APPROACHES TO PLANNING
A Survey of Alternative Planning Strategies
Presented to:
Alachua County Board of County Commissioners
March 28, 2000
Prepared by:
Department of Growth Management
Office of Planning and Development
and
The Alachua County-Gainesville City
Staff Task Force for Joint Planning
10 SW 10th 2nd Avenue 3rd Floor
Gainesville, Florida 32601-6924
352.374.5249
Contact: Susan McCune, AICP
John Sabatella
ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY
City-County Consolidated Planning
With this strategy, the planning departments along with all planning and zoning functions are merged. A single planning commission is responsible for all planning functions within the affected jurisdictions. These functional arrangements occur when services can be provided more cost-efficiently though a joint effort and the local governments do not want to relinquish political control over the service provision.
Countywide Planning Councils
Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes allows local governments to form joint planning bodies and provide for the designation of a Joint Planning Agency; however, there must be equitable representation of the governments involved (F.S. 163.3174). Moreover, through the authority granted by Article VIII of the Florida Constitution, a charter form of government is provided for where county government may adopt ordinances that are effective countywide. The county charter provision allows local governments to adopt more stringent standards than those specified in the countywide plan.
Joint Planning Agreements
Chapter 163 of the Florida Statutes provides for local governments to enter into joint planning agreements to implement the provisions of the chapter. Countywide organizations can be established through interlocal agreements.
Broward County, Florida
| Area/Population | 1,209 Sq. Miles / 1,423,700 Persons |
| Broward County Planning Council | Established by passage of Broward County
Charter in 1974
15 Members - 1 County Commissioner, plus 2 members from each of the 7 commission districts - with 1 member in each district being an elected municipal official Countywide Planning |
| Funding | Staff funded by the County Commission
Covers all planning program and operating costs of the Planning Council |
|
Planning Duties |
Sole Local Planning Agency for the Land Use Element of the County's Comprehensive Plan for both the incorporated and unincorporated areas |
| Decision-Making Authority | Certify or Decertify local government land
use plans for conformity with the Countywide
Land Use Plan
Approve/Disapprove Amendments or waivers to the Countywide Trafficways Plan |
| Issues | Annexations |
City of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
| Area/Population | City: 174 Sq. Miles / 416,294 Persons
County: 527 Sq. Miles / 537,735 Persons |
| Charlotte/Mecklenburg
Planning Council |
Established by Interlocal Agreement in 1988
14 Members - 7 appointed by the City and 7 appointed by the County City-County Consolidated |
| Funding | Staff funded 50% by the County Commission
and 50% by the City Commission
The Metropolitan Planning Agency (City) staffs the Planning Commission - with equal support to each |
|
Planning Duties |
The Planning Committee of the Commission prepares and updates the Comprehensive Plan for Charlotte and unincorporated Mecklenburg. The Zoning Committee of the Commission provides recommendations on rezoning petitions and final review of plat approvals |
| Decision-Making Authority | The Planning Commission functions as an advisory body to the Mecklenburg County Commission and the Charlotte City Council, depending upon whose jurisdiction the land use decision concerns. |
| Issues | Farmland preservation
Infill development Service extensions to new developments |
City of Durham/County of Durham, North Carolina
| Area/Population | City: 69 Sq. Miles / 175,000 Persons
County: 291 Sq. Miles / 215,000 Persons |
| Durham Planning Agency | Established by Interlocal Agreement in 1988
14 Members - 7 appointed by the City and 7 appointed by the County City-County Consolidated |
| Funding | Staff funded 50% by the County Commission
and 50% by the City Commission
The Metropolitan Planning Agency (City) staffs the Planning Commission - with equal support to each |
|
Planning Duties |
40 Staff Members 20-25 boards and advisory committees Development Review Zoning Rails to Trails |
| Decision-Making Authority | The Planning Commission functions as an advisory body to the Durham County Commission and the Durham City Council, depending upon whose jurisdiction the land use decision concerns. |
| Issues | County Commission more concerned with the
environment than the City Commission
Landfill Approval of a Mall |
Hillsborough County, Florida
| Area/Population | 1,266 Sq. Miles / 958,050 Persons |
| The Planning Commission | Established by Special Act of the Florida
Legislature in 1959
10 Members - 4 appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, 4 appointed by the Tampa City Council, 1 Temple Terrace representative and 1 Plant City representative Countywide Planning |
| Funding | Staff funded by the County Commission and
fees for services
Executive Director hired by the Planning Commission - Approximately 60 employees |
|
Planning Duties |
Provides long-range, mid-range and short-range planning for the local governments that it serves. Prepares comprehensive plans and plan amendments, reviews land development regulations, and performs other duties. Land use, Community planning, Neighborhood planning, Transportation, Urban Design, Research and analysis, Capital improvements, Environmental Planning.
|
| Decision-Making Authority | The Planning Commission functions as an advisory body to the local governing bodies. |
| Issues | Low-Density Development
Environmental Protection Coordination of Planning Efforts |
City of Lawrence/Douglas County, Kansas
| Area/Population | City: 28 Sq. Miles / 85,000 Persons
County: 465.5 Sq. Miles / 100,000 Persons |
| The Planning Commission | Established by Resolution in 1969
10 Members - 5 appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, 5 appointed by the City Council City-County Consolidated |
|
Planning Duties |
Prepares long-range comprehensive plans - including land use, traffic circulation, parks, recreation and public facilities
|
| Decision-Making Authority | The Planning Commission functions as an advisory body to the local governing bodies. |
| Issues | Control sprawl in the form of 5 acre
residential development (80% of permits)
Treated water to rural districts Urban growth expanding out to the 5 acre residential development pattern |
Orange County, Florida
| Area/Population | County: 1,004.3 Sq. Miles / 757,897 Persons |
| Joint Planning Area Agreements | Relies upon Joint Planning Area (JPA)
Agreements for joint planning initiatives.
There are contractual agreements with nine municipalities within the County. These agreements range from notification of development permits within the JPA, to extensive more complex agreements. |
|
Charter Authority |
Authority to adopt countywide minimum standards for environmental protection
|
| Issues | Jointly preparing and adopting a land use
plan within the JPA and abutting properties
Recognize future annexation potential of lands within the JPA Agreed upon land use within study areas |
Pinellas County, Florida
| Area/Population | County: 1,266.4 Sq. Miles / 958,050 Persons |
| Pinellas Planning Council | Established by Special Act of the Legislature
in 1964. In 1988, a subsequent Act allowed
restructuring of the PPC and providing
authority by Charter change and referendum
for the PPC to serve in an advisory capacity
and the County Commission to serve as the
Countywide Planning Authority
13 Members - 1 appointed by the Board of County Commissioners, 1 each appointed by the 8 largest municipalities, 1 each by three groups of smaller municipalities, and 1 by the School Board Countywide Planning |
| Funding | Ad Valorem Countywide tax Assessment
Executive Director hired by the Planning Council |
|
Planning Duties |
Countywide Comprehensive Plan - Future Land Use Plan, Coordination of planning efforts, Master drainage plan, uniform development regulations Adopted uniform Zoning, Planning and Traffic Regulations
|
| Decision-Making Authority | Pinellas Board of County Commissioners serves as the Countywide Planning Authority. |
| Issues | Environmental Protection
Downtown Development Districts |
Volusia County
| Area/Population | County: 1,105 Sq. Miles / 435,836 Persons |
| Volusia
Growth Management Commission |
Established by 1988 Charter Amendment
referendum
22 Members - 14 from each municipality, 5 from unincorporated areas, 3 (non-voting) from the School Board, Business Development Commission and St. John's Water Management District Countywide Planning |
| Funding | Board of County Commissioners as
stipulated in the Charter
Empowered for Staff |
|
Planning Duties |
Certifies consistency among municipalities and the county's Comprehensive Plan Utility service solutions, transportation, impacts on infrastructure
|
| Decision-Making Authority | Growth Management Commission's determination is binding on local governments |
| Issues | Cannot develop countywide policies or enforceable goals except in the case of road levels of service |