Welaunee Arch
The Welaunee Arch: A 1,227-Acre Development on the Fast Track and There’s a Good Chance You’ve Never Heard of It
A proposal that could shape the future of 1,227 acres in northeast Tallahassee is moving quickly through the City’s approval process — before most residents have had a meaningful opportunity to review it or ask questions.
The Welaunee Arch Phase 1 Concept Planned Unit Development (PUD) would establish the zoning framework for the West Arch and North Arch districts, located north of Interstate 10 and east of Centerville Road.
To be clear, this is not simply a subdivision. It is a master-planned community similar in scale to Southwood and approximately one-third larger than the 900-acre Heel of Welaunee (TalisTrails) development currently under construction.
What’s Being Proposed?
6,591
Residential Units
425,000
Sq Ft of Commercial & Other Non-Residential Space
817
Acres of Residential, Neighborhood or Mixed Use Development
395
Acres Identified as Open Space/Greenway*
It’s important to note the Welaunee Concept PUD states that the housing and commercial figures are “informational only” and could be increased to the maximum density and intensity ranges allowed.
*What does "Open Space/Greenway" mean?
Developers are often allowed to build at greater densities—more homes or commercial square footage per acre—by setting aside land as Open Space/Greenway. That can create the impression that large areas are being preserved for wildlife.
However, “Open Space/Greenway” does not necessarily mean undisturbed habitat. Under the proposed PUD, it includes not only conservation areas, but also parks, trails, community gathering places and stormwater management facilities. In other words, land may be cleared and graded for retention ponds or recreational uses while still counting toward the project’s Open Space/Greenway requirements.
Why This Decision Matters
A Planned Unit Development (PUD) establishes the zoning, permitted uses, development standards and overall framework for the property.
Decisions made at this stage will shape what can be built, and the consequences of those decisions will be felt by residents for decades to come.
Timeline: How We Got Here So Quickly & What’s Next
Email Announcing Open House
Leon County Commissioner Brian Welch notified residents on his email list about an open house being held the following day by the landowner’s representatives.
Open House
At the open house, the owner’s representatives stated there were no immediate plans to develop this land nor buyers lined up to purchase the property. Attendees were shown a conceptual master plan and a project area map. This is the only public meeting I am aware of.
View Concept Plan Shown at Meeting
View General Location Map Shown at Open House
Zoning Application Submitted
The application to rezone the 1,227-acre PUD was submitted to the City by the landowner.
Although the Welaunee Arch PUD was listed as an agenda item online, basic information such as the size of the property, the type of rezoning requested or the Concept PUD document was not made accessible to the public. I obtained them by requesting the materials directly from the City.
View the City’s Site Map Where PUD was Posted
View the Information Provided Online
PUD Review Added to the Development Review Committtee Agenda
The City’s Growth Management Department distributed the agenda for the August 10 Development Review Committee meeting. The Welaunee Arch PUD was included as an agenda item.
Development Review Committee to Conduct PUD Review
Planning Commission to Conduct PUD Review
City Commission to Vote on Welaunee Concept PUD
What About Public Input?
City staff indicated that community meetings held in 2021 provided public input on the broader Welaunee Arch Master Plan. However, those meetings occurred approximately five years ago and did not present the detailed Concept PUD now under consideration.
The August 10 Development Review Committee meeting is being treated as an opportunity for public comment—even though notice was provided only days before and many residents are unlikely to know that a proposal of this size is already moving through the review process.
Bottom Line:
This is not a routine development application. It establishes the zoning framework for more than 1,200 acres and will influence future housing, commercial development, transportation and public infrastructure for years to come.
The public deserves sufficient time to understand what is being proposed, review the documents, evaluate the potential impacts and ask informed questions before recommendations are made and votes begin.
Before the City Grants Zoning Approval for a Project of this Size, These Questions Should Be Considered
1. Do we have enough information to make the decision?
The City is being asked to approve the zoning framework for 1,227 acres before the Natural Features Inventory is complete and while stormwater planning and transportation analyses are still being completed or refined.
Bottom Line: These studies should inform the Concept Plan before zoning is approved—not afterward.
What is a Natural Features Inventory?
A Natural Features Inventory or NFI is an environmental assessment that identifies wetlands, wildlife habitat and other sensitive natural features so they can be considered when planning development.
2. Is the City approving too much too soon?
The document repeatedly states that land-use locations are conceptual and may change during later design and permitting. Yet the City is being asked to approve the zoning framework before the public and decision-makers know where development, conservation areas and major infrastructure will ultimately be located.
The number of residential units and the amount of commercial space ultimately approved may be significantly higher than the figures presented because those figures do not represent the maximum densities and intensities allowed within each zoning district.
Bottom Line: If so many key decisions are expected to be made later, should the City grant zoning approval now?
It’s Important to Note:
These questions are not about whether the development should or should not occur. They are about whether the public and decision-makers have enough information to make an informed zoning decision before development entitlements are granted.
Take Action
If you believe a proposal of this magnitude deserves greater public awareness and review, ask that consideration of the Welaunee Arch Phase 1 Concept PUD be postponed until residents have been given a meaningful opportunity to review the proposal and provide informed input.
Email the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department by Friday, August 7, 2026 at 5pm. Comments should be sent to the City Planner assigned to this project at: Marcus.Lloyd@talgov.com
Attend the Meeting in Person
The public may attend the Development Review Committee meeting in-person or online. If you choose to comment, each speaker is limited to three minutes.
Date: August 10, 2026
Time: 9 am
Location: The Renaissance Center
435 N. Macomb St.
1st Floor Conference Room
Attend the Meeting Online
For information about how to view or participate in the meeting online, call (850) 891-7001, Option 4, or contact Zoning@talgov.com.
Questions About the Development?
Questions about this project can be directed to the project planner: Marcus Lloyd at Marcus.Lloyd@talgov.com or by calling (850) 891.6445.
Why is the Welaunee Arch development included on a site about Lake Jackson?
This website was originally created to educate the public about the proposed development near Lake Jackson. However, given the size of the Welaunee Arch proposal, the lasting impact these decisions will have, the speed at which it is moving through the approval process, and the limited opportunity for meaningful public review and input, I chose to include it here so residents could learn about the project, review the available documents and make their voices heard before important decisions are made.
Sources
- Welaunee Arch Phase 1 Concept Planned Unit Development (PUD) Submittal, July 2026, – View PDF
- Residential, Commercial, Mixed Use and Open Space Numbers: Page 8 of the plan linked above
- City’s Site Plan Agenda Map – The location where the PUD rezoning is listed, but additional details are not linked – View Website
- Development Review Committee Meeting Agenda for August 10, 2026 – View PDF
- Email from Commissioner Welch Announcing Open House, June 23, 2026 – View Screenshot
- Concept PUD Map Shown at Open House, June 24, 2026 – View Image
- General Location Map Shown at Open House on June 24, 2026 – View Image
