Planning Board Denies Sector Opt-Outs, Rezoning Requests Withdrawn For Huge Molino Development

July 13, 2023

The developer of a huge planned mixed-use community in Molino withdrew all of their rezoning requests Thursday after the Escambia County Planning Board denied all of their sector plan opt-out requests.

The Woodland Park development, once completed, would have had thousands of homes and nearly 100 acres of commercial development in a 1,500 acre area to the south and west of Highway 196 and Highway 29.

Dozens of residents packed the six-plus hour meeting to speak out against the development and their belief that was absolutely incompatible with the surrounding rural community as it would have tripled the Molino area’s population.

The planning board’s denial of Escambia County Sector Plan opt-outs is not final; it’s just a recommendation that will go to the Escambia County Commission at an upcoming meeting.

Since the rezoning requests were withdrawn from the planning board, the county commission will not consider them.

Exit 3 Investments, LLC will be able to return to the planning board, if they so choose, with future rezoning requests on the parcels.

NorthEscambia.com will have continuing coverage in additional upcoming stories.

Pictured: A packed Escambia County Planning Board meeting Thursday morning. NorthEscambia.com image.

Comments

19 Responses to “Planning Board Denies Sector Opt-Outs, Rezoning Requests Withdrawn For Huge Molino Development”

  1. Bonnie Exner on July 15th, 2023 10:20 pm

    The developer bought the property in 2016..( public records)was su..the plans for this”little city”[ as quoted by the developer] was submitted in Aug,2020p( public records) and the general population was made aware of the request for rezoning just 15days before the public hearing( required by law)scheduled at 8:30 amI have only 2 comments
    1.SO MUCH FOR TRANSPARENCY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
    2.FOLLOW THE MONEY

  2. W. Ward on July 15th, 2023 11:16 am

    At least people are paying attention & I’m thankful. I’ve read all the commits I pretty much agree with all of you. !st off folks, Berry’s office don’t return calls or answer the phone so we need o pay attention to who we vote for. The rights of the residents in this county to approve or disapprove something like this should not fall into the hands of the zoning board or the commissioners. It should fall into the residents of the district, so that needs to change. The commissioners & zoning board have to much power, we pay the taxes! Developers contribute to elections, follow the money. It’s time for some changes in who tells us what will go on in our community, ya’ll need to think about it cause the fight has just begun, they will be back.

  3. derek on July 14th, 2023 2:48 pm

    There is no land owner rights in this country!

  4. Just a little reminder on July 14th, 2023 2:36 pm

    Now everyone agrees that 5 acre parcels would be a good idea. I remember a plan on Crabtree Church that looked like that and had everyone in a hissy fit.

  5. Kathleen on July 14th, 2023 1:18 pm

    No to this particular project. We have to keep this area rural. It’s not like they are making anymore rural areas. Small town country life is the best especially if you are bringing up a family.

    Yes we have to grow eventually but there has to b a happy medium. Maybe 5-10 acres per home. That’s a hell of lot better than 4-5 homes or apartments per acre.

    Keep our classrooms ratio small its a better life & education for children.

    Yes we have crime but it no where near Pensacola, Warrington, Ensley, Beulah and if the developer get thier way then we will be just like all those areas that are over run

    These are some of the reasons we live here. It’s just a better way of life.

    KEEP MOLINO BEAUTIFUL BY KEEPING IT COUNTRY!

  6. john wall on July 14th, 2023 8:37 am

    i attended both the meeting at the oid barrinesu park school and the planning board hearing . fantastic turn out at both locations . what i didnt hear at either meeting was how our representatives would react to a proposal that was intended to turn Molino from a rural setting into a new city . I intend to be very careful sbout who i elect to represent North Escambia in the futre .

  7. James on July 14th, 2023 1:32 am

    One small battle in what will be a war. We need to prepare ourselves for it and be vigilant. We just gotta keep coming at them in hopes that whatever is ultimately approved is better than what they plan now. They’re not stopping.

  8. MT on July 14th, 2023 1:24 am

    Thank you all, for showing up. Some things just don’t need to happen.

  9. EMD on July 13th, 2023 10:03 pm

    Thanks to all who attended this meeting.

  10. Give me a break on July 13th, 2023 8:53 pm

    BRAVO neighbors! That was an amazing turnout and thank all who attended on behalf of the community.

    Celebrate the victory today, but understand that this is just the first salvo. There are currently two downstate development companies involved, and they have already invested a lot of money into this, so they’re not going to quit.

    Again, kudos to all of you who stood up for the community today!

  11. Jim on July 13th, 2023 8:33 pm

    Just smoke and mirrors folks. This was just testing the waters with a cricket to see if anything might be biting. Don’t think for a second your interest are being protected. Once some wording is corrected and the zoning changes slip through piece by piece,them and the local deep pockets will be back.

  12. Molino man on July 13th, 2023 8:11 pm

    The inevitable will happen one day. Money talks.

  13. Nancy Perry on July 13th, 2023 7:45 pm

    Thank you William/Northescambia for your awesome reporting to keep all of us informed!!! Thank you Bonnie and Craig Exner for you leading the troops!!

  14. lester on July 13th, 2023 7:23 pm

    They will come back with a new plan to address the opt zone parcels of what I think are the northern parcels 3B and part of 3A.That is why they withdrew it so it doesn’t go to the commission. So it looks like some of 72 town homes and 559 single homes could be redrawn on the school plot the fire station plot and some commercial plots that would be a loss or develop south of 3A and B until they get it rezoned. Either way, they know how to play the game and have a lot invested… So I don’t think we have seen the end of it..?

  15. Local on July 13th, 2023 7:09 pm

    I am so glad to hear this….Thank you folks for showing up against this. Let’s keep our RURAL community just that.

  16. watchful eye on July 13th, 2023 6:50 pm

    Don’t let your guard down. This is a battle, not the war. I believe this entity will surface again with a different proposal. Take a look at the parcels they acquired; they aren’t going to let that money go to waste.

  17. Concerned Citizen on July 13th, 2023 6:33 pm

    Thank God

  18. Eric M on July 13th, 2023 5:57 pm

    Great news! We don’t have the infrastructure for that, as of now. This includes the additional fire/emt/police needed for thousands of more home and several thousand more people.

  19. straightshooter on July 13th, 2023 5:51 pm

    They woke the sleeping bear today. They caught us asleep last time.
    Thanks to all who showed up.
    Now to put the same pressure on Berry and crew.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News