Citrus County residents have an opportunity Monday, October 19, to weigh in on the county’s long-range growth plan at a final open house scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Lecanto Government Building. The county’s meeting notice identifies the session as a chance to review proposed policies and provide feedback.

The building is at 3600 W. Sovereign Path in Lecanto. County officials say the comprehensive plan will guide land use, infrastructure development and protection of natural resources. They have posted a draft of its goals, objectives and policies, together with supporting data and analysis, through the project link in the notice.

Monday’s workshop follows a year of outreach with planning consultant Inspire Placemaking Collective. The county reports collecting more than 1,400 surveys and hearing from hundreds of residents and other stakeholders through meetings and related activities. Those participation figures describe the county’s outreach; they do not establish agreement on every provision of the draft.

The choices extend beyond an individual zoning application or a single construction project. Under Florida’s planning statute, a comprehensive plan sets principles and strategies for a community’s economic, physical, environmental and fiscal development. Its policies guide how local programs and land-development regulations implement that direction.

The statute also calls for relevant data and analysis and procedures for evaluating implementation. That makes the supporting documents useful alongside the policy text: residents can examine what assumptions underpin a proposal, how infrastructure needs are described and how the county would assess progress.

In Spectrum reporting published Monday, Growth Management Director Eric Landon described an approach that encourages development where infrastructure is already available while discouraging it in rural or environmentally sensitive areas. The report identified the Suncoast Parkway corridor as an important part of that discussion and highlighted pressure on roads, schools and housing as the county grows.

That account helps explain the stakes for residents: deciding where additional development belongs also means examining which places can support it and which resources should be protected. A useful comment can identify a particular draft policy or location, explain the concern and suggest a change, rather than simply registering general support for or opposition to growth.

The county also invites written feedback at citrus2050@citrusbocc.gov. Its notice does not identify Monday’s open house as a final adoption vote, and this report does not establish when any individual draft provision will take effect. Residents should distinguish the opportunity to comment on proposed direction from an approval of a specific development.

The event details and participation figures come from county records; the broader growth context also draws on Spectrum’s reporting. TAQ has not independently evaluated every draft policy or projected infrastructure effect. Readers planning to attend should check the county notice for any changes before traveling.

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Feature image: AI-generated illustration; it does not depict an actual county map or meeting.