TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Tallahassee City Commission voted to reject a developer’s extension to finish roads in the Southwood neighborhood on Wednesday.
The developer, the St. Joe Company, submitted a notification to the city and county to extend the buildout date of the Southwood Development of Regional Impact Development Order.
That project includes the improvements of several roads in the Southwood area, like Orange Avenue and Esplanade Way.
St. Joe, in its letter to city and county leaders, claims a deadline extension is mandated by a 2024 executive order issued by Governor Ron DeSantis that declared a state of emergency throughout North Florida due to severe weather.
The company sought a 24 month extension, which a city lawyer indicated they were entitled to “by operation of law.”
Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, however, suggested there was an exemption to the executive order if the developer was already delinquent and proceedings had already been started against them.
City staff said the city had not started formal proceedings, by filing a warning letter, but Matlow said the developer was on notice because the commission previously voted to hold the discussion it did Wednesday night.
A temporary road near Orange Avenue was constructed to address traffic flow issues, but this poses safety issues. Multiple residents complained on Wednesday night that the road was unsafe and/or unusable. They urged the commission to reject the extension, which commissioners did in a 4-1 vote.
A staffer did say the city had authority to make sure the temporary road, which stretches a few hundred feet from Orange Avenue to Southwood Plantation Road, was drivable.
City staff said the automatic extension proposed by St. Joe was for the project at large, not the temporary road, so the deadline extension would not apply to that.
Commissioner Richardson said, while he understands the executive order, Southwood residents have waited long enough for these roads to be completed.
“This is a multimillion dollar corporation,” he said. “We’re not going to let you treat our residents this way.”
Mayor John Dailey said he wants a chance to speak with the developer before going against the executive order. He said heading straight for a denial would be akin to defying the governor’s order. He was the lone vote against denying the extension.
Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, who voted to deny the extension, said she was ready for a court fight.
“With the intent that if we can’t do that then this (lawsuit) is the direction we’re heading,” she said. “Let’s go to court then.”
The St. Joe company did not send a representative to Wednesday night’s meeting, with a city staffer saying he could not speak on their behalf.
WCTV is working to obtain a comment from the St. Joe Company
The full extension request from the company can be read below:
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