Comprehensive Planning & Zoning

The Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) is a planning document mandated by the State of Florida and approved by the City Council.  All development within the City must be consistent with the Plan.   Amendments to the Plan are approved by City Council after review and recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission/Local Planning Agency (PZ/LPA).  The most common type of amendment requested by property owners is an amendment to the Future Land Use Map series contained in the Plan.  All property within the City contains a future land use designation.  The future land use sets the general development framework allowed on a property.  Amendments to the Plan require two public hearings with the City Council and one public hearing with PZ/LPA.  The total time to process an amendment to the Plan requires approximately six months and includes review and comment by the State of Florida. 

The Zoning Map of the City of Fellsmere works in conjunction with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code and is approved by the City Council.  The Zoning Map implements the future land use contained within the Comprehensive Plan and sets the specific development allowances on a property.  The Land Development Code provides the specific development allowances for each zoning district and development in general.  All property within the City contains a zoning district designation.  Amendments to the Zoning Map are approved by City Council after review and recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZ).  Zoning amendments can be processed concurrently with a request for a Comprehensive Plan future land use amendment.  Amendments to the Zoning Map require two public hearings with the City Council and one public hearing with PZ/LPA.  The total time to process an amendment to the Zoning Map requires approximately three months.