Darrin Taylor, Director of Planning with Holtzman Vogel’s Tallahassee office, has a wide range of experience in urban and regional planning from both the state and local perspective. His specialties include comprehensive planning, zoning, and developments of regional impact (DRIs). He works closely with attorneys in the firm to resolve land use issues. He has also been deemed an expert witness in the areas of comprehensive planning and land use planning.

Darrin is a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). He has served as a planning manager in the Florida Department of Community Affairs, and as a senior planner with the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department.

Prior to joining the firm, Darrin was a Government Consultant/Certified Land Use Planner for a large Florida law firm.  He has a master's degree in urban planning from Florida State University.

Clerkship/Government Experience
  • Planning Manager, Florida Department of Community Affairs
  • Senior Planner, Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department
  • Assists clients in understanding Florida’s Economic Development Programs.
  • Works closely with the firm's legislative lobbyists on growth management issues.
  • Assists clients in land use planning issues, including due diligence analysis, comprehensive plan/plan amendments, DRIs, rezoning, and site plan approvals.
  • Reviews comprehensive plan amendments, evaluation and appraisal reports (EARs), and DRIs while employed with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).
  • Experience in military base land use compatibility issues.
  • Expert witness in land use and comprehensive planning.
  • Established Tallahassee’s sector planning program and served as project manager for a series of sector plans in the Southern Strategy Area.
  • Served as city liaison to Florida State University and Florida A&M University in the development of campus master plans.
  • Assists clients with planning large landholdings, including the development of sector plans pursuant to section 163.3245, Florida Statutes.
  • Assists clients and in-house attorneys in drafting agreements with state and local governments.
  • Assists clients with development permitting, including the filing of extensions.
  • American Planning Association (2000–present)  
    • Legislative Policy Committee (2011)
  • American Institute of Certified Planners
  • Capital Area Chapter of American Planning Association
    • Chairperson (2004–2007)
  • “Capital Area Award” for South Monroe Sector Plan
  • “Changes in Growth Management Laws," 32nd Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Fort Lauderdale, FL (July 21, 2018)
  • "Changes in Growth Management Laws," 31st Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Fort Lauderdale, FL (July 21, 2017)
  • "Changes in Growth Management Laws," 30th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Orlando, FL (July 20, 2016)
  • "Sector Planning," 28th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Marco Island, FL (July 23, 2014)
  • "Development It’s Happening Again," 28th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, Marco Island, FL (July 23, 2014)
  • "Growth Management Trends Post HB 7207," Florida American Planning Association, Tallahassee, FL (October 28, 2011)
  • "Can Planners Create Jobs," Florida American Planning Conference (2011)
  • "Changes in the 2011 Legislative Session," Florida American Planning Association (2011)
  • "Post Amendment 4: Public Participation Revisited," Florida American Planning Association Public Policy Workshop, Tallahassee, FL (February 9, 2011)
  • "The Challenges of Locating Mixed-Use,” Florida American Planning Association Annual Conference, Tampa, FL (September 15, 2010)
  • "The Impact of Amendment 4 on Florida's Future,” Hometown Democracy Session of Leadership Tallahassee, FL (March 4, 2010)
  • Co-speaker on legislature’s extensive changes to Florida’s growth management laws to more than 130 realtors, homebuilders, local government officials, lawyers, and developers at the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors (June 24, 2009)
  • "Can Florida Sustain Its Agricultural Lands?," Florida American Planning Association Annual Conference (2008)
  • "The Future of Rural Lands in Florida," Florida American Planning Association Public Policy Workshop (2008)
  • "Summary of Land Use Planning and Emerging Trends in Florida," Resort Development Conference
  • "Mixed-Use Development and Comprehensive Plan Reform," Leon County Smart Growth Summit

Related Practice Areas
  • Florida State University, M.S., 1993, Urban Planning
  • Florida State University, B.S., 1991
Darrin F. Taylor