What is the purpose of the Urban Form Focus Group?
Background
The Long Range Planning Division partnered with Polk Vision to sponsor a community dialogue on growth issues, and this process yielded a set of “Quality Growth Strategies” to guide growth and help shape Polk’s future. The Board of County Commissioners has adopted these growth strategies as part of the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) – a document that outlines proposed changes to the Polk County Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
Staff will pursue the implementation of the “Quality Growth Strategies” as part of EAR-based amendments to the Comprehensive Plan due in December 2010. These growth strategies include a number of initiatives that are intended to shape the growth and urban form of our communities. An incentive-based approach will be employed to encourage:
- Healthy communities;
- Green building and development practices;
- Walkable communities;
- Core transit corridors and multi-modal travel options;
- Mixed-use development; and
- Increased building heights
Purpose
The Urban Form Focus Group provides a forum to consider proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code based on the Quality Growth Strategies. The Urban Form Group is comprised of stakeholders from a broad cross-section of the community.
All Focus Group meetings are advertised and open to the public. The meetings are also broadcast live via PGTV using webinar technology. Below is a link to a 2009 Meeting Schedule. Additionally, past meetings are also available below for viewing. If you have any questions or would like to participate in future meetings, please contact John Bohde at johnbohde@polk-county.net or 863.534.6473.
Let Us Know What You Think 
During this process there will be many opportunities for the public to participate and provide input. If you would like to participate in the Workgroup Committee, ask a question or make a comment on the process, please fill out the Public Comment Form.
If you would like to be notified of upcoming workgroup committee, public meetings or receive updates on this process, please sign-up for email updates.
Urban Form Focus Group - Meeting Schedule
All meetings will be announced on this website and open to any interested citizens to attend.
All meeting facilities are ADA compliant. For additional assistance, please call us.
Upcoming Meetings and Meeting Schedule
Past Meeting Videos
Videos on Demand by PGTV
Past Meeting Materials
Healthy Communities Meeting
Green Building Practices
Connectivity
Rural Development
Transit Supportive Development Area
Transit Corridors and Centers
Housing Opportunities, Mixed Land Uses and Civic Centers
Sustainable Polk Workshop
Residential Densities - Maximum and Minimum
Draft Policies
Draft Comprehensive Plan Policies are based on the Urban Form Focus Group (UFFG) topics/discussions to date.