Evaluation and Appraisal Report 2011

What is the EAR?

Every local government in Florida is required to periodically assess its progress in implementing its Comprehensive Plan. This is to be accomplished through the preparation of an Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR). The next EAR for Palm Beach County is due to be adopted by October 1, 2011.

The EAR is the principle process for updating local comprehensive plan in preparation for the next planning period. The report identifies major local issues affecting the community’s ability to achieve its goals, and suggests how the plan should be revised to better address community objectives, changing conditions and trends, and changes in state growth management requirements. The specific corrective changes identified in the EAR are then made to the Plan in the 18 months following the adoption of the EAR.

Where are we in the EAR process?

In general, the preparation of the EAR involves an initial determination through a scoping meeting of the major issues to be assessed, and then an evaluation of the following:

Identification of major issues and their social, economic and environmental impacts
Assessment of the individual elements of the Comprehensive Plan, including

Element successes and shortcomings
Changes to state and regional planning policy since the last EAR
Whether Plan objectives, relative to major issues, have been achieved

Assessment of applicable specific topics identified in Florida Statutes

Presently, Palm Beach County has completed a voluntary scoping meeting to finalize the list of major issues, and is undertaking a series of issue meetings to explore each issue and options to address it. Concurrently, the assessments of the individual elements are also underway. These portions of the process are expected to be completed by the end of 2010.

How can you participate in the EAR Process?

The active participation and assistance of the community, including agencies and organizations affected by the Comprehensive Plan, will be necessary to ensure that the EAR is thorough and accurate, and that the recommended corrective actions included in the EAR are relevant and implementable.

The EAR process provides numerous opportunities for interested members of the community to participate, from the initial scoping meeting, through public meetings to explore issues, to public hearings of the Local Planning Agency and the Board of County Commissioners.