Development Services

The purpose and intent of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report process is identified in Section 163.3191, F.S., where "each local government shall adopt an evaluation and appraisal report (EAR) once every seven years assessing the progress in implementing the local government's comprehensive plan."  Further, the purpose of the EAR is to conduct an audit of the comprehensive planning process. The report evaluates the community’s success addressing major community land use planning issues through implementation of its Comprehensive Plan, including the validity of the projections, the realization of the goals and objectives, and implementation of plan’s policies. Based on this evaluation, the EAR suggests how the plan should be revised to better address community objectives, changing conditions and trends affecting the community, and changes in state requirements.  Moreover, the law provides that the EAR process shall be the principal process for updating the comprehensive plan to respond to changes in state, regional, and local policies on planning and growth management, and changing conditions and trends, to ensure effective intergovernmental coordination, and to identify major issues regarding the community’s achievement of its goals. The EAR provides only recommendations for amending the comprehensive plan.