The Coastal Area Management Act was one of the first efforts in the country to combine local-level planning with state-level regulations to protect natural resources. In 1974 the authors of CAMA realized that a regulatory program alone would not effectively address long-term coastal management concerns. Incorporating local planning into the act was seen as the best method for addressing long-term general development issues in coastal communities, and also offered local governments a substantial role in coastal management. By 1997, 72 coastal cities and towns had joined the 20 CAMA counties in adopting land-use plans.

Despite the land-use planning program's success, it fell under criticism in recent years. Environmentalists were concerned that the state program did not go far enough to protect coastal resources. Local governments felt that they should have more autonomy in their planning. Critics on both sides of the issue complained about complicated guidelines, one-size-fits-all regulations, lack of implementation of local plans, and inadequate public participation and understanding of the planning program.

The controversy over land-use planning came to the forefront in September 1998 when the CRC did not approve the Sunset Beach Land-Use Plan. At about the same time, Division of Coastal Management leadership presented the possibility of a land-use planning moratorium to the chairman Coastal Resources Commission and DCM staff. This group worked together to develop a proposal for the CRC to consider at its next meeting.

At the CRC meeting in November 1998, DCM staffers proposed a two-year moratorium on the development of new or updated land-use plans. The proposal included: 1) a moratorium on new (and updated) plans starting in 1998, which affected 16 local governments; 2) a recommendation to allow local governments already in the planning process to choose whether to take their plans forward to the CRC; and 3) an internal committee to review the land-use planning program and guidelines. The CRC approved the proposal but changed the makeup of the review committee. The commission authorized a Review Team of external experts, instead of DCM staff, to review the program. The team was appointed by the chairs of the CRC and CRAC and DCM Director Donna Moffitt.

The Review Team met frequently from March 1999 through July of 2000. It worked to develop recommendations to restructure the existing planning program into one that would address concerns about CAMA planning and better support the goals of the act. The CRC accepted the team's report in September 2000 and used it as a guide in drafting new land-use planning rules.

Review team members
Land-Use Planning Review Team's report to the CRC (in PDF format; requires Acrobat Reader)