Performance zoning : a case study of Walton County, Florida

This research is a descriptive case-study based on Walton County, Florida's 1985 and 1991 Performance Zoning Ordinances. It identifies problems in Walton County's 1985 Zoning Ordinance, describes how these problems were addressed in the county's 1991 Zoning Ordinance, and determines the motives behind the writing of the 1991 Zoning Ordinance. A literature search consisting of books, magazines, and newspaper articles was conducted. Interviews were conducted with planning staff, consultants, public officials, and developers. It was concluded that there were two major reasons why Walton County decided to rewrite its 1985 Zoning Ordinance. First, the state of Florida had mandated the county to adopt a comprehensive plan which should be accompanied by a zoning ordinance. Second, the 1985 Zoning Ordinance failed to meet the needs of the county in regulating development due to the fact that some areas of the ordinance were unenforceable.