Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council
 
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REGIONAL PLANNING

State, Regional and Local Plan Review

Florida's Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act requires the WRPC to review its local governments' comprehensive plans for impacts on regionally significant resources and facilities. The State also requires the WRPC to review regional and state plans to ensure coordination with the regional policy plan. Each large scale amendment can contain as few as one review item or as many as twenty and is reviewed twice: once at the transmittal stage and again after it has been adopted by the local government. Also, the WRPC provides reviews of various plans and documents including major power facilities, highway corridors, pipelines or land management plans when needed or requested.

Developments of Regional Impact

Regional Planning Councils are required to coordinate the review of Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) under Chapter 380, Florida Statutes. A DRI is defined by Statute as "any development which, because of its character, magnitude, or location, would have a substantial effect upon the health, safety, or welfare of citizens from more than one county." Also under Chapter 380, Regional Planning Councils are required to participate in the review of DRI-scale projects known as Florida Quality Developments (FQD). The intent of the FQD program, created in 1985, is to encourage development that has been thoughtfully planned to take into consideration protection of Florida's natural amenities, the cost to local government of providing services to a growing community, and the high quality of life Floridians desire.

The WRPC's primary activities relating to DRIs and FQDs include: conducting pre-application conferences; coordinating and participating in Application for Development Approval (DRIs) and Application for Development Designation (FQDs) sufficiency reviews; preparing a report and recommendation focused on regional issues and impacts for each sufficient application; review of notices of proposed change to previously approved DRIs and FQDs; monitoring all vested, previously approved and potential DRIs; tracking DRI/FQD annual reports; and, providing technical assistance to local governments, developers and others on DRI/FQD requirements and issues.

An information packet showing the names, location and status of DRIs and FQDs in the Withlacoochee Region can be provided upon request.

Notice of Proposed Change (NOPC)
Filing Requirements for DRIs

Prior to filing a Notice of Proposed Change with the WRPC, please:

1) Contact Bruce Day (352/732-1315 ext. 230) and request a Review Fee Contract. This contract must be completed, dated, signed, and returned in duplicate with the review fee and NOPC. A copy will be signed and returned to you for your records.

2) The review fee of $2,500 must be submitted with the contract and NOPC.

3) Ten (10) copies of the NOPC must be submitted with the signed contract and review fee. Additional copies may be required.

The WRPC cannot initiate review of the NOPC until all of the above have been received.

Meeting Facilitation Services

The Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council (WRPC) can provide services to local governments and agencies to organize, promote, and conduct various meetings or workshops. Other services include conducting consensus building exercises, organizing minutes and creating final reports.

Dispute Resolution Services

The Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council (WRPC) maintains a dispute resolution process that is established as Rule 29E-13 of the Florida Administrative Code. The purpose of this rule is to establish a voluntary dispute resolution process through the Regional Planning Council (RPC), as required by Section 186.509, Florida Statutes, designed to promote reconciliation of differences on planning and growth management issues between or among local governments, regional agencies, and private interests.

Special Programs

  • WRPC Legislative Update Workshop. Each year following the close of Florida's legislative session, the staff of the WRPC presents a legislative update workshop that is geared toward informing local government staff within the Region of legislative changes that may affect their job responsibilities. At the workshop, WRPC staff present an overview of various Bills that have become law and focus on possible opportunities for access to newly appropriated funds. The workshop is usually held in late July of each year. Contact the Council for information about the next workshop.

  • Solid Waste Working Group. Following a discussion of region-wide solid waste issues, the Council directed staff to assemble and coordinate the Solid Waste Working Group (SWWG). The SWWG is made up of Solid Waste Directors from 8 counties including the 5 counties in the Region plus Putnam, Alachua and Lake counties. The SWWG drafted an agreement that provides a conceptual platform for further agreements depending on the needs of each county. To date, Citrus and Alachua counties have entered into the Agreement. The Solid Waste Working Group will continue to meet quarterly to share solutions to common problems in the future.

  • State Springs Task Force. The WRPC is an active participant on the State Springs Task Force which was created by the Department of Environmental Protection, to develop strategies for the protection and restoration of Florida's Springs. The Task Force compiled its findings and recommendations in a recently published report entitled "Florida Springs - Strategies for Protection and Restoration." The report is available through the Department of Environmental Protection and is published on their website. In his 2001 budget recommendations to the Legislature, Governor Jeb Bush proposed the Florida Springs Initiative, including 2.5 million to fund the most critical strategies to protect Florida's springs. The Legislature approved the appropriation.

  • Silver Springs Basin Working Group. The WRPC participates in the Silver Springs Basin Working Group, a multi-stakeholder group established to preserve Silver Springs and the Silver River. The efforts of this Workgroup include studying the Silver Springs basin to identify causes of decreasing water quality in the spring and river. The Workgroup is involved in educational outreach to citizens and businesses within the basin. Meetings are open to the public.

Intergovernmental Coordination and Review Process

Presidential Executive Order 12372, and Governor's Executive Order 95-359 established the Intergovernmental Coordination and Review Process (ICR). As a Regional Clearinghouse, the Council reviews proposed federal projects, programs, and related documents which may affect our region.

The purpose of the ICR process is to evaluate and review federal, and federally assisted, programs and projects to ensure they are consistent with local, regional, and state plans. While some applications are submitted directly to the Council by the applicant, most come from the Florida Department of Community Affairs, State Clearinghouse, which also transmits the application to the affected local government(s) for review and comment. Council staff submits its regionally-based comments to the State Clearinghouse, which then prepares a final report.

During a fiscal year, more than 100 proposals are reviewed by Council staff. These proposals cover a wide range of projects ranging from Neighborhood Revitalization, Commercial Revitalization, Economic Development to Housing. Several communities apply for grants to upgrade law enforcement equipment and hire additional personnel. Other grant applications are for:

  • transportation disadvantaged programs

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  • employment and training programs

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  • low-income housing.

Staff also review proposals submitted by agencies for direct federal activity, such as environmental assessments, changes in permitting procedures, greenways projects and highway improvement programs.

In addition to mandatory plan reviews, the staff also reviews many reports, plans, and programs which may affect our region, such as state agency functional plans and Ten Year Site Plans for energy facilities.

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