CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH

MEMORANDUM

DATE:             November 19, 2008

TO:                  D. Mike Good, City Manager

FROM:            Richard D. Cannone, Director of Development Services

SUBJECT: Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) Based Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan CAD# 13A/05

PURPOSE

The City Commission adopt an Ordinance updating the City’s Comprehensive Plan by incorporating the EAR Based Amendments as required by the last Evaluation and Appraisal Report adopted by the Commission at their meeting on April 18, 2006.

BACKGROUND

The 1985 Florida Growth Management Act created the legislative mandate for all local governments in the State of Florida to prepare and adopt a Comprehensive Plan that was a legally binding document.  The City of Hallandale Beach adopted its original Comprehensive Plan in 1989 and has since completed several updates to the document.  In April 1996 the City adopted the first Evaluation and Appraisal Report for the original Plan.  The City of Hallandale Beach adopted the EAR Based Amendments in accordance with the Report in 1998.  Since then, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has amended their rules to require local governments to evaluate and update their plans every 7 years.  The City’s most recent EAR Report was prepared as required by DCA and the City Commission approved transmittal of the document on April 18, 2006.  The City’s EAR was found sufficient by DCA on November 28, 2006.

DISCUSSION

Michael Miller Planning Associates, Inc. was contracted in 2007 by the City to prepare the EAR Based Amendments with staff. The most recent update to the Comprehensive Plan required a major overhaul of the existing document. DCA is continually adopting new statutes which require additional data and planning to be included in updates to Comprehensive Plans. The City has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in recent years which has altered the demographics and the land use of the City. All of the figures throughout the Plan required updating and all of the previous maps were recreated using GIS based mapping to provide a more accurate representation of the City and its infrastructure. A complete analysis of all changes and updates to the Comprehensive Plan is provided in the Planning and Zoning Staff Report (see backup). A link to those draft Amendments has been created on the City’s website for the public to review and provide comments. The Planning and Zoning Board at their November 20, 2008 meeting recommended approval of the amendments with a vote of 5-0.

Once approved by the City Commission, a transmittal package will be prepared and sent to the Department of Community Affairs and all other reviewing agencies as required by State statutes and rules for a compliance review. (The EAR Based Amendments do not count towards the City’s twice per year Comprehensive Plan Amendment limitations). Once all of the review agencies have completed their review, DCA will issue an Objections, Recommendations, and Comments (ORC) Report. At that time, the item will be brought back to the Commission for Second and Final Reading. Once all changes are adopted, the Comprehensive Plan will require recertification with the Broward County Planning Council.

RECOMMENDATION

The City Commission approve on First Reading an Ordinance adopting the Evaluation and Appraisal Report Based Amendments to the City’s Comprehensive Plan and authorize transmittal to the Department of Community Affairs for a compliance review.

Reviewed:

_______________________________                                                          __________

D. Mike Good, City Manager                                                                             Date

_____Approved                _____Disapproved                _____Hold for Discussion