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Okeechobee commissioners approve $124,000 consultant work to update comprehensive plan, add industrial overlay and higher densities
Summary
The board authorized a $124,000 work authorization to update the county comprehensive plan, transportation element and expand industrial overlay and density designations, with a schedule aimed for completion in 2025 and a nine‑month timeline.
The Okeechobee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 13 to authorize a $124,000 work authorization for consultant services to update the county comprehensive plan, including transportation element updates and proposed increases to industrial overlay acreage and residential densities in select locations.
Planning staff told commissioners the scope includes: a statutory review to ensure the plan aligns with current law, an updated transportation element including levels of service, and amendments to expand industrial overlay areas and convert some future‑land‑use designations (rural estate/agriculture) to higher densities to support anticipated economic activity. The scope presented to the board estimated the project would be completed during 2025, with a nine‑month schedule outlined in the work authorization.
Wade Royce, presenting the item as county planning staff, said the consultant scope covers the elements necessary to support proposed future land‑use changes and transportation updates. "We have a scope of work from our consultant that provides ongoing services to, first of all, to do some transportation updates. That's necessary to support the other updates we're looking at," Royce said on the record.
Commissioner Burrows moved to transfer $124,000 from reserves to the Planning and Zoning contracted services account and to approve the work authorization; Commissioner Sumner seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioners asked the consultant to meet with the board early in the project to gather input, to host in‑person meetings in Okeechobee rather than relying solely on remote sessions, and to provide interim materials for the board to review before final drafts are prepared. Staff said the scope will include a breakout of costs and a schedule and that planning would return to the board with a formal work authorization and budget transfer for execution.
The board also directed staff to ensure public engagement and to coordinate with affected stakeholders during the drafting process.
