An Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) is a report
that evaluates how the County is doing in terms of
implementing long-term growth management objectives and
policies within the Comprehensive Plan. Every seven to
ten years, the County prepares an EAR that evaluates the
success in addressing major community issues through the
Comprehensive Plan and identifies recommendations for
revisions and updates of the Plan. The EAR is an
opportunity to collect data and analysis, public input
and recommendations for change that will guide Marion
County's growth over the next 25 years. It's an
assessment of what we've accomplished, where we are
currently and where we need to go.
State Requirements
The Florida Department of Community Affairs (FDCA)
reviews comprehensive plans and amendments for
consistency with Chapter 163, Part II, Florida Statutes
(F.S.), the Growth Management Act, and issues reports on
its findings. For further information, visit
http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/EAR/index.cfm
According to the FDCA, Marion County's EAR had to be
adopted and transmitted by December 1, 2009. The Board
of County Commissioners adopted the EAR on
November 30, 2009, and is currently awaiting
FDCA's Finding of Sufficiency or a Finding of Not
Sufficient within 90 days after receiving the EAR.
Marion County will then have twelve (12) months to
submit and eighteen (18) months to adopt EAR-based plan
amendments. Please see Marion County's EAR & EAR-Based
Plan Amendments Schedule as it appears on Table 1.3.1 of
the submitted EAR.
Table 1.3.1: EAR and
EAR-Based Plan Amendments Schedule
Step in Process
Due Dates
Workshop(s) to prepare a list
of final issues and submit Letter of
Understanding to FDCA
Sept -
Oct 2008
Prepare first draft of EAR and
hold workshops with Advisory Boards and Planning
Commission
Oct 2008
-
July 2009
Public Hearings with Planning
Commission and County Commission on draft EAR
July -
Aug 2009
Transmit preliminary EAR to
FDCA (optional)
Sept 1,
2009
Receive comments from FDCA on
preliminary EAR (within 1 month after FDCA
receives)
Oct 1,
2009
Revise preliminary EAR and
prepare final EAR for adoption
Oct -
Nov 2009
Public Hearings with Planning
Commission and County Commission and adoption of
EAR
Nov 23
and 30, 2009
Transmit to FDCA and reviewing
agencies
Dec 1,
2009
Preliminary comments from FDCA
on sufficiency (2 months after FDCA receives
EAR)
Feb 1,
2010
Finding of Sufficiency or Not
Sufficient (within 3 months after FDCA receives
EAR)
March 1,
2010
Submit proposed EAR-based plan
amendments (within 12 months after Finding of
Sufficiency)
Apr 2010
-
Apr 2011
Adopt EAR-based plan
amendments (within 18 months after Finding of
Sufficiency)
Sept
2010 -
Sept 2011
Source: FDCA 2004
Public Participation
Extensive public participation has been a key factor in
the Marion County EAR process. The County Commission
held four workshops in 2007, four Community Vision
workshops in 2008, and a Scoping meeting held in early
2009. Staff held numerous Advisory Committee meetings in
2009 and the Planning Commission met once or twice each
month to review and comment on preliminary sections of
the EAR and receive citizen's comments. FDCA provided
expert planning assistance throughout the entire EAR
process and visited the County in January 2009. The list
of major issues was developed with input received from
all these meetings as well as from comments received
from state and local agencies.
