[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6118314,"mediaKeyId","2724571-cc4ec3f4010934768184dc8efae35bfc","parentId",2724571,"title","Leon County reviews Southside Action Plan status, highlights sewer, housing and transit work","audioSeconds",392,"startMs",0,"endMs",392000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2724571-cc4ec3f4010934768184dc8efae35bfc&start=0&end=392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2724571-cc4ec3f4010934768184dc8efae35bfc/thumbnail_0.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6118314/Leon-County/Florida/Leon-County-reviews-Southside-Action-Plan-status-highlights-sewer-housing-and-transit-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6118314-1f162e7ff8233a938cf8735ad8dbc4b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185677&Signature=U2VFB09ujXJwTuiqerWF1OCQtI6o8u19rLPIAukHZLyNIPlCeE4vh5RK2xLQta~vBHqiLJBqnlMyKpIraV-733f1d4AJ1XrcCaxklEEW7Ri6qSH~td-x29XOc1ceVbOYocuc-AKuUoXM6Zwoey6BwBgUSI~KEGiIvLhNO-PMDjZuUFu3lqJ5pnCUP-AlLptq8JeKQ6CCtw2e3OOOo66mFBvT1QDtv3Bny-QsbmcYF3dy~t18OtIyib9LBn5uSJadf-Gt3yAuWkI7cFQ6ig6leoPybWyceM-6yhFrZDUW2mVJ0Qb97AWsFtneRLena~b4bS3zbqY~qHaGSOU12nm38A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Leon County, FL","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Leon County commissioners received a status update on the Southside Action Plan during a workshop session where staff outlined priorities including sewer expansion, affordable housing, anti-gentrification measures and transit options.

The presentation said the Southside Action Plan covers about 14,323 acres, of which roughly 81% lies inside incorporated city limits and 19% is in unincorporated Leon County. Staff told commissioners that the area has attracted more than $1,130,000,000 in investment across infrastructure, affordable housing and commercial projects.

The update put sewer expansion at the center of implementation plans. County staff summarized three delivery methods: City of Tallahassee’s master sewer planning, county-led septic-to-sewer conversion projects, and private development that installs sewer lines when parcels redevelop. County staff reported completed or underway projects that will convert septic-served homes in primary spring protection zones to sewer, listing Woodville Heights/Anna Wood Bel Air phases 1 and 2 complete, Northeast Lake Munson near completion and Woodville Sewer Project Phase 1 under construction. When the listed projects are finished, staff said, 709 homes currently on septic within the Primary Springs protection zone will gain sewer service.

Staff also said the county and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have allocated $18,100,000 for the next phase of the Woodville work and that the overall program to convert septic systems totals more than $63,000,000 in investment. Staff noted Connect to Protect grant assistance will reduce the individual homeowner cost by about $13,000 per household.

On housing, staff described three complementary strategies: direct county investment in projects such as Columbia Gardens; policy tools and incentives created or approved by the board; and support for innovative housing types. The board in 2023 passed an ordinance easing implementation of accessory dwelling units, and staff cited a planned unit development (PUD) for a tiny-home community now at 130 tiny homes, with a recent PUD amendment allowing 200 multifamily units to supplement the tiny-home site.

To limit displacement and mitigate gentrification, staff recommended a mix of public investment, land-use controls and placemaking: allowing incremental density increases rather than abrupt upzoning, investing in transportation and walkability to reduce household transportation costs, and minority- and women-owned small business enterprise programs tied to public contracts so neighborhood residents share economic gains.

On transit, staff said they had consulted StarMetro. StarMetro’s current focus is optimizing existing routes; route expansions would be assessed by comparing nearby existing routes, projected ridership, population densities and connections to employment and activity centers. The agency would analyze start-up and ongoing operational costs to determine feasibility for an extended route such as service to Woodville.

The board accepted the status update as a workshop action; commissioners asked staff to return with more detail on several topics in future sessions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners Workshop - Southside Action Plan - February 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Leon County commissioners received a status update on the Southside Action Plan during a workshop session where staff outlined priorities including sewer expansion, affordable housing, anti-gentrification measures and transit options.","taxTitle","Leon County, Florida","taxId",2870,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6118304,"Commissioners seek joint workshop with Tallahassee on Pensacola Street after recent shootings and homelessness concerns",2289,3061000,5350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2724571-cc4ec3f4010934768184dc8efae35bfc&start=3061&end=5350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2724571-cc4ec3f4010934768184dc8efae35bfc/thumbnail_3061000.jpg","/articles/6118304/Leon-County/Florida/Commissioners-seek-joint-workshop-with-Tallahassee-on-Pensacola-Street-after-recent-shootings-and-homelessness-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6118304-6c9cc43066b8866c763e6991c3a475ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185677&Signature=TY6DI204Wv0qQjyS09osbOQK8JYsfEmgdD4t0W-oBscJw5Pv6Ljg1TSoXdbkzpZE0jrhD5cVBb~RUfbtoB4Yicb5x0-gmkQ5SXEr14nJCFsl4FKf2ifK-TQ5Jqnop1O5txLfRprKUMlg~2usLLE092ZoyTRtwON6SDAIhAhk5kxOsxX91U5~qa1H0i5i50a3u-Gz~CnUK81Hl~VjVRPyZl4L5FtR60rR3oPcPmlwL6U6UP3BbvT6yFysRPOQ7o9EDX4tnuf58zMZs4a2vWlWd-0wrgENl9JgidRvIAa~eC4JU7PgWloDnu4ILkm5FS6svXQq62jfRQJ9kxQEVNEcDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners amended a motion on the Southside Action Plan to request a joint Pensacola Street corridor workshop with the City of Tallahassee after Commissioner Caban described recent violent incidents and urged coordinated action.

Commissioner Caban said three shootings had occurred since the board last discussed the corridor: a double homicide on Pensacola Street, a shooting on the Tallahassee State College campus that originated on or near Pensacola Street, and another shooting near Mabry Street. Caban framed the problem as larger than nuisance activity tied to homelessness and called for staff and stakeholders to develop actionable responses. “I don’t have the solution,” Caban said, “but I want us to find a solution,” and proposed a Pensacola Street advisory board of local stakeholders.

Commissioners and staff discussed jurisdictional limits: much of the corridor lies within the City of Tallahassee and some portions are on state roads, so city cooperation would be required for zoning or many physical changes. County staff and several commissioners recommended first requesting a joint workshop with the city to ensure coordinated action and to avoid asking county staff to create plans the city could not implement.

County Administrator Vince Mistrier and planning staff confirmed the Big Bend Continuum of Care is working on a corridor plan focused on homelessness and that planning staff had been coordinating on zoning and corridor issues. Commissioners agreed to add to the workshop motion a directive that staff invite the City of Tallahassee to a joint Pensacola Street corridor workshop; the amended motion passed unanimously as part of the broader Southside Action Plan actions and will be ratified at a subsequent regular meeting.

Commissioners said they expect the joint workshop to identify jurisdictional responsibilities, existing and proposed interventions relating to homelessness and public safety, and any subsequent committee or working-group structure to pursue coordinated steps.","Following reports of multiple recent shootings and ongoing homelessness-related issues on Pensacola Street, Leon County commissioners amended the Southside Action Plan motion to invite the City of Tallahassee to a joint Pensacola Street corridor workshop to pursue coordinated responses.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6118309,"Leon County moves forward on $30 million Blueprint fairgrounds project; lease renegotiation, plan amendment authorized",680,968000,1648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2724571-cc4ec3f4010934768184dc8efae35bfc&start=968&end=1648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2724571-cc4ec3f4010934768184dc8efae35bfc/thumbnail_968000.jpg","/articles/6118309/Leon-County/Florida/Leon-County-moves-forward-on-30-million-Blueprint-fairgrounds-project-lease-renegotiation-plan-amendment-authorized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6118309-077d96a39c8929b1fd2b91d9b3423adc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185677&Signature=dQP0fmdVkgu2jjpaLgxpyOWVU6lxOZfoEBb-~UpIXR8yr~k2d5sQCIrnZhKgPKWd6At~sDkxynBgfzB1FGU-YkSL5ArRcgDD0yNinqcO2Bup3klXkjcY1pz-kun1WqcDRE~TKT-viIY8iWI62hg8YY03qbDtIk6ggX1nrlypTYpd~fIF2OKkQ4L2s2F3~kGMFCi-g25TvmNGVQqxdfU5MRcpOcOuDr3tINGNcQIe0COGrzXG1titnyFgtrFtlG~gLPpUDqna1DN8mqtAT9cvTToZYD7EbXRY1UhbyGvd~906NgJfQbfBmE7gXPiA4~U9Vh1tQkO05yk7SrWldNs6KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Leon County commissioners approved staff-recommended next steps to implement the Blueprint master plan for the county-owned fairgrounds, authorizing lease renegotiations with the North Florida Fair Association and initiating a comprehensive plan amendment to align land-use designations with the project.

Blueprint staff told the board the county owns 119 acres that include a 107-acre parcel leased to the North Florida Fair Association and additional county-owned parcels under Gene Cox Stadium and the Leon County Extension Office. The footprint used by the fair for most of the year centers on a 32-acre Midway area; during the annual fair, much of the western and central parcel is used.

The board was shown the master plan accepted in 2024 and told that the $30,000,000 investment will fund a new multipurpose pavilion, public green space and recreation facilities, infrastructure and utilities, site preparation for future development and design-phase work to refine site layout. Staff said the design phase will continue frequent coordination with the Fair Association and that the design team introduction to the Fair Association is one of the first tasks.

Autumn Calder, representing Blueprint staff, said the master-plan process included more than 20 meetings with the fair’s executive director and board members and five presentations to the Fair Board between 2021 and 2024. Calder described operational commitments Blueprint staff negotiated to address fair needs: “Blueprint committed to providing 2,000 parking spaces, the continued flexible use of parking areas and providing safe internal connectivity for all users and uses,” and staff also pledged at least 20,000 square feet of storage and a maintenance shop and to keep agricultural activities at least 50 feet from designated food vendor areas.

Blueprint staff told commissioners that four existing leases and agreements encumber the site and that those instruments must be amended for project implementation: an eight‑acre lease to the Leon County School Board that expires in 2029, a nine‑acre parking agreement between the school board and the North Florida Fair Association, Capitol Park under agreement with the City of Tallahassee, and the 107‑acre land lease to the North Florida Fair Association.

County Administrator Vince Mistrier told the board that, upon the commissioners’ action, staff would be prepared to start lease negotiations. Commissioners discussed whether the $30 million budget includes improvements at Gene Cox Stadium; Calder said the current $30 million package does not fund stadium upgrades but that design and infrastructure work will be coordinated with future stadium plans.

The board voted to accept the Southside Action Plan status report and to direct staff to renegotiate the Fair Association lease and initiate a comprehensive-plan amendment. Commissioners also approved, by amendment, a request to invite the City of Tallahassee to a joint workshop on Pensacola Street (see separate article on that motion). The motion passed unanimously at the workshop and will be ratified at a subsequent regular meeting.","County commissioners authorized staff to begin renegotiating the North Florida Fair Association lease and to initiate a comprehensive-plan amendment so the $30 million Blueprint investment at the county-owned fairgrounds can proceed; design work is expected to start before March.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Leon County reviews Southside Action Plan status, highlights sewer, housing and transit work

Commissioners seek joint workshop with Tallahassee on Pensacola Street after recent shootings and homelessness concerns

Leon County moves forward on $30 million Blueprint fairgrounds project; lease renegotiation, plan amendment authorized