What is the Zapata County Master Plan?
 

The Zapata County Master Plan will be a "blueprint" that provides guidance on where and how Zapata County, Texas will grow in the years to come.  It will consist of maps, policy statements, goals and objectives addressing a number of issues relating to growth, housing, economic development, transportation, environment, parks and open space, aesthetics, community character, and historic preservation and conservation.
 

How will the Zapata County Master Plan's goals and policies be implemented?
 

The Zapata County Master Plan will be a general policy document to guide the development of the community. The community entities and agencies will coordinate efforts with Zapata County Authorities to validate and enforce each of the goals and objectives outlined in the document.  Zapata County leaders and residents will have to work together in implementing the Zapata County Master Plan. The Zapata County Master Plan will also include an Implementation Element to provide a “roadmap” as to how the goals and policies should be implemented.
 

Will the Zapata County Master Plan include zoning and community ordinances?

Zoning and community ordinances consist of both a Zoning Map and a written ordinance that divides the community into zoning districts, including various residential, commercial, and industrial districts. The zoning regulations describe what type of land use and specific activities are permitted in each district, and also regulate how buildings, signs, parking and other construction may be placed on a lot. The zoning regulations also provide for the procedures for rezoning and other planning applications.

The zoning map and zoning regulations provide the property “entitlements” to development, while the Zapata County Master Plan provides a guide for the future development of the property. When changing the zoning of a particular property, it must be consistent with the Zapata County Master Plan Land Use Map. That is to say, that ideally the Zapata County Master Plan Land Use Map should guide future re-zoning decisions.
 

Why is the County using outside consultants to help with the Zapata County Master Plan process?

The master plan consultants have the expertise to develop a work plan, solicit public participation, develop a professional document, and provide implementation strategies. They specialize in this kind of work and bring new ideas and methods to the process.

Zapata County's departments are not staffed to complete occasional major special projects such as this. Thus the Zapata County Economic Development Center has taken the lead on assisting the County in such important task.  It is more economical and fiscally responsible to hire consultants on a short-term basis than to staff county departments to complete all required work. The County will be dedicating a significant amount of staff time under the current work program to complete the Zapata County Master Plan.

The consultants bring a “fresh perspective” to the process.
 

How long will it take to adopt the Zapata County Master Plan?
 

It is anticipated that the planning process will be completed by December 2006, with a final review of the plan by the Zapata County Economic Development Center Board of Directors. This schedule accounts for significant citizen participation through the process and analysis of various alternative plans prior to final adoption.
 

How does other County Departments, Community Agencies and Organizations relate to this process?

As the Zapata County Master Plan process unfolds, each organization and entity will be included in each step of the process.  Through collaboration and communication, everyone's work, ideas and suggestions will be interrelated and adopted.