City Commission Meeting Discussed Killearn Estates
By Janelle Floyd
Senior Outlook Writer
The City of Tallahassee Commissioners recently held their Joint City-County 2015 Out-of-Cycle Comprehensive Plan Amendments Transmittal Public Hearing at City Hall.
The agenda included finding out the status of the rezoning of Unit 20 of Killearn Estates, located in north Tallahassee.
Currently, three sites in Killearn Estates: Kilkierane Enclave, Edenderry Drive and Merrigan Place have been proposed to change from a residential preservation into an urban residential site.
If the proposed changes are made, the three-site zones would be in conformity with the rest of the sites in Estates.
The changes would also give permission to property owners to build a multi-family unit on the remaining vacant lot.
Kristen Dozier, City Commissioner of District 5, believes a lot of helpful information was given to the commissioners and the public. “It’s always helpful for a staff member to get up and really walk the Board through their decision making process. Most of the questions the public has are about, are you increasing the density rate or are you decreasing it?”
Killearn Estates was established in the late 1960’s and contains several of the county’s largest subdivisions. The Estates, originally owned by the Cobble family, contains more than 3,800 acres.
According to the Leon County Planning Department’s website, “[t]he issue was brought to the City’s attention when a property owner inquired about building a multi-unit residential structure on a lot in Killearn Estates. It is important to note that, while legal, nonconforming residential uses are allowed to remain in their current state, if more than 50 percent of the structure is damaged (fire, weather, ect.), the Land Developmental Code prohibits rebuilding the structure.”
The City of Tallahassee Commission will be meeting again on Dec. 8th, to hold their Joint City-County Adoption Public Hearing.
To learn more about Killearn Estates and the proposed amendment visit www.talgov.com.
