Weekly Planner banner

 

eNews Issue 2011.12

from Bob Hunter, FAICP, Executive Director 

Bob Hunter, FAICPImplementing Community Visions Through 'Consistency'

Being consistent with the Comprehensive Plan is a vital component of the planning process.  The public trusts that when the PLAN is adopted - it will be followed.  As the Local Planning Agency for Hillsborough County, the Planning Commission is responsible to review amendments to the Comprehensive Plan as well as rezonings for consistency with the publicly adopted Comprehensive Plan.  We were pleased the findings of the recent countywide Planning Audit affirmed that "Based upon our review, the Planning Commission is performing the duties required by statute."families walking and bicycling in town

 

Ensuring rezonings are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan is important, because they are a primary means of making the community's vision for its quality of life a reality.  It's one way the public trusts  the jurisdictions in Hillsborough County put their Comprehensive Plans into action.

 

The Land Development Code is the right tool to detail how the Plan's policies should be put into effect.  For example, the Comprehensive Plan for Unincorporated Hillsborough County has policies calling for recreation and open space within new residential developments.  New Tampa subdivisionTo fulfill this policy direction, the Land Development Code was modified to require a percentage of property to be set aside for recreation and open space in new subdivisions and multi-family developments.

 

Another method by which the Comprehensive Plan is implemented in the community is with the rezoning of property.  Zoning categories specifically outline the list of uses allowed on a property and the standards those uses have to meet.   A rezoning takes the policy framework of the Comprehensive Plan, particularly the Land Use Map, and assigns a appropriate zoning district that meets the objective of a particular land use classification.

 

All of these implement the more general direction of the Plan and the Future Land Use categories and provide a very transparent way to implement each jurisdiction's adopted Comprehensive Plan and the desired goals, objectives and policies expressed and expected by the community.  As part of the review process, Planning Commission staff prepares a report outlining findings with staff analysis of the application, providing each jurisdiction with a recommendation on consistency with the Comprehensive Plan.

 

Staff also attends Zoning Hearing Master hearings, City Council meetings and County Commission meetings to explain findings on each application.  As has often been expressed, having staff available to answer questions and provide their expertise is extremely valuable to the decision makers.  Often as applications are discussed, there are details needed as to the intent of the adopted goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan.  These issues may be brought up by the public participating in the hearing as well as the elected and appointed officials.

 

Implementation of our community's vision is an important function to be carried out.  Ensuring that occurs in a manner consistent with the Comprehensive Plan is paramount.  Therefore, it is imperative that the Planning Commission maintain its legal responsibility by continuing to be actively involved in the rezoning and land development code amendment processes - through written reports, participation in the public hearings, and provision of expert testimony.   We look forward to working closely with all four local governments to continue to do so.

 

TPC green on clear, small

In This Issue
Implementing Community Visions Consistency
Take a Survey
Watch our Videos

Missed an Issue?

View All eNews button

 

 

Join our mailing list TPC

 

 Find us on Facebook 

 

 Follow us on Twitter

 

 

What's Going On

 

May 19th - 3:00 pm

Staff Service Provider List Selection Committee

 

May 24th � 6:00 pm

Balm Community Plan Advisory Committee

 

May 25th - 1:30 pm

BOCC Workshop

 

June 13th - 2:00 pm

Planning Commission Regular Meeting & Workshop

 

For more information on meetings and events, please visit our website:

 

www.theplanningcommission.org

 

Take a Survey:

imagine2035.org

       imaging2035 logo

Watch our Videos

Planning Commission Purpose & Vision video

Planning Commission

Purpose & Vision

'Feeling Good' about Hillsborough County

'Feeling Good' about
Hillsborough County

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination laws, public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability or family status.