CHIEF, Future Utility and Conservation: home
CHIEF, Future Utility and Conservation: home

The Land

1,800+ Contiguous Acres

Large, contiguous, undeveloped agricultural properties are becoming increasingly uncommon as St. Johns County grows. The owner's vision to create a place that supports St. Johns County's needs, including jobs, infrastructure, open spaces, and public services, does beg the question to all of us, what does that look like for the future?

This approximately 1,800-acre property provides an opportunity to look at land use, environmental systems, transportation, infrastructure, working lands and surrounding communities as one connected system.

Aerial view over pine forest along a dirt road, with land being cleared in the distance.
On the property today: pine forest, with land being cleared in the distance.

Working Land

The property includes land historically providing agriculture, silviculture and other rural activities.

Growth doesn't have to turn every acre into developed land. This process will look at where working lands can stay part of the property's long-term future. Current land use rules would allow thousands of homes by right, but that isn't the owner's vision.

Aerial view of a large cleared area being prepared for sod, with a finished sod field and forest beyond.
On the property today: land cleared and being prepared for sod.

Natural Systems

Wetlands, drainage systems, tree canopy, habitat and other environmental resources will help shape the vision.

One objective of the process is to explore whether individual environmental areas can become part of a larger connected conservation network and even help protect our aquifer.

Aerial view circling open water with a wooded, grassy shoreline.
On the property today: open water and a wooded shoreline.

The Surrounding Community

The property does not exist in isolation.

Residential development, roads, utilities, public facilities, businesses and other land uses have grown around the area.

Understanding those relationships is essential to deciding where future activities occur.

Existing Land Use & Zoning

Different portions of the property may have different Future Land Use designations, zoning, existing rights and operational characteristics.

The visioning process will evaluate those existing conditions before the owner makes his final decision.

Aerial view of the existing business operations: buildings, a hoop structure, an equipment yard and ponds, surrounded by forest.
On the property today: existing business operations.
A wheel loader next to piles of branches and other vegetative material, with pine trees behind.
On the property today: vegetative material and a loader.
A hand holding fine, screened compost above a compost pile.
On the property today: screened compost.

Explore the Land

Existing Conditions

  • Property boundary
  • Future Land Use
  • Zoning
  • Wetlands
  • Floodplain
  • Existing conservation areas
  • Existing agricultural/silvicultural areas
  • Roads
  • Utilities where appropriate for public display
  • Adjacent neighborhoods
  • Existing operations
  • Public lands

CONCEPTUAL: FOR COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

Conceptual Ideas

  • Potential environmental connections