Tallahassee May Ease off Green Ordinances

Tallahassee's 40 percent green rule is under consideration.

To develop a medium-to-large commercial project in Tallahassee, Fla., the city estimates it takes 230 to 311 days to complete permitting, mainly a result of environmental regulations, such as the requirement that at least 40 percent of a site be green, compared to the 10-15 percent mandate of most communities.

There's a new proposal to redistrict the city into three zones, each with their own requirements. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the 40-percent requirement could drop to 20 percent or lower in the downtown area, while developers in outlying areas could opt to cut the 40 percent green to 25 percent if they suitably recompense the city.

The city may also drop its protection of 12 to 18 inch diameter trees in favor of protecting 24-inch diameter trees and larger and some smaller, protected species.