2006-2007 Annual Report - Santa Rosa County

Community Planning, Zoning, and DevelopmentThe community planning, zoning and development division is divided intothree program areas: planning, zoning and housing. The planning program isresponsible for special area land use and policy plans, transportation planning,neighborhood traffic management program implementation, land developmentcode amendments, comprehensive plan policy implementation and updates,and zoning and Future Land Use map amendments. The zoning programis responsible for implementation of the land development code includingdevelopment review, customer service, the Zoning Board of Adjustments, theBagdad Architectural Advisory Board and the Navarre Area Architectural AdvisoryBoard. The housing program is responsible for administering state and federalhousing funds with the goal of creating partnerships, maximizing resources andidentifying new strategies to develop and preserve affordable housing.Fiscal Year 2006/2007 Highlights• Provided staff support to the following standing boards that consider issuesrelated to land use, architecture, and housing: Local Planning Board, ZoningBoard of Adjustments, Bagdad Architectural Advisory Board, NavarreArchitectural Advisory Review Board, State Housing Initiative PartnershipCommittee, and Housing Coalition. Together these boards heard more than 300cases.• Conducted more than 20 community meetings, stakeholder meetings andworkgroups.• Served almost 700 walk-in and telephone customers each month, responded toweb-mail requests for information, and processed more than 500 applications forservices.• Implemented key service improvements during 2007 including: streamlinedpermitting process for signs; cross-trained development services staff; and beganin-house administration of housing programs.• The Santa Rosa County Pace Area Plan was approved by the Board of CountyCommissioners on June 28. Initiated by Commissioner Tom Stewart, thePace Area Plan includes a vision for the Pace area that reflects the desiresof current residents, property owners and community stakeholders. The plan wasdeveloped with input from more than 100 Pace area residents. Implementation ofthe Plan is ongoing; a volunteer workgroup has beenmeeting regularly to develop recommendations for FutureLand Use Map changes designed to maintain thesmall town feel identified by residents as being importantto managed growth in the area.• Processed 157 new commercial and multi-family site plans.This represents an increase of nearly 64 percent over2006. In addition, 15 residential subdivisions totaling 1,250lots were approved for final plat. The potentialroad impact fee value for these developments is$6.3 million.• Transportation planners worked with the community andwith other agencies to meet neighborhood, county andregional transportation needs. Key activities during 2007Beckie FaulkenberryDirector, Planning &Zoning6051 Old Bagdad Hwy.Suite 201Milton, FL 32583(850) 981-7075 Office(850) 983-9874 Faxbeckief@santarosa.fl.gov19