Canopy Roads Management Plan - 2018 Update

November 20, 2018

Canopy roads are an iconic part of the local community, and their protection is essential, which is why, with guidance from the joint City of Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department, the Canopy Roads Citizens Advisory Committee (CRCC) has prepared a draft update to the Canopy Roads Management Plan. Prior to the updated plan being presented to the respective commissions for acceptance, the community is invited learn more about the updates and review the plan at the upcoming CRCC meeting on November 28 at 5:30 p.m. in the second-floor conference room at the Frenchtown Renaissance Center, 435 N. Macomb Street.

The first Canopy Roads Management Plan was developed by the CRCC and approved by the City and County commissions in 1992. It focused on maintenance strategies for canopy road enhancement.

A lot has changed in Tallahassee/Leon County since 1992, so in February 2017, the CRCC began a comprehensive review and update of the original management plan during its regularly scheduled meetings. While the 1992 plan focused on maintenance strategies, the CRCC recognized that much of this resource exists on private property, necessitating a multi-faceted approach to facilitate pro-active management of the canopy roads.

Over the course of 12 public meetings, the CRCC refined four goals for canopy roads management and developed objectives and strategies for achievement of these goals, along with a five-year timeline to ensure progress.

• Goal 1: Educate and Engage the Community in the Canopy Roads Experience
• Goal 2: Guide Development Policies that Protect, Improve, Enhance, and Expand the Canopy Roads Experience
• Goal 3: Preservation and Enhancement of Intrinsic Resources
• Goal 4: Provide and Support Safe Non-Motorized Access and Connectivity While Preserving the Integrity of the Canopy Roads Experience

The CRCC is an eight-member public advisory group charged with providing recommendations to the City and County Commissions and local regulatory bodies about protecting and enhancing our designated canopy roads. The committee meets on the third Wednesday of every other month at the Frenchtown Renaissance Center, 435 N. Macomb Street, at 5:30 p.m.

The canopy road system has 78 miles of road in it. Each road has a tree protection area that includes all land within 100 feet of the centerline of the road. There are 20 miles of canopy road within the city limits and 58 miles in the unincorporated area.

For more information, please contact Mindy Mohrman, Urban Forester, at 850-891-6415 or visit Talgov.com or LeonCountyFL.gov.