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Contacts:Griff Vickery, Urban Planner II (850) 595-3471
Member Resources:
Webpage updated 03/21/2011  Land Development Code (LDC) RevisionsLDC Revisions CommitteeAt the May 6, 2010 regular meeting of the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, the Board established by resolution (R2010-81) a 15-member Escambia County Land Development Code Citizens Advisory Committee. The committee, composed of County residents representing a range of land use interests, has the duty and responsibility to “review and provide input for those Land Development Code standards, regulations, and provisions it may find obsolete, contradictory, confusing, insufficient, or otherwise contrary to the adopted 2007 Evaluation and Appraisal Report or the goals, objectives, and policies of the Escambia County Comprehensive Plan.” The committee is composed of five individuals selected from the “general citizenry” by the Commissioners, one for each district, and ten individuals selected by eight specific interest groups chosen by the Board. The adopted Advisory Committee membership is shown below. As of January 2011, the advisory committee has completed most of its initial review of current LDC content. Staff has produced complete initial drafts of two of the six proposed code chapters, and portions of all others. The primary focus of staff efforts at this time is consolidation of the numerous mainland zoning districts to a more easily understood and administered number of districts consistent with the previously revised future land use categories of the Comprehensive Plan. As new content is developed for the revised LDC it will receive further committee review. Upon completion of the LDC draft, it will go forward to various well-publicized public workshops. The revision process will conclude with adoption public hearings before the Planning Board and BCC. Advisory Committee Meetings
Future meetings of the committee are pending the completion of additional text drafts and will be posted to this page when scheduled. Subcommittee Meetings
Unless noted otherwise, Subcommittee meetings will be held at the new Central Office Complex in Room 116 at 3363 West Park Place, Pensacola FL 32505.
Members
Frequently asked questionsWhat is the Land Development Code? Where can I read the current LDC? How do I stay informed and find out more? What is the Land Development Code? The LDC is a collection of zoning and other regulations - Part III of the Escambia County Code of Ordinances - that control how land within the county is used and developed. Adopted in 1996, the code simply combined all relevant ordinances into a single document. It has since been amended numerous times, often with little or no coordination with county planning goals, objectives, or policies, or otherwise sufficient consideration. The immediate result has been an inadequate and inconsistent document, but the overall long-term outcome can be a less than desirable built environment and a diminished quality of life for the residents of Escambia County. These negative consequences weaken the economic vitality of our county. Where can I read the current LDC? The current Land Development Code, codified by the Municipal Code Corporation, is available on their website, www.municode.com. Follow the site’s instructions to view the Escambia County Code of Ordinances and select Part III, the LDC. Or, you may view book-marked PDF versions of each individual LDC article (chapter) on our Comprehensive Plan/LDC webpage. Florida Statutes require periodic review of the effectiveness of the Escambia County Comprehensive Plan, our long-range land use planning guide. The latest review, the 2007 Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR), was created with public comment and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The EAR recommended both amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and revisions to the LDC. As the implementing document for many Comprehensive Plan policies, the LDC must be revised for consistency with the plan. But additionally, the EAR more broadly required revision of the LDC into a document “reflecting contemporary design standards and modern land use regulations,” and one that enhances the quality of life of county residents. So, as the county continues the EAR process, the LDC must be evaluated for those necessary changes. While it may be reasonable to assume that many of the problems with the current LDC have been experienced by others and are already on a list to be addressed, that should not deter you from participating in the LDC revisions process. You may have unique concerns, perspectives, circumstances, and/or solutions that have not been considered. And clearly, if you don’t participate in the process, those who do will likely decide things for you. The intent of the process is to accommodate as many interests and points of view as possible. You need not be a land developer or even a landowner. You do not have to be a professional planner, engineer, or architect. You can be a routine user of the LDC or one who has never made use of the code before. But whomever you may be - renter, business owner, retiree, student, visitor, or resident – you encounter the consequences of the LDC daily in the built environment around you. So, if you have a sincere interest in the future development of Escambia County, join in and make your views known. How do I stay informed and find out more? There will be other opportunities for comments and participation on specific proposed text changes as they are developed. Those opportunities will be posted to this webpage as soon as they are confirmed. If you are interested in being added to our LDC Revisions email distribution list, please email your contact information to either of the contacts listed above and put “LDC Revisions email list” in the subject line. Reminder emails of upcoming Advisory Committee meetings will be sent to you but please check this webpage periodically for other updates, such as dates and locations of upcoming Subcommittee public meetings.
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