Comprehensive Plan Strategy & Initiative Update - 25 September 2025
Overview and Status Update
Ø As a result of the vigilance and persistent work done by Woodland Drives Neighborhood Association’s Leadership Team (Comp Plan Committee) the Mayor announced, and subsequently made a motion to direct staff to “hold the neighborhoods harmless” and return them to their current status, with the exception of adding provisions to “correct” existing non-conforming uses.
Ø Subsequently, staff substantially revised the Comp Plan Update draft to retain the existing future land use categories currently in the Comp Plan for neighborhoods.
Ø This action retains Woodland Drives’ future land use category of Residential Preservation (RP-1), with the same permitted housing types [one-family detached] and densities [6 dwelling units/acre, but limited to 3.6 DU/AC by the Land Development Code (zoning)] in the Current 2030 Comp Plan.
Ø THIS IS A MAJOR VICTORY FOR US (WOODLAND DRIVES) AND THE ESTABLISHED IN-TOWN NEIGHBORHOODS!
Ø We are continuing to work with staff to address our remaining concerns (see public comment below) and they appear receptive to our and ATN’s proposed revisions.
Ø We will monitor the Comp Plan Update draft, and ensure the final version conveyed to the State after the Adoption Public Hearing in 2025 (Date TBD) is consistent with what was negotiated with the neighborhoods.
Summary of Woodland Drives Neighborhood Association’s Comp Plan Update Comprehensive Coordinated Strategy Initiative and Action Plan – Actions to Date:
Jeff Blair coordinated a comprehensive multi-prong strategy for opposing the Comp Plan Update impacting Woodland Drives that included:
· Convened a Comp Plan Committee to spearhead Woodland Drive’s efforts comprised of Jeff Blair, Greg Youchock, Steve Pophal, and Marsha Rule.
· Collaborated and coordinated with ATN on the issue;
· Worked with several neighborhoods on a joint statement to the City Commission from ~5 neighborhood boards, to be signed and submitted prior to the June 11, 2025 City Commission Transmittal Public Hearing;
· Sent comments to the City and County Commissions from the Woodland Drives Neighborhood Association Board of Directors at appropriate times;
· Provided frequent updates to the Website. Website has a specific menu “button” for the Comp Plan Update, and the information was also located at the top of the Home page so it can’t be missed;
· Regular eNewsletter updates and calls to actions sent to the 408 folks signed up to receive it;
· Convened a Subcommittee (Steve Pophal, Marsha Rule, Karen Cooley, and Tanya Perez Lemons) assigned to mobilize residents to send in written comments and to attend in-person the June 11 City Commission Transmittal Public Hearing and the subsequent adoption public hearing that the City Commission and County Commission are required by law to conduct;
· Subcommittee worked on message(s) for residents to use for submitting and/or making in-person comments;
· Flyers were distributed door-to-door, and signs posted throughout the neighborhood;
· Our small Leadership Group (Jeff Blair, Greg Youchock, Steve Pophal, and Marsha Rule) met on Friday, May 30, 2025 to receive an update from and provide our concerns to the Planning Staff Team working on the Comp Plan Update;
· Maintained regular email communication with the Planning Department Staff Team;
· Iteratively revised our message and approach based on the Planning Staff Team’s revisions to the draft requirements for the Urban Residential Preservation Future Land Use designation (proposed designation for Woodland Drives and other in-town established neighborhoods);
· Webinar conducted for residents on Sunday, June 8, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m.;
· Attended neighborhood meeting conducted by Mayor John Dailey on August 18, 2025, where the Mayor announced he intended to make a motion at the August 20, 2025 City Commission meeting to “hold the neighborhood’s harmless,” and allow them to maintain their current future land use categories. The motion was made and unanimously approved, and staff was directed to revise the Comp Plan Update accordingly; and
· Submitted written public comments, and attended and spoke at relevant City Commission meetings, including the Transmittal Public Hearing conducted on September 17, 2025.
Summary prepared by Jeff Blair on behalf of the WDNA BOD.
Comment Unanimously Adopted by the Woodland Drives Neighborhood Association Board of Directors on 9 September 2025.
Woodland Drives (RP-1) supports retaining the clear language in the current 2030 version of the Comp Plan regarding the Residential Preservation (RP) Future Land Use (FLU) Category, and we are relying on staff’s integrity for ensuring the proposed language in the Update maintains the status quo, and “holds neighborhoods harmless” per the clear intent of Mayor Dailey’s motion.
We want to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts made by COT Staff to address our major concerns with the various drafts of the proposed Update to the Land Use Element over the past couple of years, culminating in the version now proposed for transmittal. On this basis we offer support for transmittal of the Updated Land Use Element.
In addition, we would like to use this opportunity to highlight a few remaining issues that we feel the City Commission should address regarding the Residential Preservation FLU (FLU categories). They are as follows:
1) Non-Conforming Uses. The strategy of using FLUs to “correct” existing non-conforming uses is problematic. We prefer, and support ATN’s recommendation that the Residential Preservation Future Land Use Category language specifically state that nonconformities may be rebuilt to the existing footprint and densities, instead of the current draft’s methodology.
2) Misuse of the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Provision. We continue to believe developers are misusing the intent of ADUs by adding an ADU for each primary unit planned, doubling their maximum density, and by default, rendering density requirements meaningless. This loophole should be closed, and ADUs only allowed for homeowners wishing to add an ADU to their primary residence as the provision was intended.
In closing, the Woodland Drives Neighborhood Association supports the transmittal of the Comp Plan Update, with reservations regarding language for addressing non-conforming uses, ensuring that Community Facilities are clearly defined, and ensuring there are provisions to provide for transitional development areas. Finally, the abuse of the ADU provisions by developers to double their allowable maximum densities in the current and updated Comp Plans needs to be addressed. We respectfully request that these issues are addressed.
Public comment drafted by Jeff Blair on behalf of the WDNA BOD – Comment was emailed to each City commissioner, and provided orally as a public comment at the September 17, 2025 City Commission meeting.
September 2025 Update: City Commission Transmittal Hearing Coming Up on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Woodland Drives Supports Revised Comprehensive Plan Proposal
In the revised draft of proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan, Woodland Drives remains a Residential Preservation (RP-1) neighborhood, with no increase in density. The WDNA Board of Directors is submitting written comments in support of the draft, which will also highlight a few remaining concerns that the city commission should address. Jeff Blair, Greg Youchock, and Marsha Rule plan to attend the city commission meeting at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, to voice support for the revised draft on behalf of Woodland Drives.
Click here to see WDNA’s memorandum to the Commissioners.
Feel free to email or call city commissioners by 4:00 pm Tuesday, September 16th if you have comments or concerns:
You can email all commissioners at once using this link: https://www.talgov.com/Main/email?emailto=ccaides or contact them individually at the following numbers:
Mayor John Dailey: 850-891-2000
Commissioner Curtis Richardson: 850-891-8181
Commissioner Jacqueline "Jack" Porter: 850-891-8191
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow: 850-891-8188
Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox: 850-891-8502
August 20, 2025 Update - A Win For Woodland Drives
The Tallahassee City Commission has unanimously voted to withdraw proposed density increases to the Comprehensive Plan that would have affected Woodland Drives and other Tallahassee neighborhoods!
During its August 20th meeting, the Tallahassee City Commission unanimously voted to withdraw proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan that would have had a substantial effect on Woodland Drives and other in-town neighborhoods.
This means NO INCREASE IN DENSITY for Woodland Drives and other affected neighborhoods!
The Commission also plans to make about 300 existing non-conforming properties in neighborhoods conforming, which (according to Mayor Dailey) would mean that damaged non-conforming properties could be rebuilt, but with no changes and no higher density.
Next steps:
City staff will make the changes to the current draft & the Commission will vote at its Sept. 17th meeting.
We will get a copy of the proposed changes as soon as the draft is available and will post any concerns in the WDNA Facebook group and this website.
A BIG THANK YOU to all our neighbors who contacted City Commissioners, attended meetings, spoke against the proposed comp. plan amendments, and helped with this effort over the past many months, and special thanks to Jeff Blair for his continued efforts and expertise!
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For additional information contact Board member Jeff Blair, Governmental Affairs Chair @ jblair@fsu.edu.