[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6327893,"mediaKeyId","2321865-42365e6dda15bce36fdeddd2e8906704","parentId",2321865,"title","Planning staff outlines new live-streaming, online maps and FEMA update; commissioners discuss outreach","audioSeconds",1060,"startMs",1554000,"endMs",2614000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321865-42365e6dda15bce36fdeddd2e8906704&start=1554&end=2614","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321865-42365e6dda15bce36fdeddd2e8906704/thumbnail_1554000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6327893/Washington-County/Florida/Planning-staff-outlines-new-live-streaming-online-maps-and-FEMA-update-commissioners-discuss-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327893-981f98ab0175dafdb5cb394b40d998fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142223&Signature=Twh8MNLagVN5gR1r-kiBCSsxA0L4ug3XB-aj5g~afKCePYrXpe8lsg6brc1meTG3WyAJTVIxUmAheSi5anKNW01MbvTAT4oHTsie8voo~LWMMUZq-4ud032QxiTrk~yQlEEDExk8Dm6epF~qsiTJnp2Chbk9tqdhDMfTqmQhgIVszqTqZMcPOhyHjRjyt5hLqbRYE~3vQc-duEOD39nCmVLqY14M0NAh0fxK0NPMAG1lCAIKOk-GgzmBal0lPFhVKCePJx-jWHLc~RCeP4ju~NMSlfe~mR7uNS8g0Pr~iAfJSRZxOtyoKAnYdOUCIPKpm~neKSXqXyUYMsrWBxi2Sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington County, FL","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","Washington County planning staff briefed the Planning Commission on a soft launch of live-streaming for planning meetings, recent additions to the county website including interactive mapping links, and the status of FEMA flood-map updates. Commissioners discussed public awareness and possible outreach to make mapping and streaming more findable for residents and applicants.

\"This is our first live meeting. We've already gone live, so we're streaming on the county's website,\" a planning staff member said, noting the county had added links to an interactive map maintained by the Emerald Coast Regional Council (ECRC) and to FEMA flood maps hosted by the Northwest Florida Water Management District.

Staff explained the county uses the ECRC-hosted interactive map to search by address or parcel ID and to support staff research for cases. Staff said the county's publicly available static maps and new links were posted the same day and that the interactive map had been updated with December cases by the county's GIS manager.

On the FEMA FIRM maps, planning staff said the best available county data remain the 2011 maps and that FEMA is updating its FIRM maps; staff said the new FEMA maps have not been adopted for county use yet but that FEMA's adoption could occur in roughly 12 to 18 months.

\"Included in your package, we discussed last meeting the FEMA flood maps for the county being updated. As of now, the best available data we have is July 2011,\" planning staff told commissioners. Staff said the county engineer, who also serves as the county's floodplain manager, will notify the county when FEMA seeks adoption and that staff can provide parcel data to help keep FEMA's data set updated.

Commissioners and members of the public suggested methods to increase visibility, including placing interactive map links on the property appraiser's site, advertising on the county agenda and through local media, and using social media. A member of the public and a commissioner pointed out that many applicants and buyers rely on property appraiser maps and may not know to check planning department resources.

Staff also explained county constraints: the county does not maintain a full in-house GIS program and relies on third-party contractors and the ECRC for interactive mapping layers; local E911 and property appraiser office systems and consultants maintain other layers such as road-name updates.

Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach so that property owners and prospective buyers can find conservation and flood-zone information before purchasing property. Planning staff said they would work on improving discoverability and bringing an item to the county commission agenda about planning and zoning being live-streamed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington County Planning Commission Regular Meeting- January 6, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Washington County planning staff said the planning meetings are now being live-streamed and that interactive mapping links and FEMA flood data were added to the county website; staff said FEMA's more recent FIRM updates remain under review and could be adopted in 12-18 months.","taxTitle","Washington County, Florida","taxId",28295,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327898,"Commission recommends change of 37.05 acres from conservation to agriculture/silviculture at Porter Pond Road",715,833000,1548000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321865-42365e6dda15bce36fdeddd2e8906704&start=833&end=1548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321865-42365e6dda15bce36fdeddd2e8906704/thumbnail_833000.jpg","/articles/6327898/Washington-County/Florida/Commission-recommends-change-of-3705-acres-from-conservation-to-agriculturesilviculture-at-Porter-Pond-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327898-b2bacd323340a0a4064c7504e4f919e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142223&Signature=Nh1PLT-LtwlAwKAp9lcQ3pfgU1MZec0Jii2nN39T1~1SVU6Pesxih3k91ubH8Lh5yHH6YdIA8Zn~DtJJNSxRuJXwsuwg7Zh8~DehTZKGo2hDaQxVhIJa~MOCymXDXeey3RPFWbrpYcUQCt5B2W7iJY~amN9Xh1azUX1Do2FyfhJnyhmXjZ6uYzblyPmqkAxlMJHwDWoCw-nAdNm-29s8cXY4p5Qs6eG7nHBvQpc7aLuIp-4VfdtJtWila~01WsFpdf881qgcMX5kux7BiWyK7ZFcB-tA1OpTWSY8znKKPxod9AMS78EpIgUTJSJLjmCdHhvlRRv8cxBnoHTCR0kALA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington County Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of a future land-use map amendment requested by Jason Jones to change 37.05 acres at 5641 Porter Pond Road from conservation to agriculture/silviculture.

Staff presented the request and the applicant's survey, noting the parcel is located in the county's southeast and is accessed via Porter Pond Road off Strickland Road and Highway 20. Planning staff said the parcel is a \"cut out\" from a larger tract and cited an adjacent parcel recently changed from conservation to agriculture/silviculture in December.

\"This is our future land use map and the dark green is conservation, the light green is agriculture silviculture,\" a planning staff member said while presenting the map. Staff said the neighborhood information meeting was held on Dec. 19; the applicant and his family attended, and one neighbor who lives across the creek did not oppose the amendment. Staff recommended approval and said the commission's recommendation would be transmitted to the Board of County Commissioners, which is scheduled to hear the case on Jan. 16.

Applicant Jason Jones told the commission he purchased the property in October and said his family's intent is to build one house and possibly a barn. Jones described the parcel as deep (about 2,500 feet) and said roughly 12 acres in the back of the larger parcel are in a flood zone adjacent to Econfina Creek, but the area where he intends to build is outside the mapped flood zones.

\"This is my family. We purchased this property from the canoe rental people, mister and miss Gay, and, it was in October. I thought I did my due diligence because we wanted to build a house there,\" Jones told the commission. He said he did not learn of the conservation designation until attempting to obtain an electrical permit, when he was shown the future land-use map.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about access (via Strickland Road) and the location of ponds on the survey. Planning staff and the applicant discussed the location of building areas relative to mapped flood zones and noted that the applicant plans to build closer to Porter Pond Road and away from the creek and the mapped floodplain.

The commission moved to accept staff's recommendation. On roll call the commission recorded yes votes from District 1 Commissioner Roger Hagen; District 2 (recorded as Richard Cooney in the packet); District 3 Commissioner Michelle Cook; District 5 Commissioner Jared Highet; and Member-at-Large Chairman John Gay; District 4 Commissioner Carl Owens and the school board representative Kyle Newsome were excused. The motion passed and will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for final consideration on Jan. 16.

Chairman John Gay commented directly to the applicant after the vote: \"You get your house. Assuming you pass the building department. And the county commissioners, but I don't think that would be a problem.\" That comment was recorded immediately after the commission vote; it does not substitute for the county commission's review.

The record shows staff will provide relevant maps and flood-zone information to the county commission and to the applicant; final permits and approvals remain contingent on subsequent county and building-department reviews.","Planning commissioners voted to recommend approval of a small-scale future land-use map amendment to change 37.05 acres at 5641 Porter Pond Road from conservation to agriculture/silviculture; the recommendation will go to the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 16.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327904,"Planning commission backs recommendation for convenience store and gas canopy; city decision pending",297,524000,821000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321865-42365e6dda15bce36fdeddd2e8906704&start=524&end=821","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321865-42365e6dda15bce36fdeddd2e8906704/thumbnail_524000.jpg","/articles/6327904/Washington-County/Florida/Planning-commission-backs-recommendation-for-convenience-store-and-gas-canopy-city-decision-pending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327904-fdcec5cf5988b152c5fe043ec6d451ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1771142223&Signature=UKNqb~n7pWV~AzRvYFnHPErHCGAeRmI949sR6XHIlbBrS~9uMAtQW~HU8PlEl5k8YrTPv5pQvLDAmHX4SEegkrHUtZpEgGJM52VUevyk9nhfoJ1mrsV7XKLkk9-Nj~-wdIO7geQ8oezLJHYev6mg7n8ZruChuohVmjr~JbYKgCcuPTgTD-ERnyGJQzL5wduH2mvcWSdHFDMQgciCdeoNaah5mW7MJJhLGnkTp8LYpMRuitb5fH~I-3CpxxQlgVgbN1MDo5gieT9ekd-zMDH7CSr6hI-C43vNpkp3wGCEOrSvOa0cL3SUEZX0ezAvPFUAFWeYhrj61b58YQuSDYmrMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Washington County planning staff told the Planning Commission that a proposed convenience store and gas station on roughly 2.18 acres meets the site's general commercial land-use designation and recommended approval with standard conditions, and commissioners voted to forward that recommendation to the City of Vernon for final action.

The project, described to the commission as a convenience store with gas pumps and a canopy over the pump area, sits on a parcel shown as general commercial on the county future land-use map. Planning staff said the site is vacant and was previously used for residential purposes; land uses nearby include public and semi-public parcels to the north and a cell tower to the west, with residential to the south.

\"Parcels is is approximately 2.18 acres in size, and the request is to approve a minor development review application and for a convenience store with gas pumps. And there is a canopy proposed for the gas pump area,\" a planning staff member told commissioners. Staff said the development review committee completed its review and that stormwater review by the county engineer raised no outstanding issues.

A neighbor who attended the required neighborhood information meeting on the 19th asked questions about stormwater and runoff; planning staff told the commission that the resident was not yet ready to state a position for or against the project. The applicant's representative attended the neighborhood meeting and was present at the hearing to answer questions.

During the hearing a participant asked about the retention/pond cross section. The applicant's representative described the ponds as dry detention features about \"approximately 2 to 3 feet deep\" in total depth and designed to hold no more than \"6 to 8 inches of water depth for up to 24 hours at a time,\" except during extreme events.

Staff recommended approval with typical conditions, including requirements for stormwater and driveway permits and outstanding state permits. Planning commissioners moved and seconded a motion to approve and forward the recommendation to the City of Vernon. On roll call the commission recorded yes votes from District 1 Commissioner Roger Hagen; District 2 (recorded as Richard Kindy in the hearing); District 3 Commissioner Michelle Cook; District 5 Commissioner Jared Highet; and Member-at-Large Chairman John Gay. District 4 Commissioner Carl Owens and the school board representative Kyle Newsom were excused. The motion passed and will be considered by the City of Vernon at its Jan. 21 meeting.

The commission record shows staff will continue coordination with the city and that standard permit conditions apply; the county's recommendation does not authorize construction, which will require city approvals and the applicant's obtaining required state and county permits.

Votes at a glance: The Planning Commission voted to forward a recommendation of approval for the minor development review for a convenience store with gas pumps and canopy (parcel ~2.18 acres) to the City of Vernon. Roll-call votes recorded five yes votes, two excused; no no or abstain votes were recorded.

The commission did not take any separate action to impose additional conditions beyond the standard development requirements noted by staff. The City of Vernon makes the final decision on the development review on Jan. 21, according to staff.","Washington County planning staff recommended approval of a 2.18-acre minor development review for a convenience store with gas pumps and canopy; the commission voted to forward a recommendation to the City of Vernon, which will make the final decision Jan. 21.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning staff outlines new live-streaming, online maps and FEMA update; commissioners discuss outreach

Commission recommends change of 37.05 acres from conservation to agriculture/silviculture at Porter Pond Road

Planning commission backs recommendation for convenience store and gas canopy; city decision pending