Wakulla commissioners approve large-scale map amendment for 48-acre MLK Road parcel over resident objections

The Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 to adopt a large-scale comprehensive plan map amendment that changes roughly 48 acres at 562 Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Road from agricultural to suburban transitioning.

The change shifts the property's future land-use designation from agriculture (one unit per 20 acres) to suburban transitioning (up to five units per acre), a move commissioners said would allow a substantially higher residential density than the site's current designation.

The county's planning staff told the board the parcel contains roughly 43 acres of uplands and 4.8 acres of wetlands and that required state reviews produced no objections. Wade Brown, the applicant's representative, briefed commissioners on the site’s existing planned-unit-development (PUD) entitlement, saying the previous PUD permitted a large expo-style arena and supporting infrastructure and would have generated far more traffic than the residential proposal now under consideration. "The PUD would generate 412 PM peak-hour trips; the proposed change would generate about 133 PM peak-hour trips," Brown said.

Residents urged the board to deny the map amendment. Kara Raker, whose family has lived in Wakulla County for generations, told commissioners she opposed converting agricultural land to higher-density housing and warned of harm to springs, wildlife and local roads. "We sit atop one of Florida's most important aquifers, and every acre that's paved increases runoff pollution and stress on our water systems," Raker said. Other speakers cited school crowding, bus-route strain and impacts to local wildlife, including gopher tortoises.

Board members and staff noted procedural limits: the comprehensive-plan change approves a future land-use designation but does not authorize site construction. Commissioner Thomas and other commissioners reminded speakers that a separate site-plan review and permitting process — including civil design, stormwater, flood-elevation work and school-capacity review from the district — would be required before any homes are built.

During discussion, Brown confirmed that portions of the site lie in a base flood zone and said the developer would elevate developed parcels above base flood elevation as part of future civil design. He also said the maximum theoretical buildout at full density would be about 216 dwelling units but that the final number would be lower once infrastructure, wetlands, setbacks and roads are designed.

After public comment and discussion, the board approved the map amendment 4-1. The motion carried over the objection of one commissioner.

Looking ahead, the applicant must submit detailed site plans, civil engineering drawings and permitting documents for review. Those materials will return to county staff and, where required, to the board for approval before any construction can begin.

Votes at a glance: the comprehensive-plan map amendment passed 4-1; next steps are site-plan and permitting reviews that were not decided at this meeting.