Comprehensive Planning is responsible for the long range planning for the City of Fort Myers, with the Comprehensive Plan and Future Land Use Map (FLUM) as the main tools to assist the City with their development goals and objectives. Comprehensive Planning involves a more technical side of planning requiring knowledge of Chapters 163, 171, and 380, F.S. as well as the Rules associated with these Chapters. In order to develop future goals and objectives, population and other demographic projections and data are required. The planner utilizes several sources, including University of Florida’s
Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) and
U.S. Census Bureau.
Long range planning involves amendments to the Comprehensive Plan/FLUM, annexations, and Developments of Regional Impact (DRI). Florida Statutes, Chapters 171 and 380, are adhered to regarding all Annexations and DRIs, respectively,
Annexations and DRIs usually require Comprehensive Plan and/or FLUM amendments. However, in order to ensure future development goals are met, the Comprehensive Planner ensures any Comprehensive Plan/FLUM amendment is consistent with surrounding development as well as the goals and objectives of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. All City zoning change, including PUD, requests are also reviewed for consistency with the Comprehensive Plan/FLUM.
During the pre-Application phase, the Planner performs site visits to the property as well as drives the surrounding areas to evaluate the development trends of the area. These on site techniques in conjunction with aerial photos and current land use and zoning designations provide additional guidance for determining appropriate future land use categories.
In addition to processing the applications, the Comprehensive Planner is responsible for creation and/or review of Developer Agreements, City Ordinances, and City Resolutions to implement these activities.
Long Range Planning also involves transportation planning. The Comprehensive Planner represents the City on the Lee County MPO Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
About the Comprehensive Plan
Under the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act passed by the Florida Legislature in 1985, and amended again in 1986, local governments are required to prepare a comprehensive plan as a definitive guide for their growth management. This revised act in 1986 modified the 1975 act by addressing the lack of quality and consistency in local plans, as well as the failure to implement them. In addition to growth management, local governments are encouraged to use their comprehensive plans to provide mechanisms for developing and implementing the future vision for their jurisdiction, which is encouraged by the 1993 ELMS III Bill.
The goals, objectives, and policies of the City’s Comprehensive Plan were developed during the planning process to guide the community and provide clear direction to elected officials, City staff, and citizens alike on certain day to day activities as well as the future vision of the City. The City of Fort Myers Comprehensive Plan requires that:
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Public and private activities be consistent with the goals, objectives, policies, actions, and standards of the adopted plan;
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Provides authority to the City’s land development regulations, including the adopted capital improvement program; and,
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Provides elected officials, City staff, and citizens with a vision for developing the City.
The planning process for the City began with the formulation of general goal statements that reflect the community's future image of itself. These goals provide the basis for how programs or activities are ultimately directed. The objectives, standards, and actions represent the most basic step in the path toward reaching these goals.
Plan implementation is probably one of the most important aspects of the Comprehensive Plan. Simply stated, implementation is the actual carrying out and accom¬plishment of the goals, objectives, policies, and actions. Effective implementation is directly related to the Plan's specificity, precision, and clarity. A Comprehensive Plan is not self-implementing. It is vital that City Council, Planning Board, and City staff implement this document and make amendments when duly necessary. Unless clearly stated otherwise, actual implementation of this plan will require further action by the City Council, usually through budget appropriations or by amendment or adoption of ordinances.
The Comprehensive Plan ensures that the City of Fort Myers adheres to a Comprehensive Growth Management Plan to direct and plan its future growth. All land development regulations should also support and further implement the goals of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Planning is an on going process; therefore interpretation and implementation of a single policy shall take into consideration and be consistent with all plan elements.
Florida Statutes, Chapter 163 and Rule 9J-5 provide the details required in a Comprehensive Plan as well as the process for amendment. Visit the State planning agency website, Department of Community Affairs, for more detailed information on Comprehensive Planning in the State of Florida.
The City’s Comprehensive Plan ( pdf ) is available online by clicking "Documents" on the left-hand menu bar or can be purchased through the Community Development Department.
About the Future Land Use Map
A Future Land Use Map (FLUM) is required as part of the Comprehensive Plan map series. Typically a FLUM identifies the goals of development of an area by assigning broad category land use categories to large blocks of land. Unlike a zoning map, which identifies how to construct on a parcel of land, the FLUM helps guide the type and density of development for an area.
For example, a future land use category of Residential Low Density (6 units/acre) could indicate that predominately residential developments and supporting services would be allowed, with development not to exceed 6 dwelling units per acre. The future land use category typically does not indicate the types of dwelling units allowed (i.e. single family, townhouse, condo, etc.) unlike the zoning designation.
The City’s Future Land Use map ( pdf ) is available online by clicking "Documents" on the left-hand menu bar or can be purchased through the Community Development Department..