1981-20 Comp Plan AdoptedRESOLUTION NO. 81-20
• WHEREAS, the City of Okeechobee, Florida, has not adopted its
tenative budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1981, and end-
ing September 30, 1981; and
WHEREAS, Florida Statute 200.065 authorizes the adoption of the prior
year adopted fiscal budget, as amended, in such a situation, and
WHEREAS, this Resolution is being considered at a duly constituted meeting
of the Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Okeechobee,
Florida, as follows:
1. That until such time as the City of Okeechobee adopts its budget
for the period beginning October 1, 1981, and ending September 30,
1982, the City hereby adopts its prior year adopted fiscal budget,
as amended and authorizes the expenditure of money based upon said
budget.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in a scheduled session of the City of Okeechobee,
Florida, this 22nd day of September, 1981.
Mayor
ATTEST:
,�7
City Clerk
Introduced and passed on second and final reading this Thirteenth
day of October , 1981.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
RESOLUTION NO. 81-20
• WHEREAS, the City of Okeechobee, Florida, has not adopted its
tenative budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1981, and end-
ing September 30, 1981; and
WHEREAS, Florida Statute 200.065 authorizes the adoption of the prior
year adopted fiscal budget, as amended, in such a situation, and
WHEREAS, this Resolution is being considered at a duly constituted meeting
of the Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Okeechobee,
Florida, as follows:
1. That until such time as the City of Okeechobee adopts its budget
for the period beginning October 1, 1981, and ending September 30,
1982, the City hereby adopts its prior year adopted fiscal budget,
as amended and authorizes the expenditure of money based upon said
budget.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in a scheduled session of the City of Okeechobee,
Florida, this 22nd day of September, 1981.
M' Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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CONTENTS
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Page
General Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Land Use Element, Section I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Housing Element, Section II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Potable Water, and Drainage
Element, Section III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Conservation Element, Section IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Traffic Circulation Element, Section V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Recreation/Open Space Element, Section VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Utilities Element, Section VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Intergovernmental Coordination Element, Section VIII. . . . . . . . 107
Socioeconomic Addendum, Section XI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
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GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act of 1975 (LGCPA)
gives local governments the responsibility and opportunity to plan
for their future growth and development. One of the most significant
aspects of this Act is its requirement that all future development
actions be consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan.
The requirement that comprehensive plans be adopted is of major
significance. Whereas comprehensive plans have traditionally served
only as general guides for land development decisions, the LGCPA states
that all development undertaken and all development orders issued by
governmental agencies, and all land development regulations enacted or
'w amended, must be consistent with the adopted comprehensive plan. Thus,
after adopting a plan, local governments and their agencies may not
issue building permits, approve zoning changes or subdivisions requests,
undertake public development projects, or approve development actions
that are inconsistent with the plan for the area. In addition, the
adoption or amendment of zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations and
other development regulations must also be consistent with the plan.
Enactment of the Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act of
1975 has significantly changed the status of comprehensive plans.
Previously, adopted plans were advisory. Under this Act, plans are
legally binding.
... The Comprehensive Plan shall include the following elements:
1) a Future Land Use Element;
2) a Traffic Circulation Element;
3) a General Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage, and Potable
Water Element;
4) a Natural Resource Conservation Element;
5) a Recreation and Open Space Element;
6) a Housing Element
7) an Intergovernmental Coordination Element; and
8) an Electric Utility Element
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 3
,m
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 3
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INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 4
EXISTING LAND USE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 4
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FUTURE LAND USE PLAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 5
-Dispersed Growth Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 7
Compact Growth Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 8
Radial/Linear Growth Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 9
GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 13
LAND USE LOCATIONAL STANDARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 13
NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION STANDARDS . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 15
SITE DESIGN STANDARDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 16
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT REVIEW CRITERIA. . . . . .
. . . . 18
RESIDENTIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 18
NONRESIDENTIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . .
. . . . 20
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GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 21
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LIST OF TABLES
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Table Page
Aa 1 City of Okeechobee Existing Land Use and Zoning, 1977. 6
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
am 1 Dispersed Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
,W 2 Compact Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3 Radial/Linear Growth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
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4 Future. Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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INTRODUCTION
�. The Land Use Element is probably the most important element of the
Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan. It draws upon the other elements of the
plan and provides a rational basis for future land use. The city's
.. Land Use Plan culminates in a set of goals, objectives and policies for
guidance of future land use.
Although the city's land use plan is relative only to the incorpo-
rated City of Okeechobee, the development patterns and land uses in the
unincorporated area surrounding the city were analyzed to aid in the
development of this plan.
The Land Use Element is organized into three (3) sections: Existing
Land Use; Future Land Use Plan; and Future Land Use Goals, Policies,
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and Objectives.
EXISTING LAND USE
go Land use and ownership patterns were inventoried in 1977, and between
May, 1977, and June, 1978, a new zoning ordinance was adopted.
..� The results of the existing land use survey indicated that approx-
imately 50 percent of the 2417 acres within the city are developed for
urban uses. These developed areas consist of land used for residential,
�. commercial, industrial, and governmental purposes, as well as acreage
devoted to roads. The remaining 1195 acres within the city limits are
used for agriculture, are underwater or are vacant.
Residential land occupied a total of 564.4 acres, or 46 percent of
all land developed for urban use in the city. This land area supported
a total of 1501 residential units at an average density of approximately
.. 2.6 units per acre.
Single family residential development is the City's largest use of
r land. Over 25 percent of urban -developed land in the city is utilized
for low density single family residences. The average density for this
category is 0.26 units per acre.
AW Other residential development includes multi -family units. The
average density for this category in the city is 1.9 units per acre.
This category of residential development comprises over 19 percent of
aw the city's land developed for urban use.
Mobile homes make up 9.1 percent of the city's housing units. Land
.. zoned and used for mobile homes makes up 1.9 percent of all land developed
for urban use in the city. Density in this category is 0.16 units per
acre.
" Existing commercial uses occupy approximately 119 acres or 9.7 per-
cent of urban -developed land in the city. There are also approximately
400 acres of commercially zoned land in the unincorporated area surrounding
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the city. That land includes two new shopping centers of 15 acres each, N,
located just south of the City on U.S. 441.
Existing industrial uses occupy 41 acres or 3.4 percent of land
developed for urban use in the cit Seventy-two P y. percent of industrially
zoned land in the city is unused. This industrial land lies east of
Taylor Creek and follows the Seaboard Coastline Railroad to the city's
western border and the railroad's spur to just south of Route 70.
Public land uses presently account for 75.6 acres, or 6.2 percent
of all urban developed land in the city. There are 786.5 acres of public rrr
land in the unincorporated area, including 660 acres surrounding the
Okeechobee Airport.
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Roads presently cover 426.4 acres in the city. The proposed widening
of State Road 70 and U.S. Highway 441 will add at`least 40 acres, and any
new subdivisions will, of course, greatly add to that figure.
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"Holding Areas" are large single -owner parcels. Some of these
parcels are being used for agriculture while others have been platted
but remain vacant. These areas cover some 700 acres in the city and rr�
represent a significant resource for future development. The Holding
Areas are located primarily at the northern, north-eastern, and south-
eastern periphery of the city. These parcels were zoned "Holding" because .r
it was not possible to assess their optimum future use.
Aside from Holding Areas and land which is underwater (Taylor Creek),
there are 471.6 acres of vacant land in the City of Okeechobee. It is
estimated that without annexing any land this acreage will accommodate
projected growth by 1990.
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FUTURE LAND USE PLAN
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This section deals with the goals of developing a general construct
for growth within the city and establishing guidelines to serve as the
City's future land use plan.
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Land use policies established by the City constitute guidelines for
future land development within the city limits. New land development
regulations and new development permitted or actually undertaken must be r
consistent with these policies. The goals, objectives and policies pre-
sented at the end of this element and within the scope of this plan will
provide guidance to the city in terms of formalizing long-range growth
concepts, and establishing common policy to be used in daily decision-
making.
The City's land use so
y policies should be general, flexible, and re-
flective of community values. They should not be misconstrued as regula-
tory in nature.
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After adoption of the Land Use Plan, the plan must be able to orderly
adjust to changing conditions and community desires. The plan must be treated
as a working document which is periodically reviewed and updated. (The
method of formally modifying the plan and policies is essentially the same
as adopting the initial plan.)
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TABLE 1
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE EXISTING LAND USE AND ZONING, 1977
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Developed
Acres
Undeveloped
Acres
Total
Acres
Residential, Single Family
314.2.
218.6
532.8
Residential, General -1
less than 7 DU/acre
84.1
23.7
107.8
Residential, General -2
less than 10 DU/acre
144.2
55.4
199.6
Residential, Mobile Home
22.9
8.1
31.0
Commercial
93.2
55.1
148.3
Commercial CBD
25.8
5.3
31.1
Industrial
41.1
105.5
146.6
Governmental
75.6
75.6
Holding
-
700.0
700.0
River
-
23.4
23.4
Roads
420.5
-
420.5
TOTAL
1221.6
1195.1
2417.0
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A discussion of overall growth models follows. These are general
presentations of four ideas relating to the physical development of a
community.
Dispersed Growth Model
This pattern of development normally will occur where development
decisions are left entirely to the private sector. The deciding factors
for the location of development are market forces, cost of land and the
decisions of land owners to sell or more intensely develop their land.
This pattern may lead to unwarranted removal of natural resources, in-
efficient use of land, and inefficient delivery of public services at a
cost -ineffective level. Other general characteristics of this concept
are: 1) Residential sprawl and leap -frogging development; 2) Util-
ization of prime agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes; 3) Un-
planned intermixing of land uses; 4) Inefficient location of commercial
uses; 5) Inefficient use of energy (gasoline) as travel time to work
or shopping is increased because of leapfrog development; 6) Poor
development of the transportation network with the future street network
determined from random patterns; and 7) Decreased potential for govern-
ment to provide effective services and facilities, and increased cost of
such services.
Some desirable characteristics of this growth concept are: 1) Ex-
tensive open space throughout the development pattern; 2) Developers have
greater freedom of location; and 3) The urban environment is less crowded.
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Compact Growth Model
This growth pattern results from strict regulatory measures or limi-
tations of the amount of land which may be developed. Compact development
encourages the in -filling of areas by-passed by previous development; it
encourages the re -use and redevelopment of developed but deteriorating
areas or areas changing from one land use to another. The use of rural
land for urban development is discouraged until urban growth expands to
the rural area. Generally, this model is marked by: 1) More efficient
provision of services and facilities; 2) Preservation of outlying land and
protection of agricultural land; 3) Concentration of commercial and indus-
trial centers; 4) Identifiable neighborhoods which means a greater sense
of community for residents; 5) Stricter development controls; and 6) In-
creased value of centrally located land, and a higher population density
for the city.
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Radial/Linear Growth Model
This growth pattern is characterized by intensive strips of develop-
ment, commercial and industrial, being established along the major roads
with less intensive development filling in between these strips along
minor highways and streets. Growth in this manner, once established,
becomes difficult to alter.. A catalyst for this type of development is
an abundance of relatively inexpensive land along major routes. Some
other characteristics of this type of growth are; 1) Efficient use of
land behind the strip development is discouraged; 2) Identifiable neigh-
borhoods are lacking; 3) Non-residential development is randomly dis-
tributed along transportation routes along with residential development,
increasing the number of land use conflicts; 4) Residential and other
land uses are established in the rear of commercial and industrial uses;
5) Strip development and accompanying drawbacks predominate; 6) Increased
traffic congestion along thoroughfares; 7) Inefficient use of public
services because of their necessary extention in elongated networks;
and 8) Proximity of linear development to open space is great.
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r. These concepts and their characteristics should be kept in mind
as the city grows, makes demands on existing vacant or "holding" land,
and considers annexing land to the city. As the population grows and
demands are made on the city's resources, important decisions as to
growth patterns must be made. The concluding section on goals,
objectives and policies will help the city in this decision making
process. It is recommended that the city follow the Compact Growth
Model as closely as possible when future development decisions are
made. While this is theoretically the most advantageous development
pattern, it may be difficult to follow in practice due to development
+� already established along major roads and away from the Central Business
District (CBD). The city should encourage infilling and development in
the CBD to temper the tendency toward strip development.
The Okeechobee urban area will grow to the south in the coming
years with Lake Okeechobee being the focal point of development. Some
degree of growth is also expected to the southwest and the southeast
of the City. Annexation is not now an issue but may become an issue
as development intensifies in the future.
As growth occurs southward to the lake and then along the Lake-
shore, the goals, objectives, policies and standards set forth in this
element will be relied on to ensure that the physical and social
.�, amenities of the area will not be degraded.
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Figure 4 is the future land use map for the City of Okeechobee.
The map is broken into five land uses, each of which is described briefly
below:
Raciriantial
Three subcategories are contained here.
Residential Single.Family. This designation is for land uses
providing low density development of detached single family
residences on a minimum of 10,000 square foot lots. All of
these areas are served by city water and will be served by the
new sewer system.
• Residential General. These land uses provide multi -family
residential development. Maximum densities in these areas
will range from 7 to 10 units per acre. These areas are or
will be served by water and sewer services.
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Residential Mobile Home. These will be the only areas where
mobile homes will be permitted as the primary use, and then
only in mobile home parks. All of the mobile home areas have
water service and will have sewer service.
rnmmPrr•i nl
Land uses will be predominantly connected with the sale of
products or services. These areas are or will be served by
water and sewer service.
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Land uses will be for engagement in the manufacturing, compounding,
processing, assembly and/or treatment of finished or semi -finished
products. These areas have access to railroad lines, and generally
have suitable soils for industrial development.
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Governmental
Land uses will consist of a variety of public uses:
• Educational. Public facilities devoted to educational uses,
including elementary, secondary, vocational schools and colleges.
• Recreational. Public facilities predominantly used for recre-
ational purposes.
• Miscellaneous Public. Public buildings, facilities and grounds
not otherwise accounted for under the educational or recreational ka
subcategories (e.g. County Courthouse, Post Office, Maintenance
yards, etc.).
Holding
Development in these areas will require special regulations due to r
their size and ownership to ensure compatibility with other districts
and standards set forth in the future land use plan.
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FIGURE 4
FUTURE LAND USE
CORTH
LEGEND
I= RESIDENTIAL
EZ =", COMMERCIAL
(� INDUSTRIAL
GOVERNMENT
HEALTH CARE
3 HOLDING
CHURCH
THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
AND VICINITY
PREPARED BY THE
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL
PLANNING COUNCIL
0 .25 .50 .7 1.0
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APPROXIMATE SCALE IN MILES
MARCH 1981
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GENERAL DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
The Development Standards provide a basis for implementation of
IM the city's goals and objectives by establishing specific require-
ments for evaluating and reviewing proposals for development in
Okeechobee. These standards complement the City's Comprehensive
AW Plan by serving as guidelines and background for the development of
the Land Use Plan and as a basis for Land Use and Development Regu-
lations.
Standards are criteria established by custom, usage, and general
consent as desirable models or examples, substantially uniform, and
widely recognized as acceptable. Regulations are requirements of
procedures which may take the form of zoning ordinances, subdivision
regulations, and various building codes.
The General Development Standards can serve as guidelines for
establishing both specific zoning district boundaries, and general
areas of growth. When adhered to, the design criteria provide a basic
framework for organizing the physical elements of land development in
order to achieve a desirable vehicular and pedestrian system, open
spaces, and building arrangement. The criteria further encourage
sound, attractive, and aesthetic development within the City.
The Development Standards and Design Criteria, while not strictly
interpreted as a set of specific requirements, should be used to
.. evaluate development proposals in terms of their overall impact on
the environment, and especially in terms of their relationships to
surrounding land uses. Development proposals that fail to meet the
basic cumulative intent of the standards should be denied, or amended,
to mitigate against adverse effects to the maximum extent possible.
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Development standards represent a legitimate and supportable state-
ment of public policies, standards, and criteria for growth. By
constant reference to it, the City Commission, the Planning and Zoning
Department, and the various other concerned agencies, boards, depart-
mental administrators, and private citizens and developers, who are
the policy. makers and decision makers for Okeechobee, can effect a
better living environment for all residents.
Following are standards related to Land Use, National Resources,
and Site Design.
LAND USE LOCATIONAL STANDARDS
The standards of this section are applicable to all development
within Okeechobee. They are generally reflected in the Land Use Plan,
and are also to be used in considering zoning actions, and in reviewing
applications for development.
1. The proposed land use shall not require the extension and
provision of public water, sewer, and other such community
facilities and services beyond an appropriately designated
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growth area, and shall not result in the premature develop-
ment of areas which are not economically feasible to publicly
serve with such facilities at the present time.
2. The proposed development should be supported by adequate trans-
portation facilities and related public facilities.
3. Related nonresidential activities are to be grouped in com-
pact activity centers conveniently located to the persons
served. Unplanned, uncoordinated, and unrelated strip develop-
ment of any kind shall be discouraged.
4. Unique agricultural lands and productive agricultural uses
will be protected.
5. Only low intensity uses (e.g. recreation, homesites, on
large acreage, etc.) shall be allowed in the 25 year flood
plan.
6. Proposed nonresidential activities shall be readily acces-
sible to population concentrations, but will not infringe on
the overall environmental character of residential neighborhoods.
7. Proposed industrial areas shall be:
Located so as to have access to one or more major trans-
portation systems including highways, railroads, and airports;
Located so as to avoid forcing major traffic through
residential neighborhoods;
Properly located in regard to existing and proposed land
uses; and
Located in areas where the terrain is well drained, free
from flooding, and has a good soil bearing capacity.
8. Proposed residential areas should be:
Located close to permanent open space, major highways,
arterials, major collector streets, and neighborhood -
serving shopping facilities, as appropriate in large-
scale development;
Located to support (or not inhibit) the development of
cohesive neighborhood facilities, bounded by appropriate
major streets and highways, natural topographic features,
or similar boundaries;
Provided with water and sanitary sewer facilities, side-
walks, street signs, street lighting, paved streets, and
storm drainage facilities where appropriate;
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�- . Provided internally with a system of minor collector
streets and minor streets and bounded, but not penetrated
by major highways, arterials, and major collector streets;
. Located in close proximity to neighborhood recreation and
shopping facilities, schools, and churches;
. Located and developed in such manner as to protect them
from noise, dirt, fumes, and safety hazards of major high-
ways, arterials, major collector streets, commercial areas,
and industrial areas.
Located in areas best suited for development of sound and
,. aesthetically pleasing neighborhoods, free from the influence
and possible encroachment of incompatible land uses; and
Restricted in areas where the land is extremely unstable,
poorly drained, or subject to flooding.
9. Proposed commercial areas shall be located and developed so as to
be easily accessible from different directions.
10. Proposed neighborhood shopping centers should generally be
within convenient walking and driving range of all neighborhood
residents.
NATURAL RESOURCES PROTECTION STANDARDS
1. Unless properly justified for other purposes, designated natural
"' drainage corridors shall be maintained in an open and unobstructed
condition in order to conserve their function, prevent flooding,
and provide for public use through dedication, or acquisition, as
AM appropriate.
2. Applicants for major proposed developments may be required to
demonstrate that they have the financial capability and technical
ability to meet required Federal, State, and local air and water
pollution control standards, and have made adequate provisions
for solid waste disposal, the control of offensive odors, and the
securing and maintenance of sufficient and healthful water supplies
to properly serve their proposed development.
.., 3. Development shall fit harmoniously into the existing natural
environment; and the overall advantages of the natural topo-
graphy and physical character of the development site shall be
maximized.
4. Development shall be properly located on soil types which are
suitable to the nature of the undertaking, and developments
" shall have a minimal adverse impact on the natural environment
and its surroundings.
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5. Open space should be secured, and sensitive ecological systems,
including district geologic and botanical sites, significant
archeological sites, and water bodies and related areas should be
preserved.
SITE DESIGN STANDARDS
1. Where appropriate, the proposed development shall provide the
essential and basic initial improvements and services, such as
water and sanitary sewer facilities, park and recreation areas,
paved streets, street signs, street lighting, sidewalks, and storm
drainage facilities.
2. Adequate space shall be provided for off-street vehicular loading,
landscaped parking, and circulation, as well as for properly
located access points, and suitable roads and streets, designed
to carry the traffic anticipated to be generated by the proposed
development.
3. The proposed development shall employ good design and high standards,
and utilize the natural environment to its best advantage, preserving
trees, and landscaping appropriate areas.
4. Proposed activities which may emit noxious odors and other pollut-
ants shall be located so as to minimize any possible adverse effects
on surrounding areas.
5. Proposed recreation and open space areas shall be designed and
located so as to spatially separate land use activities which
are not compatible with one another.
6. Proposed nonresidential activities shall be adequately separated
from residential areas by landscaped buffering strips, fences,
or other suitable and attractive methods.
7. Proposed shopping centers should be:
Planned and designed as a single compact unit of commercial
activities, and be carefully located in regard to streets,
access points, and adjacent noncommercial land uses;
Developed as an integrated and functional commercial area that
is compatible and desirable with the surrounding environment
and which shows adequate attention internally to landscaping and
tree preservation;
Separated from surrounding streets and uses by curbs, islands,
landscaping, fencing, and setbacks, in order to protect and pre-
serve the integrity of both the shopping center and surrounding
land uses.
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"" 8. Proposed highway commercial uses should be:
Confined to compact clusters located in depth rather than
length along major highways, whenever possible;
Limited to include only those large establishments that
.r depend upon, provide for, -and are designed to serve vehicular
rather than pedestrian traffic;
. Restricted to areas in which adequate land is available to
provide for deep setbacks of building, adequate off-street
parking, loading and unloading spaces, and where there is no
conflict with surrounding streets and land uses; and
• Designed to have proper highway access, frontage roads, adequate
lot depth and width, adequate setbacks and side yards, off-
street parking, general landscaping, tree preservation, buffer
strips, and overall compatibility with surrounding streets and
land use.
9. Proposed office development shall be:
Located so as to have high vehicular visibility and accessibility;
and
Located in close proximity to related activities, and profes-
sional and business services.
10. Industrial uses shall be:
Designed to provide a variety of desirable sites which are
relatively level, regular in shape, and provided with, or
easily accessible to basic utilities such as water, sewers,
..�. and electricity;
Developed properly in regard to street access, off-street
parking, loading and unloading facilities, open space, and
tree preservation;
Separated from adjacent and incompatible land uses by buffer
strips including streets, parks, open space, plantings, or
building setbacks for the mutual protection and desirability
of both industrial and non -industrial land uses; and
Designed so that areas used primarily for storage and other
related outdoor activities are visually buffered from adjacent
and unrelated uses and public streets.
- 17 -
PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT REVIEW CRITERIA
The standards of this section are specifically applicable to individual
planned unit development projects (PUD), and are intended to be utilized
to evaluate, review, and determine whether specific project proposals
conform to the concepts and intended purposes for planned unit develop-
ment projects.
Planned unit development projects are intended to provide a desirable
method of expanding development opportunities and variety as well as to
encourage and facilitate innovative approaches to overall land utilization.
The techniques of cluster development, which is permitted in a planned unit
development project, are unique in that principal structures may be arranged
in closely related and compact groups rather than being uniformly spread
out over a given area or tract of land. Planned unit development projects
may range from a commercial shopping center, industrial park, or cluster of
detached houses and apartments with their own recreation and open space to
a wholly new town with a variety of land uses and community facilities.
In general, all proposed planned unit development projects shall
provide for at least the following advantages:
A creative approach to land utilization and development;
An efficient and desirable use of open space;
• A development in which both the original installment cost and
long term maintenance expense for streets, utilities, and related
improvements are provided for by the developer of said project.
Preservation of natural amenities within the area;
• A more desirable overall environment than would ordinarily be
achieved through strict adherence to only principal -building
single -lot type of development.
RESIDENTIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
General characteristics of the various housing types that may be
constructed as residential planned unit development projects and which
shallbe encouraged when reviewing a proposed project are as follows:
Single-family detached homes which:
• are single-family homes for sale or rent;
• are on their own lot;
are usually one story; and
have side, front, and back yards.
Patio houses which:
are single-family homes for sale or rent;
are on their own lots;
are normally one story;
• have only one side yard;
• have private patio -yards;
• have off-street landscaped parking away from traffic; and
have access to common play areas away from traffic.
Townhouses which:
• are single-family homes for sale or rent;
• are usually two story;
are on their own lots;
have private yards;
• have no side yards;
• front on large play areas away from traffic; and
'W provide off-street landscaped parking away from traffic.
Apartment complexes which:
• house several families in one building;
• are rental units;
• are well landscaped;
• have off-street landscaped parking away from traffic;
• are maintained by the management;
• may be either garden style or high-rise construction; and
have good swimming -recreation areas away from traffic.
Condominium complexes which are the same as apartment complexes
.r except that they are:
• sale units; and
• maintained by an association formed by the owners.
Mobile home parks and subdivision which:
• have single-family detached mobile home units for sale or rent;
• have each unit on their own lot;
• have private yards for each unit;
• have front, rear, and side setbacks for each unit;
• have common play and recreation areas easily accessible and away
from traffic;
have adequate off-street parking spaces for each unit and additional
spaces for visitors;
• are well landscaped;
• provide extra open space;
allow adequate access and maneuverability of mobile units to,
from, and on each lot; and
• provide imaginative, variable site layout.
In addition, the proposed residential planned unit development projects
will provide for the following general living and environmental advantages
as appropriate:
• A reduction of the typical required yard area into common useable
open space;
- 19 -
A conservation of land and trees with a maximum of privacy and
quiet livability;
• An enclosure of outdoor living space by walls or provision of such
space as part of the indoor living area;
• The use of walls or other enclosures to provide individual privacy
and protection against prowlers;
• Dwelling units which are freestanding, attached, semi -attached,
or clustered in rows, groups, or blocks; and
• Off-street parking space which is provided within the individual
unit or in nearby common landscaped parking areas.
NONRESIDENTIAL PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT
Planned unit development projects of nonresidential nature may include
a variety of related and compatible activities ranging from retail shopping
and convenience goods stores to professional offices and industrial parks.
Such projects should be designed to provide sufficient site area, adequate
street frontage, proper access, building setbacks and appropriate separation
strips necessary for the achievement of a compatible development, both on
the site and in relationship to adjoining properties. In general, proposed
nonresidential planned unit development projects will be reviewed to ensure
that:
• All construction will be initiated and completed within a reasonable
period of time;
Suitable and necessary areas for landscaping and buffering
purposes have been provided and assurance that such areas will be
permanently maintained;
• All reasonable special conditions or actions necessary to
ensure that the project is tailored to the topography and neigh-
boring land uses have been complied with;
• Adequate off-street landscaped parking, loading, and unloading
space which is properly located and designed in regard to both
pedestrian circulation and vehicular ingress and egress has been
provided; and
• The tract of land is suitable for the type of project being
proposed in regards to its location, shape, topography, and the
nature of surrounding development.
.0
WX
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES
Goal:
MW
Provide for the common physical, social, economic and cultural
needs of all city residents by encouraging the use of land in a
manner that will maintain or improve the quality of the natural
and manmade environment.
Objectives:
Provide for residential land uses that are compatible with other
urban development and facilities.
Protect against proposed development which is incompatible with
existing and future residential areas.
Provide for commercial sites which are compatible with existing or
planned development, and which are in proximity to the population
to be served.
Limit strip development along highways.
Encourage the effective use and development of the Okeechobee
Central Business District.
Require industrial land uses which minimize adverse environmental
and social impacts.
Ensure adequate public facilities which are properly designed, and
located to best meet the needs of citizens.
Encourage land uses which conserve natural resources while meeting
the city's land use needs.
I yR Protect unique historic and cultural resources, and encourage the
4M rehabilitation or reuse of older structures.
Policies:
Encourage a variety of housing types and densities in new or re-
investment residential areas, provided that such housing is com-
patible with surrounding land uses and the public facilities that
serve them.
Prevent an increase or decrease in housing densities when the character
of the housing in the immediate area would be adversely affected.
Preserve and improve neighborhoods or districts which are unique and
stable living areas.
u
Discourage residential development on land zoned for nonresidential
use.
Locate commercial activities at points of high accessibility.
Require the buffering of new commercial sites from adjacent established
or planned residential areas with appropriate landscaping and
vegetation.
Develop, implement and periodically update a design plan for the
Central Business District.
Encourage improvement in the Central Business District
by maintaining high standards for buildings, facilities and services.
Discourage zoning variance requests to prevent non -industrial uses
from locating on industrially zoned land.
Discourage zoning variance requests to prevent industrial uses from
locating on non -industrial land.
Require the buffering of new industrial sites from other land uses
with appropriate landscaping and vegetation.
Develop or improve public facilities in developed areas where facilities
are currently not sufficient.
Ensure that public facilities are located so that they are accessible
to the citizens they were intended to serve.
Ensure that all public facilities are designed to minimize negative
impacts on the surrounding area.
Encourage land uses which preserve the city's unique natural features
and ensure access to them.
In planning new developments, consider the presence of natural physical
limitations such as poor drainage, flood prone areas, soils with low
permeability, and/or high water table.
Prevent the conversion of prime or unique agricultural land to other
uses.
- 22 -
AMENDED ADDITION TO CITY'S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AUGUST 1983
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
HOUSING ELEMENT
SECTION II
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pape
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 25
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 25
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 26
HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 26
STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 29
PUBLICLY ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 36
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. . . .
. . . . 36
FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 38
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 39
STATE HOUSING PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 39
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 40
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Building Permits Issued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2 Housing Turnover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3 Mobile Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4 Enumeration District Substandard Dwellings as Percent of
All Substandard Units, 1980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
5 Survey of Housing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
6 Occupied Substandard Housing Units by Household Composition,
Okeechobee City and Unincorporated Area. . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Faure
1
2
LIST OF FIGURES
Enumeration Districts. . . . . . . . . . . .
Concentrations of Substandard Housing. . . .
- :? 5 -
Page
. . . . . . . . 28
. . . . . . . . 32
INTRODUCTION
The Housing Element is an important part of the comprehensive plan as
well as the City's comprehensive planning program. Other plan elements deal
indirectly with housing issues, while this element addresses the current
housing situation and housing problems in the city. The element builds on
national housing goals and the overall housing goal of the Florida Housing
Act of 1972, which is, "...decent, safe and sanitary housing and a suitable
living environment for all citizens of Florida at a price they can afford..."
Included in this element is a housing market analysis, an analysis of
structural conditions, a listing and discussion of housing programs, and
a listing of goals, objectives and policies.
HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS
The housing market analysis is concerned with identifying specific
characteristics of the existing housing supply in the city. These character-
istics include the structural/living conditions of the existing housing
supply, the amount of new housing introduced into the area and housing
stock turnover.
In developing this analysis, it is desirable to evaluate housing con-
ditions by enumeration districts (ED's). This permits the opportunity to
analyze specific areas within the city limits and presents target areas for
housing action. Figure 1 illustrates the EDs within the city limits and
those of adjacent unincorporated areas.
ED's 8 through 13,are entirely within the city limits while the Cypress
Quarters area is within ED 14, just outside the city limits.
New Housing Units
New housing within the city limits averaged 27 units over the period
1975-1980, with 20 units in single family housing and 7 units in multifamily
housing (Table 1). Outside the incorporated area new housing averages 157
units, 128 in single family housing and 29 in multifamily housing. Clearly,
the preference to reside outside the incorporated jurisdiction is evident.
Over the five year period only 14.6 percent of new housing units were in-
troduced within the city limits.
Housing Turnover
This catagory concerns the supply of housing for sale or rent. A
5 percent vacancy rate is generally used as a bench mark figure for an
adequate supply of rental units. If the rate falls below 5 percent, units
are in short supply.
Within the city limits, units available for rent housing comprise
2.1 percent of the total housing supply, indicating a shortage of available
TABLE 1
BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED
CITY SINGLE FAMILY MULTIFAMILY
1975 27 4
1976 13 0
1977 17 6
1978 16 11
1979 32 0
1980 15 18
Average 20 7
UNINCORPORATED SINGLE FAMILY MULTIFAMILY
1975
89
4
1976
80
6
1977
136
6
1978
140
112
1979
151
24
1980
173
22
Average
128
29
Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1980.
ED 26
ED 14
mmHm
To Fi Pierce- I
ED 15
FIGURE 1
ENUMERATION DISTRIC`
LEGEND
CORPORATE LIMITS
98
U.S NUMBERED ROAD
70
STATE NUMBERED ROAD
PAVED PRIMARY ROAD
PAVED SECONDARY ROAD
GRADED ROAD
®
201 FACILITIES PLANNING
AREA
++-
RAILROAD
LEVEE WITH ROAD
DISTRICT BOUNDARY
THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORID
AND VICINITY
PREPARED BY THE
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL
PLANNING COUNCIL
0 .25 .50
t
APPROXIMATE SCALE IN MILES
MARCH 1981
rental housing in the city. Units for sale comprise 1.1 percent of the total.
housing supply ("fable 2).
In the Cypress Quarters area, vacant for -rent housing comprises 5.3
percent of the total housing supply, indicating an adequate supply of housing,
available. It should be noted, however, that this area also had the highest
preponderance of substandard housing which may be an indication of the avail-
ability, considering housing within the city is in short supply.
Year -Round Housing
The City and County have differing policies on mobile homes. The City
limits mobile homes to four mobile home parks within the city limits. The
County has a more permissive policy, exhibited by such large mobile home
communities as Taylor Creek isles to the southeast of the City (Table 3).
Corresponding to the small proportion of mobile homes to the City's
total housing stock is the large percentage of single family homes in the City.
While the ratio of single family units to total units in the unincorporated
area in 1978 was roughly 1 out of 2, it was about 4 out of 5 in the City
(1978 single family/multifamily counts were the latest available).
STRUCTURAL/LIVING CONDITIONS
This analysis considers three general conditions to indicate substandard
unit structural/living conditions. These conditions are:
. Units lacking some/complete plumbing facilities
Units with more than 1.01 persons.'per room
. Boarded up housing units
Table 4 illustrates the structural/living conditions in the city. Within
the city limits approximately 2.5 percent of all housing units lack complete
plumbing facilities. The highest percentage of units lacking complete
plumbing facilities are in the ED's 8 and 10, with 4.3 percent of the units
falling in this catagory.
Approximately 5.9 percent of the units within the city limits have more
than 1.01 persons per room. The highest concentration of overcrowding is in
ED 10, with 10.2 percent of the units having greater than 1.01 persons per
room. Boarded up housing constitutes only 0.1 percent of total units within
the city.
By examining Figure 2, Concentrations of Substandard Housing, one can
see that the Cypress Quarters area has a higher concentration of both over-
crowding and units lacking complete plumbing facilities. Approximately 11.5
percent of the units lack complete plumbing and 12.7 percent of the units
have more than 1.01 persons per room. There is no boarded up housing in this
area.
ED
TABLE 2
HOUSING TURNOVER
VACANT FOR RENT VACANT FOR SALE
ED - Enumeration District
Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1980.
Coif]
8
9
10
11
12
13
TOTAL CITY
TOTAL
UNINCORPORATED
TABLE 3
MOBILE HOMES
MH
TOTAL UNITS
PERCENT
41
455
9.0
5
120
4.1
5
254
1.9
2
417
0.4
81
283
28.6
16
251
6.3
150
1780
8.4
2651
6496
1
ED - Enumeration District
MH - Mobile Homes
Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1980, College of Business Administration,
University of South Florida.
TABLE 4
ENUMERATION DISTRICT SUBSTANDARD DWELLINGS AS PERCENT OF ALL
SUBSTANDARD UNITS, 1980
UNITS LACKING SOME/COMPLETE MORE THAN 1.01 BOARDED UP
ED TOTAL UNITS PLUMBING FACILITIES PERCENT PERSONS PER ROOM PERCENT HOUSING PERCENT
ED - Enumeration District
Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1980.
T
8
455
20
4.3
20
4.3
1
0.2
9
120
0
0
9
7.5
0
0
10
I 254
11
4.3
26
10.2
0
0
I
11
417
4
0.9
39
9.3
0
0
12
283
4
1.4
6
2.1
1
0.3
13
251
7
2.7
6
2.3
0
0
City Total
1780
46
2.5
106
5.9
2
0.1
14
501
58
11.5
64
12.7
0
0
ED - Enumeration District
Source: U.S. Bureau of Census, 1980.
3
FIGURE 2
CONCENTRATIONS OF
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING
THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
AND VICINITY
PREPARED BY THE
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL
PLANNING COUNCIL
0 2j s 50 1.0
APPROXIMATE SCALE IN MILES
MARCH 1981
There appears to be a relationship between minority/majority population
per ED and the perponderance of substandard housing. Within the city limits,
ED 10, with minorities compriz.ing 75.6 percent of the total population, has
the highest percenta-e of substandard units. ED 14, the Cypress Quarters
area, with a minority population of 94 percent has substandard housing well
in excess of the city.
The purpose of this element is to provide guidance for improving housing
conditions in Okeechobee and to outline Federal and State programs and funds
available.
Substandard housing is a problem for the City. The problem promises
to become more serious in the future as money supplies continue to remain
tight and people look to government for relief from high interest rates
charged by conventional lenders. Substandard housing traditionally has
been the bane of low and moderate income residents. The proportion of
substandard housing among the middle class conceivably will grow as
interest rates remain high and availability of replacement housing is low.
Substandardness among lower class residents will certainly remain a
problem and may become worse. Although no current Census data were avail-
able for this element, Tables 5 and 6 illustrate the overall housing
conditions for the City and unincorporated areas of Okeechobee County that
were assumed to exist in 1980. Several steps should be taken to improve
housing conditions in Okeechobee.
A complete survey of the housing stock should be undertaken to
identify all substandard housing units and the seriousness of their
condition.
The city should increase its building code enforcement program
through the Code Enforcement Board. Attention should especially
be paid to substandard rental units.
A program of neighborhood conservation should be initiated. This
would combine building code enforcement and improved public service
delivery.
The City and County should study the possibility of forming a
joint housing authority to secure and administer state and federal
housing assistance programs.
The City should either establish a community development department
to develop and implement housing and community development plans
and programs, or expand the building and zoning department to
accomplish these tasks. Such plans and programs should especially
relate to housing rehabilitation in a framework of revitalization,
conservation and improvement of the physical and economic assets
of Okeechobee. A department carrying out these functions would be
instrumental in obtaining and administering state and federal aid
offered in a variety of programs, especially the Small Cities Com-
munity Development Block Grant program.
TABLE 5
SURVEY OF HOUSING CONDITIONS
Source: U.S. Census, 1970; Consultants' Estimates, 1980.
All Units
i
Owner Units !
!
Renter Units
Unincorporated
Unincorporated
Unincorporate,
City
Area
City
Area
City
Area
Total Housing Stock
1,501
3,924
1,020
2,288
481
1,635
Total Occupied Units
1,388
3,663
943
2,260
r 445
1,403
Substandard
216
826
105
398
126
423
Standard
1,172
2,837
833
1,862
318
980
Vacant Units
113
261
77
28
36
232
Substandard
25
110
9
1
16
109
Standard
88
151
68
27
20
123
Standard Housing
Stock
1,260
2,988
908
1,889
339
1,103
Standard Housing
Stock Vacancy Rate
6.98a
5.0
7.5%
1.4%
5.9%
11.2%
Source: U.S. Census, 1970; Consultants' Estimates, 1980.
TABLE 6
OCCUPIED SUBSTANDARD HOUSING UNITS BY HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION,
OKEECHOBEE CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA
Source: U.S. Census, 1970, Consultants' Estimates, 1980.
aAll families with five or more persons.
All Units
Owner Units
Renter Units
Unicorporated
Unincorporated
Unincorporated
City
Area
City
Area
City
Area
All Households:
216
826
105
398
126
423
Elderly and
Handicapped
36
124
17
60
19
64
Small Family
148
492
70
238
78
254
Large Familya
57
209
27
101
30
108
Minority Households:
51
313
21
78
30
235
Elderly and
Handicapped
8
47
3
12
5
35
Small Family
29
180
12
45
17
135
Large Familya
14
86
6
21
8
65
Female Headed Households:
64
124
30
60
34
64
Elderly and
Handicapped
10
19
5
9
5
10
Small Family
39
74
13
36
21
38
Large Familya
15
31
7
15
8
16
Source: U.S. Census, 1970, Consultants' Estimates, 1980.
aAll families with five or more persons.
In concert with this comprehensive plan and other plans and policies,
the City should enact or update ordinances to protect its citizens
from discrimination, fraud and deception in the sale or rental of
housing.
The private sector should be involved in all aspects of housing and
community development activity in the city. A partnership between
the city, private enterprise and community residents is essential
for the success of any community development plan or project.
Government, residents and private enterprise all have a vested
interest in their community.
Private enterprise should be involved because this is where financial
lenders and experts can be found, and where those individuals whose businesses
support the local economy by providing jobs to residents and enhancing the
local tax base can be found. In addition, these are most often the individuals
with the necessary funds to contribute to development activities. Financial
resources and expertise from the private sector can greatly enhance community
development activities.
Private sector participation can specifically take the form of advisory
committees, Community Development Corporation, or Local Development Cor-
porations, to name a few.
PUBLICLY ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS
Federal housing programs, as well as state programs, are designed to
rehabilitate deteriorated housing and encourage construction of new owner -
occupied and rental housing. Many of these programs will take on new im-
portance for the elderly and low and moderate income persons as interest
rates remain high. Programs include grants, loans, mortgage insurance and
subsidies and are administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment (HUD), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) --an agency of HUD, the
Veterans Administration (VA), and the Farmers Home Administration (FM -HA) --
an agency of the Department of Agriculture.
HUD programs, with the exception of traditional FHA financing, are
generally more difficult to participate in unless a local government agency
has been established which can enter into contractual agreement with HUD,
or unless there are experienced developers and/or nonprofit organizations
operating in the area.
The programs listed below may or may not be applicable to Okeechobee.
They are listed merely to show what federal aid is available.
DEPARTMENTS OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Home Mortgage Insurance: One -to -four person family units. Thirty year,
97 percent loans are available to any individual or corporation.
(Sections 203 (g) and 203 (i))
Homeownership Assistance for Low- and Moderate -Income Families: A percent
down payment and reduced interest ratio for qualified families. Mortgage
limits are $32,000, or $38,000 for families with five or more persons.
(Section 235)
Mortgage Insurance for Low- and Moderate -Income Families: Lenders are
insured against loss of mortgage loans to finance the purchase, construction
or rehabilitation of low-cost, one -to -four person family housing. (Section
221 (d) (2))
Housing in Declining Neighborhoods: Mortgage insurance to purchase or
rehabilitate housing in older, declining urban areas. (Section 103 (a))
Special Credit Risks: Mortgage insurance and home ownership counseling for
low- and moderate -income families with a marginal credit history. (Section 102)
Cooperative Housing: Mortgage insurance for the construction or rehabilitation
of five or more dwelling units to be occupied by members of nonprofit co-
operative ownership housing corporations. (Section 114)
Mobile Homes and Mobile home Parks: Loan insurance for purchase of a mobile
home up to $16,000 and 15 years on single -module units, and $24,000 and 23
years on double -module units. (Section 2) Mortgage insurance for construc-
tion or rehabilitation of mobile home parks up to $3,250 per space. (Section 207)
Multi -.Family Rental housing: Mortgage insurance for construction or rehabil-
itation of eight or more housing units designated to accommodate families
at reasonable rents in areas approved by HUD for rental housing, provided
that market conditions show a need for such housing. (Section 207)
Multi -Family Rental Housing for Low- and Moderate -Income Families: Mortgage
insurance to finance construction or substantial rehabilitation of five or
more multi -family units. HUD may insure up to 100 percent for nonprofit
developers, and units may be occupied by families receiving rent subsidies.
(Section 221 (d) (3) and (d) (4))
Lower -Income Rental Assistance: HUD provides a subsidy to make up the
difference between what a lower-income household can afford, which is
usually up to 25 percent of family income, and the fair market rent for
an adequate housing unit. The program is administered by a local public
housing agency (PHA). (Section 8)
Lower -Income Public Housing: Local public housing agencies develop, own,
and operate multi -family developments financed through the sale of tax-
exempt bonds. The PITA may agree to purchase a project to be constructed
by a private builder ("turnkey"), or it may act as its own developer.
HUD provides annual subsidies to cover the difference between rental
income and operating costs. (Title II)
Mortgage Insurance, Loans, and Technical Assistance for Housing for the
Elderly or Handicapped: HUD insures mortgages to build or rehabilitate
multi -family projects consisting of eight or more units for occupancy by
the elderly or handicapped. Technical assistance, direct loans, and
interest-free "seed money' are also available to nonprofit sponsors.
(Section 201, 202, 106 (a) and (b))
Home Improvement Loan Insurance: HUD insures loans to finance improve-
ments to homes, apartments, and nonresidential structures up to $15,000,
or $25,000 for apartment units of at least five units. (Title I)
Graduated Payment Mortgage: HUD insures mortgages to facilitate early
home -ownership for households that expect their incomes to rise sub-
stantially. Payments are smaller initially and increase gradually over
time. (Section 308)
FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS
The Farmers Home Administration of the Department of Agriculture is
authorized to issue loans and grants to construct farm labor housing and
low- to moderate -income housing, and to make improvements to existing
housing in rural areas and farm -oriented communities. Specific programs
include:
Farm Labor Housing: Loans and grants for construction, repair, or pur-
chase of housing for domestic farm workers, including cooking, dining,
and recreation facilities. (Section 514 and 516)
Low- to Moderate -Income Housing: Loans for construction, repair, or
purchase of housing up to $50,000 in high-cost areas. Applicants must
own the housing unit, or become the owner when the loan is closed.
(Section 502)
Rural Housing Site Loans: Public or nonprofit organizations may acquire
and develop land to be subdivided for building sites, and sold on a non-
profit basis to families eligible for low- and moderate -income loans.
(Section 523 and 524)
Rural Rental Housing Loans: Include the construction, purchase, or repair
of rental or cooperative multi -family housing and related improvements for
rural residents. (Sections 515 and 521)
Very Low -Income Housing Repair Loans and Grants: To assist very low-income,
owner -occupants to make repairs leading to improved safety and sanitary
conditions. Maximum assistance is $5,000. (Section 504)
Self -Help Housing Technical Assistance: Tools and training made avail-
able to families participating in self-help housing construction.
(Section 523)
Rental Assistance Payments: Rental subsidy for families occupying approved
FmHA housing whose rents exceed 25 percent of adjusted annual income.
(Section 521)
Above Moderate -Income Housing Loans: Loans for the construction, purchase,
or installation of necessary utility systems in areas where loans would
not otherwise be available. Maximum loan is $50,000 with a three percent
down payment required on the first $25,000 and five percent in excess of
$25,000. (Section 310)
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS
The Veterans Administration (VA) provides a loan guarantee program
and a direct loan program to Veterans, service personnel, and widows of
Veterans.
Direct Loans and Advances: The VA makes direct loans up to $33,000 in
rural areas, where private capital is not generally available for VA
guaranteed or insured loans (see below). (38 USC 1811)
Guaranteed and Insured Loans: Assists Veterans in obtaining credit for
home purchase or improvement by insuring the lender against loss up to
60 percent of the loan, or a maximum of $25,000. There is no maximum
limit to the loan itself. Loan guarantees for mobile homes are not to
exceed 50 percent of the loan amount or $17,500, whichever is less, and
may run for 15 years for a single -wide, and 20 years for a double -wide
unit. (USC 1811 and 1819)
STATE HOUSING PROGRAMS
In 1978, the Florida Legislature enacted the Florida Housing Finance
Authority Law which allows county governments to create a Housing Finance
Authority. The Housing Finance Authorities sell tax-free bonds, providing
low-cost financing through local lending institutions to low- and moderate -
income families. (Florida Statutes, Chapters 78-79)
The State of Florida also has two programs which provide limited
housing assistance. These include:
Rural Land Acquisition and Site Development Assistance Program: The Florida
Department of Community Affairs administers a trust fund which provides loans
to sponsors and developers of low- and moderate -income housing in rural
areas within the state. These loans are made at a three percent interest
rate with principal and interest repaid over a period of three years.
They can be used for property acquisition and site preparation for low-
income housing, usually in conjunction with Farmers Home Administration
and FHA home ownership construction programs. (Florida Statutes, Chapter
420.20)
Florida Housing Finance Corporation: The Florida Housing Finance Cor-
poration was incorporated in 1978. It is a statewide cooperative effort
by 16 savings and loan institutions and major banks to mobilize funds for
low- and moderate -income housing.
Since government programs are constantly in flux as to activity status,
eligibility, and interest rates, information on these programs should be
updated on a continuous basis.
GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
Housing goals, objectives and policies represent the city's basic plan
for formulation of housing programs and accommodating new housing construc-
tion. These principles address the need for remedying existing housing
problems, as well as providing for future housing needs.
Goal:
Actively work towards assuring a decent, safe and sanitary home for
all city residents.
Objectives:
Provide for adequate sites for the construction of future housing,
with attention to the need for housing sites for low and moderate
income families.
Encourage the production of housing to meet the needs of existing and
future populations, especially low and moderate income populations.
Provide for the elimination of substandard dwellings.
Provide for the concervation and improvement of existing housing and
neighborhoods.
Ensure equal housing opportunities for all persons, regardless of age,
race, religion, or ethnic background.
Policies:
Ensure, through land use regulation, that a variety of housing oppor-
tunities are available, and that sites for low and moderate income
housing are available throughout the city.
Amend the city zoning ordinance to allow adequate sites for licensed
group home facilities and foster care facilities in residential areas
of the City.
Ensure the provision of essential public facilities to all areas of
the City.
Ensure the protection of residential neighborhoods from incompatible
land use and land use patterns which have a negative effect on residen-
tial areas.
Provide for full cooperation between public and private agencies wishing
to develop housing, especially low and moderate income housing.
Eliminate questionable or outdated codes and ordinances which add un-
due costs to providing housing, or have the effect of excluding or
discriminating against minority or low and moderate income families.
Prohibit discrimination in the buying, selling, renting, adver-
tising or financing of housing.
Define and identify blighted residential areas, and existing or
potential problems which encourage neighborhood deterioration, and
work to remedy these problems.
Expand housing and building code enforcement.
Provide for the clearance of delapidated housing.
Encourage a housing rehabilitation program to bring suitable
substandard housing up to standard condition, and to improve
existing housing stock.
Furnish relocation assistance to households involved in city -sponsored
substantial rehabilitation efforts.
J
f
'
r
Prohibit discrimination in the buying, selling, renting, adver-
tising or financing of housing.
Define and identify blighted residential areas, and existing or
potential problems which encourage neighborhood deterioration, and
work to remedy these problems.
Expand housing and building code enforcement.
Provide for the clearance of delapidated housing.
Encourage a housing rehabilitation program to bring suitable
substandard housing up to standard condition, and to improve
existing housing stock.
Furnish relocation assistance to households involved in city -sponsored
substantial rehabilitation efforts.
AW
r
r
am
TABLE -OF CONTENTS
— 24 —
Page
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 25
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 25
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 26
HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 26
STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 26
PUBLICLY ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 34
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. . . . .
. . . 35
FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 36
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 37
STATE HOUSING PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 37
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 39
— 24 —
4M
rr
LIST OF TABLES
No
Table Page
1 Building Permit Activity, 1975-1977 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
2 Year Round Housing Count by Location and Type, 1978. . . . . . 27
.. 3 Enumeration District Substandard Dwellings as Percent of
All City Substandard Units, 1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
+ 4 Enumeration District Substandard Dwellings as Percent of
All Unincorporated Area Substandard Units, 1970. . . . . . . . 30
5 'Survey of Housing Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
6 Occupied Substandard Housing Units by Household Composition,
Okeechobee City and Unincorporated Area. . . . . . . . . . . . 33
c
0
LIST OF FIGURES
ow
Figure Page
am 1 Enumeration Districts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
2 Concentrations of Substandard Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
- 25 -
INTRODUCTION
.r
The Housing Element is an important part of the comprehensive plan
as well as the City's comprehensive planning program. Other plan elements
... deal indirectly with housing issues, while this element addresses the
current housing situation and housing problems in the city. The element
builds on national housing goals and the overall housing goal of the
Florida Housing Act of 1972, which is, "...decent, safe and sanitary
housing and a suitable living environment for all citizens of Florida at
a price they can afford..."
Included in this element is a housing market analysis, an analysis
of structural conditions, a listing and discussion of housing programs,
and a listing of goals, objectives and policies.
HOUSING MARKET ANALYSIS
'o For purposes of updating 1970 census data, two assumptions were made.
First, it is assumed that 80 percent of housing units in Enumeration Dis-
tricts 7 and 9 and 63 percent of the units in Enumeration District 6 are
in the Okeechobee Urban Area. Second, it is assumed that 80 percent of
County building permits issued since 1970 have been for projects within
the urban area.
Enumeration Districts 1 through 4 are entirely within the city limits
and Enumeration District 5 covers the Douglas Park (Cypress Quarters) area.
All of the housing units in these areas were counted. Table 1 presents
building permit activity in the city and county from 1975 through 1977.
This permit information, supplemented by discussions with city and county
building officials, was used to estimate the current housing stock in the
urban area (Table 2).
Differing policies in the city and county on mobile homes is immediately
•• evident in Table 2. The City limits mobile homes to four mobile home parks
within city limits. The County has a more permissive policy, exhibited by
many large mobile home communities such as Taylor Creek Isles to the
.r southeast of the City.
Corresponding to the small proportion of mobile homes to the City's
total housing stock is the large percentage of single family homes in the
City. While the ratio of single family units to total units in the un-
incorporated area is roughly 1 out of 2, it is about 4 out of 5 in the City.
0
STRUCTURAL CONDITIONS
am Census data from 1970 was used
and it was assumed that the number
has remained constant.
go
to determine structural conditions,
of units lacking plumbing facilities
-26-
TABLE 1
Building Permit Activity, 1975-1977
City
1975
1976
1977
Average
Unincorporated Area
1975
1976
1977
Average
Single- Multi- Mobile
Family Family Home
27
4
0
13
0
0
17
6
0
19
3
0
89
4
267
80
6
228
136
6
216
102
5
237
Source: City of Okeechobee and Okeechobee County Building
Departments.
TABLE 2
Year Round Housing Count by Location and Type, 1978
- 27 -
Single-
Multi-
Mobile
Family
Family
Home
Number
Number
Number
City of Okeechobee
1,241
123
137
Unincorporated Area
1,943
296
1,685
Urban, Area Total
3,184
419
1,822
Source: U.S. Census
1970, City
of Okeechobee and
Okeechobee County
Building Departments.
- 27 -
28
ME
Table 3 shows a concentration of units lacking some or all plumbing
facilities in Enumeration District 1. This reflects the substandardness
am of the Dean's Court area. A concentration of overcrowded units in Enu-
meration Districts 2 and 4 can be seen. More than 76 percent of all over-
crowded units in the city are in these two Enumeration Districts.
..
Table 4, substandardness as a percentage of the unincorporated area,
illustrates a concentration of units lacking some or all plumbing in Enu-
meration District 5. This reflects the substandardness of the Douglas
Park (Cypress Quarters) area, located in Enumeration District 5. Enumer-
ation District 9 holds a large number of units with more than one person
per room, indicating the deteriorated condition of the DeBerry Gardens
.. area.
Figure 2 depicts the concentrations of substandard housing in the
Okeechobee urban area. Table 5 is the result of a survey of housing con-
ditions. An important statistic in the table is the rental housing va-
cancy rate. A 5 percent vacancy rate is generally used as a benchmark
figure for an adequate supply of rental units. If the rate falls below
5 percent, units are in short supply. The table also indicates that 15.5
percent of -occupied units in the city are substandard, and 22.5 percent
of occupied units in the unincorporated area are substandard. When broken
�,. down into the categories of owner and renter -occupied units, 28.3 percent
of renter -occupied units in the unincorporated area are substandard.
Substandard owner -occupied units in the city and the unincorporated area
are 11.1 percent and 17.6 percent respectively.
Minorities occupy 34.9 pe;cent of substandard units in the urban area
as can be seen in Table 6. The minority population of the urban area, on
the other hand, is approximately 12 percent.
The purpose of this element is to provide guidance for improving
.. housing conditions in Okeechobee and to outline Federal and State programs
and funds available.
Substandard housing is a problem for the City. The problem promises
to become more serious in the future as money supplies continue to remain
tight and people look to government for relief from high interest rates
charged by conventional lenders. Substandard housing traditionally has
been the bane of low and moderate income residents. The proportion of
substandard housing among the middle class conceivably will grow as
interest rates remain high and availability of replacement housing is low.
�. Substandardness among lower class residents will certainly remain a
problem and may become worse. Several steps should be taken to improve
housing conditions in Okeechobee.
• A complete survey of the housing stock should be undertaken to
identify all substandard housing units and the seriousness of their
condition.
• The city should increase its building code enforcement program
through the Code Enforcement Board. Attention should especially
+. be paid to substandard rental units.
-29-
TABLE 3
ENUMERATION DISTRICT SUBSTANDARD DWELLINGS AS PERCENT OF ALL
CITY SUBSTANDARD UNITS, 1970
Housing Characteristics
City
E.D. 1
E.D. 2
E.D. 3
E.D. 4
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Total occupied units lacking
some/all plumbing
some/all plumbing
74
100
33
44.6
26
35.1
5
6.7
10
13.5
Total occupied units with more
than one person per room
than one person per room
110
100
12
10.9
42
38.1
14
12.7
42
38.1
E.D - Enumeration District
i
w
0
TABLE 4
ENUMERATION DISTRICT SUBSTANDARD DWELLINGS AS PERCENT OF ALL
UNINCORPORATED AREA SUBSTANDARD UNITS, 1970
Housing Characteristics
Unincorporated
E.D. 5
E.D. 6
E.D. 7 E.D. 9
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Total occupied units lacking
some/all plumbing
258
100
202
78.3
0
0
21
8.1
35
13.7
Total occupied units with more
than one person per room
245
100
40
16.3
38
15.5
46
18.8
121
49.3
E.D. - Enumeration District
I I i I 1 11 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1
31
FIGURE 2
CONCENTRATIONS OF
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING
^OR
THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE
OKEEC'HOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
AND VICINITY
PREPARED BY THE
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL
PLANNING COUNCIL
0 .25 .50 .7 1.0
APPROXIMATE SCALE IN MILES
MARCH 1981
TABLE 5
SURVEY OF HOUSING CONDITIONS
Source: U.S. Census, 1970, Consultants' Estimates.
All Units
Owner Units
Renter Units
Unincorporated
Unincorporated
Unincorporated
City
Area
City
Area
City
Area
Total Housing Stock
1,501
3,924
1,020
2,288
481
1,635
Total Occupied Units
1,388
3,663
943
2,260
445
1,403
Substandard
216
826
105
398
126
423
Standard
1,172
2,837
838
1,862
319
980
Vacant Units
113
261
77
28
36
232
Substandard
25
110
9
1
16
109
Standard
88
151
68
27
20
123
Standard Housing
Stock
1,260
2,988
908
1,889
339
1,103
Standard Housing
Stock Vacancy Rate
6.98%
5.0%
7.5%
1.4%
5.9%
11.2%
Source: U.S. Census, 1970, Consultants' Estimates.
TABLE 6
OCCUPIED SUBSTANDARD HOUSING UNITS BY HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION,
OKEECHOBEE CITY AND UNINCORPORATED AREA
Source: U.S. Census, 1970, Consultants' calculations.
aAll families with five or more persons.
[ f [ t 1 ! I % t I I 1 I 1 ! / I [ a
All Units
Owner Units
Renter Units
Unincorporated
Unincorporated
Unincorporated
City
Area
City
Area
City
Area
All Households:
216
826
105
398
126
423
Elderly and
Handicapped
36
124
17
60
19
64
Small Family
148
492
70
238
78
254
Large Familya
57
209
27
101
30
108
Minority Households:
51
313
21
78
30
235
Elderly and
Handicapped
8
47
3
12
5
35
Small Family
29
180
12
45
17
135
Large Familya
14
86
6
21
8
65
Female Headed Households:
64
124
30
60
34
64
Elderly and
Handicapped
10
19
5
9
5
10
Small Family
39
74
18
36
21
38
Large Familya
15
31
7
15
8
16
Source: U.S. Census, 1970, Consultants' calculations.
aAll families with five or more persons.
[ f [ t 1 ! I % t I I 1 I 1 ! / I [ a
r-7
• A program of neighborhood conservation should be initiated. This
would combine building code enforcement and improved public service
delivery.
• The City and County should study the possibility of forming a
joint housing authority to secure and administer state and federal
housing assistance programs.
. The City should either establish a community development department
to develop and implement housing and community development plans
,® and programs, or expand the building and zoning department to
accomplish these tasks. Such plans and programs should especially
relate to housing rehabilitation in a framework of revitalization,
conservation and improvement of the physical and economic assets
of Okeechobee. A department carrying out these functions would be
instrumental in obtaining and administering state and federal aid
offered in a variety of programs, especially the Small Cities Com-
munity Development Block Grant program.
• In concert with this comprehensive plan and other plans and policies,
do the City should enact or update ordinances to protect its citizens
from discrimination, fraud and deception in the sale or rental of
housing.
The private sector should be involved in all aspects of housing and
community development activity in the city. A partnership between
the city, private enterprise and community residents is essential
.■ for the success of any community development plan or project.
Government, residents and private enterprise all have a vested
interest in their community.
rr
Private enterprise should be involved because this is where financial
lenders and experts can be found, and where those individuals whose businesses
support the local economy by providing jobs to residents and enhancing the
local tax base can be found. In addition, these are most often the individuals
with the necessary funds to contribute to development activities. Financial
•• resources and expertise from the private sector can greatly enhance community
development activities.
Private sector participation can specifically take the form of advisory
committees, Community Development Corporations, or Local Development Cor-
porations, to name a few.
PUBLICLY ASSISTED HOUSING PROGRAMS
.. Federal housing programs, as well as state programs, are designed to
rehabilitate deteriorated housing and encourage construction of new owner -
occupied and rental housing. Many of these programs will take on new im-
portance for the elderly and low and moderate income persons as interest
rates remain high. Programs include grants, loans, mortgage insurance and
subsidies and are administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment (HUD), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) --an agency of HUD, the
am - 34 -
17
Veterans Administration (VA), and the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA)-- W
an agency of the Department of Agriculture.
HUD programs, with the exception of traditional FHA financing, are
generally more difficult to participate in unless a local government agency
has been established which can enter into contractual agreement with HUD,
or unless there are experienced developers and/or nonprofit organizations
operating in the area.
The programs listed below may or may not be applicable to Okeechobee.
They are listed merely to show what federal aid is available. M
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Home Mortgage Insurance: One -to -four person family units. Thirty year,
97 percent loans are available to any individual or corporation.
(Sections 203 [g] and 203 [i])
Homeownership Assistance for Low- and Moderate -Income Families: A percent
down payment and reduced interest ratio for qualified families. Mortgage rrr
limits are $32,000, or $38,000 for families with five or more persons.
(Section 235)
Mortgage Insurance for Low- and Moderate -Income Families: Lenders are
insured against loss of mortgage loans to finance the purchase, construction
or rehabilitation of low-cost, one -to -four person family housing. (Section
221 [d] [2] )
Housing in Declining Neighborhoods: Mortgage insurance to purchase or
rehabilitate housing in older, declining urban areas. (Section 103 [a]) +�
Special Credit Risks: Mortgage insurance and home ownership counseling for
low- and moderate -income families with a marginal credit history. (Section 102)
Cooperative Housing: Mortgage insurance for the construction or rehabilitation
of five or more dwelling units to be occupied by members of nonprofit Co-
operative ownership housing corporations. (Section 114)
Mobile Homes and Mobile Home Parks: Loan insurance for purchase of a mobile
home up to $16,000 and 15 years on single -module units, and $24,000 and 23 rr
years on double -module units. (Section 2) Mortgage insurance for construc-
tion or rehabilitation of mobile home parks up to $3,250 per space. (Section 207)
rw
Multi -Family Rental Housing: Mortgage insurance for construction or rehabil-
itation or eight or more housing units designated to accommodate families
at reasonable rents in areas approved by HUD for rental housing, provided
r
that market conditions show a need for such housing. (Section 207)
Multi -Family Rental Housing for Low- and Moderate -Income Families: Mortgage
insurance to finance construction or substantial rehabilitation of five or
more multi -family units. HUD may insure up to 100 percent for nonprofit
developers, and units may be occupied by families receiving rent subsidies.
(Section 221 [d] [3] and [d] [41)
- 35 - f,
.r.
•r• Lower -Income Rental Assistance: HUD provides a subsidy to make up the
difference between what a lower-income household can afford, which is
usually up to 25 percent of family income, and the fair market rent for
„D an adequate housing unit. The program is administered by a local public
housing agency (PHA). (Section 8)
Lower -Income Public Housing: Local public housing agencies develop, own,
and operate multi -family developments financed through the sale of tax-
exempt bonds. The PHA may agree to purchase a project to be constructed
by a private builder ("turnkey"), or it may act as its own developer.
• HUD provides annual subsidies to cover the difference between rental
income and operating costs. (Title II)
Mortgage Insurance, Loans, and Technical Assistance for Housing for the
Elderly or Handicapped: HUD insures mortgages to build or rehabilitate
multi -family projects consisting of eight or more units for occupancy by
the elderly or handicapped. Technical assistance, direct loans, and
interest-free "seed money' are also available to nonprofit sponsors.
(Section 201, 202, 106 [a] and [b])
.. Home Improvement Loan Insurance: HUD insures loans to finance improve-
ments to homes, apartments, and nonresidential structures up to $15,000,
or $25,000 for apartment units of at least five units. (Title I)
Graduated Payment Mortgage: HUD insures mortgages to facilitate early
home -ownership for households that expect their incomes to rise sub-
stantially. Payments are smaller initially and increase gradually over
time. (Section 308)
�+ FARMERS HOME ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS
The Farmers Home Administration of the Department of Agriculture is
authorized to issue loans and grants to construct farm labor housing and
low- to moderate -income housing, and to make improvements to existing
housing in rural areas and farm -oriented communities. Specific programs
include:
Farm Labor Housing: Loans and grants for construction, repair, or pur-
chase of housing for domestic farm workers, including cooking, dining,
.. and recreation facilities. (Section 514 and 516)
AM
Low- to Moderate -Income Housing: Loans for construction, repair, or
purchase of housing up to $50,000 in high-cost areas. Applicants must
own the housing unit, or become the owner when the loan is closed.
(Section 502)
Rural Housing Site Loans: Public or nonprofit organizations may acquire
and develop land to be subdivided for building sites, and sold on a non-
profit basis to families eligible for low- and moderate -income loans.
(Section 523 and 524)
=BW
Rural Rental Housing Loans: Include the construction, purchase, or repair
of rental or cooperative multi -family housing and related improvements for
rural residents. (Sections 515 and 521)
Wk
Very Low -Income Housing Repair Loans and Grants: To assist very low-income,
owner -occupants to make repairs leading to improved safety and sanitary
conditions. Maximum assistance is $5,000. (Section 504),
Self -Help Housing Technical Assistance: Tools and training made avail-
able to families participating in self-help housing construction.
(Section 523)
Rental Assistance Payments: Rental subsidy for families occupying approved
FmHA housing whose rents exceed 25 percent of adjusted annual income. rr�
(Section 521)
Above Moderate -Income Housing Loans: Loans for the construction, purchase,
or installation of necessary utility systems in areas where loans would
not otherwise be available. Maximum loan is $50,000 with a three percent
down payment required on the first $25,000 and five percent in excess of
$25,000. (Section 310)
VETERANS .ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS ft
The Veterans Administration (VA) provides a loan guarantee program
and a direct loan program to Veterans, service personnel, and widows of W
Veterans.
Direct Loans and Advances: The VA makes direct loans up to $33,000 in
rural areas, where private capital is not generally available for VA
guaranteed or insured loans (see below). (38 USC 1811)
Guaranteed and Insured Loans: Assists Veterans in obtaining credit for
home purchase or improvement by insuring the lender against loss up to
60 percent of the loan, or a maximum of $25,000. There is no maximum
limit to the loan itself. Loan guarantees for mobile homes are not to
exceed 50 percent of the loan amount or $17,500, whichever is less, and
may run for 15 years for a single -wide, and 20 years for a double -wide
unit. (USC 1811 and 1819)
STATE HOUSING PROGRAMS
w
In 1978, the Florida Legislature enacted the Florida Housing Finance
Authority Law which allows county governments to create a Housing Finance
Authority. The Housing Finance Authorities sell tax-free bonds, providing
low-cost financing through local lending institutions to low- and moderate -
income families. (Florida Statutes, Chapters 78-79)
The State of Florida also has two programs which provide limited
housing assistance. These include:
Rural Land Acquisition and Site Development Assistance Program: The Florida Wo
Department of Community Affairs administers a trust fund which provides loans
- 37 - oft
.. to sponsors and developers of low- and moderate -income housing in rural
areas within the state. These loans are made at a three percent interest
rate with principal and interest repaid over a period of three years.
They can be used for property acquisition and site preparation for low-
income housing, usually in conjunction with Farmers Home Administration
and FHA home ownership construction programs. (Florida Statutes, Chapter
420.20)
Florida Housing Finance Corporation: The Florida Housing Finance Cor-
poration was incorporated in 1978. It is a statewide cooperative effort
by 16 savings and loan institutions and major banks to mobilize funds for
low- and moderate -income housing.
..
Since government programs are constantly in flux as to activity
status, eligibility, and interest rates, information on these programs
should be updated on a continuous basis.,
-38-
GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
so
Housing goals, objectives and policies represent the city's basic plan
for formulation of housing programs and accommodating new housing construc-
tion. These principles address the need for remedying existing housing
problems, as well as providing for future housing needs.
. No
Goal:
M
Actively work towards assuring a decent, safe and sanitary home for
all city residents.
M
Objectives:
Provide for adequate sites for the construction of future housing,
with attention to the need for housing sites for low and moderate"
income families.
Encourage the production of housing to meet the needs of existing and r
future populations, especially low and moderate income populations.
Provide for the elimination of substandard dwellings.
r7
Provide for the conservation and improvement of existing housing and
neighborhoods. M
Ensure equal housing opportunities for all persons, regardless of age,
race, religion, or ethnic background.
Policies:
Ensure, through land use regulation, that a variety of housing oppor- rr
tunities are available, and that sites for low and moderate income
housing are available throughout the city.
I�rr
Amend the city zoning ordinance to allow adequate sites for licensed
group home facilities and foster care facilities in residential areas
of the City.
rre
Ensure the provision of essential public facilities to all areas of
the City.
77
Ensure the protection of residential neighborhoods from incompatible
land use and land use patterns which have a negative effect on residen-
tial areas.
Provide for full cooperation between public and private agencies wishing
to develop housing, especially low and moderate income housing.
Eliminate questionable or outdated codes and ordinances which add un-
due costs to providing housing, or have the effect of excluding or
discriminating against minority or low and moderate income families. oft
- 39 - 06
am Prohibit discrimination in the buying, selling, renting, adver-
tising or financing of housing.
Define and identify blighted residential areas, and existing or
potential problems which encourage neighborhood deterioration, and
work to remedy these problems.
.. Expand housing and building code enforcement.
Provide for the clearance of delapidated housing.
Encourage a housing rehabilitation program to bring suitable
substandard housing up to standard condition, and to improve
existing housing stock.
Furnish relocation assistance to households involved in city -sponsored
substantial rehabilitation efforts.`
0
so
4M
0
0
-40-
do
TABLE OF CONTENTS
do
Page
+�
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 43
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 43
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 44
SANITARY SEWERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . + . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 44
Existing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 44
s..
SOLID WASTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 49
POTABLE WATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 52
DRAINAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 52
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 56
dM
Sanitary Sewers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 56
Solid Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 56
am
Potable Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 57
Drainage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 57
ON
ON
fm
- 42 -
Ma
0
an
..
LIST OF TABLES
am
Table Page
1 Estimates of Solid Waste Generation, City of Okeechobee. . . . 50
2 Potential Advantages and Disadvantages of Solid Waste
Processing and Disposal Methods and the Conditions
that Favor Each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
dw
ME
Am
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
Page
.r
1
Existing Wastewater Collection System . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 46
2
City of Okeechobee 201 Facilities Planning Area. . . .
. . . . 47
3
Proposed Collection System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 48
4M
4
Potable Water Service Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 53
MN
dM
-43-
+r.
r
INTRODUCTION
This element provides an overview of the water, sewer, drainage, and
solid waste systems in the City of Okeechobee. The element includes a
general inventory of existing facilities and addresses the major concerns
which relate to the provision of these services. As the city grows, it
"■ will be necessary to improve existing services or implement new strategies to
maintain a healthy, coordinated environment. Like the other elements of
the Comprehensive Plan, this one focuses on identifying needs and establishing
,. policies and approaches which can serve as guides for future growth.
SANITARY SEWERS
Existing System
The City of Okeechobee owns and operates its own wastewater treatment
plant. The plant primarily serves the commercial establishments in the
downtown area and nearby residential districts. The majority of the
residences in the city are on septic tanks. The original part of the
collection system was constructed in the 1930's and the treatment plant in
1958. A map of the existing wastewater collection system is shown in
Figure 1. The wastewater treatment plant treats approximately 150,000
..r gallons per day and has a design capacity of 300,000 gallons per day. As
of 1979, the biological oxygen demand removal was averaging about 96 percent
and the suspended solids removal was averaging about 90 percent. The
effluent is discharged directly from the wastewater treatment plant into
Taylor Creek.
The City of Okeechobee and Okeechobee County are participating in
the 201 Facilities Planning Program. A map of the 201 planning area is
shown in Figure 2. Okeechobee County was the lead applicant for Steps 1
and 2 of the grant. The overall objective of the 201 Facilities Planning
Process is to determine the most cost effective, environmentally sound,
and implementable system for collection, treatment, and disposal of
wastewater in the Okeechobee 201 planning area. This program was derived
from Section 201 of Public Law 92-500, known as the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act of 1972. The objective of the Act, as stated, is to "restore
and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the
Nation's waters". In addition to Section 201 of the Act, other pertinent
sections are Section 303, dealing with river basin plans, and Section 208,
which deals with Areawide Water Quality Management Planning.
�.. The 201 Planning Program is a three step program to which the Federal
Government contributes 75 percent of the costs and local government
contributes 25 percent. The Wastewater Treatment Facilities Plan is
developed in Step 1. Contained in the plan is an analysis of existing
conditions, projections of future demands, and recommendations of best
alternatives to solve present and future problems. Upon approval of the
Facilities Plan (Step 1) by the Florida Department of Environmental
Regulation (FDER) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
application can then be made to continue with Steps 2 and 3. In Step 2,
- 44 -
the engineering phase, construction plans and specifications are �r
developed for projects recommended in the Plan. Step 3 of the 201
Facilities Grant Program entails the actual construction of the projects
of the Plan.
Steps 1 and 2 of the program have been completed and the City is
presently making application for Step 3. The City of Okeechobee is the
lead applicant for Step 3. The conclusions of the 201 Facilities Plan
were:
• Excessive infiltration/inflow exists in the present collection err
system.
The existing treatment system cannot meet the specified 1980 so
effluent limitations and during certain peak flow conditions,
the system does not meet current discharge standards.
• Expansion of the existing treatment facilities is limited due to ft
wasteload allocations on Taylor Creek, requiring additional or
new facilities to be provided in order to serve the projected
20 -year population growth in the "Facilities Planning Area". rrr
• The Best Possible Wastewater Treatment Technique (BPWTT) consists
of preapplication treatment using a secondary activated sludge
process followed by land irrigation application of the treated
effluent.
• The proposed site for the location of new treatment and disposal oft
facilities appears environmentally acceptable and technically
adaptable for intended use.
Based on analysis of the current situation, future requirements, and
evaluation of alternate plans, the Plan recommended that:
r
• the existing collection system be rehabilitated to remove excessive
infiltration/inflow;
the existing treatment facilities be phased out and reduced to a
pumping station and raw wastewater be pumped to new facilities
for treatment and disposal;
new secondary treatment facilities, a land irrigation system, and
extensions to the collection system be constructed in accordance
with state and federal regulations to serve the 20 -year population
growth; such construction to be phased in conjunction with future
wastewater flows; (the proposed wastewater collection system is
displayed in Figure 3);
r
• the new treatment facilities be constructed on the site which is
to be acquired by the grantee from private sources; and
17
• an application be submitted for a Step 2 grant to provide funding
assistance for the engineering design of the proposed facilities.
-45-
wr
46
FILM 1
EXISTING WASTEWATER
COLLECTION SYSTEM
LEGEND
GRAVITY MAIN
-- FORCE MAIN
-f- MANHOLE
--�� LIFT STATION
lam-- CLEANOUT
THE CITY OF
OKEECHOBEE
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, FLORIDA
AND VICINITY
PREPARED BY THE
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL
PLANNING COUNCIL
0 .25 0 7 1.0
APPROXIMATE SCALE IN MILES
MARCH 1981
47
10
48
Nor--]
r In order to ensure that adequate wastewater collection and treatment
is available in the City of Okeechobee, the City should continue participa-
tion in the Federal 201 Program. Since a large part of the residential
portions of the City are on septic tanks and will remain on septic tanks
.r for at least the near future, care should be taken to ensure that they are
continuing to operate effectively. If certain septic tanks are not operating
correctly or if soils are not suitable for their operation, the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency has investigated many alternatives to septic tanks
which may be effective. These are as follows.
Evapotranspiration Bed - This method requires the excavation of some of
the restrictive soil. The depression is then lined with plastic or other
waterproof material. Perforated plastic pipe from the septic tank is then
placed on a bed of sand in the excavation and back-filled with sand. The
bed, which may be level or mounded, is then planted with vegetation. The
vegetation would remove nutrients and water from the bed in normal growth
activities.
Holding Tank - A large, water -tight tank is buried in the ground and
connected to the septic tank by means of nonporous piping. Effluent
from the septic tank is pumped or gravity fed to the holding tank which is
pumped periodically and the sewage hauled away.
Cluster System - In areas where there is a section of suitable soil remote
from a cluster of homes, it may be possible to connect several houses to
one septic tank location in the suitable soil. An alternative to this
may be each house having its own septic tank with a single central drain -
field located on suitable soils.
Dual Systems - This method separates the black water (toilet wastes) from
,., gray water (sinks, bath, washers). The black water would be disposed of
normally, while the gray water would be used for lawn irrigation.
Waterless or Low Water Toilet Systems - These systems work only on black
water. Gray water requires separate treatment. Several types may be
feasible. These are:
+� Composting. Composting requires no water. It converts toilet and
food wastes to compost.
M
Incineration. Incineration requires no water. Solids are burned
and water is evaporated.
• Recycling Water. This method uses low volumes of water. Treated
wastewater is recycled to flushtank for reuse.
SOLID WASTE
Solid waste can generally be defined as any discarded material that
is not liquid enough to be free flowing. Due to the fact that solid waste
is generated by all urbanized areas, it is essential, for the maintenance
of the public health and welfare, to remove and dispose of the waste. The
- 49 -
W
solid waste system consists of collection, transportation, and disposal.
The collection phase of the system involves collecting waste materials
from residential and commercial areas within the City. The transportation
phase of the system involves transporting the waste material from the g,
City of Okeechobee to a solid waste disposal site. The disposal phase
is the actual process of disposing of the waste material.
The City of Okeechobee has granted a franchise to a private company
to collect solid waste in the city limits. In the future, the City may
decide to undertake its own trash collection. As of May 5, 1981, the
City has required, by ordinance, mandatory trash pick-up. Currently, ft
there is weekly curbside trash pick-up with the City billing the residents.
Until the Spring of 1981, the City's solid waste was disposed of at
a 40 acre County owned landfill site north of the city near the airport.
The capacity of this site was reached and therefore it was closed. A
new County owned landfill has been opened approximately 13 miles east of
the city. The total area of the site is approximately 640 acres of which M
160 acres are to be used as a landfill. It is anticipated that this
site will be sufficient to serve the county and city residents for the
next twenty years. M
Present and future solid waste generation rates for the City of
Okeechobee are not known but estimates can be calculated. The rural
nature of the county is similar to DeSoto County, so the volume of four
pounds per capita per day in DeSoto County (Solid Waste Management Plan,
DeSoto County, Florida, 1976, Central Florida Regional Planning Council)
is a valid figure for Okeechobee. Using this generation rate and the
median population projections for the city, estimates of the generation
of solid waste have been made (Table 1).
TABLE 1.
ESTIMATES OF SOLID WASTE GENERATION
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
With the opening of the new County landfill site, there should be
sufficient capacity to handle the City's present and future solid waste
disposal. There are many alternatives to landfill as a means of solid
waste disposal. Table 2 presents a variety of these methods and a brief
discussion of each. After examination of the table, it should be concluded
that landfilling is the most logical method of disposal of solid waste for
the City of Okeechobee.
-50-
r
Year
City Population Projections
Annual Volume
in tons)
rri
3,095
1980
4,240
1985
5,000
3,650
1990
5,750
4,198
1995
6,300
4,599 aft
2000
6,800
4,964
rrr
With the opening of the new County landfill site, there should be
sufficient capacity to handle the City's present and future solid waste
disposal. There are many alternatives to landfill as a means of solid
waste disposal. Table 2 presents a variety of these methods and a brief
discussion of each. After examination of the table, it should be concluded
that landfilling is the most logical method of disposal of solid waste for
the City of Okeechobee.
-50-
r
WIN
small
TABLE (i, POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOLID WASTE PROCESSING AND DISPOSAL METHODS AND THE CONDITIONS THAT FAVOR EACH
Sanitary Landfillinq of
Incineration of Un-
Sanitary Landfilling of
Sanitary Landfilling of
_
y�
unprocessed Solid Waste
processed Solid Waste
Baled Solid wastes
Shredded Solid Haste
Materials Recovery
Energy Recovery System
to manage.
.Technology is -ell de-
.Extends life of land-
.Cover not required
.Reduces volume of
.Reduce landfill
.Simple,easy
veloped
fill (double that of
under some conditions.
land required for
requirements.
initial investment
unprocessed wastes.)
solid waste dis-
.low
and operating costs.
volume of lard
.Placement and compact-
posal.
.Site location easier
ddN
.Can be put into opera-
,Reduces
required for solid
.Lovers operating costs
ion easy; wind resist-
than for landfill or
* tion in short period
vast* disposal.
at the disposal site.
ant.
.High public accept-
incinerator.
• of time.
C c
.Produces a sterile
.Reduce hauling costs
.Extends life of land-
ante.
.Total pollution reduced
o > .May be used to reclaim
residue favorable to
where distant sites
fill.
.Lover disposal costs
when compared to a sys-
aRll
n land.
landfill operations;
are used.
through sale of re-
tem using incin.•ration
minimize leachate
.Initial investment/
covered materials
for solid waste burning
receive most types
rater pollution.
.Permits immediate use
and operating costs
and smaller quantity
fossil fueI4 for energy.
.Can
of solid waste, elimi-
of landfill site for
relatively moderate.
of solid waste.
noting the necessity
other purpose upon
- ,
.More economical than
for separations of
completion (minimal
.Can support vehicles.
either environmentally -
MEN
wastes.
settling.)
sound conventional in -
.Reduces nector pro-
cineration or remote
.May reduce chance of
bless.
sanitary landfilling.
of rater pollution
from leachate.
.Does not support com-
.Public acceptance.
bustion.
err
.May be first step in
implementing a re-
'
-
sources recovery system
sNnV
.Proper standards must
.Capital improvement
.Jamming and bridging of
.Technology for some
.Market for energy
be observed to prevenj
costs (ie plant or
feeding equipment can
operations still
required.
degeneration to open
additional units)
reduce throughput of
new, not fully
dumps,
and operational
sill.
operational.
.Most systems cannot
costs are not com-
accept all wastea.
locations diffi-
petitive with other
.High level of compo-
.Markets for reco-
ssiNew
,It due to citizen
methods identified,
nent war, especially
vered materials re-
.Specific needs of the
on hammer.
quired.
energy market may dic-
opposition.
.Cannot economically
tate parameters of the
.Leachate may pollute
meet Federal or
.Danger to employees
.High initial invest-
system design.
water.
State air pollu-
from flying objects,
sent required for
tion standards.
explosions within the
some techniques.
.Complex process re-
a .Methane gas produced
mills, and noise.
quires sophisticated
a > can cause fire or
.Difficult to locate
.Materials must meet
management
Ze explosion.
new sites because of
.Leachate may pollute
purchaser specifi-
public opposition.
water.
cations.
.Needs relatively lonq
c
period for planning/
. Obtaining adequate
materials may
Process limits ro-
Sanitary landfill
construction between
ssr
cover
be difficult.
source conservation
still needed for
funding approval and
disposal of residues.
capacity operation.
.Process excludes
still
resource conserve-
required for residues.
required
tion,
ss/l
.Technology for some
operations not fully
proven.
WIN
.Adequate land, close
.Landfill operations
.Long hauls needed to
.Cover material is
.Markets for suffi-
.Heavily populated area
to source of waste,
in the ar*a are not
reach landfill sites.
difficult to ob-
cient quantities
necessary to insure
is available at
effective or suit-
tain.
of reclaimed
large, steady volume
* 2
ably accepted dis-
.Shortage of landfill
materials are
of solid waste to
ireasonable
pries.
poral means.
sites requires maximus
.Shortage of land-
located nearby.
achieve economics of
-,
a
utilization of avail-
fill sites requires
scale.
mss
g
available for
able land.
maximum utilization
.Land available for
n` uo
.Land
landfill mites is
of available land.
sanitary landfill-
.Assured revenue from
at a premium.
.Use of site is desired
ing is at a pre-
a steady consumer
immediately after com-
■ium.
for generated
.Absence of local
pl*tion.
energy.
anergy/material mar-
.Heavily populated
ANN
ka ta.
area necessary to
.Desire or need for
insure large,
additional lo --sultan
steady volume of
fuel source.
solid waste to
achieve economics of
.Land available for
scale.
unitary landfilling
sl(1
1s at a premium.
elr
- 51 -
POTABLE WATER
The City of Okeechobee provides potable water to its residents and to
most of the urbanized area in the south section of the County. The City's
potable water service area is shown in Figure 4. The water works plant
is located on State Road 78 just north of Lake Okeechobee. The treatment
plant pumps water from Lake Okeechobee, treats it with alum and lime,
filters, chlorinates, and softens'it prior to distribution.
The water works are self-supporting through the fees paid by the
customers of the City of Okeechobee. As of 1979, the water plant was
supplying 1.5 million gallons per day to the City and .5 million gallons
per day to the Okeechobee Beach Association. The water plant has undergone
an expansion program and has a capacity of 2.8 million gallons per day.
The water distribution system is supported by two 250,000 gallon overhead
storage tanks. With the present capacity of the water works plant,
residents of the City should have an adequate supply of potable water in
the future. Since the City's potable water is obtained from Lake
Okeechobee, it is in the City's best interest to participate in any govern-
mental actions concerning the restoration of Lake Okeechobee and its
watershed.
DRAINAGE
M
M
to
The management of stormwater runoff (drainage) is essential to assure
adequate quality and quantity of surface water and groundwater. Storm -
water runoff has been found to be a major contributor to water quality
degradation. Lack of stormwater management can result in loss of life
and property due to flooding.
Drainage problems generally are due to one or a combination of the
following three factors which relate to natural drainage: structures
were built in low-lying areas which are inherently poorly suited for
urban development; alterations to the existing drainage system were
insufficient to adequately protect the new development; or land use or
other changes to the upstream system have resulted in problems downstream. M
Due to the many man-made water control structures in Okeechobee
County, the Okeechobee Urban Area has been left in what amounts to a
depressional basin. The northeastern edge of this basin is canal L -63(N)
which diverts Taylor Creek from a point north of the city near Cemetary
Road eastward until it connects with canal L -63(S) and enters Lake
Okeechobee approximately halfway between Treasure Island and Up the Grove
Beach at structure 5-191. There is also a protective levee on the city
side of the canal to prevent flooding into the city and urban area. The
southern boundary of the depressional basin is the Hoover Dike and its
associated control structures.
The net effect of these two major drainage structures is to leave the
lower part of Taylor Creek, Lemkin and Popash sloughs, and other smaller
natural and man-made drainage systems isolated from Lake Okeechobee.
-52-
53 `�
Water from these drainage systems enters the lake through large pumping
stations. These pumps were designed to handle a ten year storm which
is estimated to be 1/2 inch of rain in a 24-hour period.
.. The majority of stormwater runoff from the City of Okeechobee is
removed via Taylor Creek. Though stormwater runoff is not a major cause
of the poor water quality in Taylor Creek, it undoubtedly has some negative
.. impact. The detrimental effects of stormwater runoff may be lessened by
removing stormwater pollutants before they are carried away by runoff,
by delaying runoff volumes and increasing infiltration, and by the use of
erosion and sedimentation control measures.
A brief listing of Best Management Practices (BMP's) which are thought
to be effective in the Central Florida area are listed below.
as
BMP's Which Act to Reduce Pollutants at the Source - These are basically
nonstructural techniques which require either public education or the
Aw creation of ordinances or administrative rules. Included in this group
are:
„r anti -litter laws and enforcement;
• proper use of chemicals and fertilizers;
animal control ordinances;
• street sweeping;
` proper siting, installation, and maintenance of septic tanks; and
• improved litter pickups.
BMP's Which Reduce Runoff Pollution by Delaying Runoff Volumes - The
detrimental effects of runoff can be lessened by temporarily retaining
the runoff onsite. This can be accomplished by:
• detention ponds;
storage tanks;
• rooftop storage;
underground or in-line storage; and
• parking lot storage.
"' BMP's Which Act to Increase Infiltration - Urbanization results in
increased areas which are covered by impermeable surfaces. This results
in a decrease in filtration onsite and an increase of runoff. Measures
an which can act to increase infiltration include:
• dutch drains;
grassed swales;
elimination of curbing;
• porous pavement; and
• retention basins.
BMP's Which Reduce Erosion by Using Vegetation - Vegetation and ground
cover measures protect disturbed areas from heavy rains, slow runoff
,,. velocities, and act to filter out suspended solids and nutrients in runoff
water. Shoreline vegetation surrounding surface waters is extremely
important in terms of water quality and wildlife habitat. Vegetative and
�. ground cover measures which can be used include:
-54-
m-
77
• conservation of topsoil; aw
• mulching and seeding;
• sodding; and
• artificial ground covers. rr
BMP's Which Reduce Erosion by Utilizing Diversion Measures - Diversion
measures may be temporary or permanent and may necessitate some construction.
These structural measures can act to reduce the detrimental effects of
stormwater runoff by diverting runoff from disturbed areas, reducing the
velocity and volume of runoff, and detaining or filtering runoff. Diversion
measures are quite numerous and include: ar
• chutes or flumes;
• diversion dikes;
r
• filter beams;
• flexible downdrains;
• interceptor dikes;
• micro -benching; and
• level spreaders.
Listed above are just a sample of the available management practices No
which can be utilized to improve and maintain the surface water quality
of the region. Most likely, a combination of several BMP's will be required
to be effective. A more complete listing and discussion of BMP's can be go
found in the Stormwater Guidance Manual (Central Florida Regional Planning
Council, 1980).
r-7
No
M
F_
-55-
no
.n
0
Sanitary Sewers
Goal:
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES
«. Operate and maintain the sanitary sewer system in an efficient
manner which will minimize the adverse effects upon the natural
environment and provide adequate sewer services to residents at a
40 reasonable and fair cost.
Objective:
Operate the sanitary sewer system in the most efficient manner so
that economic and natural resource costs are minimized.
•. Policies:
Continue participation in the 201 Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Construction Program.
Coordinate with other governmental agencies in monitoring environmental
impacts of effluents.
Encourage the merger of systems where there are economic and environ-
mental gains.
Require developers to lay sewer lines and provide easements in all
new developments.
Require all developers and property owners to connect with the City's
sanitary sewer system when service is available.
Solid Waste
Goal:
To provide adequate disposal of solid waste for the City of Okeechobee
residents.
Objective:
Encourage the development of a system of solid waste collection,
transportation, and disposal which is efficient, economical, and
environmentally sound.
.r Policies:
Maintain an acceptable standard for collection of solid waste.
AW
Follow State and Federal guidelines to ensure continued protection of
the environment.
-56-
am
-57- •�
Continue cooperation with Okeechobee County for solid waste disposal.
Explore alternatives and possibilities for cooperative ventures with
other governmental bodies and private contractors in order to lower
rr�
solid waste system costs.
Encourage the use of resource recovery methods where economically
feasible and cooperate with the County in the development of a resource
recovery plan.
Potable Water
or
Goal:
To ensure that there are safe and adequate potable water supplies for
the City.
Objective:
Continue efficient operation of the City's potable water works.
+ri
Policies:
Cooperate with regional and State agencies in water use planning.
M
Participate in State and Federal programs concerning the improvement
of Lake Okeechobee's water quality.
Require new development to hook-up to the City's potable water system.
Drainage
Goal:
as
Provide an adequate city-wide drainage system which considers the
needs for flood protection and water quality.
Objectives:
so
Adopt and enforce a stormwater management ordinance which requires
appropriate stormwater control in new developments.
Control development in low-lying areas.
err
Policies:
Require site plan review for proposed developments to ensure that
adequate drainage is provided.
Encourage the use of soil information in the planning of developments.
Encourage the preservation of permeable surfaces.
-57- •�
..
.M Encourage the use of Best Management Practices (BMP's) to control
runoff, improve water quality, and minimize erosion.
4M
..
am
M
AM
..
da
am
Require developers to install culverts and drainage systems to
meet the City's design criteria.
- 58 -
an
TABLE OF CONTENTS
err
Page
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 61
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 61
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 62
SOILS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 62
WETLANDS AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 63
.wr
WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 66
AIR QUALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 68
FLORA AND FAUNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 68
Rare and Endangered Species . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 69
HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 69
dw.
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 74
Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 74
Wetlands and Flood Prone Areas . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 74
low
Water: Quality and Quantity . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 75
Air Quality . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 75
Flora and Fauna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 76
Historic and Archeological Sites . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 76
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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
1 Soil Characteristics, Okeechobee Urban Area. . . . . . . . . . 65
2 Status of Endangered, Threatened, Rare, and
Species of Special Concern Whose Ranges
Include Okeechobee County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
3 Historical and Archeological Sites Selected
Data Index, Okeechobee County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1 General Soil Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
2 Flood Prone Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
— 61 —
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INTRODUCTION
MW The overall goal of the Conservation Element as defined in the Statutes
(Florida Statutes 163.3161, Section 7(6)(d)) is to provide for the conser-
vation, development, utilization, and protection of the natural resources
in the area. This element examines the natural resources of the City of
Okeechobee and recommends methods to ensure their wise use and preservation.
VW
SOILS
Soils consist primarily of the upper six feet of the earth's crust
,,,, and are the foundation upon which all development takes place. Because
of this important function coupled with the fact that it takes thousands
of years to produce soil, it may be the most important natural resource
am to man other than air and water. Knowledge of soil limitations is an
important prerequisite for future planning.
Ten soil associations are found in Okeechobee County, and of these,
seven exist in the City of Okeechobee and its surrounding area. (See
Figure 1.) The seven soil associations and their limitations are discussed
briefly in this section. They consist of nearly level soils that vary
principally in wetness, thickness, texture, or acidity. The dominant
soil association in the City of Okeechobee is the Immokalee-Pomello
Association. The numbers used to identify each association are consistent
r
with those used by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service.
Soil Associations Description
City of Okeechobee
Association
Nnmher
r
2. Myakka-Basinger Association: Nearly level, poorly drained soils
that are sandy to a depth of more than 40 inches and have an
do organic pan at a depth of 10 to 30 inches. The landscape is
one of broad tracts of flatwoods and open prairies. The water
table normally is at a depth of 15 to 30 inches. During wet
periods, soils of the flatwoods and prairies are saturated, and
M' shallow water covers the soils in sloughs.
3. Immokalee-Pompano Association: Nearly level, poorly drained
do soils that are sandy to a depth of more than 40 inches; organic
pan at a depth of 30 to 48 inches in most places. The landscape
is one of broad flatwoods, scattered grassy sloughs and shallow
isolated depressions. In the flatwoods, the water table fluc-
tuates between depths of 15 to 30 inches. Shallow water stays
in the depressions for most of the year and covers the sloughs
during wet periods.
ar
4. Parkwood-Bradenton-Wabasso Association: Nearly level, poorly
drained, sandy soils that have a loamy or marly layer at a depth
+s of less than 40 inches. The landscape is one of palm hammocks
-62-
rt
interspersed with pine flatwoods and a few ponds. The water 't'
table is normally at a depth of 15 to 30 inches, but during wet
seasons, it rises to near the surface.
5. Placid -Pamlico -Delray Association: Nearly level, very poorly
drained soils that are sandy to a depth of more than 40 inches.
Included are organic soils. The landscape is one of heavily rr
wooded swamps and cypress trees along the courses of sluggish
natural drainageways. Shallow, slow-moving water covers these
areas most of the time.
Wk
6. Pompano-Charlotte-Delray-Immokalee Association: Nearly level,
mainly poorly drained soils that are sandy to a depth of more
than 40 inches. The landscape is one of broad grassy sloughs rrr
and many shallow depressions and intermittent ponds, as well as
small scattered palmetto flats with clumps of palms. For short
periods during the wet season, shallow water covers much of
this association. The depressions and intermittent ponds are
covered with shallow water most of the time.
•7. Manatee-Delray-Okeelanta Association: Nearly level, very poorly at
drained organic soils and sandy soils, that in most places gave
a loamy layer at a depth of less than 40 inches. This associa-
tion generally is on bottom lands iri the floodplains, such as we
Taylor Creek and lowlands adjacent to Lake Okeechobee.
10. Okeelanta-Delray-Pompano Association: Nearly level, very poorly 40
drained organic soils and adjacent wet sandy soils. The land-
scape is one of large sawgrass marshes and adjacent grassy
sloughs. Shallow water covers the marshes for most of the year
and most of the sloughs during the wet season. of
Table 1 indicates the degree of limitation for the various soil
associations in the Okeechobee Urban area. This information is based upon wr
the General Soils Atlas prepared by the Florida Division of State Planning
in cooperation with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. These are not
suitability ratings but are measures of the degree of soil limitations,
restrictions, or hazards. Most soils are suitable for all uses if
provisions can be made to overcome or eliminate the problems. Development
in areas where the soils suitability is not taken into account may result
in damage to buildings and streets and may also result in problems with err
wastewater collection and disposal systems. In general, soil association
analysis is useful as one consideration in determining future land uses.
WETLANDS AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS
w
The majority of the wetlands in the City of Okeechobee exist along
Taylor Creek. The full value of wetlands is just beginning to be realized.
Wetlands serve as wildlife and fish habitats; play an important role in
water quality and storage of groundwater; act as natural fire breaks;
help to retain surface water and stabilize runoff; and can be utilized as
buffer and recreation areas. Because of their many functions, action
should be taken to ensure wetlands protection. 10
- 63 - go
64
! 1 1 1 ! 1 1 1 1 t ! i 1 1 1 t I ! 1
TABLE 1.
SOIL CHARACTERISTICS, OKEECHOBEE URBAN AREA
Map
SubjecttoDrainage
Limitations
Dwellings
Light
Local Roads
Recreation
Symbol
Soil Association
Industry
and Streets
2
Myakka-Basinger
No
Poor
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
3
Immokalee-Pompano
No
Poor -Moderate
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
4
Parkwood-Bradenton-
Wabasso
No
Poor -Moderate
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
5
Placid -Pamlico -
Delray
Yes
Very Poor
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
6
Pompano -Charlotte -
Delray
Yes
Poor
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
7
Manatee-Delray-
Okeelanta
Yes
Very Poor
Severe
Severe
Severe
Severe
10
Okeelanta-Delray-
Pompano
Yes
Very Poor
Very Severe
Very Severe
Very Severe
Very Severe
Wetlands and surrounding areas are subject to flooding. Floods are
a natural and recurring phenomena. They are not necessarily destructive
but serve to maintain an ecological balance. Floods become a problem
when man competes with water bodies for the use of floodplains. rr
For the purpose of the Federal Flood Hazard Insurance Program, flood
prone areas are defined as being within the area expected to flood on the as
average of once every 100 years. The only flood prone maps which exist
for the City of Okeechobee were developed by the U.S. Geological Survey.
(See Figure 2.) Unfortunately, these maps were based upon conditions prior
to the existence of the L -63(N) canal which diverts a good portion of the
flow from Taylor Creek. The City of Okeechobee was placed in the regular
status of the Federal Flood Hazard Insurance Program in August, 1977,
without a flood prone map. This was done by an agreement between the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Flood Insurance Administration, and
the City of Okeechobee. The agreement was that with the introduction of
the L-63 canal, very little of the city would be in a flood prone area.
Because such a large portion of the city was previously classified on the
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) map as being flood prone in order to ensure
the safety and property of its residents, the City should take steps to
determine that this is no longer the case.'
Even though the determination has been made that no portion of the
city is flood prone, the City of Okeechobee should continue to participate r
in the Federal Flood Hazard Insurance Program. The reason for this being
that floods greater than the baseflood (100 year flood) do occur. By
continuing to participate in the program, the City makes available to go
its residents, on a voluntary basis, additional amounts of insurance coverage
at generally lower rates than would normally be available.
The City of Okeechobee should conduct a study to accurately delineate so
the flood prone areas within the city limits. Incompatible structural
development should be prohibited within the 25 -year floodplain. This is
particularly applicable to Taylor Creek. Even though Taylor Creek and r
its adjacent lands have been extensively altered, uncontrolled development
adjacent to the Creek could result in continued degradation of water
quality, loss of property due to flooding, and the loss of water storage
capacity of the floodplain. Compatible development within the 25 -year
floodplain includes recreational uses such as picnic grounds, boat
launching ramps, parks, and nature trails.
rw
WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY
ft
Surface waters in the vicinity of the City of Okeechobee consist
primarily of Taylor Creek, which runs through the city, and Lake Okeechobee
which lies to the south of the city. Taylor Creek has been classified by so
the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation as Class III waters
being intended for recreational uses and for the maintenance of a balanced
fish and wildlife population. According to the Final Report on the Special
Project to Prevent Eutrophication of Lake Okeechobee, 1976, the water as
quality of Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough, which enters Lake Okeechobee
on its northeastern shore, is highly degraded. The report further states
that although some of the degradation may be attributed to both point and M
- 66 - ft
67
•.■ nonpoint source pollution from the City of Okeechobee, the major source of
nutrients are derived from the dairies and improved pastures. An estima-
ted 75 to 80 percent of the nutrients entering Lake Okeechobee via Nubbin
r. Slough originate in the upper portions of the Taylor Creek watershed which
have at least seven large dairies. The Taylor Creek -Nubbin Slough watershed
is the largest single source of phosphorus to Lake Okeechobee. Phosphorus
is a nutrient which induces algal growth and contributes to poor water
quality. Due to the city's dependence upon Lake Okeechobee for potable
water and recreation, the City of Okeechobee should support studies and
efforts to improve the water quality of Lake Okeechobee and its drainage
�.. basin.
The quantity of groundwater from deep wells in the Floridan Aquifer
�. may be considered unlimited but restricted in uses due to high mineraliza-
tion. The quantity of water from shallow wells is generally plentiful
during the wet season but limited during periods of low groundwater table.
The quantity of water in Taylor Creek varies considerably with groundwater
seepage and during extremely dry periods, may show evidence of zero flow.
At an elevation of 15 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL), the storage capacity of
Lake Okeechobee is approximately four million acre-feet of water.
rr
AIR QUALITY
rr
Data is not available for air quality in the City of Okeechobee area.
Due to the rural nature of the County and the relatively small size of
the city, it is assumed that air quality degradation is not and will not be
a problem in the future. Automobiles and farm equipment produce small amounts
of pollutants, but these are neither concentrated nor excessive enough to
cause any problems. There are no major transportation networks routing
.. outside traffic through the city. Air quality in and around the City of
Okeechobee does not appear to be adversely affected by man's activities.
FLORA AND FAUNA
Shrubs and trees are usually viewed subjectively as objects used to
as enhance a building, beautify a site, or improve the general aesthetic
qualities of an area. Vegetation has other functions in addition to
beautification.
so
Wildlife Habitat - Animal communities tend to vary according to the type
of plant community present. Wildlife in the City of Okeechobee is restricted
�. to aquatic species (Taylor Creek) and those animals which are only minimally
disturbed by man's presence (squirrels, birds, armadillos, etc.). Removal
or additional alteration of remaining plant communities would further reduce
wildlife populations.
rir
Climate Control - Large shrubs and trees can effectively alter adverse
microclimates, making the urban environment more pleasant and livable for
�+ man. Besides shading and cooling, vegetation may additionally serve to
control the direction and velocity of the wind, to reduce evaporation from
the soil (and therefore reduce humidity), and to reflect precipitation.
Engineering Uses - Vegetation may be consciously or unconsciously used to
solve engineering problems. In addition to beautification, vegetation can
�, -68-
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be used to solve problems of noise, glare, and barriers. Other uses include W
the control of soil erosion, removal of air pollutants, and the control
and direction of pedestrian circulation.
Rare and Endangered Species
In Okeechobee County, several plant and animal species which are w
threatened with extinction have been observed. In addition, suitable
habitats exist for other rare and endangered species. (See Table 2.)
There is a possibility that some of these species may be found in or near
the City of Okeechobee. These rare and endangered species are divided No
into status categories which were established by the Florida Committee on
Rare and Endangered Plants and Animals. Categories used in this inventory
as defined by the Florida Committee are:
Endangered - Plants or animals in imminent danger of extinction if the
deletereous factors affecting them continue to operate. These are forms r„
whose habitat has been so drastically reduced or degraded that immediate
action is required to prevent their loss.
Threatened•- Forms believed to become endangered in the near future if M
the casual factors now at work continue to operate. Included in this
category are taxa in which most or all populations are decreasing because
of over -exploitation or environmental disturbance; taxa whose populations
have been heavily depleted by adverse factors and, while not actually
endangered, are still in critical condition; and taxa which may still be
relatively abundant but are under threat from serious adverse factors
throughout their range.
Rare - Species, subspecies, or unique local populations which, though not
presently endangered or threatened as defined above are
p y g potentially at
risk because they are only found within a restricted geographic region
or habitat or are thinly scattered over a more extensive range. They may
be insular or otherwise isolated forms or relict forms with wider rrr
distribution.
Species of Special Concern - Forms that do not clearly fit into any of
the foregoing categories yet which warrant special attention. Included
are forms that, although presently relatively abundant, are particularly
vulnerable to certain types of exploitation or environmental modifications
and have experienced long term population decline and forms whose status
in Florida may have significant impact on endangered or threatened
species elsewhere.
If any of the species identified in Table 2 are found within the
City of Okeechobee, steps should be taken to ensure their survival.
77
HISTORIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
The State of Florida Division of Archives History, and Records
Management has identified ten historical and archeological sites in
Okeechobee County. (See Table 3.) Of these ten sites, only one, the Old
School House (80b9) was located in the city limits. Previously located
at 410 South Parrot Avenue, the Old School House has been moved to outside
- 69 - ,t
TABLE 2. STATUS OF ENDANGERED (E), THREATENED (T), RARE (R),
AND SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN (S) WHOSE
RANGES INCLUDE OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Taxonomic
Species
Latin Name
Classification
Habitat
Group
(Common Name)
Reptiles
American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
S
Rivers, swamps, lakes,
bayous, and marshes
Eastern Indigo Snake
Drymarchon corais couperi
S
Sand pine scrub, pine
turkey oak
Birds
i
Ivory -billed Woodpecker
CampephiZus principaZis
E
Lowland, hardwood forest
C)
Osprey
Pandion haZiaetus
T
Forests near lakes, swamps
i
or rivers
Southeastern American Kestral
Falco sparverius paulus
T
Open pine forests
Audubon's Caracara
Caracara cheriway auduboni
T
Dry prairies
Florida Sandhill Crane
Gros canadensis protenis
T
Wet or dry prairies,
shallow marshes
White-tailed Kite
Vanus caeruZeus majuscuZus
R
Open country, marsh
Short -tailed Hawk
Buteo brachyurus fuliginosus
R
Cypress stands, hardwood
or pine near wetlands
Little Blue Heron
Florida caeruZea
S
Shallow freshwater
TABLE 2. (Continued)
Taxonomic
Species
Latin Name
Classification
Habitat
Group
(Common Name)
Great Egret
Casmerodius albus
S
Streambanks, ponds,
freshwater marshes
Louisiana Heron
Hydranassa tricotor
S
Freshwater wetlands
Snowy Egret
Egretta Chula
S
Freshwater wetlands
Limpkin
Aramus guarauna
S
Slow moving freshwater,
i
lakeshores
v
r�
i
Burrowing Owl
Athena cunicularia floridana
S
High sandy ground with
little growth
Southern Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus auduboni
S
Forested areas
Mammals
Sherman's Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger shermani
T
Longleaf pine, turkey oak
Big Brown Bat
Epesicus fuscus
R
Buildings
Southern Big -eared Bat
Plecotus rafinesquil
R
Heavily forested regions
Florida Weasel
Mustela frenata penninsulae
R
None preferred
Florida Round -tailed Muskrat
Neofiber alleni
S
Shallow emergent marshes
Plants
Climbing Day Flower
Commelina gigas
T
Open swamps
I i 1 [ I I 1 E E ! f f ! 1 ! t i 1 i
I
TABLE 3.
HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES
SELECTED DATA INDEX
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Site
Site
Type of
Location
Area of
Number
Name
Site
Significance
80b1
(No name)
Unknown
T37S,
R36E,
S36
80b2
Taylor Creek
Burial Mound -Midden
T37S,
R35E,
S27
80b3
(No name)
Unknown
T36S,
R36E
80b4
Kissimmee River
Unknown
T38S,
R35E
80b5
Fort Bassinger
Sand Mound
T36S,
R33E
80b6
Fort Bassinger 2
Mound
80b7
Upper Bassinger Landing
Mound
80b8
Meekins
Mound
T37S,
R34E,
S19
80b9
Old School House
Building
U.S.
98 North
Historic
Okeechobee
County
80b10*
Okeechobee Battlefield
Battlefield
T37S,
R35E,
S36
Archeology
Historic
*Indicates those sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Source: National Register of Historic Places and the Florida Master Site File, 1977.
the city limits on 98 Borth. Four of the other sites (80b8, 80b4, 8Ob2,
and 80b10) are in close proximity to the City. Since no systematic survey
for cultural resources has ever been performed in Okeechobee County, the
relatively low number of sites is not surprising. There are undoubtedly
other sites that exist but are, as yet, unreported.
In the case of specific development projects, surveys of planned
development areas should be conducted to determine potential development
impacts on presently unrecorded historic sites. Historical and archeolog-
ical sites represent cultural resources which require specialized treatment.
Assistance is available to local governments through the State Division
of Archives, History, and Records Management, which is responsible for
the Florida Master Site File. The Division serves to help local govern-
ments in the identification of historical resources, the formulation of
appropriate and useful preservation solutions, and the conducting of
individual projects.
Archeological and historic sites in the
be preserved for future study and care should
sites from being damaged by land development
-73-
City of Okeechobee should
be taken to protect these
activities.
96
v
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C
w, Soils
Goal:
0
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES
Soils information and conservation practices should be used for
all new development.
Objective:
Encourage land use decisions be made based upon consideration of soil
.■ limitations, capabilities, and potentials.
r7
Policies:
During site plan review:
• require onsite erosion and sedimentation control practices on all
land alteration projects;
• encourage the seasonal timing of land alterations for development
�. to avoid erosion and runoff problems associated with rains and
high winds;
• encourage the planning of developments in accordance with natural
topographic features to avoid extreme slope and site modification; and
encourage developers to discuss erosion and other soil conserva-
tion problems with district soil conservationists before starting
a site development plan.
�. Wetlands and Flood Prone Areas
Goal:
Recognize wetlands and flood prone areas as a vital natural resource
and provide for their protection.
i" Objective:
Enable wetlands and flood prone areas to be reasonably utilized by
.s individuals for purposes which will not adversely affect the values
and functions of these resources.
Policies:
t.
Continue to participate in the Federal Flood Hazard Insurance Program.
Conduct a study to accurately delineate flood prone areas within the
city limits.
oft
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77
E7
During site plan review:
• prohibit incompatible structural development in the 25 year M
floodplain; and
• encourage development to incorporate the natural features of the
environment into its design.
Water: Quality and Quantity
WN
Goal:
Recognize good water quality and sufficient quantity as being
beneficial to all residents of the City.
Objective:
Work towards improving the quality of the City of Okeechobee's water
resources where they do not meet the water quality standards for
their -intended use.
Policies:
rrr
Encourage and promote the reuse of water in agriculture and urban
process in an effort to conserve and maintain the quality of the
City's water.
Work with Regional, State, and Federal agencies in projects concerned
with improving the water quality of Lake Okeechobee and its drainage
basin.
Air Quality
Goal:
Seek to protect and enhance the quality of the City's air resources
so as to promote the public health, welfare, and productive capability
of the area.
M
Objective: r
Coordinate between all levels of government in the execution of air
pollution prevention and control programs. rn
Policy:
Duringsite lar review, require that
p q proposed new developments ensure
that all ambient air quality standards will be met.
M
No
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4W Flora and Fauna
Goal:
..r
Protect and enhance the diversity and habitat of both endangered and
nonendangered species in the City of Okeechobee.
Objective:
Encourage all future developments to provide for adequate protection
.. through preservation areas of native wildlife on their property.
Policies:
During site plan review:
limit the clearing of natural vegetation;
• encourage the use of native species of plants in the landscaping
of future developments;
encourage homeowners and businesses to utilize vegetation for
functional as well as beautification purposes; and
require the utilization of vegetation to the greatest extent
possible to control environmental problems such as erosion and
excessive stormwater runoff.
If endangered species are known to exist, the developer must address
the issue prior to the issuance of building or development permits.
Historic and Archeological Sites
Goal:
Encourage the protection and restoration of archeological resources
of the City.
am
Objective:
AW Evaluate existing and potential sites and establish a program to
restore and protect significant sites.
Polic
An
Seek State and/or Federal funds to restore and maintain historically
significant sites.
am
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
.r
Page
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 79
LIST OF FIGURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 79
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 80
OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . .
. . . . . 80
Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 80
Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 80
EXISTING TRANSPORTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 83
Rail and Motor Freight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 83
Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 83
Mass Transit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 83
Roadways . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 83
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION PLANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 85
,..
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 86
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LIST OF TABLES
w
Table Page
.. 1 Vehicle Tags Sold In Okeechobee County, FY 1971-72 to
FY 1978-79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
2 Major Road Network, City of Okeechobee . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
3 Florida Department of Transportation's Five Year Improvement
Plan; Selected Projects for Okeechobee County. . . . . . . . . 85
ar
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
1 Major Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
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INTRODUCTION
Transportation planning is essential to ensure the efficient move-
ment of goods and people. The quality and availability of transportation
facilities is a major contributing factor to the growth of industry and
the development of the community. To assure the most effective system of
• movement, it is necessary to study and assess all areas of the transporta-
tion network to best provide for the needs of present and future populations.
The early transportation system in Okeechobee County was geared
towards a rural society devoted primarily to farming. The system was
very limited with the only access into the City of Okeechobee being from
the north (Fort Drum), the northeast (Fort Pierce), and a minor roadway
through neighboring communities. Today, the City of Okeechobee is the
focal point of the highway system in Okeechobee County.
,M
OVERVIEW
IM Population
Population factors significantly affect the need for transportation
facilities. There is an obvious correlation between population figures
and the number of cars in use. Table 1 highlights the ratio between
the number of vehicle tags sold in proportion to the population. Notice,
also, the trend toward a more mobile society. From the 1971-1972 fiscal
�. year to the 1976-1977 fiscal year, the average number of vehicles per
person increased from less than 1 to almost 1.5. This trend tapered off
following 1976-1977 as a result of the increasing price of gasoline, the
cost of maintenance, and an increased awareness of energy conservation
and environmental protection..
It is important to remember two facts when analyzing the data in
"r Table 1. First, because of the agricultural nature of life in Okeechobee
County, many of the vehicles are used for farm related purposes (i.e.,
tractors, trucks, etc.). In FY 1978-1979, for example, only 48.6 percent
... of the vehicle tags sold were for passenger cars, motorcycles, and buses.
Second, the vehicles per person ratio does not take into account the fact
that in 1979, 5,720 persons in Okeechobee County were under the age of
14, thus unable to drive. Excluding these persons from the population
count (19,881 - 5,720 = 14,161), we see that a more accurate vehicle per
person estimate is 1.4 for that fiscal year. For fiscal year 1976-1977,
the corresponding figure is 1.9.
Land Use
4M Currently, approximately 420 acres in the City of Okeechobee are
devoted to roadways and street facilities as are about 3,720 acres in
Okeechobee County; but more importantly, transportation systems are
4M influenced by the surrounding land use. In the City of Okeechobee, the
major commercial districts lie on two arterials. Parrot Avenue (U.S. 441;
U.S. 98) runs in a north -south direction from Yeehaw Junction (Osceola
County, Florida Turnpike) to Panokee. Park Street (State Road 70) runs
eastward from Arcadia (DeSoto County) through the City of Okeechobee
to Fort Pierce. Figure 1 depicts the major roads in the city.
-80-
so
oft
TABLE 1.
VEHICLE TAGS SOLD IN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY W
FY 1971-72 TO FY 1978-79
Fiscal
Year
Number of
Tags Sold
County
Population
Average Number of
Vehicles Per Person
71-72
10,560
13,106
.8
72-73
11,975
14,712
.8
73-74
13,743
16,284
.8
74-75
15,607
16,950
.9
75-76
17,068
17,883
1.0
76-77
24,907
18,135
1.4
77-78
18,448
18,759
1.0
78-79
19,654
19,881
1.0
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1973-1980.
- 81 -
M
1-1
E—
F-
E-7
E7
r
m- - - - - - -
82
Ft Pierce -
FRUM 1
MAJOR ROADS
�i ^OR T H
THE CITY OF
OKEEC HOBE E
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY., FLORIDA
AND VICINITY
PREPARED BY THE
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGIONAL
. PLANNING COUNCIL
o .?5 0 7 1.0
APPROXIMATE SCALE IN MILES
MARCH 1981
0
E71
EXISTING TRANSPORTATION
The following is a brief discussion of existing transportation
facilities in the City of Okeechobee and Okeechobee County including
rail and motor freight, air, mass transit facilities, and roadways.
Rail and Motor Freight
At the present time, there is no railroad passenger service located
in Okeechobee. The nearest passenger service is located in Sebring,
., Highlands County, 48 miles northwest of the City of Okeechobee.
The Seaboard Coastline Railroad currently provides freight service
to the city, running from Jacksonville to Miami, transversing the northern
.. quarter of the city in an east -west direction. The primary freight
delivered to the area is cattle feed.
M0 Air
The Okeechobee Airport is a former World War II facility located
directly outside the city limits in the northwest portion of the Okeechobee
Urban Area. The 660 acre airport has a 4,000 foot and 5,000 foot runway,
each served by separate taxiways. Privately owned hangars exist at the
airport,and there have been negotiations to establish a commercial air
service.
Mass Transit
0
There is currently no mass transit service in Okeechobee County.
However, Greyhound and Trailways provide bus service from the City of
,,,,,, Okeechobee to points outside the County, and local taxi service is available.
Roadways
Streets and highways are grouped into categories according to the
type of service they are intended to provide. For the purposes of this
analysis, the definitions used by the U.S. Department of Transportation
... Highway Functional Classification Manual are used.
Arterials - Arterial roads are designed to accommodate major traffic
dw flows between cities and/or states. They are designed to handle relatively
high speeds. The principal arterial system includes both the interstate
and intrastate arteries and provides an integrated network without stub
connections. The minor arterial system provides service to corridors with
'~ greater travel density and trip lengths than collector and local road
systems. It links cities and provides inter -county service. The
arterial roads in the City of Okeechobee are of this latter classification.
AM
Collectors - Collector roads serve intra -county rather than statewide
needs, and the travel distances are generally shorter than the arterial
dw type. Major collectors provide service to a county seat, larger town, or
other traffic generators (schools, shopping centers). Minor collector
roads collect traffic from local roads, link together developed cities
within a reasonable distance, and link important traffic generators with
am their native rural hinterland.
- 83 -
TABLE 2.
MAJOR ROAD NETWORK
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
Arterial
Direction
Immediate
Connecting
Points
Remote
Connecting
Points
U.S. 441
North-South
Yeehaw Junction
Orlando
(Osceola County)
(Orange County)
Belle Glade
Ft. Lauderdale
(Palm Beach County)
(Broward County)
Martin County
U.S. 98
Northwest -South
Sebring
Lakeland
(Highlands County)
(Polk County)
Belle Glade
West Palm Beach
(Palm Beach County)
(Palm Beach County)
Hernando County
Martin County
S.R. 70
West -East
Arcadia
Manatee County
(DeSoto County)
Highlands County
Ft. Pierce
(St. Lucie County)
-84-
No
Iw
E7
go
IN
ft
M
W
no
M
no
go
L
77
Im
.. Local Road System - The local road network provides access to adjacent
land and provides service to travel over relatively short distances.
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION PLANS
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has devised a five-
year construction plan (for fiscal years 1980-81 through 1984-85) for
each county in Florida. Table 3 provides a summary of selected projects
from the FDOT's plan for Okeechobee County, primarily those directly
.. related to the City of Okeechobee's transportation network. These data
are indicative of the Okeechobee area's strides toward accommodating
present and future populations of the city and county. There are, at this
time, no proposals for the construction of new roadways in the Okeechobee
area.
No
.m
om
.r
TABLE 3. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION'S
FIVE YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN; SELECTED PROJECTS
FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Roadway
Project
Description
Length
Type of Work
Fiscal Year
Planned
U.S. 441
From Okeechobee
9.0 Miles
Resurfacing and
80-81 to
S.R. 15
County line
repaving (4.4
81-82
(south) through
miles); two lane
the City of
addition and
Okeechobee to
division (4.6
Cemetary Road
miles) including
(outside city
city stretch
limits)
S.R. 70
Over Taylor
.4 Miles
Bridge structure
81-82
Creek (city)
S.R. 70
From Hamrick Road
1.3 Miles
Two lane addition
80-81 to
(Douglas Park) to
and division
81-82
S.R. 710 (70
offshoot)
S.R. 78
From Glades
2.9 Miles
Resurfacing and
84-85
County (south)
repaving
to Eagle Bay
(south of city)
S.R. 700
From Highlands
5.0 Miles
Resurfacing and
81-82 and
County (west)
repaving
83-84
for 5 miles
Source: Florida Department of Transportation.
-85-
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES
711
F7
The primary purpose of the Traffic Circulation Element is to plan for
the efficient, safe, convenient, and cost-effective movement ofgoods and
people. The City of Okeechobee must formulate goals and implement the
policies that will successfully satisfy this primary objective.
rr
Goal:
An energy efficient, safe, and comprehensive system of transportation r
facilities to move goods and people.
Objectives:
M
Monitor traffic flow conditions to, within, and from the city to
ensure the safe and efficient movement of vehicular and pedestrian
traffic. M
Encourage coordination between the City and the County in an effort
to develop an integrated system of transportation facilities. r
Provide for the successful traffic circulation of future populations.
Investigate providing facilities for bicycles transportation and
other modes of nonautomotive traffic.
Support State and Federal legislation to conserve energy while IN
preserving the quality of life enjoyed by the people.
Policies:
as
Investigate the feasibility of adopting traffic strategies that
promote energy conservation.
Land use and zoning regulations should be used as tools,in promoting
energy conservation and restricting incompatible land uses around so
airports, railways, and major roads.
Transportation programs and policies will be in conformance with
those of other governmental entities where feasible. •�
Effective utilization of existing transportation facilities.
ar
Investigate the possibility of establishing a mass transportation
network, based on a mini -bus or "dial -a -bus" system.
so
Ingress and egress for traffic intensive activities or develop-
ments should be carefully planned and located to assure local law
enforcement agencies efficient control of traffic, and to prevent
traffic congestion. f"
-86-
AU
TABLE OF CONTENTS
•■
Page
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 89
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 90
EXISTING FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 90
State Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 93
County Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 93
.r City Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 93
School Board Facilities . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 93
Privately Owned Facilities . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 93
FUTURE NEEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 94
Future Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 94
SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 99
..r GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 100
r.]
LIST OF TABLES
E
Table Page
1 Existing Okeechobee Urban Area Recreational Facilities 91
2 Demands and Needs for Recreational Facilities Central
Florida Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
3 Site Guidelines for Community Outdoor Recreation
.. Resources and Facilities . . . . . • . • • • . • • . • • 96
4 Existing and Projected Population and Gross Park
Acreage Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
am
r7
INTRODUCTION
Florida, because of its geographic location, possesses a unique
climate offering its residents and tourists suitable weather for outdoor
recreation activities year round. For this reason, Florida is attracting
more and more tourists each year. Subsequently, the increase in tourism
coupled with Florida's rapidly increasing population has put a great
demand on existing recreation facilities and a greater demand on the need
for new facilities to be built.
The provision and care of a diversified recreation system is as
essential to a well-balanced community as is any other element of this
r. Plan. The expansion of the City of Okeechobee's recreation facilities
is imminent.
EXISTING FACILITIES
Many of the County's outdoor recreation areas and community centers
am are concentrated within the City of Okeechobee area. This makes a
great deal of sense when one considers that the city is, by far, the most
densely populated area in the county.
The tourist industry is a significant contributor to the City's
economy. The majority of tourist activity centers on fishing and other
water related sports with less emphasis on camping. Lake Okeechobee is
the main attraction for recreation in the Okeechobee urban area. Lake
Okeechobee has several public access points located at Henry Creek, Wayside
Park, and Okee-Tantie Campground. Public boat ramps are also located
�•• on Taylor Creek.
It is obvious that Lake Okeechobee is the main attraction, not only
to tourists but also to year-round residents. Therefore, emphasis should be
placed on water -related activities such as swimming, fishing, boating,
picnicking, camping, and water skiing. Facilities should be provided
for these activities within the existing and future park system plans.
The Okeechobee Rodeo is an annual event which attracts many visitors
to the area. The rodeo takes place just north of the city limits.
Due to the County's sparse population, with the exception of the
Okeechobee urban area, setting up a system of neighborhood parks
throughout the County is economically impractical. The County has been
able to meet the demand for recreation facilities by providing adequate
playgrounds and playfields. Again, the City of Okeechobee is the center
for most of these school -related playgrounds and fields.
Some of the facilities that the City and its surrounding area are
also equipped with are a public swimming pool and bathhouse, ten tennis
courts (8 unlighted, 2 lighted), a basketball court, a Little League
complex, two softball fields, a nine -hole golf course, and a teenager
community center. A historic park site is also located directly west
of the Okeechobee County Airport. Table 1 shows existing recreation
facilities.
TABLE 1.
EXISTING OKEECHOBEE URBAN AREA RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I
�
10
N
W
Loca
Name of
Approx.
v
,-'4
�+r-4
-H 0
H
.0o
�
r-40
q
o
m
to
0
4
o
bo
�$4
tion
Facility _
creage
.� aNi
vs
-_ b
b
M 41
ami 4j
`o
.o
D
,o
b+
bo
� `J
w a.i
.r+
,-t
�.-�
N
t�.�
�
�
G. 4�
.sG $4
-4
0 N
.x P
4J
W
�+
w H
.0
u
v
M
.0
u
0.
8
b
V .0
M
o
.�
U W
vi
�
0 0
to �
W 0
w
v1
M
cd
0 0
o
of
-
M
W
cd
+�
14
o
(d
Cd
•ra cd
�d
PQ ow
3
V)
0 0
P as
0
U as
W o
H U
oo U
0
W
I Pq
r-1
P4
.0
I v) U
cnW
I as
v
d
S-1
Okeechobee High School
80
4
2
X
X
X
X
X
X
S-2
Okeechobee Junior High School
20
4
4
X
2
X
X
X
S-3
Okeechobee Elementary School
16
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
S-4
South Elementary School
20
X
X
S-5
Primary School
10
X
X
X
Co -1
keechobee Recreational Park
5
2
2
X
X
Co-2
County Softball Fields
5
2
X
Co-
ouglas Park
2.5
X
X
X
X
Co -4
keechobee Swimming Pool
1.5
X
X
Co -5
keechobee Civic Center
8
X
3
3
X
Co -6
een Town
.5
X
X
X
Co -7
keechobee Rodeo
4
X
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I
TABLE A. (Continued)
Source: Comprehensive Plan for the City of Okeechobee. A thesis by Carter Nelson McDowell, University of Florida,
1979.
ou
Loca
Name of
r.
Appox.
C:-
•v
�,
bc
a q
rl
•n
r -I
.
r--1
r�
0
O
W
oo
a)
X
0
0o
tion
Facility
creage
Um
.,A W
rn
rj
rn
b10
-HW
m
"
u W
-W•H
a)
0
.n
W
.n
N
oo
r-4 W
w V
p
•,�
x
•rl
m
a�
o
$4
C
•�+
q r-4
U •D
4j
Na
�y
•r1
.!L H
U rd
rl
I •rl
0 H
a 0
x P
to :J
4J
W
a)
N
D.
0
W P
0 O
.0
N
(
U
td
b
(b
ul
H
X
W
A.
4.4
r -I
IN
-H cd
P
O rd
Pg W
' t
rn
O O
A o4
O O
U pg
a) O
H U
Cd O
Fq U
O
rn
co
Pq
r'4
P4rn
4 O
U
-H
W
'�
Ch
P
=� "
rq
O
M
Cq
cd
U
O
C-1
Flagler Park
7
10
X
F-1
ake Okeechobee Wayside
ark/Beach
30
12
2
X
810
X
F-2
kee-tantie Recreation Area
180
X
4
X
X
X
X
X
F-3
Jpthegrove Beach
3
X
X
X
B-1
raylor Creek Boat Ramp
2
X
B-2
gubbin Slough
2
X
B-3
Jenry Creek Lock
1
X
B-4
Boat Ramp #35
1
2
P-1
3keechobee Golf and
ountry Club
70
X
2
X
X
P-2
31d School House
2
P-3
Crystal Lakes RV Resort
40
X
2
4
9
4
X
X
Source: Comprehensive Plan for the City of Okeechobee. A thesis by Carter Nelson McDowell, University of Florida,
1979.
77
The following sections divide the facilities according to ownership rr
criteria.
State Facilities
The largest State facility, the Okee-tantie Recreation area, is a
130 acre park located at the mouth of the Kissimmee River. The park offers
boat ramps and fishing and camping facilities as well as playgrounds and
picnic areas. The Wayside Park located just south of the City is the
second largest State facility. Located on the lakefront, this park offers
a big fishing pier, boat ramps, and swimming and picnicking areas. irs
These two parks are the only ones actually owned by the State. The
state does also maintain several boat access sites along the shores of go
Lake Okeechobee.
County Facilities
--7
The Okeechobee Recreation Park, County softball fields, the swimming
pool, the Okeechobee Civic Center, Teen Town, and Douglas Park all fall
under the j.urisdiction of the County. These areas offer a multitude of r
recreation facilities to its visitors.
Two major recreational activities which are also supported by the County r
are the Okeechobee Rodeo and the Speckled Perch Festival.
City Facilities
M
The City owns and maintains two facilities: Flagler Park, located in
the center of town, and Taylor Creek Boat Ramp.
School Board Facilities
There are currently a total of five schools in the Okeechobee Urban
Area. The Okeechobee Senior High School just north of the city offers an
athletic field, stadium, four tennis courts, a gym, a baseball diamond,
and a track.
The Junior High School located near the County Airport also offers
four tennis courts, two softball fields, a gym, and several picnic tables.
M
The Okeechobee Elementary School has several basketball courts, a
gym, playground, and baseball and softball diamonds.
irr
South Elementary School and the Okeechobee Primary School, both
located within the Okeechobee urban area, offer playground facilities on
their grounds.
r
Privately Owned Facilities
The largest privately owned facility in the Okeechobee urban area is rrs
the Okeechobee Golf and Country Club. The Country Club combined with
the Crystal Lakes RV Resort are the only two golf courses available to
the public. Other private facilities include fishing camps and marinas Mb
as well as recreation vehicle campgrounds.
- 93 - M
am
r—
FUTURE NEEDS
Table 2 indicates the demand and needs for recreation facilities for
.. the Central Florida region. Even though the City of Okeechobee is just a
small part of this region, the purpose of this table is to show what types
of recreation activities are projected to increase in the future and what
«.� types of facilities will be required to meet these demands.
It is apparent from recent statistics on population growth trends
that the percentage of elderly living in Florida isincreasing at a
substantial rate and is expected to rise in the future. It is imperative
that the needs of these elderly, with regards to outdoor recreation, be
met. Facilities such as shuffleboard courts and community centers for the
elderly should be supplied to meet future demands.
As indicated from the table, the demand for each type of recreation
activity will increase as population increases from 1979 to 1990, however,
.. only a few of these increases are significant enough to warrant new
facilities. The projected increases in the number of people participating
in hunting and fishing activities, bicycling, and hiking will require the
addition of new facilities. At present, there is a tremendous need for
bicycle paths in the City of Okeechobee area.
00 Presently, only four of the sixteen existing tennis courts are equipped
with lights. There is a need for either more lighted courts to be built
or for existing courts to be fitted with lights.
.. Table 3 describes site guidelines for outdoor recreation facilities.
Table 4 describes existing acreage and projected acreage need for
outdoor recreation facilities through 1990.
Currently, plans are in existence to expand Okeechobee's Civic
am. Center located south of the airport. The plans call for two additional
buildings, two tennis courts, a picnic area, and up to nine shuffleboard
courts.
Future Facilities
Okee-Hahche Park - Recognizing the need for additional recreation
facilities, the City of Okeechobee has submitted an application to the
Department of Natural Resources for funding offered through the Florida
Recreation Development Assistance Program.
City officials have proposed the development of a 151 acre parcel of
vacant land into a recreational area and small industrial park. The
development is to be located along Taylor Creek bounded by Douglas
�. Park to the east, in the northeast quadrant of the City.
Of the 151 acres, 30 to 50 acres adjacent to the Seaboard Coastline
�" railroad tracks are to be developed into a small industrial area with
the remainder of the land being set aside for a large recreational park.
.,. Phase I includes the 40 to 50 acres directly along Taylor Creek.
This area has been planned to be developed into a picnic and cookout area,
- 94 -
r
TABLE 2.
DEMANDS AND NEEDS FOR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION
rrr
1979, 1985, and 1990
Recreational
Demands
Needs
1979
1985
1990
1979
1985
1990
Facility
Demand
Demand
Demand
Needs by
Needs by
Needs by
by User
by User
by User
Facility
Facility
Facility
Occasion
Occasion
Occasion
Units
Units
Units
Outdoor Pools (number)
2,119
2,360
2,598
0
0
0
Bicycle Trails (miles)
2,719
3,079
3,393
41
48
54
Camping Sites (RV
trailer)
1,538
1,697
1,868
0
0
0
Golf (holes)
547
618
681
0
0
0
Picnic Tables (n -umber)
309
352
388
0
0
0
Tennis Courts (number)
284
329
363
0
0
0
Archeologic/Historic
Sites (number)
408
451
497
0
0
0
Freshwater Swim Beaches
(miles)
758
891
984
6
8
9
Hiking Trails (miles)
783
869
957
12
14
17
Outdoor Shuffleboard
(number)
356
395
434
0
0
0
Nature Trails (miles)
421
471
518
2
2
3
Hunting Land (acres)
1,544
1,779
1,964
88
104
115
Baseball/Softball
Fields (number)
215
248
274
0
0
0
Freshwater Fish (boats)
752
864
951
1,546
1,875
2,081
Football/Soccer/Rugby
(fields)
105
122
134
0
0
1
Outdoor Basketball
(courts)
180
210
231
0
0
0
Boat Ramps Freshwater
(number)
379
442
487
0
0
0
Camping Sites (tents)
271
303
333
0
0
0
Horseback Riding Trails
(miles)
57
70
77
1
2
2
Outdoor Handball/
Racquetball (courts)
76
88
97
0
0
0
Canoeing (number)
320
359
396
N/A
N/A
N/A
so
M
M
r
r
r-.
No
r
N/A - Not Available
Source: Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 1981, State of Florida Department of Naturalr
Resources, Division of Recreation and Parks, December, 1980.
-95-
F0
I I 1 I i 1 1 i 1 i i 1 i i I ! [ 1 i
TABLE 3.
SITE GUIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY OUTDOOR
RECREATION RESOURCES AND FACILITIES
Park
Location
Service Area/
Population
Area
per 1,000
Park Acreage
Facilities
Park
Separate
Facility
Served-
Population
Adjoining
park
School
Tot -lot
Neighborhood area
2 - 3 block
1i acre
Minimum of
Minimum of
Play apparatus areas,
adjacent to ele-
area/up to
14 acre
1 acre
benches and open space,
mentary school
2,500
landscaping, picnic table
when feasible
optional
Neighborhood
Neighborhood area
Z - � mile/
2 acres
Minimum of
Minimum of
Play apparatus areas,
Park
adjacent to ele-
up to 5,000
2 acres
5 acres
recreation buildings,
mentary school
sports fields, paved
when feasible
multi-purpose courts,
senior citizens area,
picnic area, open or free
play area, landscaping
Community
Designed to serve
- 3 miles/
2 acres
Minimum of
Minimum of
All the facilities found in
Park
residents of a
up to 25,000
5 acres
15 acres
a neighborhood park plus
group of neigh-
facilities to service the
borhoods, adjacent
entire family. Pools,
•
to Jr. or Sr. high
softball/baseball fields,
school when
tennis courts, play areas,
feasible
picnic area, passive and
active recreation areas,
and recreation building
TABLE 3. (Continued)
Park
Service Area/
Area
Acreage
Parkrk
Facility
Location
Population
per 1,000
Adjoining
Separate
Facilities
Served
Population
Park
School
Urban -District
In a large urban
30-40 minutes
5 acres
Minimum of
Playground apparatus areas,
Park
area or on its
driving time/
100 acres,
restrooms, hiking and
periphery
one for each
200 acres
riding trails, nature
50,000
or more
center, boating, swimming,
desirable
picnic areas, and sports
areas
Regional Park
On the periphery
30 minutes
20 acres
Minimum of
Camping, nature study,
of an urban area
to 1 hour
250 acres,
bridle paths, picnicking,
driving time/
upward to
and other facilities not
over 100,000
several
requiring intensive
thousand
development
acres
Source: Outdoor Recreation in Florida, 1976, State of Florida, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recreation
and Parks, May, 1976.
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TABLE 4.
EXISTING AND PROJECTED POPULATION AND GROSS
PARK ACREAGE NEEDS
Source: Comprehensive Plan for the City of Okeechobee. A thesis by
Carter Nelson McDowell, University of Florida, 1979.
Existing Acreage Needed
Acres 1978 1980 1985 1990
City of Okeechobee
Population
4,478
4,552
4,962
5,563
Neighborhood Parks
43 8.95
9.10
9.92
11.13
Community Parks
166.5 8.96
9.10
9.92
11.13
Regional Parks
Several 89.56
91.02
99.24
111.26
hundred
acres
Total
107.48
109.22
119.08
133.52
Unincorporated Areas
Population
11,602
13,208
17,518
19,397
Neighborhood Parks
52.5 23.30
26.42
35.04
38.79
Community Parks
166.5 23.20
26.42
35.04
38.79
Regional Parks
Several 232.04
264.16
350.36
387.94
hundred
acres
Total
278.44
317.00
420.44
465.52
Okeechobee Urban Area
Population
16,080
17,760
22,480
24,960
Neighborhood Parks
85.5 32.16
35.53
44.96
49.92
Community Parks
166.5 32.16
35.53
44.96
49.92
Regional Parks
Several 321.60
355.20
339.60
499.20
hundred
acres
Total
385.92
426.24
539.52
599.04
Source: Comprehensive Plan for the City of Okeechobee. A thesis by
Carter Nelson McDowell, University of Florida, 1979.
a tot lot, canoeing and boating facilities, picnic pavillions, restrooms,
and a rustic footbridge. The footbridge will be built over the creek and
will connect a parking lot on the west bank to the park facilities on
the east side of the creek. Also, a hiking and biking trail is proposed
that will eventually encompass the entire park and link with existing +r•
and proposed bike facilities, directed at connecting existing recreation
and school areas.
M
Phase II involves the development of the eastern portion of the park
into several ballfields, racquetball courts, tennis courts, and other
supportive facilities.
r
Phase III would entail the building of a gymnasium, indoor swimming
pool, and a multi-purpose activities center. Final build -out of Phase
III is planned to be completed in approximately seven years.
DOT Bicycle Path Program - The City of Okeechobee, working jointly with
the County and School Board, is in the process of developing and applying rr,
for a Federal Department of Transportation bicycle path grant. For this
program, $210,000 are available to District IV. The City's plan has not
yet been finalized or submitted to DOT, but if the grant is awarded, the r
program will involve developing a bicycle path that will eventually connect
Okee-Hahche Park with other existing recreation facilities and schools.
This program would greatly enhance the recreational activities in the
area, especially for the elderly and lower income groups who can utilize
the bicycle paths as a safe and inexpensive means of transportation as
well as a source of exercize.
SUMMARY
r--7
Recreation is an increasingly important issue and it is the obliga-
tion of the City of Okeechobee to supply the multitude of outdoor activities
to which its citizens are entitled.
In the future, the need for recreation facilities and open space is
going to increase greatly. The City of Okeechobee will do its best to
meet these demands of all age groups regardless of their interests.
The Recreation Advisory Board, composed of City, County, and School
Board officials, should ensure that adequate facilities are provided for to
residents by comprehensively planning, recognizing, and recommending future
recreation needs.
77
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Goal:
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES
To develop and maintain a city-wide recreation system that will
provide year-round facilities not only for city residents but also
for residents of the entire County.
Objective:
Through the encouragement of local government, the City of Okeechobee
will improve and increase its existing facilities within the city
dw limits by utilizing Federal, State, and private funds. The decision
of whether to build new recreation facilities should be based on
present needs and any increase in demand for new facilities within
the next ten year period.
Policies:
The County and City should encourage development of a regional recrea-
tion area on Lake Okeechobee.
Bike paths should be built to encourage recreation and exercise, at
low the same time encouraging energy conservation within the city.
All new developments of more than ten dwelling units should set aside
land for green areas or small neighborhood parks, depending on the
size of the development.
,. All new schools should include neighborhood parks with multi-purpose
courts and other facilities.
All new community centers should include programs and facilities for
the elderly and handicapped.
The City and County should continue work in developing new recreation
A' facilities with major emphasis being placed on Okee-Hahche Park and
the newly proposed city-wide bicycle path.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ar
Page
d LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 102
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 103
EXISTING FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 103
FUTURE FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . .
. . . . . . . . . 103
..
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 106
am
LIST OF TABLES
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Table Page
1 Kilowatt-hour (KWH) Demand, City of Okeechobee,
1980 - 1990. . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
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4.
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AN
INTRODUCTION
In fulfilling the requirements of Section 163.3177, Florida Statutes,
the Utilities Element presented herein shall be consistent with the Florida
Power and Light Company Ten Year Site Plan which was submitted to the
Department of Community Affairs on April 1, 1980. The projections of this
Ten Year Site Plan are therefore submitted by reference and incorporated
into this Comprehensive Plan. Any future growth in the City of Okeechobee
and subsequent demands on electricity should, therefore, be consistent
.. with this Comprehensive Plan and any projections by Florida Power and
Light.
In order for all future demand to be met without a great stress on
the existing and future generating facilities, the maximum amount of
flexibility shall be maintained in locating future generating sites,
transmission line corridors, switching stations, and substations. Sound
planning and good engineering practices will be used to locate these
"sites", "corridors", and "stations".
AM -Florida Power and Light Company's legal obligation to its customers
assures that all customers will be adequately supplied with electricity
regardless of their geographical location now and in the future.
EXISTING FACILITIES
The Florida Power and Light Company's method of distributing power
to its service area is designed like a grid. Due to the fact that no
electricity is transmitted directly from one generating facility to one
aw specific service area, it is impossible for Florida Power and Light to
determine which generating facility supplies the City of Okeechobee with
power. However, it is possible to determine which transmission lines
Am supply the power to Okeechobee.
The City of Okeechobee and the surrounding area is supplied electricity
from the Okeechobee substation by:
1. One 240 kilovolts (KV) transmission line from Martin Plant
switching station to Sherman switching station (Okeechobee County).
2. One 240 KV transmission line from Midway switching station (St.
Lucie County) to Sherman switching station (Okeechobee County).
.■ 3. Two 69 KV circuits from Sherman switching station to Okeechobee
substation (City of Okeechobee).
!�
4. One 69 KV circuit from Arcadia substation to Okeechobee substation
(Okeechobee County).
FUTURE FACILITIES
Using figures of projected population increases for the City of
�. Okeechobee from 1980-1989 and multiplying this figure times the estimated
A. - 103 -
average number of kilowatt-hours (KWH) consumed per person per year, the
projected increase in KWH demand for the next ten years can be calculated. rr
This information is presented in Table 1.
Florida Power and Light has anticipated this growth in demand not
only in Okeechobee but also in its entire service area. Florida Power and
Light is preparing for this increase by proposing and building new generating
facilities throughout its service area. The proposed sites for the next
ten year period are:
• DeSoto site - potential site;
• South Dade site - potential site;
• St. Lucie #2 site - to be completed by 1983; nuclear plant with
a capability of 700 megawatts (MW); and
• Martin #3 and #4 sites - two coal-fired generating units; �
capabilities of 700 MW each; site #3 is planned to be ready for
operation by 1987; site #4 will be ready for operation in 1988.
It is apparent that these sites coupled with the expansion of
existing sites and the regeneration of dormant generating facilities will
more than adequately fulfill the energy requirements of not only the
City of Okeechobe but also the entire Florida Power and Light service .r►
area.
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TABLE 1.
KILOWATT-HOUR (KWH) DEMAND
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
1980 - 1990
Year
Projected
Population
Population
Increase
KWH Demand
Per Person/Year
KWH Demand
Increase
1980
4,240
--
11,250
--
1982
4,550
310
11,336
3,514,160
1985
5,000
450
11,207
5,043,150
1990
5,750
750
11,279*
8,459,250
TOTAL
5,750
1,510
--
17,016,560
*This figure represents KWH per person/year for 1989.
Source: Florida Power and Light Company Ten Year Power Plant Site
Plan, 1980-1989.
- 105 -
Goal:
GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES
M
F^
Promote adequate and efficient electric service to the residents of
the City of Okeechobee now and in the future by encouraging coopera-
tion and coordination with other governmental and private entities
in the delivery of electricity to these customers of Florida Power
and Light.
rir
Obj ective :
Whenever additions to the utility facilities are necessary, the
additions should be made with as little effect on the aesthetic
and environmental quality of the community;as is economically
feasible while staying within the bounds of sound planning and good 06
engineering practices.
Policies:
Encourage cooperative efforts between all those involved in the
production, distribution, and regulation of utilities including
Florida Power and Light Company as well as City, County, Regional,
and State governmental entities.
To maintain that no element of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive
Plan is in conflict with the Ten Year Site Plan of Florida Power
and Light.
Encourage the use of existing road, drainage, and utilize rights-.
of -way whenever environmentally and economically feasible while
staying within the bounds of sound planning and good engineering
practices.
The City of Okeechobee should develop or take part in any existing
or future local government energy conservation program.
irr
Encourage that all new development follow the most stringent
energy efficiency codes and the most recent technology available
to ensure that energy conservation methods are practiced and
followed faithfully whenever feasible.
In the event that buffers are required to lessen the effect of
utility facilities on the aesthetics, the surrounding area will
determine the extent of the buffer.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
AM
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Page
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 109
..,,
PURPOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 109
Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 109
PLAN IDENTIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 110
State of Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 111
Central Florida Regional Planning Council . . . . .
. . 112
Okeechobee County . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 113
EFFECTS OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN . .
. . 113
PROBLEMS AND AREAS OF MUTUAL CONCERN . . . . . . . . . .
. . 114
EXISTING COORDINATION MECHANISMS . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 115
State of Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 115
Central Florida Regional Planning Council . . . . .
. . 116
Okeechobee County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 117
FUTURE CITY - COUNTY RELATIONSHIPS . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 118
GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 119
AM
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as
INTRODUCTION
The key word that should be considered in every planning process
"" is "comprehensive". In order for planning to be comprehensive, all
factors affecting or affected by growth or development must be considered.
Not only should the immediate impacts upon transportation, utilities and
IM other systems be considered, but also great consideration should be given
to the not -so -immediate impacts upon future growth and development to
surrounding regions. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that all plans
proposed by local governmental entities be compatible with other existing
plans.
"Coordination", another important term in the planning process can
be defined as: bringing into proper and relative order or rank; to bring
to common action; harmonizing. The Intergovernmental Coordination Element
of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan therefore is viewed as all
,,. those policies concerning the City's plans with consideration to other
existing plans. This not only involves coordination with current plans
but also as it relates to future plans, problems and needs.
PURPOSE
IM The purpose of the City of Okeechobee Intergovernmental Coordination
Element is to provide principles and guidelines to be used in creating
coordination between the Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan and plans of other
.. adjacent municipalities, special districts., regional agencies and other
related agencies of the State of Florida. Also, the purpose of this element
is to recommend and assure a system of communication and interaction
between the City of Okeechobee.and other governmental entities. This inter-
action will ultimately promote and assist in the plan's overall consistency
among all units of government which are involved. The main purpose of
this element is to promote cooperation in the planning process, both in the
development and implementation stages of these plans.
4M
Process
The procedure utilized in preparing the City of Okeechobee Inter-
governmental Coordination Element consisted of several steps:
.. 1. Plans of other governmental entities were identified. Various
elements of the City of Okeechobee were then reviewed with per-
tinent plans and policies of other units of government.
ME=
2. General effects of the City of Okeechobee plan on other regions
were analyzed.
3. Problem areas and areas of mutual concern were sought out and
identified.
4. Existing coordination mechanisms and intergovernmental relation-
ships which are currently maintained by the City of Okeechobee
were identified, analyzed and evaluated.
- 109 -
5. An overall goal, with certain objectives plus policies for ..
implementing these goals and objectives was established.
rw
PLAN IDENTIFICATION
A number of plans at various levels of government require consider-
ation as to their relationship with plans cited in the City of Okeechobee
Comprehensive Plan. Some of these plans are completed, while most of
these plans of adjacent local governments are still in the process of ■r►
being finalized and adopted. At the time of writing this plan, the status
of adjacent governments was as follows:
EXTENTION DATE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR ADOPTION
Glades County July 1981
Highlands County July 1980
Indian River County July 1981
Martin County July 1981 rrr
Okeechobee County June 1980
Osceola County December 1979
St. Lucie County July 1981
Other various plans and plan elements prepared by other agencies have
been reviewed so as to assure that this plan will be in harmony with them.
The plans and plan elements reviewed are:
rrr
Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Existing and Projected Land Use, 1976-1995
Housing Policy Plan (Preliminary) WN
Florida Department of Administration - Division of State Planning
The Florida State Comprehensive Plan
Land Development Element W&
Recreation/Leisure Element
Florida Department of Administration - Department of Community Affairs rrr
The Florida State Comprehensive Plan
Housing and Community Development Element
air
Florida Department of Administration - Department of Transportation
The Florida State Comprehensive Plan
Transportation Element
ar
Florida Department of Administration - Department of Natural Resources
The Florida State Comprehensive Plan
Recreation - Leisure Element r++�
Florida Department of Administration - Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services
The Florida State Comprehensive Plan
Agriculture Element
- 110 - �,,
Florida Department of Administration - Division of State Planning/ -
University of Florida in cooperation with U.S. Department of Interior -
National Park Service
The South Florida Study
Florida Department of Natural Resources - Division of Recreation
and Parks.
,,. Outdoor Recreation in Florida; 1976
Florida Department of Administration - Division of State Planning
AM Final Report on the Special Project to Prevent
Eutrophication of Lake Okeechobee
Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
Kissimmee River Basin Water Quality Management Plan
Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
.M St. Johns Water Management District
Water Use Plan
AN Florida Department of Environmental Regulation
South Florida Water Management District
Water Use Plan
Okeechobee County - Okeechobee City
201 Facilities Plan
am
Throughout the development of each element of the City of Okeechobee
Comprehensive Plan, it was indeed necessary to consider those elements or
plans of other jurisdictions and other levels of government, whenever
available and applicable. It.was determined that particular attention,
because of direct relationships,.was needed in dealing with the Okeechobee
County Comprehensive Plan Elements and the corresponding elements of the
State of Florida Comprehensive Plan, and plans and programs of the Central
Florida Regional Planning Council. This approach enabled many potential
conflicts between plans to be avoided at the onset of preparing the City
.. of Okeechobee's Comprehensive Plan.
The plans of the aforementioned government entities, the State, the
Region, and the County are discussed here, in relation to the City's plan.
State of Florida
In 1975, the Florida Legislature passed the State Comprehensive Planning
Act. This Act, Chapter 23, Part 1, Florida Statutes, requires that a State
Comprehensive Plan be prepared. The Act is intended to "provide long-range
... guidance of the orderly social, economic, and physical growth of the state."
(Section 23.0114, Florida Statutes). The preparation of the State Plan was
a coordinated effort including information and assistance from local, regional,
state, and federal agencies. In essence, the State Comprehensive Plan should
be a document which is coordinated with the plans of other governments.
ft
The first ten elements of the State Comprehensive Plan were prepared ob
in 1976. These elements were: Agriculture, Economic Development, Educa-
tion, Growth, Health, Housing and Community Development, Land Development,
Recreation/Leisure, Social Services, and Transportation. Since these
elements were completed, six additional elements were added in 1977. These �"
include Employment and Manpower, Human Resources, Utilities, Energy, and
Water. On February 8, 1978, the Governor submitted the State Comprehensive
Plan to the Florida Senate and House of- Representatives. rr
The State Comprehensive Plan is a policy oriented document. As such,
it serves as a guide for the preparation of local and regional plans. It
not only provides a coordinating mechanism for integrating all the various
local plans, it also serves to establish basic State Policy in a number of
functional areas. Many of the issues faced by the City of Okeechobee and
other local governments in the planning programs are addressed on a broad rd`
scale in the State Comprehensive Plan.
During the preparation of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan, �r
the appropriate elements of the State Comprehensive Plan were reviewed.
This process of reviewing the State elements with regard to the City of
Okeechobee's Plan, promoted compatibility, and cooperation from the very
beginning of this process.
Central Florida Regional Planning Council M
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC) is a regional
planning agency established in December, 1973, under Chapter 160, Florida r�
Statutes. The Council, with its headquarters in Bartow, is made up of
the five Central Florida Counties of Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, Polk, and
Okeechobee.
The CFRPC undertakes research and planning projects at the request of
and for the benefit of the counties and municipalities within the Region,
and also contracts with state and federal agencies for certain planning
studies. The Council has been designated as a regional clearinghouse for
requests for federal funds and also has review and recommendation respon-
sibilities under the Development of Regional Impact process (Section 380.06,
Florida Statutes).
The CFRPC has prepared a "Central Florida Regional Comprehensive Plan do
Guide", which contains the agency's land use and housing elements. Both of
these elements were adopted by the Council on March 8, 1978. They received
acceptance and certification by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop-
ment on June 15, 1978.
The CFRPC has also prepared an Areawide Water Quality Management Plan.
"The 208 Plan" is a major multijurisdictional effort designed to improve
water quality.
In preparing the City of Okeechobee's Comprehensive Plan, information
was considered form various CFRPC programs pertinent to the City Plan.
Specifically, the land use and housing elements of the county utilized
- 112 -
err
the Housing Market and Needs Analysis, the Existing and Projected Land
Use, the Programs and Implementation Proposals, the Growth and Land
Development Policies, and the Housing Policies Plan of the Council's
Land Use and Housing Elements to maintain consistency.
The City of Okeechobee is also very active in CFRPC functions.
Dowling Watford is the City's active appointed member to the CFRPC.
.r The County also has two appointed members as well as a governor
appointee.
Okeechobee County
Okeechobee County is required, under the Local Government
an Comprehensive Planning Act of 1975, to prepare and adopt a comprehensive
plan. The County has met their June 1980 deadline and the Comprehensive
Plan has already been completed and adopted.
4W
The Elements of the Okeechobee County Comprehensive Plan that are
incorporated and have been adopted are as follows:
4M
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Land Use Element
Traffic Circulation Element
Sanitary Sewers, Solid Waste, Drainage
Conservation Element
Recreation Element
Housing Element
Utility Element
Intergovernmental Coordination Element
and Potable Water Element
Each of these elements were reviewed and considered in the prep-
aration of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan.
EFFECTS OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan consists of a number of
elements. The various plan elements are as follows:
Land Use Element
Traffic Circulation Element
Sanitary Sewer, Solid Waste, Drainage and Potable Water Element
Recreation and Open Space Element
Housing Element
Conservation Element
Socioeconomic Element
Utility Element
Intergovernmental Coordination Element
40 The elements of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan have an
impact on areas beyond the incorporated limits of the city. Therefore,
it is necessary to identify those governmental entities whose jurisdiction
may be affected by the City's Comprehensive Plan.
Okeechobee County is the governmental unit with which inter-
governmental coordination is most necessary.
�.. - 113 -
In addressing the possible effects of the City of Okeechobee Compre- ab
hensive Plan on other jurisdictions, the entity above merits particular
consideration, although, to a lesser degree, the City of Okeechobee Comp-
rehensive Plan will affect the State of Florida, the Central Florida Region,
and the surrounding counties. However, since the elements of the State of
Florida Comprehensive Plan, the plans and programs of the Central Florida
Regional Planning Council, and the available comprehensive plans of the
contiguous counties were reviewed for policy input in the preparation "
stage of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan, a high degree of con-
sistency was achieved.
1-.
Of all jurisdictions, Okeechobee County is the governmental body
upon which the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan will have the most
significant affect. There are several reasons for this; one being that
the City of Okeechobee is the only incorporated city in the County, com-
prising approximately 20.5% of the entire county's population. For this
reason alone, any plans affecting the City of Okeechobee would ultimately
effect the whole county. The various aspects of planning for the "urban
fringe" area of the city would also affect the surrounding county.
Almost every element of the City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan has
an affect upon the County. One important example is land use. The City
of Okeechobee's Land Use Element is applicable only within the incorporated
limits of the City. It is necessary, however, to ensure compatibility in
land uses and avoid land use conflicts between the city and the unincor-
porated area contiguous to the city limit boundary. In a similar manner,
almost every other element of the Okeechobee County Comprehensive Plan is
related to the city.
The City of Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan will also have some affect
on the Okeechobee County School Board. The element which will have the rr.
most influence on the School Board and the School Board's plan is the Land
Use Element. Since land, use generally determines the amount and intensity
of residential development, the Okeechobee County Land Use Plan provides rw
an indication of future population levels and their geographic distribution.
This requires coordination with the School Board in determining adequate
locations for existing and future facility requirements. Since the County's
population is centered in the City of Okeechobee it is obvious that the
School Board decision to locate schools in areas accessible to the most
concentrated population of school age children would most certainly have a
direct affect on the City of Okeechobee. rrr
PROBLEMS AND AREAS OF MUTUAL CONCERN
There are a number of problems which affect not only the City of
Okeechobee, but the County directly, and even the entire Central Florida
Region. Although most issues of major concern, as well as problem areas,
have been discussed in specific elements of the City of Okeechobee Com-
prehensive Plan, it is necessary to again briefly identify and discuss
these issues with particular emphasis placed upon intergovernmental coord-
ination and problem solving on a multijurisdictional basis.
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One major problem which concerns most of Central Florida and the
City and County of Okeechobee is water quality. It is a problem which
lends itself to collective action and governmental coordination in solving.
Several underlying causes of water quality problems are the issues at
... hand. Urban runoff and agricultural runoff are two issues, while septic
tank leachate is a third. Those issues in turn are related to land use,
open space, conservation, development intensity, traffic circulation,
drainage, and the provision of sanitary sewers, among others.
Land use is by far an area of mutual concern. In order to ensure
compatibility of adjacent jurisdictions, close coordination is required.
This coordination needs to include not only a compatible land use analysis
but also, specifically in the case of the City of Okeechobee, an examina-
tion of the impact of county development on municipal services.
A number of other issues affect several jurisdictions and, therefore,
are issues of mutual concern. Housing is one such issue. The provision of
adequate housing for all residents is a national and regional concern, and
as such, must be addressed by all local jurisdictions. If housing is not
available in one jurisdiction, population increases must be distributed
among other governmental units.
There are also several other issues which by their nature and function
constitute issues of mutual concern. Transportation and traffic circulation
..� must be addressed by each local government in its comprehensive plan, but
'it is extremely important that the local systems function in a coordinated
manner compatible with the entire regional transportation system. Trans-
portation matters, then, are issues of mutual concern for all governmental
jurisdictions. Other issues of general concern facing all governmental
entities include conservation issues, overall land use patterns, and
recreation needs. Although each jurisdiction must prepare a plan relating
these and other concerns to its particular problems and needs, the implica-
tions of setting policy for such things on local basis also extend beyond
jurisdictional boundaries. Therefore, such issues.constitute issues
�• of mutual concern and should be coordinated among all governmental entities.
MW
EXISTING COORDINATION MECHANISMS
The City of Okeechobee, as does every unit of government, maintains
communication with other government entities. The existing coordination
mechanisms consist of both formal and informal relationships. Most of the
existing coordination mechanisms with which the City of Okeechobee is
involved are State, Regional and County.
State of Florida
®. The relationship between the State and the City of Okeechobee is
primarily focused on issues of environmental concern.
The City is responsible for submitting sewer and water quality reports
to the State Department of Environmental Regulation. Monitoring lake
pollutant levels and assisting the city in pollution control are two of
the primary concerns of the Department of Environmental Regulation. The
•�• State 208 Plan serves this area.
- 115 -
The State Department of Transportation also retains direct control r
over state highways. This is very important to the City of Okeechobee
due to its location on Interstate Routes 98 and 441 and State Road 70.
r
The A-95 review procedure is another governing force of the State
that affects the City of Okeechobee.
State parks and recreation areas,'as well as the funding of these
areas, are also of concern to the City government.
In addition, the City is required to conform to State mandates, one �r
being the Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act of 1975.
M
Central Florida Regional Planning Council
The Central Florida Regional Planning Council encourages coordination
in a number of formal and informal ways. There are several committees
charged with the responsibility of coordinating local and regional plans.
The regional housing plan, with the preparation of Housing Assistance .r
Plans and Housing Opportunity Plans, constitutes an effort to provide a
multijurisdictional, areawide perspective on housing problems and the
implementation of housing programs.
The regional land use plan is also a continuing, comprehensive, and
cooperative effort of all member jurisdictions. The coordination of guide-
lines, standards and regulations may lead to more uniform development codes
in the City of Okeechobee among the county. In addition, the objective
of the regional land use plan is to provide data which may be used by local
officials in preparation of the land use element of their comprehensive plans. rrr
While the Central Florida Regional Planning Council does not adopt and
enforce regulations as do cities and counties, the Regional Council does go
have a "review and comment" role in support of OMB Circular A-95 and the
State of Florida's Development of Regional Impact statute.
A-95 is the short name for the process described in the U.S. Office so
of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-95. This circular re-
quires that applications for federal funds through specifically
identified funding programs must have the review and comment of the
state and regional "clearinghouse." The State Clearinghouse function
is performed by the Bureau of Intergovernmental Relations, Department
of Community Affairs. The regional clearinghouse function is performed
by the Central Florida Regional Planning Council for its five county
area.
The function involves reviewing applications for federally insured No
loans and grants for possible duplication with other existing pro-
grams and consistency with plans of different levels of government
(local, regional, state, and federal). The regional agency requests M
comments from affected local governments as a part of its review
process.
ft
- 116 - M
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The function also includes a project review committee consisting of
local officials. The entire purpose of the function is the multi -
jurisdictional coordination of government programs offered by
different levels of government.
Development of Regional Impact (DRI) legislation existing in the
State of Florida obligates the designated regional agency, in this
case the Central Florida Regional Planning Council, to review and
comment on land development and public and private improvement
projects, that because of their character, magnitude or location,
are presumed to be developments that have regional impacts. The
authorization for this activity is the Florida Environmental and
Land Management Act of 1972, Chapter 380, and Chapter 22-F, Part II
of the Florida Administrative Code. The process offers affected
parties, which ordinarily have no voice in the local regulatory
process, an opportunity to comment upon potential impacts possibly
affecting them. Although a great deal of review and comment activity
is associated with the DRI process, the unit of local government
still makes the actual decision.
The administrative vehicle for this multijurisdictional review and
WA comment process to local government is the Central Florida Regional
Planning Council. Final appeals, if necessary, are heard by the
Governor and the Cabinet sitting as the Florida Land and Water
Adjudicatory Commission. Local officials also participate in the
regional DRI review process.
In both cases, A-95 and DRI review and comment processes, local officials
participate in the coordination of projects that have multijurisdictional
implications.
Okeechobee County
The City of Okeechobee's relationship with the County is of primary
.. importance. There is a great need for intergovernmental coordination
between the City and the County with respect to various subject matters.
am Besides being the only city in Okeechobee County, the City of Okeechobee
is located along three of the County's four major transportation routes.
It is apparent from this statistic that any matters dealing with transpor-
tation in the City would be under close scrutiny, not only by the County,
but the whole area. Any traffic circulation improvements along U.S. Routes
98 and 441 and State Road 70 should be and are the result of a combined
effort by the state, county and city governmental entities.
The City is also subject to matters concerning the School Board as it
pertains to problems of busing, and other important issues.
The County's Board of Health also possesses decision-making power over
the City.
Also the use and control of the City's recreation facilities is not
confined to City residents. Coordination between the City's and County's
recreation plans should enrich the local citizens' area -wide opportunities.
It should be noted that this goal must be accomplished without putting too
much burden on any one local facility.
117 -
77
The City is also involved in joint, city -county workshops which
are held several times a year to discuss areas of mutual concern.
Topics of past workshops have included road maintenance and construction.
mr
In the area of recreation, both the city and county are very
active in the Recreation Advisory Board. City and county residents
are chosen to serve on the board, thus .assuring a broad representation.
r
FUTURE CITY - COUNTY RELATIONSHIPS
The City of Okeechobee is presently the only incorporated area
in all of Okeechobee County. For this reason, the two governmental
bodies are looking into the implications of a functional consolidation
of city -county operations. This consolidation would eliminate a
tremendous amount of duplicated effort.
The City is also creating a closer working relationship with the °1
school board. In the future, this tri -governmental unit -- the city,
county and school board -- is expected to work more frequently and
more closely with each other. r
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GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
The following goal, objectives and policies will serve to provide
guidance and direction to the City of Okeechobee in intergovernmental
matters.
Goal:
To establish and effectively operate an efficient system of inter-
governmental coordination and communication. In exchanging infor-
mation, maintaining and improving communication, discussing areas
and problems of mutual concern and finally entering into joint
agreements, it is assumed that all views will be expressed. If
this process is followed faithfully, the ultimate goal of total
coordination within the governmental and decision-making bodies
can be and will be achieved.
,,.
Objectives:
To insure that the goal, objectives and policies of the City of
Okeechobee Comprehensive Plan are compatible with other jurisdictions
.. of the affected areas.
To encourage a working relationship with and between the following
■" governmental jurisdictions and agencies:
Okeechobee City and County Planning and Zoning Commissions
Okeechobee County Board of County.Commissioners
Okeechobee County Board of Health
Okeechobee County School Board
Central Florida Regional Planning Council
State and Federal Regulatory Agencies
South Florida Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District
Policies:
.. Make available proposed plans and policies to other concerned
governmental jurisdictions.
Encourage the development and sharing of sources of technical
data available and useful to all local governments.
Provide a means of reciprocal notification, review and input
regarding proposed zoning changes between Okeechobee County and the
City of Okeechobee about the City of Okeechobee Planning Area.
4M Encourage coordination and participation in the provision of
service between all governmental entities.
Under proper guidance and direction, encourage participation in
.. regional solutions to problems which transcend local boundaries.
Encourage joint planning efforts and joint planning agreements
with other local governments.
119 -
77
Establish formalized communication mechanisms and encourage
coordination among all levels of government regarding planning
and the implementation of plans.
Notify other governmental entities, if possible, when a proposed
development has the potential to affect them.
Encourage the extension and preservation of the formal or informal
coordination mechanisms currently in existence.
Encourage the establishment of interlocal agreements, as set forth
in Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes, to serve as formal coordina-
tion mechanisms.
Maintain and continue to develop the Tri -Governmental Committee
now in existence.
Encourage increased cooperation and communication with the City of
Okeechobee and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council in im-
plementation of the Plan.
.
Encourage coordination with existing state plans.
we
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
..
LIST OF TABLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 123
POPULATION ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 125
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 125
GROWTH TRENDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 125
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 128
Am
Age Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 128
Racial Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 128
Household Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 132
Educational Achievement . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 132
POPULATION PROJECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 132
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 136
INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 136
LABOR FORCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 136
INCOME. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 139
dW
BUSINESS PATTERNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 146
AGRICULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 146
TRADE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 146
MANUFACTURING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 152
mom
- 122 -
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LIST OF TABLES
- 123 -
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Table
Page
1
Population Change, 1960-1980 . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 126
,,.
2
Recent Trends in Populations (1975-1979)
City of
Okeechobee and Okeechobee County . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 126
3
Percent Increase by Decade . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 127
4
Population Change by Age Groups . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 129
..
5
Population, 18 to 64 . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 130
6
Composition by Race and Sex . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 131
7
Non-white Population . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 133
8
Household Size . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 133
9
Educational Attainment of Population 25
and Over, 1970.
134
..
10
Population Projections . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 135
11
Labor Force and Employment Trends . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 137
12
Minority Labor Force, Okeechobee County
. . . . . . . . . .
. 138
13
Unemployment Trends; Okeechobee County,
Region VII,
Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 140
14
Occupations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 141
15
Occupations by Race, Okeechobee County,
1980. . . . . . . .
. 142
MW
16
Sources of Income, 1970 . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 143
17
Per Capita Money Income . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 144
18
1970 Income Levels . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 145
19
Employment by Industrial Division, Okeechobee
County. . . .
. 147
9+r
20
Average adage and Salary Income, 1977 . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 148
..
21
Value of Agricultural Sales, 1977 . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 149
22
Dairy Statistics, Okeechobee County . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. 149
- 123 -
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LIST OF TABLES (Continued)
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Table Page
23 Retail Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
24 Retail Sales by Kind of Business, Okeechobee County . . . . . 151 irr
25 Comparative Per Capita Retail Sales, Region VII Counties. . . 153
r
26 Characteristics of Selected Industries, 1978, Okeechobee
County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
27 Comparative Manufacturing Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
28 Manufacturing, 1979, Okeechobee County. . . . . . . . . . . . 156
C
77
77
77
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E=3
.. POPULATION ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
An
How we approach the problems and potentials of the future depends a
AN great deal on the trends leading up to our current position. Understanding
the what's and why's of the current economic situation will better enable
us to answer the how's of the future.
The people of an area are the benefactors or losers of any policy
implementations that come about as a result of analysis. In order to
gain a clearer insight into the people of the City of Okeechobee and the
County, this element will examine past growth trends, age, race, family
size, education, and income of the present population. As these factors
are presented, past trends will be looked at, and future projections
can be made.
It should be noted that, while this comprehensive plan is for the
low City -of Okeechobee, much of the data will be presented for the County
as well, or for the County exclusively. Much of the data for the City
and County overlap,making distinctions between them difficult, impractical,
4M . or infeasible.
GROWTH TRENDS
4M
Okeechobee County was first settled in the late 1800's. The
community of Tantie, later named the City of Okeechobee, was established
near Lake Okeechobee in the 1900's.
In 1917, the formal boundaries of what we now know as Okeechobee
ON County were established from parts of Osceola, St. Lucie, and Palm
Beach Counties. The City of Okeechobee, the only incorporated area of
the County, became the County Seat and most of the County's population
lived within the city limits or in the immediately outlying areas.
Ma
Since 1960, a growth trend developed for the City and County that
presents valuable insight into the population trend. In 1960, City of
�.. Okeechobee residents represented 45.9% of the County's population.
The 1970 Census records a city population representing 30.1% of the
County's population, and by 1980, the corresponding figure was only
20.9%. Between 1960 and 1970, the city's population grew 26.1% as
compared to the county's 74.9%. Between 1970 and 1980, however, the
corresponding figures were 14.1% and 80.9%. Not only is the proportion
of city dwellers to county population declining, but rate of growth of
the city is declining as well.
The region and the State grew at rates of 19.8% and 37.1% respectively
�. for the ten year period 1960-1970 and 43.9% and 41.1% for the years
1970-1980. While Okeechobee County is growing at about twice the pace
of the region and State, the City of Okeechobee is growing only half
as fast.
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TABLE 1.
POPULATION CHANGE, 1960-1980
r
TABLE 2.
RECENT TRENDS IN POPULATIONS (1975-1979)
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
1975*
1960 1970
1975
1980
1979
City of Okeechobee 4,146
3,924
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City of Okeechobee
2,947 3,715
4,146
4,239
Okeechobee County
6,424 11,233
16,950
20,324
Region VII
246,954 295,911
372,411
425,681 r
Florida
4,952,788 6,791,418
8,485,230
9,579,495
Source: U.S. Census
1960, 1970.
s
Florida Statistical Abstract, 1976.
Preliminary
Census Counts, 1980.
TABLE 2.
RECENT TRENDS IN POPULATIONS (1975-1979)
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE AND OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
1975*
1976
1977
1978
1979
City of Okeechobee 4,146
3,924
3,952
3,953
4,134
Percent of County Population 24.5
21.9
21.8
21.1
20.8
Okeechobee County 16,950
17,883
18,135
18,759
19,881
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*Changes in methodology between 1975 and 1976. The 1975 figures are
probably too high.
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1976-1980.
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TABLE 3.
PERCENT INCREASE BY DECADE
1960-1970 1970-1980
,■, City of Okeechobee 26.1 14.1
Okeechobee County 74.9 80.9
Region VII 19.8 43.9
Florida 37.1 41.1
Source: Estimates based on U.S. Census data.
a.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION
77
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While overall population trends give a general outlook on the growth
of an area, an analysis of various characteristics of this population is
essential in understanding the local economy. Age, race, household
size, and educational attainment are especially valuable in assessing
future housing and educational needs as well as employment and economic
potentials. aw
Age Groups
an
The age distribution of a given population indicates the potential
working population as well as the social services that may be needed by,
for example, either a large older community or a large school age population. as
The City of Okeechobee and the county reflect the statewide
trend towards an increasing older population (65+ age group) and declining
percentages of the youngest age category. In 1970, the 0-14 age group so
represented 33.3% of the city's population, but by 1980, decreased to
30.3%. Corresponding percentages for the county and state are: 33.7%
down to 28.8% for the county and 25.8% down to 20.4% for the State. us
The 65+ population showed the largest percentage increase in the
county and the State. The City of Okeechobee between 1960 and 1970
No
boasted a 76.9% increase in this age group, but the city's senior citizen
group increased by only 20.3% during 1970-1980. On the other hand, the
county figures show a 137.7% increase for the decade. Retirement communities
directly outside the city limits are the reason for these trends. The over ab
65 age group as a whole in Florida posted a 71.2% gain in population during
the same time span.
nr
Tables 4 and 5 show the population by age groups for 1970 and 1980.
Table 5 subtracts the 65+ age group from the 18+ age group in order to
give a more precise picture of the potential working age population. r
This data will become more relevant as we deal with labor force statistics.
Racial Composition
M
The racial composition of the City of Okeechobee changed substantially
between 1960 and 1980. The minority population declined from 272 persons
or 9.2% of the total population in 1960 to 8.3% in 1970, and by 1980, that r
figure was only 7.8%. The total increase in minority population for the
twenty year period was only 58 or 21.3%.
There is a large minority population located directly outside the
city limits. This is the reason for the county minority population being
substantially higher than the city numerically and as a percentage. The
county's minority population grew 63.3% between 1960 and 1970 and 44.3%
between 1970-1980; an overall net increase of 1,448 persons. In 1960,
minority population represented 16.6% of the total county population but
was 12.4% in 1980. rre
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TABLE 4.
POPULATION CHANGE BY AGE GROUPS
Note: 1980 age group figure based on 1979 distributions.
MW Source: 1970 Census; 1980 estimates.based on 1980 preliminary Census.
- 129 -
1970
1980
Chane 1970-1980
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
of Total
of Total
of Total
City of Okeechobee
0 to 14
1,238
33.3
1,285
30.3
47
3.8
15 to 24
582
15.7
733
17.3
151
25.9
25 to 44
851
22.9
1,022
24.1
171
20.1
45 to 64
699
18.8
784
18.5
85
12.2
65 and over.
345
9.3
415
9.8
70
20.3
18 and over
2,243
60.4
2,661
62.8
418
18.6
Total
3,715
100.0
4,239
100.0
524
14.1
Okeechobee County
-0 to 14
3,786
33.7
5,853
28.8
2,067
54.6
15 to 24
2,050
18.2
3,577
17.6
1,527
74.5
25 to 44
2,497
22.2
4,858
23.9
2,361
94.6
45 to 64
1,994
17.8
3,882
19.1
1,888
94.7
65 and over
906
8.1
2,154
10.6
1,248
137.7
18 and over
6,423
57.2
13,190
64.9
6,767
105.3
Total
11,233
100.0
20,324
100.0
9,091
80.9
Florida
0 to 14
1,750,149
25.8
1,954,217
20.4
204,068
11.7
15 to 24
1,073,723
15.8
1,523,140
15.9
449,417
41.9
25 to 44
1,509,053
22.2
2,260,761
23.6
751,708
49.8
45 to 64
1,468,304
21.6
2,145,807
22.4
677,503
46.1
65 and over
990,189
14.6
1,695,570
17.7
705,381
71.2
18 and over
4,681,897
68.8
7,146,303
74.6
2,464,406
52.6
Total
6,791,418
100.0
9,579,495
100.0
2,788,077
41.1
Note: 1980 age group figure based on 1979 distributions.
MW Source: 1970 Census; 1980 estimates.based on 1980 preliminary Census.
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TABLE 5.
POPULATION, 18 TO 64
Source: U.S. Census, 1970 and 1980 preliminary Census.
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1970
1980
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
City of Okeechobee
1,898
51.1
2,246
53.0
Okeechobee County
5,517
49.1
11,036
54.3
Region VII
156,322
52.6
236,954
55.7
Florida
3,691,708
54.3
5,450,733
56.9
Source: U.S. Census, 1970 and 1980 preliminary Census.
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TABLE 6.
COMPOSITION BY RACE AND SEX
N/A - Not Available
Note: 1980 figure based on 1979 population distributions.
Source: U.S. Census data.
Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
Male
Female
Total
White
Minority
Minority
Percent of
Population
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
City of Okeechobee
1960
N/A
N/A
2,947
N/A
N/A
2,675
N/A
N/A
272
9.2
1970
1,815
1,900
3,715
1,664
1,743
3,407
151
157
308
8.3
1980
2,269
1,970
4,239
2,071
1,838
3,909
198
132
330
7.8
Okeechobee County
1960
3,384
3,040
6,424
2,788
2,568
5,356
596
472
1,068
16.6
1970
5,980
5,253
11,233
4,910
4,579
9,489
1,070
674
1,744
15.5
1980
10,573
9,751
20,324
9,077
8,731
17,808
1,496
1,020
2,516
12.4
N/A - Not Available
Note: 1980 figure based on 1979 population distributions.
Source: U.S. Census data.
Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
■r►
The trend of decreasing minority proportions of total population is
evident in regional and State totals. Table 7 shows that the minority
population in the region decreased from 18.4% to 14.5% between 1960 and
1980 and decreased in the State from 17.9% to 13.2%.
rr
Household Size
Household size is an important element in understanding future needs .r
of the population. It is a reflection of many socioeconomic factors
including birth and fertility rates, changes in longevity, family
formations (and dissolutions), proportions of elderly persons, and attitudes am
towards group living (unmarried couples, room -mating, etc.).
Due to the decreased birth rate and increased life expectancy, the
increased number of singles living alone, and the number of divorces, tlb
the household size in the U.S. has decreased from 3.33 in 1960 to 3.14
in 1970, and to 2.78 in 1980. Florida's average household size not only
reflects this trend, but also the substantial number of retirees migrating rr..
to the State. As a result, 2.5 persons per household is the Florida
average for 1980. The region and the county post similar numbers (2.6
and 2.1 respectively) decreasing from a 1960 mean of 3.3 and 3.4. r
The City of Okeechobee's average household size reflects the same
factors as the County, the State, and the Country. While the average
household size increased rather than decreased between 1960 and 1970 as
from 3.1 to 3.4, in 1980, the average household size matched the county,
State, and Country at 2.4.
as
Educational Achievement
The key to a population's job skill levels is the amount of education
received by its citizens. A labor force with a low educational level can
be expected to work at jobs requiring.little skill and subsequently will
receive lower salaries and contribute less to the tax base.
r
The latest complete census figures (1970) show the median number of
school years completed by adults aged 25 and over for the City of Okeechobee
to be 10.9. In the county, the median number of school years completed 66
was 10.1. Both of these numbers are over one school year lower than the
State's average of 12.1.
r
These figures are expected to be higher in the 1980 census. As more
young adults attend college and more older people find it worthwhile to
return to school, the educational attainment levels in all three sectors
(city, county, and state) should increase.
POPULATION PROJECTIONS
Population projections are useful tools in planning and policy
implementation because they are -guidelines in determining how many people
the policies will serve. The University of Florida makes population
-132-
M
AM
0
v
0
Nor—]
0
dM
..
TABLE 7.
NON-WHITE POPULATION
Source: U.S. Census; 1980 figures based on 1979 population figures.
TABLE 8.
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
1960
1970
Change
1960-1970
1980
Change
1970-1980
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
City of Okeechobee
272
308
36
13.2
330
22
7.1
Okeechobee County
1,068
1,744
676
63.3
2,516
772
44.3
Region VII
45,424
51,949
6,525
14.4
61,894
9,945
19.1
Florida
887,679
1,070,100
182,421
20.6
1,260,662
190,526
17.8
Source: U.S. Census; 1980 figures based on 1979 population figures.
TABLE 8.
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
Mw N/A - Not Available
Source: U.S. Census, Bureau of Economic Statistics, Preliminary 1980 Census housing
+■ count.
wo
- 133 -
1960
1970
1980
Number of
Average
Number of
Average
Number of
Average
Households
Household
Households
Household
Households
Household
Size
Size
Size
City of Okeechobee
965
3.05
1,076
3.38
1,790
2.4
Okeechobee County
1,760
3.43
3,178
3.34
9,642
2.1
Region VII
72,894
3.37
94,799
3.04
164,993
2.58
Florida
1,550,044
3.11
2,284,786
2.9
3,831,798
2.5
United States
N/A
3.33
63,445,194
3.14
N/A
2.78
Mw N/A - Not Available
Source: U.S. Census, Bureau of Economic Statistics, Preliminary 1980 Census housing
+■ count.
wo
- 133 -
TABLE 9.
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF POPULATION 25 AND OVER
1970
City of
Number
Okeechobee
Percent
Okeechobee County
Number Percent
Florida
Number Percent
Total Population
25 and Over 1,903 5,415 3,967,881
No Schooling 58 3.0 122 2.3 62,215 1.6
At Least Four
Years High School 753 39.6 1,784 32.9 2,085,344 52.6
At Least Four
Years College 106 5.6 . 252 4.7 407,264 10.3
Median Years 10.9 10.1 12.1
Source: U.S. Census, 1970.
- 134 -
r"
M
ft
17
projections every year for the counties of Florida based on most recent
birth and death rates and migration and household patterns. They stress
the fact,however, that these are only estimates and are subject to
modification as new evidence warrants.
Based on the University of Florida's Okeechobee County population
projections, the Central Florida Regional Planning Council has projected
•. the City of Okeechobee future population using the 1979 city to county
population ratio of .2079.1 Table 10 shows the population projections
for the city and county through the year 2020.
m..
11979 city population = 4,134
1979 county population = 19,881
am 4,134 : 19,881 = .20793723
Am TABLE 10.
POPULATION PROJECTIONS
ar
4W
0
- 135 -
MM
1982
1985
1990
2000
2020
City of Okeechobee
r. Low
4,450
4,750
5,200
5,800
6,800
Medium
4,550
5,100
5,950
6,950
8,500
High
4,650
5,300
6,300
7,800
10,000
Okeechobee County
Low
21,400
22,900
24,900
27,800
32,700
Medium
21,900
24,600
28,600
33,400
41,000
High
22,400
25,900
30,400
37,500
48,300
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts,
1980.
University of
Florida estimates
(county).
Central Florida Regional
Planning Council estimates (city).
4W
0
- 135 -
MM
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
The economic analysis is a very important element in the comprehensive
plan. The analysis presented should give a clear insight into the economic �+
background and lend some insight into future socioeconomic change and
overall growth patterns.
r.
The City of Okeechobee, being the sole incorporated area in Okeecho-
bee County, is very important to the economic structure of the County.
Most of the retail establishments in the county are located in the city,
and conversely, many of the undertakings of the city's residents are r"g
conducted outside the corporate city limits. While this phenomenon lends
itself to the necessity for carefully planned intergovernmental relationships
between city and county officials, it also causes problems in distinguishing rs
between services that are city based and those that are county based. As
such, whenever feasible and logical, the distinction will be made between
the city and the county. If no distinction is made, however, it is
because the economic structure of the two entities are too tightly
interwoven to make a distinction practical or possible.
rr
LABOR FORCE
The labor force includes all persons aged 16 or older who are mr
employed or actively seeking work. The participation rate (i.e., the
percent of all persons 16 or older) may be slightly skewed because
many persons between 16 and 25 are still in school, and many of those 65
and older are retired.
The labor force in Okeechobee increased between 1970 and 1980 by
15.7%, while the participation rate has remained fairly constant (56.2% so
and 57.0%). In contrast, the unemployment rate increased 4 percentage
points and the number unemployed increased 138.5%.
The county as well has seen a fairly large increase in the civilian
labor force (up 13.1%) while the participation rate has decreased slightly
(55.1% to 53.7%). The unemployment rate increased by 5.4 percentage
points and the number unemployed increased 459.8%.
Minority labor force participants in Okeechobee County have increased
in the decade 1970-1980 by 91.3% while the number of minority persons
aged 16 and older has increased only 29.2%. The minority participation
rate jumped from 58.6% in 1970 to 86.8% in 1980. The social factors
influencing this trend are clearly speculative, but are probably due to rw
a larger need in the minority community for several household members to
work. Coupled with this, 43.6% of the minority labor is female as
compared to 38.1% of the total labor being female. This trend reflects as
the national trend of increasing numbers of women in the labor force.
rr
- 136 -
,..
- 137 -
aw
TABLE 11.
LABOR FORCE AND EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
1
1970
1980
City of Okeechobee
Total Population Age 16 and Over
2,437
2,781
Civilian Labor Force
1,370
1,585
Number Employed
1,318
1,461
,.r
Number Unemployed
52
124
Unemployment Rate
3.8
7.8
Participation Rate
56.2
57.0
Percent Female in Labor Force
38.8
N/A
Okeechobee County
Total Population Age 16 and Over
79071
13,806
Civilian Labor Force
3,896
7,407
Number Employed
3,789
6,808
Number Unemployed
107
599
•.
Unemployment Rate
2.7
8.1
Participation Rate
55.1
53.7
Percent Female in Labor Force
33.9
38.1
'
Percent Minority in Labor Force
17.8
18.6
Florida
Total Population Age 16 and Over
4,907,237
6,960,461
Civilian Labor Force
21)521,245
399419996
Number Employed
2,4269268
3,679,484
Number Unemployed
979977
262,512
�.
Unemployment Rate
3.8
6.7
Participation Rate
51.4
56.6
Percent Female in Labor Force
40.1
41.7
Percent Minority in Labor Force
15.9
18.9
Source: 1970 Census.
Division of Employment Security,
Florida Department
of Commerce.
Florida Statistical Abstracts.
- 137 -
aw
TABLE 12. rir
MINORITY LABOR FORCE
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
err
1970
1980
Total Miriority Population Age 16 and Over
1,180
1,525
�+
Civilian Labor Force
692
1,324
Number Employed
682
1,270
Number Unemployed
10
54
Unemployment Rate
1.4
4.1
Participation Rate
58.6
86.8
Percent Female in Labor Force
41.9
43.6
�r
Sorce: U.S. Census
Florida Statistical Abstracts
Florida Department of Commerce; Division
of Employment
Security
r
res
rr
rir
- 138 -
r�r
Unemployment trends for Okeechobee County can be found in Table
13. Following the pattern in the State, unemployment took a sharp
turn upward following the 1975 recession. The effect of this recession
was more pronounced in the data for the State, but while the State in
i` 1980 showed signs of improvement, Okeechobee County has maintained a
relatively high unemployment rate.
.� Table 14 provides a breakdown by job type that decreases in skill
level (with professionals and technicals heading the list and farm workers
at the bottom). 24.9% of the County's labor force worked in a farm
related field in 1970 as opposed to only 15.5% of the city's population.
Because there is very little land within the city limits available for
agriculture, this is an understandable difference. The other major
difference between the city and the county is in the clerical classification.
17.6% of those city residents employed are in this type of job as opposed
to only 10.2% of the county's. Based on the premise that the city is
basically urbanized and the county (outside the city limits) is
agricultural, this is also an understandable difference.
Table 14 also shows the occupational outlook for 1980. These data,
collected from the Department of Labor and Employment Security, were
based on 1970 percentages, thus no new distribution trend is shown.
However, the numbers of employees in each classification can be helpful in
assessing the potential availability of employees in each field.
Table 15 not only breaks down the county's 1980 occupation levels
by race, but also shows the marked difference in occupation trends between
�. the two. Dividing the occupations into three groups, white collar,
blue collar, and labor, it can be seen that minorities are very heavily
grouped into the lowest category. Of the 11 total categories, 71.6% of
r, the minorities fell into the bottom four as opposed to only 41.5% of the
whites. On the other hand, 34.2% of the whites fall into the highest
three categories as opposed to only 10.9% of the minorities.
0
INCOME
... The income of a population is an effective measure of economic well-
being. How the income relates to statewide and national levels indicates
whether the area is growing or declining. Family income is defined as all
income from all sources (wages, social security benefits, real estate
etc.). While traditionally, there is usually one primary wage earner
in every family, recent years have seen a rise in two -income families.
'r The City of Okeechobee median family income in 1970 was $7,061,
which was higher than the county by $555, but was only 85% of Florida's
median income ($8,267) and 71.6% of the Nation's ($9,867). The cost of
.. living in Florida, generally, is lower than that of the rest of the
Country; a fact reflected in these statistics.
A large portion of the State's families (32.7%) received government
assistance (about 25% for the city and county). This is a reflection of
a larger portion of senior citizens receiving retirement benefits in
the State.
- 139 -
..
F7
ft
ft
M
TABLE 13 M
UNEMPLOYMENT TRENDS; OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
REGION VII, FLORIDA
Source: Division of Economic Development.
- 140 -
E7
r-,7
ft
M
77
ft
M
r
C
Labor Force
Employed
Unemployed
Rate
Region's
Rate
State's
Rate
1970
3896
3789
107
2.7
4.6
3.8
1975
5510
4980
530
9.6
9.3
10.7
1976
6123
5572
551
9.0
9.0
9.0
1977
5994
5416
578
9.6
10.1
8.2
1978
6340
5835
505
8.0
9.7
6.6
1980
7407
6808
599
8.1
9.2
6.0
Source: Division of Economic Development.
- 140 -
E7
r-,7
ft
M
77
ft
M
r
C
AW
0
NEE-,
0
AM
TABLE 14. OCCUPATIONS
Source: U.S. Census.
Department of Employment Security.
- 141 -
1970 1980 Percent
City
County City
County City
Count
Professional
and Technical
117
281 130
504 8.9
7.4
Managers and
Administrators
(non-farm)
110
335 121
599 8.3
8.8
Sales
50
134 56
238 3.8
3.5
Clerical and
Kindred
232
386 257
694 17.6
10.2
Craftsmen and
Foremen and
Kindred
221
537 245
973 .16.8
14.3
Operatives
except
Transportation
83
168 92
300 6.3
4.4
Transportation
Equipment
Operatives
61
164 67
293 4.6
4.3
Laborers
except
Farm
76
279 85
504 5.8
7.4
Service except
Private
Household
153
497 170
892 11.6
13.1
Private
Household
11
66 12
116 .8
1.7
Farm
204
941 226
1,695 15.5
24.9
TOTAL
1,318
3,789 1,461
6,808 100.0
100.0
Source: U.S. Census.
Department of Employment Security.
- 141 -
TABLE 15. OCCUPATIONS BY RACE
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, 1980
rrr
Total Percent
Population of Total
Population
White
Percent
of Total
White
Minority
Percent
of Total
Minority
as
Total
6,808
5,542
1,266
---------------
Professional
-----------------------------
---------------------
-----------------------
and Technical
504
439
65
Managers and
rrr
Administrators
(non-farm)
599
577
22
29.9
34.2
10.9
Sales
238
211
27
Clerical and
Kindred
694
669
25
---------------
Craftsmen and
-----------------------------
---------------------
-----------------------
Foremen and
Kindred
973
910
63
-
Operatives
except
23.0
24.3
17.5
Transportation
300
215
85
r
Transportation
Equipment
Operatives
---------------
293
-----------------------------
220
---------------------
73
-----------------------
rr,
Laborers
except
r`
Farm
504
412
92
Service except
+�
Private
Household
892
744
148
47.1
41.5
71.6
Private
Household
116
26
90
Farm Workers
and
Proprietors
1,695
1,119
576
rr�
Source: U.S. Census.
Department of Employment
Security.
r
- 142
-
rr►
an
r"i
gas
.m
TABLE 16
SOURCES OF INCOME, 1970
Source: U.S. Census, 1970
- 143 -
City of Okeechobee
Okeechobee County
Florida
Number of
Families
Mean Income
From Source
Number of
Families
Mean Income
From Source
Number of
Families
1,811,367
Mean Income
From Source
$10,120.00
Total Families
949
$8,645.00
2,637
$7,743.00
Wage & Salary
809
7,479.00
2,165
6,897.00
1,431,715
9,131.00
Self -Employed
Non -Farm
149
9,903.00
389
7,896.00'
198,530
7,724.00
Self -Employed
Farm
37
4,293.00
114
5,946.00
29,194
3,318.00
Social Security,
Income
207
1,422.00
547
1,466.00
505,988
1,735.00
Welfare
34
688.00
119
877.00
86,281
823.00
Other
186
1,082.00
439
1,897.00
721,544
3,712.00
Median
Income
$76061.00
$6,506.00
$8,267.00
Median U.S.
Income
I $9,867.00
Source: U.S. Census, 1970
- 143 -
TABLE 17.
PER CAPITA MONEY INCOME
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1980.
1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
City of Okeechobee
Okeechobee County
Florida
1970
1977
2,379
4,233
2,042
3,622
3,058
5,761
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1980.
1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
..
E --
ME=
E
MME-
EI
TABLE 18.
1970 INCOME LEVELS
Source: U.S. Census, 1970.
- 145 -
City of Okeechobee
Okeechobee County
Florida
TOTAL FAMILIES
949
2,637
1,811,367
Less than $1,000
31
92
53,803
$ 1,000- 1,999
45
129
74,404
2,000- 2,999
51
159
104,503
3,000- 3,999
59
199
120,664
4,000- 4,999
84
289
125,629
5,000- 5,999
111
318
134,069
6,000- 6,999
90
262
130,590
7,000- 7,999
57
205
129,112
8,000- 8,999
67
199
123,133
9,000- 9,999
70
154
111',457
10,000-11,999
81
223
197,619
12,000-14,999
66
148
202,006
15,000-24,999
113
211
225,035
25,000-49,999
24
49
63,255
$50,000 or more
--
--
16,089
Source: U.S. Census, 1970.
- 145 -
BUSINESS PATTERNS
ft
An analysis of business activities by type is a crucial element of
the economic structure of the community. The leading industry in Okeechobee,
in terms of employment, is agriculture with a March, 1980, employment
figure of approximately 2,100. Farm income amounted to $19,657,000; more
than any other single industrial division.
. .r
AGRICULTURE
In 1977, Okeechobee County ranked eighth in the State in value of
agricultural sales which amounted to $67,513,000. It ranked ninth in
tomatoes (5,000,000), second in cattle (15,000,000) and first in dairy
products (42,000,000).
The most recent data available shows that in 1974, there were 284
farms in Okeechobee County with a total acreage of 380,260 (1,339 acres
average).2 By 1977, the number of farms decreased to 2703; no acreage
statistics are available.
. ■r
Tables 21 and 22 provide valuable information in the area of agricul-
ture for Okeechobee County. Livestock is the most valuable of all agricul-
tural undertakings in the county.
Recent trends in the county indicate that agricultural land is
being lost to other activities. This is indicated in the loss of total
farms between 1974-1980. Obviously, the urban sprawl that has taken
place in the United States, and is making its presence in the central
Florida region, must be watched closely in order to avoid serious losses
of available agricultural land. This industry is crucial to the economic
stabilization of the county, and with so many complementary business
undertakings in the city, its loss could prove detrimental to the city
and the county.
rrr
TRADE
W
Sales is a fa.cetof economic well-being. How fluid an area's residents'
assets are gives some indication of buying potential and purchasing
power. In 1978, $65,514,000 was spent in Okeechobee for retail goods and
services in 227 stores (see Table 24).4 This represents a 33.7% increase
in sales in one year. By far, the most sales in 1977 took place in the
"food stores" category with over one-third of total sales. Food stores
realized the largest sales gain between 1972 and 1977, over 95.4% increase.
2U.S. Census of Agriculture, 1974. ft
3Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1980.
rr�
4Division of Economic Development County Comparisons, 1980.
IN
- 146 -
TABLE 19 .
Am EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRIAL DIVISION
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
4M
AM
.w
- 147 -
1976
1980
All Industries
5,700
6,100
Farming
1,900
2,100
..
Government
1,300
1,400
Retail/Wholesale
1,000
1,200
Services
300
600
Construction
200
300
Finance/Insurance
300
200
..
Manufacturing
100
200
Transportation
100
100
.r
Proprietors
500
(a)
(a) - Included in
the other categories.
Source: Florida
Statistical Abstracts,
1980.
AM
.w
- 147 -
w
F7
MMMM
r
r
TABLE 20.
r
AVERAGE WAGE AND SALARY
INCOME, 1977
Okeechobee County
Florida
i
All Industries
$ 7,923
$10,032
Farming
8,656
8,393
Mining
- 0 -
13,775
rr►
Construction
8,583
11,141
Manufacturing
10,960
11,408
r
Transportation/Communication
9,709
14,576
Retail/Wholesale
7,039
8,163
Finance/Insurance
7,671
10,423
rrr
Services
7,623
9,367
Government
8,711
11,436
as
Unclassified
4,105
9,142
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis,
Florida Department of
Commerce.
F7
MMMM
.m
o.
40
TABLE 21.
VALUE OF AGRICULTURAL SALES, 1977
N/A - Not Available
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts.
TABLE 22.
DAIRY STATISTICS, OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
17V7 17VV
Heifers and Heifer Calves 20,920 25,500
Milk Cows 24,484 34,375
Total 45,404 59,875
aJanuary 1, 1980.
Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture Dairy
Summary.
,.r
149 -
Total
Cattle
Dairy Products
Okeechobee County
$ 67,513,000
$ 15,000,000
$ 42,000,000
Region VII
397,271,000
N/A
N/A
Florida
2,625,728,000
277,000,000
239,000,000
N/A - Not Available
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts.
TABLE 22.
DAIRY STATISTICS, OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
17V7 17VV
Heifers and Heifer Calves 20,920 25,500
Milk Cows 24,484 34,375
Total 45,404 59,875
aJanuary 1, 1980.
Source: U.S. Census of Agriculture Dairy
Summary.
,.r
149 -
TABLE 23.
RETAIL SALES
Source: Florida County Comparisons, 1980.
— 150 —
F7
1.i
IM
so
M
7-1
77
M
r
go
me
M
r7
77
1970
1979
Okeechobee County
$ 26,298,000
$ 65,514,000
Central Florida Region
528,592,000
1,643,416,000
Florida
13,31.4,543,000
41,774,816,000
Source: Florida County Comparisons, 1980.
— 150 —
F7
1.i
IM
so
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7-1
77
M
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go
me
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77
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ! I
TABLE 24.
RETAIL SALES BY KIND OF BUSINESS
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1973-1980.
1972
1977
Number of
Dollar
Number of
Dollar
Establishments
(Millions)
Establishments
(Millions)
Building Materials
10
$ 3.0
14
$ 3
General Merchandise
8
1.8
8
3
Food Stores
31
8.7
35
17
Automotive Dealers
15
5.7
18
6
Gas Stations
29
6.8
20
7
Apparel
5
.5
12
1
Home Furnishings
9
.8
14
2
Eating/Drinking Establishments
34
2.9
35
5
Drugs
6
1.2
4
1
Miscellaneous Retail
31
1.1
51
4
TOTAL
178
$32.5
211
$49
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1973-1980.
L
Gas stations ranked second in sales in 1977 with $7,000,000 or 16.5%
of total sales. This figure is up slightly from the 1972 figure of
$6,800,000 which represented 20.9% of 1972 sales. The change in amount
represents an increase of only 2.9%.
r
The third highest dollar sales in 1977 was in the automotive sector
with 12.2% of total sales. Sales in this area only increased by $300,000
(5.3%) over the 1972 figure which was $5,700,000 or 17.5% of total sales. �►
In 1977, there were 18 automotive dealers in Okeechobee County as
compared to 15 in 1972.
rr
Of the five counties composing the central Florida region, Okeechobee
was in the middle regarding per capita retail sales with Polk and Highlands
County above it and Hardee and DeSoto Counties below. The Okeechobee
per capita retail sales represented 75% of the State's.
In Okeechobee County, wholesale trade sales increased by 205% between
1972 and 1975. However, the number of establishments decreased by 2, oft
perhaps a product of inflationary times. Because wholesale operations
have a high property tax and create spin-off service sector jobs, it is
very important to the local economy. ,o
MANUFACTURING
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This is an important sector in a community's economy because wages
-are generally high and most employment is basic (i.e., exporting goods
to points outside the community) thus bringing money into the local
economy.
Between 1970 and 1978, employment in the manufacturing sector
increased 41.6%. In 1970, Okeechobee County ranked 64th out of the
67 Florida counties. By 1978, it ranked 61st, and the increase was the
28th highest in the State.
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TABLE 25.
COMPARATIVE PER CAPITA RETAIL SALES
REGION VII COUNTIES
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1975-1980.
am Florida County Comparison, 1980.
E=
40
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1972
1977
1979
Dollar
Percent
Dollar
Percent
Dollar
Percent
of State
of State
of State
DeSoto County
$1,552
59
$2,207
75
$2,859
63
Hardee County
1,603
61
2,225
61
2,818
62
Highlands County
1,917
72
3,053
62
3,549
79
Okeechobee County
2,478
94
2,709
85
3,295
73
Polk County
2,444
92,
3,581
99
4,400
97
Florida
2,648
--
3,604
--
4,519
--
Source: Florida Statistical Abstracts, 1975-1980.
am Florida County Comparison, 1980.
E=
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TABLE 26.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SELECTED INDUSTRIES, 1978
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
Source: Florida County Comparisons.
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Number of
Establishments
Employment
Total
346
6,585
Construction
50
242
Trade
1,070
Retail
121
Wholesale
28
Services
75
347
Manufacturing
16
177
Source: Florida County Comparisons.
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TABLE 27.
COMPARATIVE MANUFACTURING STATISTICS
me N/A - Not Available
Source: Florida County Comparisons.
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Number of Establishments
Manufacturing Em loyment
Percent
Percent
1970
1978
Change
1970
1978
Change
1970-1978
1970-1978
DeSoto County
18
11
-38.9
358
346
-3.4
Hardee County
13
18
38.5
253
386
52.6
Highlands County
27
37
37.0
561
.672
19.8
Okeechobee County
9
16
77.8
125
177
41.6
Polk County
253
320
26.5
15,080
19,428
28.8
Region VII
320
402
25.6
16,377
21,009
28.3
Florida
8,093
10,892
34.6
320,565
419,561
30.9
---------------------------------------
Ranking In Florida
----------
---------
---------
-----------
DeSoto County
50
61
67
47
54
53
Hardee County
58
51
26
51
53
23
Highlands County
39
35
27
39
46
40
Okeechobee County
62
53
7
64
61
28
Polk County
8
8
36
8
8
34
Region VII
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
me N/A - Not Available
Source: Florida County Comparisons.
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TABLE 28. MANUFACTURING, 1979
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY
(A) - 0 to 19 employees
(B) - 20 to 99 employees
(C) - Data Withheld
N/A - Not Available
Source: Florida Statistical Abstract.
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Number of
Reporting
Units
Employment
Quarterly Payroll
Average Per
person Quarterly
Pa
Total
15
160
$557,000
$3,481.25
Food and Tobacco
5
68
337,000
4,955.88
Lumber and Furniture
3
9
16,000
1,777.78
Chemicals
1
(B)
(C)
N/A
Stone, Clay, and Concrete
4
45
102,000
2,266.67
Machinery
1
(A)
(C)
N/A
Printing
1
(A)
(C)
N/A
1975 Total
14
112
$208,000
$1,857.14
Change, 1975-1979
1
48
$348,000
$1,641.11
(A) - 0 to 19 employees
(B) - 20 to 99 employees
(C) - Data Withheld
N/A - Not Available
Source: Florida Statistical Abstract.
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GLOSSARY
Degraded air/water quality: the reduction in the quality of air or
water from that which is existing or that which is acceptable
Effluent: treated wastewater (sewage) from the City's wastewater treat-
ment plant
Enumeration District: a geographic census collection area determined by
the Census Bureau; one of several similar -sized divisions of a non -
metropolitan county
Groundwater: water beneath the earth's surface
Hammock: a tract of forested land elevated above the level of an adjacent
marsh
Infiltration: the movement of groundwater into sewers, from the soil,
through defective pipes and joints in the sewer line
Inflow: the entry of water from connectors which the sewers were not
designed to receive, such as illegal hookups and rooftop drains
Nonpoint Source Pollution: water pollution not originating from a
finite source; examples of nonpoint source pollution are stormwater
runoff from either urban streets or agricultural lands
Participation Rate: the civilian labor force (all persons currently
employed or actively seeking employment) as a percent of all persons
aged 16 or older; useful as an indicator of recession or prosperity
Point Source Pollution: water pollution from a finite source, such as
the end of a pipe from a wastewater treatment plant
Potable Water: water suited for drinking
we Taxa: a grouping of organisms based upon common characteristics
Urban Area: the city and immediately surrounding unincorporated area
Wasteload Allocation: a limitation, by the State, on the pollutant
level allowed to be discharged into receiving bodies of water
Me Wetland: a lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, where the water level
is near or above the surface level for at least a portion of the
year
an
0
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..