The Leon County Charter Review Committee, a 21-member panel that convenes every eight years, has opened discussions on whether county rules should take precedence over city regulations regarding housing, zoning, and development.
Any recommendations could appear on next year’s ballot, potentially reshaping rules in ways that would directly affect Florida A&M University students, South Side neighborhoods, and local businesses. With more than 60% of households in Tallahassee renting, changes to city-versus-county authority could have lasting impacts on students and residents who rely on affordable off-campus housing.
Currently, city rules generally take precedence within city limits, except in areas such as environmental standards. A shift in authority could give the county more control over decisions that touch students’ daily lives, including housing, street naming, and neighborhood regulations. Because the charter is only reviewed every eight years, any change the committee recommends now could shape housing and neighborhood rules for nearly the next decade…