The Hardee County Planning and Zoning Board voted Oct. 2 to recommend that the Board of County Commissioners approve amendments to the county land development code that change how phosphate‑mining applications are submitted and tracked.

The proposal reduces the number of physical copies required for initial reviews, allows electronic submissions, sets a deadline for larger public‑hearing submittals and directs the county’s mining department to maintain a public map showing the status of phosphate‑mining properties based on operators’ annual reports.

Marissa Barnby of the Central Florida Regional Planning Council told the board the changes are intended to streamline the review process and make application materials easier to access. “Currently, the requirement is for 25 copies. We’re requesting to change that to a minimum of 3 copies,” Barnby said, adding that materials could be submitted in either electronic or hard‑copy format.

Under the amendment language presented to the board, applicants would provide a minimum of three copies for initial review (electronic or paper). After staff review, applicants would supply no more than 25 copies in electronic or hard copy a minimum of three weeks before any public hearing; the exact number would be determined through consultation between the applicant and county staff.

The proposed text also adds a requirement that the mining department house a map illustrating whether parcels within phosphate‑mining areas are actively mined or in reclamation. Barnby said the map would be updated based on information provided in operators’ annual reports and that staff is still determining exactly how the map will be hosted and displayed to the public.

County staff noted that annual reports arrive on two different schedules; staff described five reports submitted on Aug. 15 and two submitted on Oct. 15 and said the map updates would be tied to those annual filings. A planning board member asked whether the phrase “updated periodically” meant more frequent updates than once a year; staff replied the map would be updated based on the annual reports and that, at present, the update cadence is annual because of the report schedule.

After discussion and questions from board members, a planning board member moved to recommend approval of planning application 25‑76 (ordinance 2025‑09) to the Board of County Commissioners. The motion was seconded and, following a voice vote, carried.

The board’s action is a recommendation; formal adoption requires a separate decision by the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners. The Planning and Zoning Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2025, at 6 p.m.