After residents’ outcry, Tallahassee commission rejects developer’s use of governor’s extension and moves to enforcement over Southwood road buildout

The Tallahassee City Commission on March 11 voted 4–1 to reject The St. Joe Company’s use of a state tolling provision to extend Southwood roadway buildout deadlines and directed staff to initiate the enforcement procedures in the DRI development order.

Growth Management Director John Reic told commissioners the Southwood Development of Regional Impact (DRI) had been amended repeatedly since its 1999 adoption and that several internal roadway segments remained incomplete. He also explained that recent governor‑issued emergency orders allow permit holders to invoke tolling extensions tied to declared emergencies; a 2023 law caps those governorally enabled extensions but permits retrospective tolling for affected permits.

Deputy City Attorney told the commission the statute creates a retroactive tolling mechanism ("stops the clock"), often applied after emergencies, and that, as a matter of law, a developer that follows the notice provisions may be eligible for limited extensions. Commissioners and residents disputed whether The St. Joe Company qualified because residents and commissioners argued the company had been in substantial non‑compliance before invoking any extension.

Dozens of Southwood residents urged the commission to hold the developer accountable for unfinished roadway segments and failing maintenance. Residents said the Orange Avenue extension and other road segments are unsafe for commuters, cyclists and school traffic, cited potholes and lack of curbing, and warned of stormwater and storm‑evacuation hazards. "St. Joe is a violator of our development order," resident John Ray said. "They are in significant non‑compliance of our development order." Residents pressed commissioners to deny the extension and impose sanctions if necessary.

Commissioner Porter moved to reject the developer’s claimed extension, issue a notice of violation, and begin the development‑order enforcement process; his motion was seconded and carried 4–1 with Mayor John E. Daly dissenting. Commissioners also asked staff to invite the developer to meet publicly with residents and the commission about remediation and to continue outreach while the formal enforcement process proceeds.

Next steps: Staff will issue the notice of violation under the DRRI procedures and set a public hearing. The city attorney advised procedural steps and said the developer could challenge the city’s position, potentially in court, but commissioners directed staff to pursue enforcement while attempting additional engagement with the developer.