Comprehensive Plan Update
Highlands County
The Highlands County Comprehensive Plan is blueprint for current and future development. The Plan’s goals, objectives and policies reflect the County’s vision for its future, and for how it will meet the needs of existing and future residents, visitors and businesses.
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The Central Florida Regional Planning Council is working with Highlands County, community partners, and stakeholders to update the Highlands County Comprehensive Plan through the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR).
Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR)
In Development
The Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) is a State-mandated review of the Comprehensive Plan. In order to be effective, the Plan must continue to be updated to adapt to changing conditions and needs. The EAR provides the opportunity to take a holistic look at how well the Plan is working, and how it might be refined to address community-specific issues and challenges. Following the submittal of the EAR, the County will revise the current Comprehensive Plan by adopting the appropriate amendments.
Opportunities to Participate
Engaging the public early and often in the update of the Comprehensive Plan is essential for developing an effective plan. The Public Involvement Plan outlines the process for providing the public and interested parties with opportunities to be involved in the planning process.
The purpose of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report is to:
Identify major issues which are specific concerns related to the current and future growth and development of the County
Review the success of the County in implementing the plan since the last EAR.
Assess the degree to which plan objectives have been completed.
Assess both the success and shortcomings of the plan.
Identify ways the plans should be changed by responding to changing conditions and trends, the need for new data and changes in state requirements and regional plans.
Ensure effective intergovernmental coordination.