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

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.