recommended strategies - Hardee County

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
Land Use Context
Land uses in the community tend to transition abruptly between urban and rural uses. While minimal to some extent,
there is an uneven mix between the County and the Cities with regard to land use. Although there are numerous large
parcels within the County, most of these are either in active agriculture (i.e., citrus or cattle), in various stages of mining
and/or reclamation, or have limited municipal services, which greatly limits opportunities for well-planned larger
projects. These conditions greatly affect the attitudes and behavior of investors, developers, businesses, and residents. A
land use and design strategy, guidelines, and standards for future development are needed to ensure that individual
actions and projects fit within and reinforce a compatible and consistent land use and design framework for
development in the County.
Regulatory Framework
Hardee County has adopted codes and plans governing development throughout the community in accordance with the
applicable Florida Statutes. Currently, the County is in the process of preparing a series of updates to the land
development code (LDC). Specifically, the County is currently amending the Code to amend:
Land development review process providing two levels of review to expedite projects already ‘permitted by
right’.
Building and development requirements to reflect change in the Florida Building Code.
Flood zone management regulations to conform to the new Florida Building Code.
(Consistency with) Comprehensive Plan – Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) based amendments.
Complete review and rewrite of the LDC eliminating inconsistencies and errors, and providing for a general
update to the requirements.
Hardee County Planning and Development is responsible for the development, maintenance and interpretation of
adopted and applicable codes and ordinances, including the LDC. The Department is also responsible for the update
and implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. The County has completed the EAR-Based Amendments which were
adopted by the County in 2010 in accordance with Florida Statutes. These documents provide the foundation for
development and redevelopment efforts, along with recreational and conservation policies throughout Hardee County,
each municipality maintains its own Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code respectively.
The Hardee County Comprehensive Plan contains a considerable number of policies that further support the Vision
Plan and the recommendations of the various Focus Groups. For reference, a portion of the Goals, Objectives and
Policies contained within the 2010 Comprehensive Plan are located in the Appendix. While this is not a complete
listing of the existing policies, it provides a broad range of policies addressing economic development, land use,
environmental stewardship and protections, parks and open spaces, and ecotourism.
The following sections discuss existing zoning and development patterns, including the Land Development Code (LDC)
and the Comprehensive Plan.
Design Elements and Character
No single factor contributes more to the appearance or image of community than its streetscape. Along the gateways and
major thoroughfares, an improved streetscape can help define the corridor and introduce the community to visitors and
potential businesses. Improvements within the corridor whether it be through the streetscape or the development and
implementation of design standards or combination can help implement the community’s vision for Hardee County’s
gateways. Typically, what has been experienced are gateways that have fragmented and visually complicated corridors, or
allowed to deteriorate. The impression of strength and stability, which the private sector investor looks for, and which
adds to the livability of the area, is missing.
U.S. 17 and the major county thoroughfares are currently designed as automobile oriented areas primarily catering to
the needs of vehicles with less emphasis on pedestrian features, design standards and an overall inviting, extension of
the community’s assets.
Provide residential and non-residential solutions that ensure future needs and preferences for various
opportunities are addressed in the
community.
Maintain or enhance the quantity
and quality of parks, recreation
facilities, and cultural facilities in the
corridor.
Promote development patterns and
intensities that balance the tax base
and facilitate fiscal sustainability.
Enhancing the design standards and reevaluating
code enforcement as
recommended by the community will
represent the biggest departure from the
business as usual conditions. This will
require discussions and coordination
between the County and Cities code
enforcement programs to ensure consistency
in their application.
Generally, land use patterns and development densities and intensities have a significant impact on the quality of life,
community and neighborhood cohesiveness, economic vitality and an overall efficient use of public facilities and
services. Like these areas, Hardee County has a renewed interest in the relationships between land use and community
design including the ties to environmental/eco-tourism opportunities and creating unique places.
With a focus on the 4 D’s (density, diversity, design and destinations), the gateways can develop into a compact, mixed
use urban corridor that has an outward orientation of buildings and uses facing the streets rather than parking areas
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