An Acronym Primer for Lake County
(in alphabetical order)

BofA -- Board of Adjustment. Appointed by the BCC to hear citizens seeking a variance from a LDR in the interest of fairness or substantial hardship.

BCC -- Board of County Conmissioners.  Lake County is divided into 5 districts, based on approximate equal population.  Commissioners are elected countywide  but they must live in the district they represent.

Comp Plan -- Comprehensive Plan.  The GMA calls for each government entity such as a county or a city to have their own Comprehensive Growth Management Plan.  Amendments must meet the guideline of the local plan and the GMA as reviewed by DCA.

CUP This acronym has two meanings and needs to be taken in context. For water use it means Consumptive Use Permit.  The WMD's issue CUP'S for all withdrawals from the aquifer or surface water bodies except domestic wells 4" or less in diameter. For zoning and land use purposes CUP means Conditional Use Permit and it is issued by various governmental entities as county, city, WMD or DEP.  The CUP attaches conditions under which a property or land use may operate, i.e. a mine, landfill, spray field, etc. Often it is designed to mitigate unpleasant activity which would blight neighbors. Usually both versions of CUP'S have a limited time and can be. reviewed, renewed, modified and enforced by the permitting agency.

DCA -- Deportment of Community Affairs.  State agency charged with administering the GMA.  Secretary of DCA appointed by the Governor and is a Cabinet member.

DEP or FDEP -- Florida Deportment of Environmental Protection. State agency charged with environmental protection through rules and regulations.  Enforcement authority, but more recently, offers planning to prevent pollution, too. Secretary is appointed by the Governor and is a Cabinet member.

DRI -- Development of Regional Inpact.  The dividing threshold for a DRI is 800 or more dwelling units and then it must be reviewed by the Regional Planning Council for impact on an area larger than a county or municipality.

du/A -- Dwelling units per acre. A term used in specifying the housing density in zoning or development matters, i.e.  4du/A is 4 dwelling units per 1 acre or 1du/5A is 1 dwelling unit per 5 acres.

EAR -- Evaluation & Appraisal Report.  A local review of each entity's Comp Plan at 5 year intervals which must pass DCA's muster and be "found sufficent".

ECFRPC -- East Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Lake County is grouped with other counties to the east in this council and has both county and municipal representatives.  Had more power in the past, but now reviews larger developments and provides data, conflict resolution and growth management services to all interests

EPAB -- Environmental Protection Advisory Board Members are appointed by the Lake County BCC to advise them on environmental matters.

FWC -- Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. Aren't you glad they shortened it up?  Used to be the Florida Freshwater Fish and Game Commission and the Florida Marine Fish Commission and the two are now combined.

GMA -- The Growth Management Act. The law in Florida designed to guide development and make for sustainable communities.

MGD -- Millions of Gallons per Day. Term describing water usage as to how much is pumped from the aquifer or a water surface body. Also describes water flow as from a spring or a river past a point.

LCWA -- Lake County Water Authority. Established by state statute.  Until 2000, guided by a three-member Board appointed by the Governor. Recent legislation changes the Board to seven members elected by Lake County voters, 5 seats are one from each district and 2 seats are at large.

LDR’s Land Development Regulations. Where the rubber hits the road in land use decisions. These are the rules that delineate and enact any Comp Plan and guide development.

LPA -- Land Planning Agency (LPA) In Lake County, another name for the Planning and Zoning Board

LS&WCD -- Lake Soil & Water Conservation District. Florida is divided into conservation districts (as are other states in the U.S.). Federal legislation mandated these districts in 1937 in response to the “dustbowl” conditions.  Mainly served agriculture for many years; now the districts are serving a broader sphere in water and soil conservation. The Districts provide service to private property owners and coordinate efforts with other agencies and governmental units. Districts are guided by an elected Board of 5 people living within the Conservation District.

P&Z -- Planning & Zoning Board. Nine member board appointed by BCC. Reviews all zoning changes and make recommendations to the BCC. Also serve as local Land Planning Agency (LPA).

PUD -- Planned Unit Development. This type of development will be smaller than a DRI, but with considerable dwelling units and will be a planned design to best use a parcel to accommodate the zoning density, the LDR's and all other regulations

SJRWMD -- St. Johns River Water Management District. Florida is divided into five WMD's based on the major river basins. They are the SJRWMD, Southwest Florida WMD (also casually referred to as "SwiftMud"), South Florida WMD, Suwanee WMD and the North West Florida WMD. Each district has a 9 member board appointed by the Governor. Most of Lake County is in the Ocklawaha River Basin or the Wekiva River Basin of the SJRWMD with a small SW corner of the Green Swamp in SWFWMD.  Visit their site?

The following are the acronyms for local environmental organizations:

LCCC Lake County Conservation Council

OVAS Oklawaha Valley Audubon Society

TLNC Trout Lake Nature Center

ATPWR Alliance to Protect Water Resources

MDFOE Mt.  Dora Friends of the Environment

FNPS Florida Native Plant Society  Local chapter is Lake Beautyberry.

PEAR Palatlakaha Environmental & Agricultural Reserve

Lake County,
FL