In 1988, our County Commission adopted a plan to create a database of all the land in Martin County. In 1992, this was approved in an update to our Comprehensive Plan. This database has yet to be achieved.

Initially, it was not an urgent situation. We had a lot of land. Our county had physical records that could be compiled, over time and with a great deal of effort, so we coasted along "doing it as we had always done it in the past." No one could foresee the population growth we have experienced.

As we have seen from the school district's recent search for a new high school site, the county's information proved to be woefully insufficient. The land within our urban services boundary is becoming scarce, and the need for such services as new schools, larger fairgrounds, more fire stations, etc. is becoming more urgent. It is evident that a geographic information system (GIS) would be of great benefit in planning for the future of our county.

In 2001, our Property Appraiser's Office began to create this type of database and has it well under control. We are happy to report that they have begun working with our county government to perfect the information required to create a dependable, reliable system. This is a very important, but time-consuming program. They start by putting all land parcels, streets, parks, lots, subdivisions, utilities, drainage, etc. into the new system.

This should be useable and available on the web next year. When completed, the new system will produce accurate information on each and every piece of land within the county, including Stuart, Jupiter Island, Sewall's Point and Ocean Breeze Park, as well as the rest of the county. We will be able to determine lot sizes, zoning, land use, addresses, what is on the property -- all this information without the need to hire outside consultants, as was done recently in a study performed by an Orlando group of Martin County's vacant and rural lands.

We congratulate the property appraiser and the commission for their cooperative attitude in solving a long-time and expensive problem. The system will need to be constantly updated to make sure of the continuing efficacy of this program, and due to the type of information required to do so, we recommend the responsibility be left in the hands of the property appraiser.

These articles, which are prepared by Taxpayers Association members working together, appear on this page on alternate Saturdays. Your comments, ideas or questions are welcome. Call or fax 288-0474 or write to P.O. Box 741, Stuart 34995. E-mail admin@mctaxpayers.org or visit the Web site mctaxpayers.org.