August 18, 2025 Regular BOCC Meeting: Planning and Zoning – Is Wakulla’s Rural Charm Under Threat?

Wakulla County residents, the Planning and Zoning items (15–19) on the August 18, 2025, BOCC agenda are a wake-up call for anyone worried about overdevelopment. Staff call these changes “consistent” with county plans, but with community frustration boiling over, are these projects preserving our rural charm or paving the way for sprawl?

Items 15 and 16 rezone parcels (2.85 and 11.76 acres) near Crawfordville Highway and Ivan Church Road from residential to Low Intensity Commercial (LIC). These shifts enable more businesses, potentially clogging roads and straining infrastructure. Item 17 is the big one: a 48.37-acre land use change from Agriculture to Suburban Transitioning, allowing 216 townhomes near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Road. That’s a huge jump from 2 units, despite a 2017 study saying current density is enough through 2035. Wetlands, gopher tortoises, and traffic concerns add red flags, and sewer extensions could invite more growth.

Item 18 tweaks the Land Development Code to allow administrative plat approvals, per a new state law (SB 784). This reduces BOCC oversight, potentially fast-tracking developments without public input. Item 19 closes part of Koch Street in Panacea, but with no details, it could favor private interests over community access, especially in a flood-prone area.Staff claim these align with the Comprehensive Plan, but residents see a pattern: rezonings and land use changes that fuel commercial and residential sprawl. Item 17 alone could transform Crawfordville’s rural feel, and less oversight (Item 18) might make it easier for developers to push projects through , however, the county has no control over state law. With traffic, schools, and environmental concerns already stretched, is this the “community good” we want?

What You Can Do: Demand transparency on Item 19’s purpose and question Item 17’s necessity given the 2017 analysis. Push for stricter development controls at the September 15 legislative workshop (Item 8). Check the County website for project details and submit written comments. Your voice matters—act now!