News
Annexation Coverage
Leon County Commission objects to 1,700-acre annexation near Lake Jackson
July 15, 2026 | WFSU | Tristan Wood
Leon County commissioners are objecting a proposed annexation that could bring more than 1,700 acres near Lake Jackson into the City of Tallahassee, citing concerns that it violates state law.
Leon County Commission objects to 1,700-acre annexation near Lake Jackson
July 15, 2026 | WFSU | Tristan Wood
Leon County commissioners are objecting a proposed annexation that could bring more than 1,700 acres near Lake Jackson into the City of Tallahassee, citing concerns that it violates state law.
County unanimously objects to controversial Phipps land annexation
July 14, 2026 | Tallahassee Democrat | Elena Barrera
The Leon County Commission made its stance clear: It will not support the annexation of land near the environmentally sensitive Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve and the protected North Meridian canopy road.
Leon County Commissioners object to annexation near Lake Jackson
July 14, 2026 | WCTV | Julia Miller
Leon County Commissioners unanimously voted to object the annexation of land near Lake Jackson Tuesday. Jeffrey Phipps, a Tallahassee landowner, filed for the voluntary annexation of 1,700 acres of rural Leon County into city limits. The effort to annex the property on North Meridian Road near Lake Jackson was rejected last year by commissioners. It has also faced pushback from citizens over environmental concerns.
Tallahassee annexation proposal for nearly 1,800 acres raises growth concerns in Leon County
July 13, 2026 | WTXL | Lentheus Chaney
A proposal to bring more than 1,740 acres north of Gardner Road into the city limits is drawing scrutiny from county leaders and a statewide planning nonprofit.
Before We Build a Development Near Lake Jackson, We Need to Consider the Costs
July 12, 2026 | Florida Capital Tea | Lynne Takacs
sight. The Tallahassee-Leon County Comp Plan is a whopping 252 pages and last year it was used as a vehicle to change the rules so that a development somewhere between the size of Welaunee and Southwood would be allowed next to Lake Jackson. Thankfully, someone was paying attention, word spread, the public engaged and Leon County Commissioners struck it down. But it didn’t end there. Now, the owner is seeking to have even more land than before – 1,741.9 acres to be precise – voluntarily annexed into the City in order to pursue development again.
City commissioners tee up controversial Phipps land annexation for vote
June 10, 2026 | Tallahassee Democrat | Jeff Burlew
Tallahassee city commissioners voted 3-2 to set a public hearing for the annexation of more than 1,700 acres of land near the environmentally sensitive Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve and the protected North Meridian canopy road.
City commissioners taking up annexation of fragile Lake Jackson area land
June 10, 2026 | WCTV | WCTV Staff
A Leon County property owner is trying to have his land annexed into the city. The property is on North Meridian Road near Lake Jackson, and is 1,700 acres. County commissioners rejected Jeffrey Phipps’ development efforts last year. This current effort would put the property inside city limits and subject it to city decisions on development.
Another attempt to develop land near Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve
May 22, 2026 | WCTV | Matt Hoffmann
Despite a vote rejecting a similar proposal last year, Jeffrey Phipps, a wealthy Tallahassee landowner, has filed for voluntary annexation to bring parts of rural Leon County into city limits. Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor announced the voluntary annexation petition earlier this month, while City Commissioner Jack Porter said the issue will go before the city commission in June.
Phipps seeking annexation of land to develop north of Lake Jackson
May 8, 2026 | Tallahassee Democrat | Jeff Burlew
Jeffrey Phipps, the wealthy landowner who pushed unsuccessfully last year for Comp Plan changes to allow more intensive development on his property near the Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve, has filed for voluntary city annexation. Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor, who helped lead the charge against the Comprehensive Plan amendment, alerted constituents in an email of the latest move to develop in the environmentally sensitive area.
Orchard Pond Coverage Where Land Owner States He Won’t Develop Further
Private toll road intended to save nature, wildlife
March 9, 2015 | Tallahassee Democrat | Gerald Ensley
Excerpts:
“When Phipps announced the project in 2011, skeptics wondered if it was a ploy to aid development of the surrounding property or other Phipps properties. But Phipps, scion of one of Tallahassee’s old money families, has insisted from the start that he is building the road to save the land….
“Phipps insists he has no intention of developing the remainder of the property. That’s why he’s adding the scenic conservation strips and wants to sell the remainder to the state. Besides,any development would require access points that would slow traffic and ruin the value of the 5-mile throughway. If I put suburbs in here, I would lose the revenue (of drivers using the toll road),” Phipps said. “The future revenueis a huge incentive to keep this open and wild….
He believes a toll road provides a way to preserve the natural beauty of his land and remove the pressure to develop the property.”
Comp Plan Coverage About Lake Jackson
Development halts for area north of Lake Jackson following environmental concerns
December 1, 2025 | WTXL | Maya Sargent
Proposed development north of Lake Jackson has been halted by Leon County following environmental concerns. Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor said County staff have recommended increasing the commitment for public infrastructure by connecting sewer to the area east of Meridian Road.
‘Remain engaged’: Residents hear latest on Comp Plan proposal affecting Lake Jackson
November 15, 2025 | Tallahassee Democrat | Jeff Burlew
Residents expressed skepticism about a Comp Plan proposal to allow more development around the Lake Jackson aquatic preserve — a move environmental groups oppose because of the harm it could cause to the lake system and the North Meridian canopy road.
Residents hear latest on Comp Plan proposal impacting Lake Jackson
November 14, 2025 | Tallahassee Democrat | Jeff Burlew
Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor speaks with residents about proposed Comp Plan changes that would bring more development around the Lake Jackson aquatic preserve during a meeting Nov. 13, 2025, at the Northside Community Center on Oak Grove Road.
City, county planners back away from Lake Jackson development plans amid concerns
November 11, 2025 | Tallahassee Democrat | Jeff Burlew
A small group of people hoping to restore and protect Carr Cemetery, an all but abandoned grave site located off North Meridian Road near Orchard Pond Parkway, visited the property amid concerns about proposed large-scale nearby development.
‘Community altering’: Concerns mount over Comp Plan changes allowing Lake Jackson development
November 9, 2025 | Tallahassee Democrat | Jeff Burlew
Concerned citizens, environmental groups and others are lining up to oppose changes to the Tallahassee-Leon County Comprehensive Plan that could open the door to large-scale development north of an already impaired Lake Jackson.
Leon County to discuss proposed development for area around Lake Jackson
October 20, 2025 | WTXL | Maya Sargent
Leon County is set to discuss the Tallahassee-Leon County 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which includes plans to develop parts north of Lake Jackson. The plan would develop 2000 acres north of Lake Jackson.