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Malabar planning board hears state‑required comprehensive plan update; agrees to preserve rural character
Summary
Consultants from Kimley‑Horn told the Malabar Planning & Zoning Board that a state‑required Evaluation and Appraisal Report finds the town largely residential with capacity to meet 10–20 year projections; the board agreed to keep Recreation/Open Space zoning and requested a full strike‑through draft and map color updates for further review.
The Malabar Planning and Zoning Board on Jan. 28 heard a presentation from Kimley‑Horn consultants on a state‑required Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for the town’s Comprehensive Plan, and reached consensus to preserve the town’s rural residential character while updating technical elements.
Kimley‑Horn’s Ms. Sri told the board the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity notified the town that an EAR was required and that Florida jurisdictions generally complete an EAR roughly every seven years to ensure consistency with state statutes. She said the firm’s initial review shows most of Malabar is residential and rural and that the town’s holding capacity meets 10‑ to 20‑year projection requirements. The consultants said projections were based on U.S. Census and Florida Commerce data and do not currently incorporate zoning‑district capacity calculations.
Town Manager Lisa Morrell characterized the findings as positive for Malabar’s long‑term character. “This is a positive update, as the Town can keep its intended rural lifestyle,” she said.
Kimley‑Horn outlined several recommended plan edits: removing or relocating hard‑dated items from the Comprehensive Plan, treating the Data Inventory & Analysis (DIA) as a separate, updateable document, clarifying that Malabar does not operate its own impact fee program (references should point to the County program), and revising coordination language that now implies the town would complete coordinated projects alone. The consultants also said new state guidance will require impact fees to be proportionate and that language reflecting that requirement should be added.
On housing, Ms. Sri said recent state policy encourages greater availability of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and that the EAR will include optional, locally tailored rules to allow ADUs while preserving large‑lot, limited‑sewer areas. Board members asked how a potential extension of water along Malabar Road would affect population projections; Ms. Sri replied the projections would not change absent a major economic shift.
The board discussed zoning categories for parks and cemeteries. Ms. Sri advised that cemeteries be classified as Institutional and that the town may either retain a distinct Recreation/Open Space (OS/R) district or treat OS/R uses as Institutional; the board reached consensus to include OS/R in the EAR update. Members also asked the consultant to update map color standards; Kimley‑Horn said it would return to the board with a full strike‑through draft of recommended changes.
The EAR presentation focused on compliance and technical edits rather than policy reversals; no ordinance or formal adoption occurred at the meeting. Kimley‑Horn will provide a strike‑through draft for review and the board will consider further revisions before forwarding materials to council.
