Stearns Weaver Miller Expands its Land Development, Zoning & Environmental Group with New Director of Planning and Development Services

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Stearns Weaver Miller continues to expand its services to land development clients with the addition of a new Director of Planning and Development Services. The firm announced that Barry Wilcox has joined its statewide Land Development, Zoning & Environmental group in Tallahassee. Barry is an AICP certified planner and Florida Certified Public Manager with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors in Florida. In his new role, he will collaborate with the firm’s attorneys, planners and GIS specialists to provide clients with strategic guidance on a broad range of growth management,
permitting and planning issues.

For nearly a decade, Barry held key managerial roles in Leon County including most recently as the Director of Development Support and Environmental Management (DSEM). DSEM is a group of divisions and programs within Leon County that provides one-stop permitting, review, and approval of land development activities that impact both the built and natural environments. In this role, Barry oversaw a multi-million dollar budget and led a team of over 70 professionals working in the fields of urban planning, environmental planning and design, construction permitting and inspection, and code enforcement.

Prior to his tenure in the public sector, Barry spent several years serving private sector clients across the state on a variety of matters, including comprehensive plan amendments, land development code revisions, rezonings, subdivision and site plan approvals, developments of regional impact, sector plans, and other permitting and entitlement issues. He managed largescale development projects, overseeing work product from as many as twenty other professionals, including planners, landscape architects, engineers, biologists, and other subconsultants.

“Barry is a dynamic and results-driven leader with extensive experience integrating teams across diverse disciplines,” said Reggie Bouthillier Shareholder and Chair of the group. “His deep-rooted background in both government and the private sector has equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities involved in balancing regulatory requirements with the unique needs of our clients.”

Barry has served in multiple leadership roles with the American Planning Association Florida Chapter and is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Capital Region Leadership Council. He is also a former adjunct professor at Florida State University, where he earned his M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning.