9/8/21 @ 10:35 a.m. - In January 2021, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program which will guide the County in identifying, ranking, and assessing conservation land for potential acquisition and management. The County then formed a CLAM Committee consisting of individuals with skills and experience related to the acquisition of conservation lands. Members are as follows:

• Brandy Carvahlo (term 2021-2025)
• Bill Korn (term 2021-2025)
• Bill Watson (term 2021-2025)
• Chris Hill (term 2021-2023)
• Leonard Wood (term 2021-2023)

The CLAM Committee has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, September 16, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. The meeting is open to the public. An agenda will be posted on our website prior to the meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.

As a reminder, the County is soliciting nominations of lands to be considered for the CLAM Program. Additional information on submitting nominations can be found here.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

NASSAU COUNTY IS ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS OF PROPERTIES
FOR POTENTIAL ACQUISITION THROUGH THE CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CLAM)

Nomination Period: July 24, 2021 through December 31, 2021

The Nassau County Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) program was created to preserve and conserve the county’s natural, historic, and working lands resources by identifying, ranking, and assessing conservation lands for acquisition and management.

The County shall accept nominations of properties for potential acquisition by the County through the CLAM Program from any person or organization, including the County, nonprofit organizations, and local, regional, state, or federal governmental entities. To nominate a property for potential acquisition, the nominator shall submit an application to the Nassau County Planning Department. Nominators may nominate an entire parcel for acquisition in fee simple or only a specific portion thereof or interest therein. In nominating properties, nominators should consider, at a minimum, the information contained in the Conservation Plan, the CLAM Resource Rankings Map, and the CLAM Manual.

Nominations must be received by the Nassau County Planning Department no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, December 31, 2021. Nominations received after the nomination period will not be considered. CLAM documents and nomination forms can be found at the following link or can be picked up and dropped off in person at the address listed below:

https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/933/Conservation-Land-Acquisition-Management

Nassau County Planning Department
96161 Nassau Place
Yulee, Florida 32097

7/15/21 @ 8:45 p.m.

NASSAU COUNTY IS ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS OF PROPERTIES
FOR POTENTIAL ACQUISITION THROUGH THE CONSERVATION LAND ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (CLAM)

Nomination Period: July 24, 2021 through December 31, 2021

The Nassau County Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) program was created to preserve and conserve the county’s natural, historic, and working lands resources by identifying, ranking, and assessing conservation lands for acquisition and management.

The County shall accept nominations of properties for potential acquisition by the County through the CLAM Program from any person or organization, including the County, nonprofit organizations, and local, regional, state, or federal governmental entities. To nominate a property for potential acquisition, the nominator shall submit an application to the Nassau County Planning Department. Nominators may nominate an entire parcel for acquisition in fee simple or only a specific portion thereof or interest therein. In nominating properties, nominators should consider, at a minimum, the information contained in the Conservation Plan, the CLAM Resource Rankings Map, and the CLAM Manual.

Nominations must be received by the Nassau County Planning Department no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, December 31, 2021. Nominations received after the nomination period will not be considered. CLAM documents and nomination forms can be found at the following link or can be picked up and dropped off in person at the address listed below:

https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/933/Conservation-Land-Acquisition-Management

Nassau County Planning Department
96161 Nassau Place
Yulee, Florida 32097

6/11/21 @ 4:45 p.m.

In January 2021, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) program which will guide the County in identifying, ranking and assessing conservation lands for acquisition and management. The acquisition of conservation land requires specific skills and oversight not typical to the usual volunteer committee so the County solicited applications for volunteers to serve on the CLAM Comittee with experience in the following areas:

• Natural resource management and biology
• Agriculture and forestry
• Community planning
• Environmental engineering or civil engineering where their work has been in stormwater or green infrastructure projects; or
• Environmental regulations, land use law, or commercial real estate that has dealt in vacant, rural lands

Solicitation for members was open from February 19 through March 26. The County received 14 applications meeting the minimum skills, expertise and demonstratable experience that relate to the acquisition of conservation lands.

On May 24, 2021, the Board appointed five (5) CLAM Committee Members as follows: • Brandy Carvalho (Term 2021-2025) • Bill Korn (Term 2021-2025) • Bill Watson (Term 2021-2025) • Chris Hill (Term 2021-2023) • Leonard Wood (Term 2021-2023)

We appreciate their willingness to serve and look forward to working with each member. The first meeting of the CLAM Committee will be held in July (date to be announced).

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

Just a friendly reminder that the County is in the process of selecting individuals for the CLAM Committee (Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Plan). The application period ends March 26, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Candidates should, at a minimum, have skills, expertise, or demonstratable experience that relates to the acquisition of lands either in:

• Natural resource management and biology
• Agriculture and forestry
• Community Planning
• Environmental engineering or civil engineering where work has been in stormwater or green infrastructure projects
• Environmental regulations, land use law, or commercial real estate in so far that has dealt in vacant, rural lands

A big thank you to those who have already submitted an application! We appreciate your willingness to serve.

If you have any questions, please contact our Planning Department at (904) 530-6300 or via email at planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.

To nominate yourself, please click here and fill out the required fields.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

2/16/21 @ 3:30 p.m. - The Board of County Commissioners adopted their first Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Plan on January 25, 2021. This plan summarizes the collected goals that have been expressed by the County Commissioners, County staff, and the general public and provides guidance in selection of lands to be acquired by the County and set aside for conservation.

Lands nominated for consideration will be reviewed by a CLAM Committee, prior to being submitted to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.

The County is currently seeking volunteers to serve on the CLAM Committee. Candidates at a minimum should have skills, expertise or demonstrable experience that relate to the acquisition of conservation lands, either in:

• natural resource management and biology;

• agriculture and forestry;

• community planning;

• environmental engineering or civil engineering where their work has been in stormwater or green infrastructure projects; and

• environmental regulations, land use law, or commercial real estate in so far that it has dealt in vacant, rural lands.

The ideal candidates will have experience in at least two of the above categories, or ten years of experience in at least one. You must be a Nassau County resident. 

To apply, please click here. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 26, 2021.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/31/20 @ 2:45 p.m. - On Saturday, August 15, 2020, two presentations were held regarding the Nassau County Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program. Approximately one dozen residents attended each presentation as Mr. Marc Hudson with the North Florida Land Trust provided information on the design of the Program.
 
The presentations were broken up into two parts. The first part described the creation of the CLAM Committee. The Committee will consist of five members selected by the public whose role will be to review and prioritize properties for conservation lands acquisition, oversee acquisitions, and ensure that the properties are managed sustainably and with appropriate recreational opportunities for the public. Members of the public will be able to nominate lands to be considered for conservation and provide public comment on each part of the process.
 
During the second part of the presentations, Mr. Hudson described the CLAM Resource Ranking Tool the County will use to assess, rank and compare different conservation properties. The tool was developed by environmental and planning professionals along with more than 300 Nassau County citizens. The CLAM tool evaluates potential acquisition properties in light of community priorities including water issues (water quality, flooding, sea level rise), species and habitat protection, and outdoor recreation/quality of life. The tool will ensure the County secures the most locally valued conservation lands.
 
To view the presentation from August 15, 2020, please visit the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity’s website at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/933/Conservation-Lands.
 
The Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Plan will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration and/or approval before the end of the calendar year.
*********************************************************************************************************
Should you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300.
 

8/14/20 @ 3:30 p.m. - Just a friendly reminder the there will be two presentations tomorrow regarding the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program.

Please see flyer for additional info.

Also, for anyone concerned about social distancing, a radio station has been established to allow residents to listen from the comfort of their your own car. You just need to be within 1,000 feet of the event tent.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

8/5/20 @ 11:00 a.m. -

Join us for an in-person outdoor presentation of how the Conservation Land Acquisition Management (CLAM) Program will work.

Two presentations will take place on Saturday, August 15, 2020:

YULEE
9:00-10:00 a.m.
James S. Page Governmental Complex (outside tent area), 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

CALLAHAN
12:00-1:00 p.m.
West Nassau Museum of History (outside tent area), 45383 Dixie Avenue, Callahan, FL 32011

Covid-19 safety procedures will be in place at each location and will require social distancing and masks.


We would like to reach as many residents as possible, so please share this invitation with your family, friends and neighbors. We are looking forward to meeting with you to share what we have developed.
 
Interactive Map
Explore the interactive map to see how individual parcels are rated within the CLAM Program.

If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
County Votes to Remove Referendum from 2020 Ballot
 
Nassau County, Florida, June 19, 2020-  In 2018, the Board of County Commissioners expressed a desire to establish a conservation land acquisition and management program. The Board subsequently entered into an agreement with the Trust for Public Land to conduct a feasibility analysis to consider funding options for the program. The results of the feasibility study were presented to the Board in August 2019.
 
At a Workshop held on October 16, 2019, the Board approved a Resolution to place a referendum on the ballot of the 2020 Election for the Electors to grant the County the ability to issue up to $30 million in general obligation bonds to implement the program. Due to the impact COVID-19 has had on families and businesses and the challenges residents have faced, the Board approved a Resolution on Wednesday, June 18, 2020, to remove the referendum from the 2020 Ballot.
 
The Board will proceed with creation of the conservation land acquisition and management program, with the intent of adding the referendum to the 2022 Ballot.
 
******************************************************************************************************
If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager’s Office at (904) 530-6010.