Boards & Committees

The Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board is a volunteer advisory board. Ordinance 2021-13 was adopted September 7, 2021, merging the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board and the Board of Adjustment Advisory Board creating the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board.

The PZA Board meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:30 PM at the Franklin County Courthouse Annex, 34 Forbes Street. Apalachicola, FL.

PUBLIC ACCESS

The Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board meetings are open to the public but can also be viewed live via Zoom. The Zoom link is provided on the agenda under meeting information for that meeting day.

MEETING AGENDAS AND MEETING MINUTES

The meeting agendas and meeting minutes prior to September 1, 2022, for the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board can be found here

The meeting agendas and meeting minutes after September 1, 2022, for the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board can be found on the agendas page here

MEMBERS

James Morris (District 1)
Jeremy Putnal (District 2)
LaTrina Lockley (District 3)
Rachel Chesnut (District 4)
VACANT (District 5)
David Ducan, Chairman (At Large)
Marzetta Davis (At Large)
Michael Shuler, County Attorney
Cortni Bankston, Zoning Administrator

CONTACT INFORMATION

Zoning Department
Phone: (850) 653-9783 option 3
Email: zoning@franklincountyflorida.gov

What happens if I submit an incomplete application for a Planning and Zoning Board Meeting?

The deadline for application submittal is the SECOND TUESDAY of each month before 12:00 NOON (NON-NEGOTIABLE).
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
An application is incomplete if it is missing documentation and information.
An incomplete application will NOT be placed on the agenda for the requested month’s meeting.

The applicant and/or a representative of the applicant MUST BE present at the scheduled Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board meeting either in person or via zoom or the application will be automatically tabled for no show.

BUILDING WITHOUT A PERMIT OR BOARD APPROVAL WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Any project started without a permit will result in a STOP WORK ORDER.
Any project started without obtaining Board Approval with result in a STOP WORK ORDER.
Failure to obtain Board Approval before starting a project will result in a penalty and/or disciplinary action.
Failure to obtain a permit before starting a project can result in a penalty and/or disciplinary action.
You will not be permitted to continue until you are in full compliance with all requirements to be issued a permit.
If you are unsure if your project requires a permit or Planning & Zoning Board approval, please contact the office before you start any work on your property.

BOARD DECISIONS

When an application is presented before the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board, it can either be Approved, Tabled, or Denied.

Approve
Table
Deny

APPROVED

Your application has been approved. What’s next?

Application is then presented to the Board of County Commission for final decision on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.
Board of County Commission will either approve, table, or deny the application.
If your application is approved by the Board of County Commission, you can now move forward with pulling your required permits with the Building Department and/or the Zoning Department.
If your application has been approved with conditions, those conditions will need to be met before you can move on to the next step of pulling your required permits.
You have (1) year from the date the County Commission approves your application to pull your required permits.
Failure to pull your permits within the year will result in having to go back before both the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board and The Board of County Commissioners to get a reapproval.
The Board of County Commission can overturn an advised decision from the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board.

TABLED

Your application has been tabled. What’s next?

An application can tabled because there was not enough information presented for the Board to make a decision on your application.
An application can be tabled if the applicant or a representative of the applicant did not show up for the scheduled board meeting.
When an application is tabled, the Board will request specific information to be submitted at the following meeting in order for them to make a decision on your application.
The applicant will then be contacted by the Zoning Department and given a deadline date to submit that information before they can be placed on the following months agenda.
If the requested information is not submitted before the given deadline date, your agenda item will not be placed on any meeting agenda until requested information has been submitted to the Zoning Department.
Once the requested information has been submitted and reviewed, and it has been determined that all conditions requested have been met, you will be placed on the agenda for the next meeting for a decision on your application.
If your application is approved at the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board meeting, you are ready to move on to the Approved Steps.
The Board of County Commission can overturn an advised decision from the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board.

DENIED

Your application has been denied. What’s next?

Application is then presented to the Board of County Commission for final decision on the 3rd Tuesday of the month.
Board of County Commission will either approve, table, or deny the application.
If your application is denied by both the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board and the Board of County Commission, you will not be able to resubmit your application for one calendar year from the date of your denial.
The Board of County Commission can overturn an advised decision from the Planning and Zoning Adjustment Board.