TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – The Tallahassee City Commission voted to reject a developer\u2019s extension to finish roads in the Southwood neighborhood on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
That project includes the improvements of several roads in the Southwood area, like Orange Avenue and Esplanade Way.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The company sought a 24 month extension, which a city lawyer indicated they were entitled to \u201cby operation of law.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Commissioner Richardson said, while he understands the executive order, Southwood residents have waited long enough for these roads to be completed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a multimillion dollar corporation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to let you treat our residents this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s order. He was the lone vote against denying the extension.<\/p>\n
Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, who voted to deny the extension, said she was ready for a court fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the intent that if we can\u2019t do that then this (lawsuit) is the direction we\u2019re heading,\u201d she said. \u201cLet\u2019s go to court then.\u201d<\/p>\n
The St. Joe company did not send a representative to Wednesday night\u2019s meeting, with a city staffer saying he could not speak on their behalf.<\/p>\n
WCTV is working to obtain a comment from the St. Joe Company<\/p>\n
The full extension request from the company can be read below:<\/p>\n
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