BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA

Attachment #1
Page 2 of 13
major criterion for approval shall be the continued functioning, with minimum disturbances, of the
ecosystem, which the development is impacting. For significant grades only, off-site mitigation may be
approved under criteria to be included in land development regulations that allow development of a site
with significant grades, and where net environmental benefit can be demonstrated via both enhanced
mitigation measures on-site and protective measures at an external site.
Staff Note: The text above is proposed for removal to eliminate the City provision that allows off-site
mitigation for impacts to significant grades. The provision is not needed if the Plan is amendment to
limit grade protections to outside the Urban Service Area, as the vast majority of the City is inside the
Urban Service Area.
Conservation area development criteria are as follows:
a) Altered floodplains and floodways—Development will be allowed in these areas as long as it
does not impede water flow or displace volume (development will be allowed at the density
consistent with the land use category). Density can be transferred out of these areas at a density
reflective of the density permitted by the existing land use category.
b) Altered watercourses and improved elements of the primary drainage system—No
development allowed in these areas, development density will be transferred out of these areas
at a density reflective of the density permitted by the existing land use category.
c) Altered Wetlands (City of Tallahassee Only) - May only be used for a stormwater treatment
facility if wetlands are degraded. Design of any stormwater facility shall result in the reestablishment
of the undisturbed portion of the wetland.
d) Closed basins—These areas will be permitted to develop only to the extent that there is
sufficient stormwater capacity within the basin. Development will be permitted reflective of
the density allowed by the existing land use category.
e) Significant grade areas (10-20%)- The intent of protecting sloped areas of ten percent and
above is to maintain local topography, prevent erosion, protect water quality, and maintain
existing vegetation. However, in order to help direct development and growth to inside the
Urban Service Area and further the protection of lands outside of the Urban Service Area,
significant grade regulations are not required by the Comprehensive Plan within the Urban
Service Area. Land development regulations may provide protection appropriate for more
compact urban development inside the Urban Service Area for significant grades near wetlands,
water bodies, watercourses, floodways, floodplain, and karst. The density and intensity of the
proposed land use and its resulting impervious or disturbed area should be suitable for the site.
It is not the intent of this policy to regulate man made slopes.
Areas outside the Urban Service Area shall be regulated by this policy and Ddevelopment will
be allowed at a density reflective of the density permitted by the existing land use category.
Development density can be transferred to areas that are not environmentally sensitive at the
density allowed by the existing land use category. It is not the intent of this policy to regulate
man made slopes. Development outside the Urban Service Area will be permitted provided the
following are done:
Page 355 of 622 Posted at 5:00 p.m. on April 1, 2013