By Ron Wolfe

The Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act was passed by the Legislature in 1972. It is located in Chapter 163, F.S. It's stated objective is as follows:

In conformity with, and in furtherance of, the purpose of the Florida Environmental Land and Water Management Act of 1972, Chapter 380, it is the purpose of this Act to utilize and strengthen the existing role, processes, and powers of local governments in the establishment and implementation of comprehensive planning programs to guide and control future development.

The key point is the role of the local county and municipal governments in the comprehensive planning process. The Legislature went further in describing what it intended the act to accomplish by specifying the following points:

· It is the intent of this act that its adoption is necessary so that local governments can preserve and enhance present advantages; encourage the most appropriate use of land, water and other resources.

· It is the intent of this act to encourage and assure cooperation between and among counties and municipalities and to encourage and assure coordination of planning and development activities of units of local government with the planning activities of regional and state agencies.

· It is the intent of this act that adopted comprehensive plans shall have the legal status set out in this act and that no public or private development shall be permitted except in conformity with comprehensive plans, or elements or portions thereof, prepared and adopted in conformity with this act.

· It is the intent of this act that the activities of units of local government in the preparation and adoption of comprehensive plans, or elements or portions thereof, shall be conducted in conformity with the provisions of this act.

· The provisions of this act in their interpretation and application are declared to be the minimum requirements necessary to accomplish the stated intent, purposes, and objectives of this act.

· It is the intent of the Legislature that all government entities in this State recognize and respect judicially acknowledged or constitutionally protected private property rights.

After stating its intent, the Legislature then moved to place certain powers, duties, and responsibilities on local governments in the following manner:

The several incorporated municipalities and counties shall have the following power and the responsibility.

· To plan for their future development and growth.

· To adopt and amend comprehensive plans, or elements or portions thereof, to guide their future development and growth.

· To implement adopted or amended comprehensive plans by the adoption of appropriate land development regulations or elements thereof.

· To establish, support, and maintain administrative instruments and procedures to carry out the provisions and purposes of this act.

The powers and authority set out in this act may be employed by municipalities and counties individually or jointly by mutual agreement in accord with the provisions of this act and in such combinations as their common interests may dictate and require.

Our SouthShore Area-wide Growth Management Plan is an outstanding example of citizens from the well-defined area called SouthShore working together to prepare amendments to the Hillsborough County comprehensive plan. The SouthShore Area-wide Systems Planning Committee's efforts are consistent with Florida's public policy.

Send letters to: THE VOICE of SouthShore, P.O. Box 476, Ruskin, FL. 33575 or e-mail: arjaywolfe@earthlink.net. Or, phone: 813-273-8976.