Wakulla County commissioners approve air-ambulance certificate, zoning changes, grant applications and lien reduction in unanimous votes

The Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on a series of permits, land-use matters, a grant application and a code-enforcement lien reduction at its Feb. 18 meeting.

Commissioners approved a certificate of public convenience and necessity for Rocky Mountain Holdings LLC to provide air-ambulance transport in Wakulla County. The certificate, if executed as approved, allows the company to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and to establish a base within the county; staff told the commission the certificate would be valid for a three-year period. The motion passed 5-0.

The board approved a request to reduce a code-enforcement lien relating to case CE20183416 for the property at 767 Wakulla Aaron Road. Staff said the current lien totaled just over $211,000 and that, under the ordinance provisions cited by staff, the applicant qualified for a reduction to the hard costs plus 20 percent. The reduced lien amount the board approved was $2,225.16; the reduced amount must be satisfied within 60 days, and the code-enforcement board had recommended approval. The motion passed 5-0.

Commissioners authorized submission of a grant application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for design and construction of a trailhead at Metac Rec Park, located at Ella Lynn and Coastal Highway. Staff estimated the project cost at $450,000 and said the county would request $360,000 from DEP and provide a required $90,000 match from the one-cent sales tax fund. The grant application is due to DEP on or before March 2025; staff said the grant agreement and any subsequent budget amendment and resolution would be brought back to the board for approval. The motion to authorize the application and give signature authority to the county administrator passed 5-0.

In planning and zoning actions, the board approved a change-of-zoning application (R24-18) to rezone a parcel of just under 4 acres from R-1 to RR-2 at the northwest corner of Gentleman Road and St. James Street. Staff said the property’s future land-use designation is Urban Fringe, the parcel is undeveloped and located in a VE flood zone, and the proposed zoning is consistent with the comprehensive plan and surrounding area; the motion passed 5-0.

The board approved a final plat (FP24-11) for Misting Springs Phase 2, a 76-lot residential subdivision between Crawfordville Highway and Tafflinger Road abutting Misting Springs Phase 1; staff said the plat is consistent with the approved PUD and the comprehensive plan. The vote passed 5-0.

On a land-development code matter, commissioners voted to repeal and replace section 6-31 of the Wakulla County Land Development Code relating to landscape regulations. Staff said the draft ordinance reorganizes incentives to encourage preservation of existing trees, increases tree-credit ratios for preserved specimens and allows credit for trees in undisturbed vegetative areas to count toward perimeter landscaping requirements. The motion to adopt the ordinance passed 5-0.

The board also approved conducting a public hearing on a proposed amendment to Chapter 5 of the Land Development Code to require at least 5% of overall site acreage in specified residential zoning districts to be platted as recreational areas. Staff said the item will return for a final public hearing on March 3, 2025. The motion to conduct the public hearing passed 5-0.

Several ceremonial items were approved without opposition: a proclamation declaring March 2025 as Flood Awareness Week, a proclamation honoring the life of Walter Steve Brown and a proclamation declaring March 2025 as Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup Month. The consent agenda and the meeting agenda (with the removal of one item, Tab 5) were also approved by roll call as recorded: all passed 5-0.