The state of Florida has taken the rare step of rejecting a comprehensive growth plan from St. Johns County[1].
The plan[2], a strategic growth management proposal through the year 2050, details the county’s arrangements to deal with population and corresponding infrastructure and construction growth. It’s been required since the 1980s in Florida.
FloridaCommerce[3] rejected the plan submitted this Summer.
“FloridaCommerce has identified a conflict,” said a memo[4] sent to St. Johns County Commission Chair Krista Joseph Sept. 26. “These conflicts render the proposed comprehensive plan amendment null and void.”
Much of the problem with the planning document, according to James Stansbury, the Chief of Community Planning and Growth for FloridaCommerce[5], is construction requirements and stipulations following a hurricane. The Legislature modified those requirements in SB 180[6] this year.
The intent of the law was to stop municipalities from restricting construction in the recovery phase after a major disaster. The legislation arose after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which struck Florida in 2024.
“St. Johns County’s proposed amendment is more restrictive or burdensome” than the revised state stipulations, Stansbury said in his letter.
The county could lose state funding for some projects if the comprehensive plan remains null and void. St. Johns County Administrator Joy Andrews said staff will begin crafting revisions soon.
“Our next step will be to guide the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners in considering clarifications and revisions while maintaining the goals of this comprehensive plan update. We remain committed to presenting this item to the Board for further consideration,” Andrews said.
In an Action News Jacksonville report[7], St. Johns County Commissioner Ann Taylor was more strident and said the rejection by the state is an affront.
“It’s an insult to every resident in this county,” Taylor said to Action News, “to just have it come back and be denied is really devastating.”
For the moment, it’s not entirely clear how long St. Johns County will have to respond to the state’s rejection or how much work county staff will have to lay into the document, which is about 200 pages long.
References
- ^ St. Johns County (www.sjcfl.us)
- ^ plan (stjohnsclerk.com)
- ^ FloridaCommerce (www.floridajobs.org)
- ^ memo (floridapolitics.com)
- ^ Community Planning and Growth for FloridaCommerce (floridajobs.org)
- ^ SB 180 (www.flsenate.gov)
- ^ report (www.actionnewsjax.com)