recommended strategies - Hardee County

Sustainable Hardee is a proactive planning process that was created and approved and accepted by the Hardee County
as a means to provide a “road map” to achieve community goals and objectives. The Vision Plan addresses the topics,
both positive and negative, that could have an impact on Hardee County. The Vision Plan establishes goals, objectives,
community champions and strategies to achieve these recommendations. The overarching principles for the Vision as
expressed by the community include:
• Protect water quality and quantity throughout the
County.
• Protect critical wildlife habitats and corridors,
including blueways.
Promote economic development;
Protect property rights;
Enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors;
Protect the natural environment;
Provide an enduring, living document for elected officials, decision-making bodies, and the community to
review and assess on a regular basis.
o As part of an overall trails and blueways master plan,
identify access points and linkages to the Peace River to
promote and expand ecotourism, entertainment and leisure
activities.
Economic Development
o Recognize existing economic development activities,
business and industry as a vital component to the long-term
viability of the community.
Within the community, there is support for economic development, employment diversification and job creation, as
well as the enhancement of recreational and open space amenities available. Based on this support, the Sustainable
Hardee – Hardee County Vision Plan is intended to address and achieve the following broad goals:
o Diversify the economy by establishing relationships between
universities/local community colleges, regional research
institutions, and local businesses.
Land Use
o Development and Land Use Patterns
• Implement a hierarchy of urban and rural places for new development, resulting in a separate
and complete development areas or “settlements”, not suburban sprawl based on the County’s
adopted future land use designations.
• Continue to focus redevelopment efforts in downtown Wauchula as the urban, economic and
cultural center.
• Create a balance between natural resources and new development, resulting in thoughtfully
planned land uses that respect that natural environment.
• Balance existing and future mining efforts with reclamation land plans allowing for adaptive
reuse of post-mining lands for agriculture, parks and recreation, and industrial development.
o Environment
• Promote multiple uses and sustainable agriculture.
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• Identify and target Green Industries and
Technologies including a wide variety of energy
conservation, alternative energy and
design/construction services for energy
efficient building materials and
equipment.
o Create industrial parks, business/office parks,
and research parks within strategic locations
with necessary infrastructure and services.
Priority should be given to those areas with
roadway capacity, rail, municipal
water/wastewater, electricity, etc.
o Sufficient industrial land with developed sites
located within close proximity to the
transportation and other related infrastructure
(i.e., water, wastewater, rail, electricity).
Additional lands have been designated but not