Commission Meeting Agenda Item

In February 2022, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) governing board approved the Central Springs/East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan (CSEC RWSP). The CSEC RWSP contains an assessment of projected water demands and potential sources of water to meet these demands through 2040. In addition, the CSEC RWSP identifies project options and other solutions to meet the current and future water use needs of the region while ensuring the natural resources of the area are protected resources.

Chapter 163, Florida Statutes (F.S.), sets forth the requirement for local governments to adopt an updated Water Supply Facilities Work Plan and related comprehensive plan amendment within 18 months of governing board approval of the CSEC RWSP. For local governments within the CSEC RWSP planning area, updated Water Supply Facilities Work Plans and related comprehensive plan amendments should be adopted by August 2023.

The Town of Lady Lake’s Water Supply Facilities Work Plan was last adopted as part of a comprehensive plan amendment in 2011.

Mittauer & Associates, Inc. has prepared the Water Supply Facilities Work Plan for final consideration by the Town Commission at this time. The executive summary of the report states that using the current Consumptive Use Permit (CUP) as a reviewing metric with a 5% annualized growth trend, indicates the Town’s current permitted allocation of 1.188 million gallons per day will be sufficient until approximately 2027/2028.

Failure to adopt the required updates to the Water Supply Facilities Work Plan and related comprehensive plan amendments by August 2023 may result in the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) barring consideration and acceptance of any comprehensive plan amendments and/or future land use map amendments until the Water Supply Facilities Work Plan has been adopted.

On Thursday, July 6, 2023, the proposed amendment package was transmitted via email to the Florida Department of Commerce (formerly known as the Department of Economic Opportunity) as well as the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, the Department of State, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, and the St. Johns River Water Management District, Lake County School Board, Sumter County Board of County Commissioners, and the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Responses without objection or requests for modifications were received from the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and the St. Johns River Water Management District.

On Friday, August 4, 2023, the Florida Department of Commerce issued a letter that the proposed comprehensive plan amendment for the Town of Lady Lake (Amendment Number 23-01ESR) was reviewed under the expedited review process and they had no comment on the proposed amendment. At this time, Growth Management staff is recommending approval of the second and final reading of Ordinance 2023-10 (Amendment Number 23-01ESR), with no changes from the proposed amendment package submitted on July 6, 2023.