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Commissioners agree to advertise moving rural protection line south; board signals further code changes to add enforcement "teeth"
Summary
Santa Rosa County commissioners voted to advertise a Land Development Code amendment to move the county's Rural Protection Zone south to the Allentown/Fire District boundary and instructed staff to begin the ordinance process. Commissioners and residents asked for stronger enforcement language and clarified which future rezoning and development
The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners agreed to advertise an amendment to move the county’s Rural Protection Zone (RPZ) line south to the fire‑district boundary after extended public comment and a multi‑commissioner discussion about protecting farmland, timberland and rural character.
The board will advertise an ordinance amending the Land Development Code to reposition the RPZ line (as previously mapped by county staff) and schedule a public hearing; commissioners said they intend to follow with additional Land Development Code text changes to add clearer standards and enforcement provisions.
Why it matters: Residents and several commissioners said the current RPZ language lacks specificity and "teeth," allowing subdivisions with narrow lot layouts and fragmentation of farmland. Moving the line was presented as a near‑term step to halt further rezoning or…
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