Land Use Polices and Zoning
The application for a gas station at Crump and Miccosukee has revealed that the policies and regulations that determine where commercial development can go are much much different than the residents of the County thought.
It’s time to change them.
The Land Use and Zoning policies and regulations determine whether Leon County and the City of Tallahassee become a community that is a car oriented sprawling one with little differentiation between suburban and rural or one with a much wider range of transportation, housing and development choices that clear distinguishes suburban development from open space, agriculture and rural villages.
But to do so, one has to understand what the policies and regulations are now and how they affect the rural area. With this knowledge in hand, we – the residents, public staff and County Commissioners – can craft policy that will support the rural land, lifestyle and the needs and wishes of all of the citizens of Leon County.
The choice is ours. This choice is expressed in the Comprehensive Plan policies and the way in which they are interpreted through the Land Development Code.
It starts here – The Future Land Use map (FLU): Future Land Use Map
It’s a very “busy” map, but it’s the one that shapes our neighborhoods and our experience of living here. It is also what has allowed this gas station to be proposed and receive a preliminary approval.
Notice the area designated “Rural” on this map. This is also the “Rural” zoning district. The intersection of Crump and Miccosukee is “Rural”.
There are many other parts of Leon County with the same designation. You know where they are – they look like your “neighborhood”: lots of open fields, crop land, farms, animals, houses scattered here and there, some clustered into developments. Lots of space, lots of open landscape and views. Lots of narrow roads, many unpaved. Lots of night dark sky, stars and the Milky Way!!
We hope you will take some time to look at the maps, read the attached documents. Find your parcel, your neighborhood on the maps, the road and see what the government policy for development actually is for your neck of the woods.
These are the topics:
1. Urban Services Area
2. Rural and Urban Fringe
3. Roadway Designation
3. Existing Conditions