BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA

Laurie Dozier
Given that I am not an engineer, a land planner, a geologist, a biologist, etc. the
comments below are mainly observations based on what I've heard or read and personal
opmwns.
What I've heard or read:
-There are 450,000 acres in the City (or was it the County?)
-There are only 1,800 acres of severe slopes
-There are only 17,000 acres of significant slopes (of which 50% are currently allowed to
be developed)
-Development of over 50% of significant slopes is allowed for urban infill and to create
new high wage jobs
-Off-site mitigation is allowed
-Everything in Zoe's comments
My Thoughts
-If we are currently allowed to develop 50% of significant slopes on any site, are allowed
to develop property with significant slopes if we have off-site mitigation and are allowed
to develop more than 50% of significant slopes for urban in-fill or high paying jobs then
the limitation on developing significant slopes seems to me to be based on feel-good
notions rather than science.
-Zoe, while I understand and appreciate all that you have written, it seems to me that your
comments apply to all property. Clearly, any development, regardless of topography, is a
great step-down for the environment. It seems that the unique features of greater slopes
is the soil type and the velocity - the more clay in the soil + the greater velocity of run-off
= increased erosion. Since we are talking about developing property, not clearing it
alone, the difference in steeper slopes seems to be controlling the run-off during
construction. While I know first hand how improbable it is to design temporary controls
for our 6" storm events, I would guess, given the limited number of acres in play, that the
blowouts on properties with steep slopes, however great, would be significantly less than
the combined flatter properties being developed.
-I would hope that property which currently can not be developed is not being taxed at
the level of developable land, if it is, then I believe we owe those tax payers a refund.
So, what do I think?
Given:
-That significant slopes can already be developed
-That there is a very small amount of land designated as severely sloped
-That we expect development to continue in our community
-That we are talking only about land in the City limits
Page 586 of 622 Posted at 5:00 p.m. on April 1, 2013