Mission Statement

The Escambia County Development Services Department is comprised of three divisions:  Development Review, Planning and Zoning and Geographic Information Systems, or GIS. The department provides educational opportunities to the public and business communities by hosting numerous workshops and meetings at locations throughout the community to provide information and answer questions for citizens, contractors and developers regarding the many projects, tasks and assignments for which it is responsible.

FY 2017-2018 Accomplishments

Development Services Department Statistics

The Development Services Department processed 337 cases total, including:

• 274 DRC projects (does not include pre-application submittals)
  • 9 construction plans
  • 12 final plats
  • 13 minor (unplatted) subdivisions
  • 4 master plans
  • 7 preliminary plats
  • 5 preliminary plans/construction plans
  • 146 site plans
  • 2 borrow pits
  • 76 minor site plans
  • 0 planned unit developments
• 27 Planning Board cases
  • 20 rezonings
  • 3 small-scale amendments
  • 2 large-scale amendments
  • 1 comprehensive plan amendments
  • 0 vested rights
  • 1 opt out of Sector Plan 
• 36 Board of Adjustment cases
  • 3 administrative appeals
  • 23 conditional uses
  • 10 variances
  • 0 extensions to development orders

• 4,694 permits issued
  • 3,062 land use
  • 69 land management
  • 659 rights of way
  • 904 driveways
• Activated and began using the QLess Kiosk System for greater efficiency, decreasing customer wait times and enhancing research/reporting capabilities.
• Changed permitting systems from Accela to My Government Online, providing enhanced customer service through real-time status checks. Also completed plan review download.

Geographic Information System Statistics

• Handled more than 240 general GIS website requests.
• Issued over 1,600 letters regarding addresses/verification of maps or data findings.
• Created 1,480 structure addresses.
• Added 31 streets to GIS and processed via petition and/or subdivision plat and named by BCC.
• More than 1,400 maps created, printed or provided electronically for outside agencies/boards working with the BCC.
• Conducted more than 25 meetings/consultations/advisements to organizations attempting to implement their own spatial data program (high schools, volunteer organizations, economic, environmental/hazard awareness and recreational agencies).
• Updated approximately 2,600 addresses for the U.S. Census Bureau's Local Update of Census Addresses.
• Assets added in GIS and Lucity databases:
  
  • 15 stormwater ponds
  • 370 stormwater structures
  • 538 stormwater conduits (e.g., pipes, ditches)
  • 5 county facilities
  • 108 street segments