Mr. Charlton Knowles, Economic Development and Housing Committee Chair, welcomed the group and thanked them for their continued participation. Mr. Kalter and Ms. Thompson gave a brief review of the Chip Game rules. They clarified that the purpose of the exercise is to place development where the committee thinks it will go if nothing changes, not where the committee wants new development to be located. The Chip Game is an exercise and does not represent the final plan.

The Committee then began placing chips on the base map. The larger chips, representing low density residential development (about 1 DU/10 acres), were placed in the north and eastern quadrants of the County. The one in the north represents “bedroom communities” for Tallahassee; the committee believed that someone who commutes to Tallahassee everyday would want a large lot. The one in the east, is a continuation of the development currently occurring in this area. The committee placed all the in-fill chips (9,000 units in Perry). This and the placement of 12 high density (4 DUs/ac) around Perry is in keeping with the Committees belief that the existing infrastructure would support this type of development. Also, these higher density chips were placed around Steinhatchee and the Keaton Beach-Deckle Beach area, as the Committee believes that these areas will be attractive to retirees and those seeking higher end second/vacation homes. The Committee believes that because this land is so scarce and expensive that it will be necessary to develop at this type of density. As you move from the beach areas, the land is more plentiful and relatively cheaper so that the density will be less. The remaining chips, 1 DU/acre were placed along the US-98 corridor near the northwestern portion of the County; this location was chosen due to the proximity of the existing road, and was also seen as an area that would be attractive to people commuting from Tallahassee that would want larger lots, access to the natural amenities, but were not able to afford or did not want 10 acre lots.

A total of 46,250 acres, or 73 square miles, was selected for development. This results in a density of just over one unit per acre (approximately 1.1 units per acre) for the projected 2060 population in the newly developed area (51,000 units/46,250 acres).

Chip Game Discussion and New Issues:

• Committee members identified some new issues resulting from the outcome of the Chip Game.
• The results of the Chip Game represent a pattern of urban sprawl.
• The north end of the County will develop as a bedroom community for people working in Tallahassee and want larger lots.
• Growth around the airport will be industrial in nature and therefore residential housing will be sparser in this area.
• Growth patterns would continue as small property owners are motivated sellers, while the large land owners tend not to want to sell off their holdings.
• Lack of industrial growth inhibits the chance of new concentrations of population around expanded/new industry. (Similar to the experience when the new prison was built and houses were constructed in its vicinity.)

Charlton Knowles, the Committee Chair, provided an overview of the Economic Development and Housing Committee Issues and methodology to the entire group.

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