Polk County is hosting a series of Listening Sessions to review updates to the Polk County 2050 Comprehensive Plan and gather community input.
Join the conversation on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at AdventHealth Fieldhouse in Winter Haven.
The Polk County Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 1991, is a long-range document that helps guide the land development actions of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners through clearly stated goals, objectives and policies. These policies inform decision making and set the tone for growth and development. We are seeking public input to assist the team in the development of new goals, objectives and polices and to understand the community preferences and desires for the future of the county that leads to a prosperous Polk County for all residents.
On April 1, 2025, Polk County adopted a resolution to establish the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. This Committee will assist the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners with ensuring that the land development policies adopted in the County’s Comprehensive Plan align with the best interest of County residents, the public, and the Board’s vision for growth and development through 2050. This change has necessitated a change to the schedule and the deliverables for the project. This project has now been split into two phases, the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) Based Amendments (Phase 1) and the Full Comprehensive Plan Rewrite (Phase 2). To remain in compliance with State of Florida requirements, Phase 1 will include minor updates to the plan for statutory compliance. These proposed changes include statutory requirements and updates to the plan’s horizon year. Additionally, these changes will include required language for septic-to-sewer conversions, as well as updates to historic preservation policies. It is anticipated that Phase 1 will be transmitted by the Board of County Commissioners in July of 2025. On a parallel path, Phase 2 will be considered by the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee through the end of 2025. Once the Committee concludes its work, the recommendations and proposed policy language for the Full Comprehensive Plan Rewrite will be presented for transmittal and adoption in early to mid 2026. Please stay tuned to the Project Progress portion of this site, as it will be updated as dates are announced.
