Hardee County board recommends changes to phosphate mining overlay after staff mapping and public comment

Hardee County planning staff and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council presented a county-initiated comprehensive plan amendment Nov. 6 proposing revisions to the phosphate mining overlay and the addition of a clearly mapped “no phosphate mining” area on Future Land Use Map 2. After staff presentation and public comment, the board recommended approval to the Board of County Commissioners with the modifications staff presented.

Marissa Barbee (Central Florida Regional Planning Council) and Deb Butler (Hardee County Mining Department) said the update responds to a multi-year mapping and cleanup process intended to better reflect where phosphate mining has occurred, where it is occurring and where it may occur in the future. Staff described two related components: (1) a text amendment to clarify the overlay district’s purpose and definitions (including a definition for “phosphate mining” and a definition for “no phosphate mining areas”), and (2) a map amendment to Future Land Use Map 2 that shows the phosphate mining overlay and the no-mining area.

Staff presented acreage figures on the map: the current phosphate mining overlay was described as about 153,614 acres; the proposed phosphate overlay would be about 136,350 acres; and the proposed no-phosphate-mining area was described as about 196,109 acres. Staff said the detailed, parcel-level mining status map will be updated annually and made available on the mining department’s website.

Staff also explained they sent letters to property owners identified for addition or removal from the overlay. At one point staff said three property owners asked to be removed; staff later said five property owners, comprising six parcels, were removed during final cleanup. Commenters on Nov. 6 reported they had received letters late or raised questions about notice. Staff told residents the overlay itself does not authorize mining; any actual mine permit, road closure, or right-of-way change would require its own public permitting process with notice to adjacent property owners.

Several residents who spoke at the hearing raised concerns about adjacent mining’s potential impacts on agricultural operations, property values, well water and access easements. Thomas Petro, a local farmer, said offers to buy land can be affected by overlay designations and described wells and water-quality worries; Renee Bass asked how adjacent mining might affect cattle operations and property values. Staff and the mining department responded that those concerns would be addressed in future permitting processes and encouraged residents to meet with mining department staff for parcel-specific questions.

A board member moved to recommend approval of the comprehensive plan text and map amendments as indicated by staff; after a second the board voted in favor and the board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for public hearings and final action.