BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA

C. EXISTING TEXT/POLICIES: See Attachment #1
PCT130113 Thornton Road
D. PROPOSED TEXT/POLICIES: Attachment #1 includes all proposed amendments in
legislative format and provides staff notes describing each change.
E. APPLICANT’S REASON FOR THE AMENDMENT:
The proposed text amendment to the Critical Area Plan for the Welaunee Toe changes the
road access from Arendell Way to Thornton Road and implements City Commission
direction provided on October 24, 2012.
F. STAFF ANALYSIS
History
1. In December of 2005, the City Commission approved the purchase of approximately 428 acres of
Welaunee Plantation property to facilitate the routing of the Eastern Transmission Line. Under the
purchase agreement and consistent with the Comprehensive Plan Critical Area Plan, the City had
certain obligations, including the development of a Stormwater Facilities Master Plan (SFMP). The
SFMP was approved by the City Commission in May of 2011. As a result of the work required to
support the SFMP, the decision was made to also seek approval of a Planned Unit Development
(PUD) for this property.
2. During the City’s work on developing the PUD application, there were significant discussions
with respect to access to the City’s property from Miccosukee Road. Under the terms of the
purchase agreement, the City has rights to cross the Miccosukee Greenway at Edenfield Road and
Arendell Way. One option that was identified to enhance the access to the property and address
certain concerns identified was to relocate the Arendell Way connection to Thornton Road
(“Thornton Road Extension”). This option provided the following benefits.
a) Addresses the concerns of the Arendell Hills Neighborhood Association with respect to
traffic loading in their subdivision if the Arendell Way connection were developed.
b) Addresses an inconsistency in the long range mobility plan that calls for the extension of
Thornton Road from Mahan to Centerville, not Arendell Way.
c) Results in fewer impacts to the canopy along Miccosukee Road. This is the result of less tree
removal in the canopy road zone at the Thornton Road extension location versus the original
access easement location at Arendell Way.
d) Provides for enhanced regional mobility that will be supportive of a potential new I-10
interchange on the City’s property to connect with the new Welaunee Boulevard.
3. The relocation of the Arendell Way access point requires the approval of the State of Florida
Board of Trustees for the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (TIITF) since the relocation impacts
state lands (the Miccosukee Canopy Road Greenway).
4. At the time the Thornton Road extension was proposed, several stakeholder groups indicated
some concerns with the proposal. These stakeholder groups included the Miccosukee Canopy Road
Greenway Citizens Committee (MCRG), the Southern Trailriders Association (STR) and the North
Page 408 of 622 Posted at 5:00 p.m. on April 1, 2013
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Attachment #14
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