Comprehensive Plan Amendments

Cities and counties are required by law to adopt a comprehensive plan to guide future land use and growth decisions affecting the locality. The comprehensive plan is often likened to the constitution of the municipality or county, because all development orders and land use decisions must be consistent with and not contradict the comprehensive plan. If a proposed land use or development plan would be inconsistent with the existing comprehensive plan, the proponents of the use or plan often try to amend the comprehensive plan so that they can complete their project. The decision to amend the comprehensive plan, often made by the city council or governing board of the governmental unit, can be challenged in administrative proceedings before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) or in many cases the circuit court. Our lawyers have handled myriad such challenges and understand the legal complexities of challenging these types of decisions.