Overview

The Growth Management Plan (GMP) is a guide to the future growth of the City.  The purpose of the plan is to continuously monitor and analyze various characteristics of the community specifically related to development activities, infrastructure and service provision, the protection of environmental resources, provision of affordable housing, and other public facilities and services.  It provides policy direction consistent with the City’s vision for the future and provides a framework for the actions needed to achieve that vision.  The GMP was originally adopted in 1991 and has been amended periodically since that time. 

 

Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR)

To ensure that local governments continue to work with a relevant and viable long-term planning document, the state requires preparation of an Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) every seven years.  The purpose of the EAR is to evaluate the GMP, assessing its effectiveness, successes and failures, particularly in relation to adopted objectives.  The EAR is also Orlando’s principal opportunity to pro-actively respond to various changes in state law, administrative codes, and regional goals pertaining to growth management.

The first step in preparing an EAR is to identify the relevant issues.  The City held an Agency Scoping meeting with representatives of state and regional agencies and surrounding local governments to help define the issues to be addressed.  Six issues were identified.  The Municipal Planning Board and City Council reviewed and approved the six issues in October 2006.  The six issues are as follows:

        1.    Attainable Housing

        2.    Community Venues

        3.    Downtown Transportation

        4.    International Drive Transportation

        5.    Neighborhood Compatibility and Infill Development

        6.    Parks & Recreation

Throughout the spring of 2007, City staff collected data and prepared relevant analyses.  To obtain public input, four community workshops and an on-line survey were prepared.  The draft EAR was approved by the Municipal Planning Board on June 19, 2007.  On July 23, 2007, the Orlando City Council authorized transmittal of the draft EAR to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for review.  The EAR was finalized consistent with DCA’s comments, and City Council subsequently adopted the final EAR on October 15, 2007.  DCA found the EAR to be sufficient on January 19, 2008.  The City has up to eighteen months to prepare GMP amendments based on the recommendations of the EAR. 

 

The following documents are available:

 

A Guide to the Growth Management Plan

The first section of the GMP is the vision statement.  The remainder of the GMP is comprised of 15 elements, or chapters, that address the full range of topics affecting physical development of the City.  Together, these elements shape the City’s growth in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable way.

Each element includes one or more goals.  A goal is a long-term statement toward which programs and activities are ultimately directed.  Each goal is supported by one or more objectives, which are specific, measurable action items that are achievable and mark progress toward that goal. Most GMP objectives include a target completion date.  On-going objectives are targeted to continue “throughout the planning period”, which is 10 years, consistent with state statutes.  Objectives are implemented according to the direction provided by one or more policies.  Policies describe the way in which specific programs and activities should be conducted to achieve an identified goal.

Each element has a companion Support Document that includes data and analysis to clarify and elaborate on the rationale for adopting the goals, objectives and policies.  The GMP also includes a series of maps.  Some maps are adopted as part of the Policy Document, while others are supporting data included in the Support Document.  The Policy Document is adopted by City Council, and changes must be transmitted to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for approval.  The Support Document is for reference purposes, and may be updated from time to time as conditions change. 

Click here to review the adopted GMP Policy Document.

 

Proposed GMP Amendments

The City of Orlando is proposing to change a number of goals, objectives and policies consistent with the EAR recommendations.  The following draft changes are proposed in strikethrough/underline format.  Links to the documents will be added as they are completed.

GMP Proposed Policy Document

Support Document

Vision Statement

Not applicable

Urban Design

UD Support

Future Land Use

FLU Support

Transportation

TE Support

Housing

H Support

Historic Preservation

HP Support

Conservation

C Support

Recreation & Open Space

REC Support

Cultural Arts

CA Support

Stormwater & Aquifer Recharge

SWAR Support

Potable Water

PW Support

Wastewater

WW Support

Solid Waste

SW Support

Intergovernmental Coordination

IGC Support

Capital Improvements

CIE Support

Public School Facilities

PSFE Support

Monitoring and Evaluation

Not applicable

 

Additional Documents

August MPB staff report 

Green Chart 

Rule 9J-5 Requirements 

State Plan Requirements 

Strategic Regional Policy Plan Requirements

 

Schedule

The following schedule has been proposed to provide for public participation, DCA statutory review, and City Council approval.

Public workshop @ City Hall                                      August 4, 2008, 6:30pm

Municipal Planning Board Q & A                                August 19, 2008, 8:30am       

Municipal Planning Board Hearing (vote)                   September 16, 2008, 8:30am

City Council review                                                     Fall 2008

DCA review                                                                January - February 2009      

City response period                                                   March - June 2009    

City Council approval                                                 June 2009                              

EAR-based amendments due                                    June 19, 2009            


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