage
Interim Standard (see Policy 1.5 of Sanitary
Sewer... Element)
Design Storm
25-year storm
24-hour duration
Facility Design Standards
as required by Florida Administrative
Code (see Policy 1.5 of Sanitary Sewer...
Element)
Public Schools
Existing School Permanent FISH Capacity Considering
Utilization Rate
New Elementary 750
New Middle 1000
New K-8 1200
New High School 1500
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-8
Policy 2.2: Development orders and permits will be granted only when
required public facilities and services arc operating at the
established levels of service, or will be available concurrent
with the impacts of the development. Such facilities and
services may be provided in phases if development
correspondingly occurs in phases; however, required
service levels must be maintained at all times during the
development process [9J-5.016(3)(c)6].
Public Facility Capacity and Level of Service Inventory
As part of its CMS, the City of Okeechobee will be responsible for the collection and
maintenance of an inventory of all public facilities and services subject to the concurrency
requirements of Section 9J-5.0055, F.A.C. The inventory will be based on the most recently
available information, and will be used to monitor the adopted level of service standards and to
determine public facility capacity. This information will be made available to the public and
updated annually by October 1 of each year.
The following inventories shall be maintained by the City of Okeechobee in order to
evaluate the concurrency requirements of proposed development and expansions to an existing
development and to assess existing and future capacity of public facilities and services:
Traffic Circulation
The City of Okeechobee shall maintain an inventory of the level of service on road
segments within its jurisdiction for which level of service information is available. The existing
level of service for these segments will be based on the most recent available traffic count
information from the Florida Department of Transportation, Okeechobee County, or other
reliable source for each segment. Traffic count data and level of service standards shall be
updated yearly or as new information becomes available. The inventory shall, at a minimum,
include the following:
1. Adopted level of service standards for roadway facilities.
2. Existing capacities and deficiencies on roads for which level of service
information is available.
3. Capacity reserved for approved but unbuilt development.
4. The projected reductions in level of service attributable to approved but
unbuilt development.
5. Any increase in capacity due to scheduled or recently completed road
improvements within the City's jurisdiction which are not reflected in the
latest traffic count or level of service information or improvements to be
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-9
made by other public agencies or in conjunction with approved
development.
Potable Water
An inventory of the City's potable water system shall, at a minimum, include the
following:
1. The adopted level of service standard for potable water capacity.
2. Existing design capacity and system deficiencies.
3. Capacity reserved for approved but unbuilt development.
4. The projected reductions in level of service attributable to approved
but unbuilt development.
5. Any improvements or expansions made in the current fiscal year to
the system by the City or by a developer under conditions set forth in
an approved development order, and the impact on existing capacities
or deficiencies.
Sanitary Sewer
An inventory of the City's sanitary sewer system shall, at a minimum, include the
following:
1. The adopted level of service standard for sanitary sewer capacity.
2. Existing design capacity and system deficiencies.
3. Department of Environmental Regulation permitted capacity.
4. Capacity reserved for approved but unbuilt development.
5. The projected reductions in level of service attributable to approved
but unbuilt development.
6. Any design improvements or increases in permitted capacity made in
the current fiscal year, and the impact on existing capacities or
deficiencies.
Solid Waste Disposal
An inventory of the City's solid waste disposal system shall, at a minimum, include the
following;
1. The adopted level of service standard for solid waste disposal.
2. Existing and projected design capacities of all applicable solid waste
disposal facilities.
3. The projected life of all applicable solid waste disposal facilities.
4. Capacity reserved for approved but unbuilt development.
5. The projected reductions in level of service attributable to approved
but unbuilt development.
6. Any increases in the design capacities of solid waste disposal facilities,
and the impact on existing capacities or deficiencies.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-10
Drainage
An inventory of the City's drainage facilities shall, at a minimum, include the following:
1. The adopted level of service standard for drainage.
2. The existing level of service measured by storm event, if available.
3. Any existing or proposed drainage improvement that will affect the
capacity of the City's drainage facilities.
Recreation and Open Space
An inventory of the City’s recreational sites and facilities shall, at a minimum, include the
following:
1. The existing number of acres of recreational land.
2. The adopted level of service standard for recreation.
3. Existing recreation surpluses or deficiencies based on the adopted
level of service standard.
4. Capacity reserved for approved but unbuilt development.
5. The projected reductions in level of service attributable to approved
but unbuilt development.
6. Any increases in recreational land open to public use in the current
fiscal year, and the impact on existing capacities or deficiencies.
Concurrency Monitoring System
In addition to maintaining an inventory of public facilities and services, the City of
Okeechobee will also be responsible for maintaining a record of public facility and service
capacities or volumes which are committed for approved developments as a result of
development orders issued by the City. If service is provided by an entity other than the City, this
will require coordination between the service provider and the City in order to maintain an
accounting system which accurately tracks approved developments.
Accountability will be established by reserving capacity from the total available capacity
for all approved development orders. Once capacity has been reserved for a specific development
project, it cannot be reassigned prior to the expiration of that project's development order or
permit. Capacity reservations will be renewed yearly in order to be accounted for in the annual
budgetary process. Upon the expiration of an approved development order with concurrency
standing where development has not taken place, or which the City has determined to have been
abandoned by the applicant, the capacity reservation allocated to the proposed development will
become void. The previously reserved capacity will then become available to other proposed
developments. A priority waiting list will be established for the purpose of allocating this
capacity. When determining how much capacity is available for proposed developments, the City
will take into account all capacity that has been reserved for approved development orders.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Concurrency Management System 11-11
Concurrency Assessment
The Okeechobee City Council will be responsible for determining whether concurrency
will be met when it considers applications for development orders for final site plans and/or final
subdivision plans. When reviewing applications for development orders, the Commission or its
designee will perform an assessment to determine whether public facilities will be available
concurrent with the impacts of the proposed development. A facility inventory, as outlined
above, will be used as the basis for establishing existing conditions. The ability of existing public
facilities to service new development will be determined based on the following criteria:
1. The ability of existing facilities to accommodate the proposed
development at the adopted level of service.
2. Existing facility deficiencies which will need to be corrected prior to
the completion of the proposed development.
3. Facility improvements or additions needed to accommodate the
impacts of proposed development at the adopted level of service
standard.
4. The date facility improvements or additions need to be completed in
order to maintain the adopted level of service for the public facilities
affected by the proposed development.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION PROCEDURES
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public Participation Procedures 12-1
Comprehensive Plan Public Participation Procedures
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
Chapter 163.3181, Florida Statutes, as amended, and Chapter 9J-5, Florida
Administrative Code, require the local governing body and designated or contracted local
planning agency to adopt procedures to provide for and encourage public participation in the
comprehensive planning process. These procedures must include:
1. Provisions to notify real property owners of official actions that wi ll
affect the use of their property.
2. Provisions to keep the general public informed throughout the
planning process.
3. Provisions to assure that the public has opportunities to provide
written comments.
4. Provisions to assure that required public hearings are held.
5. Provisions to assure the consideration of and response to public
comments.
AGENCIES AND THEIR ROLES
In most jurisdictions, two separate entities are involved in providing the Comprehensive
Plan. Their respective roles can be summarized as follows:
Local Planning Agency
The Local Planning Agency (LPA) is established by ordinance or contracted by the local
governing body. It has the responsibility to propose changes or review proposed changes to
ordinances and plans related to land use and comprehensive planning, and make
recommendations to the City Council. The general duties and responsibilities of the LPA are:
1. To prepare the Comprehensive Plan and make recommendations to
the local governing body regarding the adoption of the amendment to
the Plan;
2. To conduct a public hearing prior to the recommendation of the local
governing body for the adoption or amendment of the Comprehensive
Plan or any element of the Plan;
3. To monitor and oversee the effectiveness and status of the
Comprehensive Plan and make recommendations to the local
governing body for any changes to the Plan which may be required;
4. To evaluate and appraise the Comprehensive Plan and prepare
reports as required by Chapter 163.3191, Florida Statutes;
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public Participation Procedures 12-2
5. To review amendments to the land development regulations, which
implement the Comprehensive Plan and make recommendations to
the local governing body as to the consistency of the proposal with the
adopted Comprehensive Plan; and
6. To perform any other functions, duties and responsibilities assigned
by the local governing body.
Local Governing Body
The Okeechobee City Council has the legislative responsibility for the adoption of the
Comprehensive Plan. The general duties and responsibilities of the local governing body as they
relate to the comprehensive planning program are:
1. To adopt and amend the Comprehensive Plan;
2. To conduct a minimum of two (2) public hearings prior to the
adoption or amendment of the Comprehensive Plan or any element of
the plan;
3. To appropriate funds for salaries, fees, and expenses necessary to
produce the Comprehensive Plan;
4. To approve and submit the approved Evaluation and Appraisal
Report to the Florida Department of Community Affairs as required
by Chapter 163.3191, Florida Statutes; and
5. To adopt land development regulations, land development codes, and
amendments thereto that are consistent with the adopted
Comprehensive Plan.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCEDURE
To ensure that the public has adequate opportunities to participate in the comprehensive
planning process, the following procedures have been adopted:
1. The Local Planning Agency will hold public workshops or meetings to
solicit the views, opinions, ideas, and concerns of the public in relation
to the Comprehensive Plan.
2. The Local Planning Agency will hold a minimum of one (1) public
hearing for the purpose of receiving public comments prior to
recommending the adoption of the Comprehensive plan or any
element or portion thereof.
3. The Local Governing Body will hold a minimum of two (2) public
hearings prior to the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan or element
or portion thereof.
4. As they are scheduled, public workshops, meetings, and hearings will
be advertised in a local newspaper of general circulation, and by
posting of a notice at City Hall. Notices will include the date, time,
place, and purpose of the meeting, workshop or hearing.
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Public Participation Procedures 12-3
5. The public may submit written comments about the comprehensive
plan or element or portion thereof to the chairman of the Local
Planning Agency c/o City Hall. All verbal and written comments will
be recorded and duly considered prior to the adoption of the
Comprehensive Plan or element or portion thereof.
6. As they become available, summaries of Comprehensive Plan
documents will be available for public inspection at the office of the
City Clerk during normal business hours.
These procedures shall be forwarded during consideration of all amendments to the
Comprehensive Plan and preparation of evaluation and appraisal reports.
CONSISTENCY WITH THE STATE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Consistency with State Comprehensive Plan 13-1
Consistency with the State Comprehensive Plan
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
The City of Okeechobee’s Comprehensive Plan is consistent with and furthers the goals
and policies of the State of Florida Comprehensive Plan, Chapter 187, Florida Statutes.
The following table illustrates those State Comprehensive Plan goals and policies that are
addressed in the Comprehensive Plan.
Comprehensive Plan Consistency with State Comprehensive Plan
State Comprehensive
Plan Policies
City of Okeechobee
Comprehensive Plan
Policies
Housing
5(b)1: Estimates of housing discrimination HO 1.4, 1.5
5(b)2: Promoting deinstitutionalization HO 5.1
5(b)3: Increasing supply of low/moderate
income housing
HO 1.2, 1.4, 4.1,
4.2
5(b)4: Eliminate unnecessary regulation HO 1.2, 1.3
Water Resources
8(b)1: Ensure quality of drinking water supplies
LU 2.2, 5.3
CO 2.2
SS 9.1, 9.2
8(b)2: Protect functions of recharge areas SS 9.1
8(b)5: Ensure compatibility of development
with water supplies
CO 2.2
SS 1.1, 1.2, 1.5, 4.1
8(b)8: Encourage floodplain management LU 1.4, 2.2
SS 6.1
8(b)9: Protect aquifers from depletion or
contamination
LU 2.2, 5.3
CO 2.1, 2.2
SS 9.1
8(b)10: Protect surface & groundwater
quality/quantity
CO 2.3, 2.4
SS 9.1
8(b)11: Promote water conservation SS 8.1, 8.2, 8.3
Natural Systems &
Recreational Lands
10(b)1: Conserve natural resources CO 3.1, 3.2, 4.2,
5.1
10(b)2: Provide public lands for recreation/
conservation RO 2.1, 2.2
10(b)3: Protection of endangered species CO 3.2, 4.2, 5.1
10(b)7: Protect/restore wetlands CO 5.1
10(b)11: Provide recreation opportunities in
urban areas RO 1.1, 1.2, 2.1
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Consistency with State Comprehensive Plan 13-2
10(b)13: Encourage use of public/private
funding for recreation RO 2.2, 5.1
Air Quality 11(b)2: Ensure optimum air quality in new
developments CO 1.1
Hazardous & Non-
hazardous Materials
13(b)10: Encourage coordination of
intergovernmental waste management efforts CO 5.2
Land Use
16(b)1: Promote efficient urban development
patterns LU 1.1, 1.2
16(b)3: Encourage mixed use development LU 8.1
Public Facilities
18(b)3: Allocate facility costs on a fair-share
basis CI 3.2
18(b)6: Use innovative financing techniques CI 3.1
18(b)7: Encourage use of capital improvement
plans CI 4.3
18(b)9: Identify & use stable revenue sources CI 3.1, 3.3
Transportation
20(b)6: Promote timely resurfacing/repair of
roads TC 1.1
20(b)13: Coordinate transportation
improvements with state, local and regional
plans
TC 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 4.3
Governmental
Efficiency
21(b)1: Encourage cooperation between &
among all levels of government IG 1.1, 1.3, 2.2, 2.3
LU = Future Land Use TC = Traffic Circulation
HO = Housing SS = Sanitary Sewer, Potable Water, etc.
CO = Conservation RO = Recreation & Open Space
IG = Intergovernmental Coordination CI = Capital Improvements
LIST OF DEFINITIONS
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
List of Definitions 14-1
List of Definitions
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
Affordable Housing: Housing costs that, on a monthly basis, require rent or mortgage
payments of no more than 30% of the monthly gross income of a low - to moderate-
income family as defined below.
Aquifer: A water-bearing stratum of permeable rock, sand, or gravel.
Arterial Road: A roadway providing service which is relatively continuous and of relatively
high traffic volume, long trip length, and high operating speed. In addition, every United
States numbered highway is an arterial road. (§9J-5.003 F.A.C.)
Availability or Available: With regard to the provision of facilities and services concurrent with
the impacts of development, means that at a minimum, the facilities and services will be
provided in accordance with the standards set forth in Rule 9J-5.0055(2), Florida
Administrative Code. (§9J-5.003 F.A.C.)
Available Capacity of Public Facilities: Unused or unallocated portion of the total capacity of
a public facility (i.e., potable water, sanitary sewer or road system) based on current
levels of demand, to be considered through the Concurrency Management System for the
permitting of new development.
Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities: Any road, path or way which is open to bicycle or foot
travel and from which motor vehicles are excluded.
Blighted Areas: Developed areas which have deteriorated through neglect or abandonment and
which could benefit the community if redeveloped.
Building: A structure created to shelter any form of human activity. This may refer to a house,
barn, garage, church, hotel, packing house, or similar structure. Buildings may refer to a
historically or architecturally-related complex, such as a house, jail, or barn.
Capital Budget: The portion of each local government’s budget which reflects capital
improvements scheduled for a fiscal year. (§9J-5.003 F.A.C.)
Capital Improvements: Physical assets constructed or purchased to provide, improve or replace
public facilities and which are large-scale and high in costs. The cost of a capital
improvement is generally nonrecurring and may require multi-year financing. For the
purpose of this rule, physical assets which have been identified as existing or projected
needs in the individual comprehensive plan elements shall be considered capital
improvements. (§9J-5.003 F.A.C.)
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
List of Definitions 14-2
Collector Road: A roadway providing service which is of relatively moderate traffic volume,
moderate trip length, and moderate operating speed. Collector roads collect and distribute
traffic between local roads or arterial roads. (§9J-5.003 F.A.C.)
Comprehensive Plan: Any or all local comprehensive plans or elements or portions thereof
prepared, adopted, or amended pursuant to the Local Government Comprehensive
Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, as amended. (§380.031, F.S.)
Concurrency: The necessary public facilities and services to maintain the adopted level of
service standards are available when the impacts of development occur. (§9J -5.003
F.A.C.)
Concurrency Management System: The procedures and/or process that the local government
will utilize to assure that development orders and permits are not issued unless the
necessary facilities and services are available concurrent with the impacts of
development. (§9J-5.003 F.A.C.)
Concurrent with the Impacts of Development: Pursuant to §9J-5.0055(2), concurrent with
the impacts of development shall be satisfied when: the necessary facilities and services
are in place at the time a development permit is issued; or a development permit is issued
subject to the condition that the necessary facilities and services will be in place when the
impacts of development occur; or that the necessary facilities are under construction at
the time a permit is issued; or that the necessary facilities and services are guaranteed in
an enforceable development agreement that includes the provisions of concurrency as
defined. For recreation facilities, concurrency may also be met by adherence to §9J -
5.0055(2)(b). For roads, concurrency may also be met by adherence to §9J-5.0055(2)(c).
Conservation, Rehabilitation and Demolition of Housing Units: Work efforts undertaken by
the City to keep existing dwelling units in a standard condition, repair/renovate units
which are in substandard condition, and remove those which cannot be returned to
standard condition.
Consistency: Comprehensive plans are considered to be consistent with each other when land
uses, proposed land uses, and impacts from proposed development are compatible with,
or not in conflict with, land uses, proposed land uses or impacts from proposed
development in an adjacent city or county.
Currently Available Revenue Sources: An existing source and amount of revenue presently
available to the local government. It does not include a local government’s present intent
to increase the future level or amount of a revenue source which is contingent on
ratification by public referendum. (§9J-5.003 F.A.C.)
Density: The average number of families, persons or dwelling units per unit of land, usually
expressed “per acre.” “Density Control” is a limitation on the occupancy of land, and is
generally implemented through zoning. Specific methods include use restrictions, such as
single or multiple family dwellings, minimum lot-size requirements, floor area ratio,
setback or yard requirements, minimum house size requirements, lot area requirements,
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
List of Definitions 14-3
or other means. “Density Transfer” permits unused allowable densities in one area to be
used in another area. The average density over an area or parcel remains constant, but
internal variations are allowed.
“Net density” refers to number of units per buildable acre of land, excluding supporting
facilities such as subdivision road right-of-way, water and wastewater treatment plants,
and property owned or used in common by the residents of all development (e.g.,
clubhouse or golf course). “Gross density” refers to the overall number of units per acre
in a development including all supporting facilities.
Developer: Any person, including a governmental agency, undertaking any development.
(§380.031 F.S.)
Development: The carrying out of any building activity or mining operation, the making of any
material change in the use or appearance of any structure or land, or the div iding of land
into three or more parcels.
The following activities or uses shall be taken to involve “development:”
A reconstruction, alteration of the size, or material change in the external
appearance of structure on land; a change in the intensity of use of land, such as
an increase in the number of dwelling units in a structure or on land or a material
increase in the number of businesses, manufacturing establishments, offices, or
dwelling units in a structure or on land; alteration of a shore or bank of a seacoast,
river, stream, lake, pond, or canal, including any “coastal construction”;
commencement of drilling, except to obtain soil samples, mining, or excavation
on a parcel of land; demolition of a structure; clearing of land as an adjunct of
construction; deposit of refuse, solid or liquid waste, or fill on a parcel of land.
The following operations or uses shall not be taken to involve “development”;
Work by a highway or road agency or railroad company for the maintenance or
improvement of a road or railroad track, if the work is carried out on land within
the boundaries of the right-of-way; work by any utility and other persons engaged
in the distribution or transmission of gas or water, for the purpose of inspecting,
repairing, renewing, or constructing on established rights-of-way any sewers,
mains, pipes, cables, utility tunnels, power lines, towers, poles, tracks, or the like;
work for the maintenance, renewal, improvement, or alteration of any structure if
the work affects only the interior or the color of the structure or the decoration of
the exterior of the structure; the use of any structure or land devoted to dwelling
uses for any purpose customarily incidental to enjoyment of the dwelling; the use
of any land for the purpose of growing plants, crops, trees, and other agricultural
or forestry products, raising livestock, or for other agricultural purposes; a change
in use of land or structure from a use within a class specified in an ordinance or
rule to another use in the same class; a change in the ownership or form of
ownership of any parcel or structure; the creation or termination of rights of
City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan
List of Definitions 14-4
access, riparian rights, easements, covenants concerning development of land, or
other rights in land.
“Development” as designated in an ordinance, rule, or development permit includes all
other development customarily associated with it unless otherwise specified. When
appropriate to the context, “development” refers to the act of development or to the result
of development. Reference to any specific operation is not intended to mean that the
operation or activity, when part of other operations or activities, is not development.
(§380.04 F.S.)
Development Capacity: An element of Concurrency Management System, addressing the
ability of public facilities to absorb development that has not been built, or that has not
been completely built out, and that therefore has not impacted, or fully impacted, existing
public facilities. The availability of public facilities to accommodate future development,
in order to maintain an established level of service, will take into account this vested but
currently unused or underutilized capacity.
Development Order: Any order granting, denying, or granting with conditions an application
for a development permit. (§380.031 F.S.)
Development Permit: Includes any building permit, zoning permit, plat approval , or rezoning,
certification, variance, or other action having the effect of permitting development.
§380.031 F.S.)
Development of Regional Impact (DRI): The term “development or regional impact,” means
any development which, because of its character, magnitude, or location, would have a
substantial effect upon the health, safety, or welfare of citizens of more than one county.
Development Site: One or more parcels of land unified under common ownership which
constitute the entire area of development shown on a site plan or subdivision plat.
Development site must include all land needed for parking, retention areas, internal
access roads or driveways, landscaping, and other physical design features needed to
serve the proposed development.
Direct Site Transfer: Donation of land and/or facilities by a developer to local government for
the purpose of providing additional services needed as a result of a proposed
development.
Drainage Facilities: A system of man-made structures designed to collect, convey, hold, divert
or discharge stormwater, and includes stormwater sewers, canals, detention structures,
and retention structures. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Dwelling Unit: A structure or mobile home in which occupants live and eat separately from
anyone else, and have direct access to the outside (e.g. to a hallway or street) of the unit.
Easement: A right given by the owner of land to another party for specific limited use of that
land. For example, a property owner may give or sell an easement on his property to
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allow utility facilities like power lines or pipelines, or to allow access to another property.
A property owner may also sell or dedicate to the government the development rights for
all or part of a parcel, thereby taking the land open for conservation, recreation, scenic or
open space purposes.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife: Animal species listed by the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish
Commission, or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered, threatened, or
of special concern.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas: Wetlands, floodplains or critical habitat for plant or animal
species listed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, or the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service as endangered, threatened, or species of special concern. A Critical Habitat
means the specific area within a geographic area occupied by plant or animal species
listed by these agencies as endangered, threatened, or species of special concern on which
are found those physical or biological features essential to the conservation of the species
and which may require management considerations or protection.
F.A.C.: Florida Administrative Code.
Fair-Share Cost Basis: Refers to the provision of public facilities using financing mechanisms
which ensure that new development pays a proportionate share of the costs to the city
which it generates.
Federal Uniform Relocation Act: A Federal statute and regulations which applies to all
Federal or federally-assisted activities that involve the acquisition of real property or the
displacement of persons, including displacements caused by rehabilitation and demolition
activities. The purpose of the Uniform Act is to ensure that owners of real property to be
acquired for Federal and federally-assisted projects that are treated fairly and
consistently... and to ensure that persons displaced as a direct result of Federal or
federally-assisted projects are treated fairly, consistently, and equitably so that such
persons will not suffer disproportionate injuries as a result of projects designed for the
benefit of the public as a whole... (49 CFR Part 24)
Foster Care Facility: A facility which houses foster residents and provides a family living
environment for the residents, including such supervision and care as may be necessary to
meet the physical, emotional and social needs of the residents and serving either children
or adult foster residents. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Florida Master File: The State’s clearinghouse for information on archaeological sites,
historical structures, and field surveys for such sites. A combination of both paper and
computer files, it is administered by the Bureau of Archaeological Research, Division of
Historical Resources, Florida Department of State.
F.S.: Florida Statutes.
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Goal: The long-term end toward which programs or activities are ultimately directed. (§9J-
5.0033 F.A.C.)
Group Home: A facility which provides a living environment for unrelated residents who
operate as the functional equivalent of a family, including such supervision and care as
may be necessary to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of the residents. Adult
Congregate Living Facilities comparable in size to group homes are included in this
definition. It shall not include rooming or boarding homes, clubs, fraternities, sororities,
monasteries or convents, hotels, residential treatment facilities, nursing homes, or
emergency shelters. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Growth Management Act: Chapter 163, Part II, Florida Statutes, known and cited as the
“Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act”.
Hazardous Waste: Solid waste, or a combination of solid wastes, which, because of its
quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infection characteristics, may cause, or
significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible
or incapacitating reversible illness or may pose a substantial present or potential hazard to
human health or the environment when improperly transported, disposed of, stored,
treated or otherwise managed. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Historic Resources: Historically significant structures or archeological sites.
Historically Significant Housing: See Historically significant structures.
Historically Significant Structures: Structures listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, the Florida Master Site File, or otherwise designated by official action as historic
and worthy of recognition or protection.
In-Lieu-of Fees: Fees paid to local governments by a developer to fund the provision of certain
facilities or services (i.e., parks, schools) needed as a result of a proposed development.
Incompatible Land Uses: Land uses which, if occurring adjacent to one another, have a
detrimental effect on one or both of the uses.
Infrastructure: Those man-made structures which serve the common needs of the population,
such as: sewage disposal systems; potable water systems; potable water wells serving a
system; solid waste disposal sites or retention areas; stormwater systems; utilities; piers;
docks; wharves; breakwaters; bulkheads; seawalls; bulwarks; revetments; causeways;
marinas; navigation channels; bridges; and roadways. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Intensity: A measure of the concentration of activity on land. Frequently confused with
density, intensity has a broader though somewhat inexact meaning, referring to levels or
degrees of activity in uses such as residential, commercial, industrial, recreation, or
parking. For example, a shopping center is a far more intensive use than a convenience
store.
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Land Development Regulations: Includes local zoning, subdivision, building, and other
regulations controlling the development of land. (§380.031 F.S.)
Land Use Compatibility Standards: Criteria to be provided in the Land Development
Regulations for determining the compatibility of adjoining land uses or proposed
development types.
Level of Service (LOS): An indicator of the extent or degree of service provided by, or
proposed to be provided by a facility based on and related to the operational
characteristics of the facility. Level of service shall indicate the capacity per unit of
demand for each public facility. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Limited Agriculture: Commercial or noncommercial boarding, raising and grazing of horses
and cattle; noncommercial raising or keeping of hogs, sheep, and goats; noncommercial
plant and vegetable gardens; and cultivation of hay for use or sale.
Local Road: A roadway providing service which is of relatively low traffic volume, short
average trip length or minimal through traffic movements, and high volume land access
for abutting property.(§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Low and Moderate Income Families: “Lower income families” as defined under the Section
8 Assisted Housing Program, or families whose annual income does not exceed 80
percent of the median income for the area. The term “families” includes “households”.
(§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Maximum Efficiency of Use: Relative to potable water and sanitary sewer facilities, the degree
or quantity of user demand which maximizes utility revenues collected without creating
the need for public investment in additional capacity.
Minerals: All solid minerals, including clay, gravel, phosphate rock, lime, shells (excluding
live shellfish), stone, sand, heavy minerals, and any rare earths, which are contained in
the soil or waters of the state. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Mitigation: A process designed to prevent adverse impact of an activity on natural resources.
Mitigation may include the recreation on-site or off-site of natural resources that have
been altered or destroyed by development or agricultural activity.
Mobile Home: A preconstructed dwelling unit, transportable in one or more sections, which, in
the traveling mode, is eight body feet or more in width, and which is built on a metal
frame and designed to be used as a dwelling with or without a permanent foundation
when connected to the required utilities, and includes the plumbing, heating, air
conditioning and electrical systems contained therein. If manufactured after June 15,
1976, each section must bear a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
label certifying that it is built in compliance with the federal Manufactured Home
Construction and Safety Standards. Mobile homes shall be used for single-family
residential purposes only and shall be licensed pursuant to Chapter 320, F.S. In the event
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List of Definitions 14-8
a mobile home becomes ineligible for a title certificate under Chapter 319, F.S., it shall
no longer be considered a mobile home.
National Register of Historic Places: Established by Congress in 1935, the National Register
of Historic Places is a listing of culturally significant buildings, structures, objects, sites,
and districts in the United States. The listing is maintained by the U.S. Department of
Interior.
Natural Drainage Features: The naturally occurring features of an area which accommodate
the flow of stormwater, such as streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Areas: Geographic areas where the aquifer system
is replenished through rainfall. Areas of high aquifer recharge are important for the
continuation of potable ground water supplies.
Natural Resources: Land, air, surface water, drinking water supplies, fish and their habitats,
wildlife and their habitats, biota, and other such resources.
Natural Vegetation: Vegetative communities that are native to, and therefore tolerant of, a
particular geographic location.
Non-Attainment Area: A geographical area in which ambient air quality falls below Federal
standards, per the Clean Air Act, as amended, and implementing regulations.
Nonconforming Structure: Structure which does not comply with current land use regulations
relating to size, setbacks, or building design, but does not meet those standards in effect
at the time of construction. A nonconforming structure cannot be rebuilt, replaced or
enlarged, except as provided in the land development regulations. The presence of a
nonconforming structure on a parcel of land does not allow the reestablishment of a
nonconforming use which has been abandoned or eliminated.
Nonconforming Use: Land use or activity which is prohibited under the current provisions of
the Comprehensive Plan or land development regulations, but complied with those
requirements in effect at the time it was established. Such uses may continue indefinitely,
except where land development regulations require their elimination. In order to qualify
as nonconforming, a use must have been continuous or have followed a regular seasonal
pattern of activity without ceasing for a continuous period of longer than six months.
Nonconforming uses shall not be expanded, enlarged or increased in any manner, except
as provided in the land development regulations. Once a nonconforming use is
abandoned or eliminated, associated land or structures shall be used only in accordance
with the adopted Comprehensive Plan and current requirements of the land development
regulations.
Objective: A specific, measurable, intermediate end that is achievable and marks progress
toward a goal. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
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100-Year Flood Elevation: Maximum elevation of floodwaters generated by a 100-year storm
event.
100-Year Floodplain: Area inundated by a 100-year storm event.
100-Year Storm Event: Storm of greatest magnitude expected to occur within a 100-year
period.
Open Space: Undeveloped lands suitable for passive recreation or conservation uses. (§9J-
5.0033 F.A.C.)
Parcel of Land: Any quantity of land capable of being described with such definiteness that its
location and boundaries may be established, which is designated by its owner or
developer as land to be used or developed as a unit or which has been used or developed
as a unit. (§380.031 F.S.)
Policy: The way in which programs and activities are conducted to achieve an identified goal.
(§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Pollution: The presence in the outdoor atmosphere, ground or water of any substances,
contaminants, noise, or manmade or man-induced alteration of the chemical, physical,
biological, or radiological integrity of air or water, in quantities or at levels which are or
may be potentially harmful or injurious to human health or welfare, animal or plant life,
or property, or unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of life or property. (§9J-5.0033
F.A.C.)
Potable Water: Water suitable for human consumption and which meets water quality
standards determined by the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, provided
through a public system or by private well.
Potable Water Facilities: A system of structures designed to collect, treat, or distribute potable
water, and includes water wells, treatment plants, reservoirs, and distribution mains. (§9J-
5.0033 F.A.C.)
Pro Rata Share of Public Facility Costs: In order to maintain minimum Levels of Service
adopted by the City, a developer may be required to pay the portion of public facility
improvement costs generated by a proposed development.
Public Access: The ability of the public to physically reach, enter or use recreation sites
including beaches and shores. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Public Facilities: Transportation systems or facilities, sewer systems or facilities, solid waste
systems or facilities, drainage systems or facilities, potable water systems or facilities,
educational systems or facilities, parks and recreation systems or facilities and public
health systems or facilities. Individual private potable water wells or septic systems are
not public facilities.
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Public Facilities and Services which must be available concurrent with the impacts of
development means those covered by comprehensive plan elements required by Section
163.3177, Florida Statutes, and for which level of service standards must be adopted
under Chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code. The public facilities and services are:
roads, Rule 9J-5.007(3)(c)1.; sanitary sewer, Rule 9J-5.011(2)(c)2a.; solid waste, Rule
9J-5.011(2)(c) 2.b.; drainage, Rule 9J-5.011(2)(c)2.a.; potable water, Rule 9J-
5.011(2)(c)2.d.; parks and recreation, Rule 9J-5.014(3)(c)4.; and mass transit, Rule 9J-
5.008(3)(c)1., if applicable. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Public Sanitary Sewer Facilities: Sanitary sewer facilities, either publicly or privately owned,
which serve at least 15 service connections, or regularly serve at least 25 residents.
Generally, a multi-user septic tank is not a public sanitary sewer facility.
Public Supply Water System: A potable water facility which serves at least 15 service
connections, or regularly serves at least 25 residents.
Rare or Unique Native Vegetative Communities: Ecological communities whose occurrence
is rare or is of special social, economic, educational, aesthetic or scientific value, such as
oak hammocks and cypress swamps.
Recreation: The pursuit of leisure time activities occurring in an indoor or outdoor setting.
(§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Redevelopment: Undertakings, activities, or projects of a county, municipality, or community
redevelopment agency for the elimination and prevention of the development or spread of
slums and blight or for the provision of affordable housing, whether for rent or for sale, to
residents of low or moderate income, including the elderly, and may include slum
clearance and redevelopment, or rehabilitation or conservation, or any combination or
part thereof. (from §163.340 F.S.)
Relocation Housing: Those dwellings which are made available to families displaced by
public programs, provided that such dwellings are decent, safe and sanitary and within
the financial means of the families or individuals displaced. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Resident Population: Inhabitants counted in the same manner utilized by the United States
Bureau of the Census, in the category of total population. Resident population does not
include seasonal population. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Residential Uses: Activities within land areas used predominantly for housing. (§9J -5.0033
F.A.C.)
Right-of-Way: Land in which the state, a county, or a municipality owns the fee simple title or
has an easement dedicated or required for a transportation or utility use. (§9J-5.0033
F.A.C.)
Roadway: A road, which includes streets, sidewalks, alleys, highways, and other ways open to
travel by the public, including the roadbed, right-of-way, and all culverts, drains, sluices,
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List of Definitions 14-11
ditches, water storage areas, waterways, embankments, slopes, retaining walls, bridges,
tunnels, and viaducts necessary for the maintenance of travel and all ferries used in
connection therewith. (§334.03(18) F.S.)
Roadway Functional Classification: The assignment of roads into categories according to the
character of service they provide in relation to the total road network. Basic functional
categories include limited access facilities, arterial roads, and collector roads, which may
be subcategorized into principal, major or minor levels. Those levels may be further
grouped into urban and rural categories. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Sanitary Landfill: a) “Class I solid waste disposal area” means a disposal facility which
receives an average of 20 tons or more per day, if scales are available, or 50 cubic yards
or more per day of solid waste, as measured in place after covering, and which receives
an initial cover daily;
b) “Class II solid waste disposal area” means a disposal facility which
receives an average of less than 50 cubic yards per day of solid waste, as measured in
place after covering, and which receives an initial cover at least once every 4 days.
(§171.031 F.S.)
Sanitary Sewer Facilities: Structures or systems designed for the collection, transmission,
treatment, or disposal of sewage and includes trunk mains, interceptors, treatment plants
and disposal systems. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Seasonal Population: Part-time inhabitants who utilize, or may be expected to utilize, public
facilities or services, but are not residents. Seasonal population shall include tourists,
migrant farmworkers, and other short-term and long-term visitors. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Section 8 Existing Housing Program: A Federal housing program authorized under Section 8
of the U.S. Housing Act, as amended. The Section 8 program provides rental subsidies to
encourage new construction and substantial rehabilitation of existing housing. As part of
its rehabilitation component, the Section 8 program establishes “housing quality
standards” which are minimum standards for the safe and healthful occupancy of a
dwelling unit.
Septic Tank: A watertight receptacle constructed to promote separation of solid and liquid
components of wastewater, to provide limited digestion of organic matter, to store solids,
and to allow clarified liquid to discharge for further treatment and disposal in a soil
absorption system. (§10D-6 F.A.C.)
Services: The programs and employees determined necessary by local government to provide
adequate operation and maintenance of public facilities and infrastructure as well as those
educational, health care, social and other programs necessary to support the programs,
public facilities, and infrastructure set out in the local plan or required by local, state, or
federal law. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Site Plan: A plan, drawn to scale by a licensed professional engineer, showing uses,
structures, and all other physical features proposed for a development site as required by
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the regulations involved. It includes lot lines, streets, building sites, parking spaces,
walkways, reserved open spaces, easements, buildings, and major natural and man-made
landscape features.
Solid Waste: Sludge from a waste treatment works, water supply treatment plant, or air
pollution control facility, or garbage, rubbish refuse, or other discarded material,
including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from domestic,
industrial, commercial, mining, agricultural, or governmental operations. (§9J-5.0033
F.A.C.)
Solid Waste Facilities: Structures or systems designed for the collection, processing or
disposal of solid wastes, including hazardous wastes, and includes ranger stations,
processing plants, recycling plants, and disposal systems. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Standard Housing: Dwelling units that meet the federal Minimum Housing Quality Standards
as established for the HUD Section 8 Program.
Stormwater: The flow of water which results from a rainfall event. (§9J-5.0033 F.A.C.)
Structure: Anything constructed or installed which is rigidly and permanently attached to the
ground or to another object which is rigidly and permanently attached to the ground. This
shall include, but not be limited to, supporting walls, signs, screened or unscreened
enclosures covered by a permanent roof, swimming pools, poles, and pipelines.
Subdivision: Any tract or plot of land divided into two or more lots or parcels less than one
acre in size for sale, lease or rent for residential, industrial or commercial use, regardless
of whether the lots or parcels are described by reference to recorded plats, metes and
bounds description, or by any other legal method. (§10D-6 F.A.C.)
Substandard Housing Unit: A housing unit having a deteriorated or dilapidated appearance
and which is unsafe or unhealthful for occupancy.
Support Documents: Any surveys, studies, inventory maps, data, inventories, listings or
analyses used as a basis for or in developing the local comprehensive plan. (§9J-5.0033
F.A.C.)
Toxic or Hazardous Substances: Chemicals, gases or other materials which, when released
into the air or water in heavy concentrations, may cause illnesses or disease or otherwise
degrade public health.
25-Year Frequency 24-Hour Duration Storm Event: A storm event associated with rainfall
during a continuous 24-hour period that may be expected to occur once every 25 years.
Its associated floodplain is that land which may be expected to be flooded during the
storm event.
Urban Sprawl: Scattered, untimely, poorly planned urban development that occurs in urban
fringe and rural areas and frequently invades lands important for environmental and
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natural resource protection. Urban sprawl typically manifests itself in one or more of the
following ways: (1) leapfrog development; (2) ribbon or strip development; and (3) large
expanses of low-density, single-dimensional development. (DCA “Special Issue”
Technical Memo, Volume 4, Number 4).
Very-low Income Household: One or more natural persons or a family, not including students,
the total annual adjusted gross household income of which does not exceed 30% of the
median annual adjusted gross income for households within the state, or 30% of the
median annual adjusted gross income for households within the metropolitan statistical
area, or, if not within a metropolitan statistical area, within the county in which the
person or family resides, or whichever is greater.