In
addition,
in 2003,
the Board
of County
Commissioners adopted
a new
Element called
Planning
to Stay
Why is it important?
The Comprehensive Plan is important because it’s
the main tool used by County staff and Administrators
to make decisions on infrastructure improvements,
land use amendments, and many other “behind
the scenes” functions of County life, like
sewer and water services. Implementation of
the Comprehensive Plan affects the quality
of life in this County through development
regulations, new policies, projects and programs.
What is the Evaluation and Appraisal Report?
Every seven years the County is required to make
changes to its Comprehensive Plan to make sure
that it addresses the current needs of citizens,
as well as effectively and efficiently directs
governmental functions. Extensive public input
is required for this process. The result of
this process is an Evaluation and Appraisal
Report (EAR) that “evaluates” the current Comprehensive
Plan and recommends changes, additions and
improvements.
Why is public involvement so important, and how
can I participate?
Citizen participation and public input play important
roles in establishing the content of a comprehensive
plan, because ultimately the people who live in a community
have the greatest stake in its future and should help
determine its future course. If you want to give us
your ideas about the future of Pinellas County, you
may call us at 464-8200, or contact us by e-mail
planningtostay@co.pinellas.fl.us.
What kinds of things are changed by the EAR?
Once input is received from community stakeholders,
all of the elements of the Comprehensive Plan
are examined to see if they are addressing
the up-to-date needs of citizens. For example,
new trends in governmental management, current
population and demographic statistics, and
many other factors will be used to plan ahead
for the future.
Who does this EAR?
The Pinellas County Planning Department will
be coordinating the entire EAR process, and
will ensure that all necessary changes are
made. However, they need input from citizens,
the business community and other governmental
agencies to ensure that all the issues are
identified, and solutions are built into the
new Comprehensive Plan.
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