Regional planning in East Central Florida was a product of the Space Age. Growth occurring around the Cape emphasized the need for inter-county cooperation in solving regional problems of transportation, water resources, housing, community facilities and preservation issues. Furthermore, statewide enabling legislation was passed in 1969, which allowed counties to join together for cooperative planning.
With the introduction of space exploration in the early 1960's, through President John F. Kennedy, what was once known as a sandy peninsula of land on Florida's East Coast was turned into the world's first spaceport. The impact of America's space program was felt throughout the country, but no area experienced it more than the six-county East Central Florida region. Multi-million dollar expenditures by the federal government generated rapid growth on an unprecedented scale in the vicinity of Cape Canaveral. While an endless market was being created in the region for rapid growth, local, state, and federal officials struggled to cope with the increasing demands for new public facilities and expanded services.
Awareness of the need to provide immediate guidance and direction for such explosive growth conditions resulted in the formation of the Joint Impact Coordination Committee in 1961. Membership consisted of representatives from the State of Florida, NASA and the Missile Test Center at Patrick Air Force Base. In the initial stages of development, the Committee stimulated a vigorous and effective program of assistance designed to relieve the most pressing impact problems, particularly those related to school, highway, hospital, and housing needs in Brevard County - home of the Cape.
However, in 1962, it became apparent that the activities of the space center were influencing more than a single county. The Joint Impact Committee supported by the Florida Development Commission and the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency recommended that a long-range planning advisory body be established. Thus, the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (ECFRPC) was formed in February of 1962.
Soon afterward in 1972, a system of regional agencies was first authorized with the passage of the Environmental Land and Water Management Act, and the subsequent Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act of 1975. At that point, the Regional Planning Councils were given a larger role and the authority to exercise responsibilities under specific state programs.
As such, Florida recognizes regional planning councils as the only multi-purpose regional entity that is positioned to plan for and coordinate strategies to address growth related issues on a greater-than-local level, provide technical assistance to agencies and organizations in the public, private and institutional sectors, and help communities function effectively in a regional environment.
In its 40-year history, the ECFRPC has assumed a variety of roles and responsibilities in response to the changing needs of the region, and the six counties it represents (Brevard, Seminole, Lake, Osceola, Orange and Volusia), roughly 2.8 million people. Through its many different programs and projects, the Regional Planning Council has been involved in important issues related to the region’s growth and development during the past four decades. As befitting a planning agency, its work has been and continues to be innovative - expanding the understanding of regional issues and challenging communities to explore new and creative ways of responding to them.
