No law mandates a definite date for the Hernando County Commission to adopt a Comprehensive Plan. However, it is titled the Comp Plan for 2040, so hopefully, all parties involved can settle on a blueprint or game plan for the county for the next 23 years before Auld Lang Syne rings in 2040. It’s actually been longer than that, some 27 years, since the previous comprehensive plan was adopted locally and approved by the state back in 1990.
In what had been anticipated as the final round of public input for the 200 estimated page document for future growth, county commissioners decided after Tuesday’s public hearing (Dec. 12) to continue or to postpone the proposed plan’s hearing to at least one more public hearing.
“The Board of Commissioners will meet Jan. 23, Tuesday, starting at 9 am and continue this public hearing on the plan,” said county administrator Leonard Sossamon late Tuesday afternoon. He said this should allow additional time for any further questions and input pertaining to the plan. Sossamon indicated that if all questions are answered at this next hearing then the Hernando County Planning & Zoning Department will then ask for county commissioners’ vote at that meeting or a future one to submit the plan for approval to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.
Sossamon explained that the time-consuming process continues, as the state has six months to respond to the Hernando plan with a “yes” or “suggested modifications.” Then the county board will put the state-approved plan into effect or have about “a month or so” to send a revised version back for state approval.
About 16 people spoke at Tuesday’s public hearing, some for and some against the Comp Plan and some of its controversial details which would regulate wildlife corridors, protect the environment, encourage drinking water and energy conservation, protect—or weaken depending on one’s perspective— private property rights, and promote so-called smart growth initiatives and green building.
The County Planning and Zoning Department, under assistant county administrator Ron Pianta, has worked on the plan for more than a year, with county commissioners stressing that the plan is a compromise that will not please all parties or make everyone happy in its final version and execution. Especially divisive have been discussions about economic development, namely the expansion of mining land and bans on oil exploration fracking.
One point already included in the plan, unless changed, is a section permitting residential densities to increase from 16 units per acre to 22 units per acre county wide. The current estimated population of Hernando is anticipated to soar from 181,878 to 236,200 by 2040.
Sossamon said county commissioners are looking for the additional time in order to receive more detailed input from the Hernando business community. Specifically, he said this is a business alliance which includes the chamber of commerce, the realtors association and the builders association.
These people have inquired informally about a future land-use map related to the plan but, according to the county administrator, “They have not provided specific proposals which could modify designations for land use throughout the county.”
“The Board encourages this group to get their info to us as soon as possible—-well before the meeting,” said Sossamon, explaining that any recommended changes need to be addressed by county planners for consideration prior to the Jan. 23 hearing.
The Comp Plan 2040 is available to the public at the Hernando County website or by calling the County Planning and Zoning Department at 352 754-4057 or coming by the office in the county courthouse at Room 262 on 20 N. Main St. in Brooksville.