1/13/22 @ 11:20 a.m. 

The Tree Protection Ordinance provides standards and regulations to ensure a minimum number of trees are maintained on any lot of parcel; protects and preserves native tree species; protects and preserves natural landscape; fosters and encourages maintenance of natural vegetation; and minimizes loss of trees to development.

Ordinance No. 2021-012 was adopted on August 9, 2021, with an effective date of February 7, 2022.

So what does this mean for residential properties and individuals who live in the unincorporated areas (outside the City limits) of Amelia Island?

• The new Ordinance applies to ALL LAND in the unincorporated area of Amelia Island
• Existing single-family, duplexes and mobile home properties will require a permit for removal of a protected tree. These property uses were previously exempt from tree protection and replacement requirements but are no longer exempt under the new ordinance
• New development will require the submission of a tree protection and replacement plan, and will require replacement of twenty-five percent (25%) of the total caliper inches of the protected trees removed.
• A specimen tree is defined as any healthy Live Oak Quercus Virginiana and Sand Live Oak Quercus geminate measuring forty (40) inches or more in diameter at breast height, or a multi-trunk live oak, as determined by an ISA-certified arborist with an aggregate measurement of sixty (60) inches or more in diameter at breast height
• Removal of any healthy protected tree without a permit or exemption will require violators to replace inch-for-inch one caliper inch for every inch of DBH removed
• Removal of any healthy specimen tree without a permit or exemption will result in a fine up to $15,000
• The property owner and contractor, or person(s) who performed the tree removal, may be held jointly liable

Please note that the Tree Ordinance also applies to non-residential, multi-family and redevelopment.

Before removing any tree, residents, developers, contractors, and commercial property owners should review Section 37.02 of the Land Development Code to understand how the requirements apply to them. Questions should be directed to County Arborist, Garner Cox, at (904) 530-6300 or via email at gcox@nassaucountyfl.com.

Please note that

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

12/21/21 @ 11:00 a.m.

The Board of County Commissioners is seeking a volunteer to serve on the Planning & Zoning Board, representing District 2. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone wishing to get involved or learn more about the County's planning process.

The Planning & Zoning Board reviews all requests for rezoning of property, zoning amendments, Comprehensive Plan text amendments, Land Use Map amendments, and amendments to Ordinances that affect the use and development of land. The Board submits written recommendations on these matters and submits them to the Board of County Commissioners for a final determination. The Board also hears appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in a decision made by the Planning Director or staff, as it relates to Zoning Codes or the Comprehensive Plan. The Board also comments on preliminary site plans and serves as the Local Planning Agency for Nassau County.

The Board is made of up 11 members as follows:

• Five County Commission District representatives (one for each district)
• Five At-Large Representatives
• One School Board Representative

Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of the month beginning at 6:00 p.m. Members serve three (3) year terms and are required to file a financial disclosure. Board members are provided a stipend of $75 per meeting and are reimbursed for mileage at rates set by the Federal General Services Administration.

If you reside in District 2 and are interested in serving, please submit a resume to contact@nassaucountyfl.com by Friday, January 14, 2022. Resumes will be provided to the Board of County Commissioners and will be considered at a Board meeting in late January. If selected, you will be notified in writing and scheduled for an orientation soon thereafter.

If you have any questions about the Planning & Zoning Board, please contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6300. Additional information can also be found on the Planning Department's webpage.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

12/8/21 @ 3:35 p.m. - Nassau County Engineering Services hosted an Open House on Monday, December 6th to share information about the Amelia Island Parkway Trail, a four-phase project totaling 3.2 miles in length from S. Fletcher Avenue to 8th Street.

About 25 residents were in attendance to hear the discussion which included information about the overall trail which will connect to the existing trail network on the island and eventually extend off-island.

County Engineer, Robert Companion, also shared information about Phase One which will span from S. Fletcher Avenue to Via Del Ray. This phase is anticipated to being in the summer of 2022. Funding is being provided by the Florida Department of Transportation through a Local Agency Program Agreement.

Residents in attendance seemed very pleased with the information that was presented, particularly when they learned that no trees or root systems will be impacted from this phase of the project. The goal is to also ensure that future phases also minimize or eliminate tree impacts wherever possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Services at (904) 530-6225.

-Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer

12/1/21 @ 4:50 p.m. - The Nassau County Engineering Services Department will host an Open House on Monday, December 6th at 5:30 p.m. regarding the Amelia Island Parkway Trail, a four-phase project totaling 3.2 miles in length from South Fletcher Avenue to South 8th Street.

The first segment spans from S. Fletcher Avenue to Via Del Ray, just north of Buccaneer Trail. The trail is proposed to be 10' wide and is intended to provide safe and efficient pedestrian and cyclist mobility along Amelia Island Parkway. Construction is estimated to begin in the Summer of 2022 and funding is provided by the Florida Department of Transportation through a Local Agency Program Agreement.

What: Open House re: Discussion of Amelia Island Parkway Trail
When: Monday, December 6, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Services at (904) 530-6225.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

11/9/21 @ 10:30 a.m. - From January to June 2019, over 400 residents participated in workshops, interviews, and online surveys to share their thoughts about the SR200/A1A Corridor. It was revealed that county residents, young and old, share a desire for a safe, comfortable, and attractive SR200 Corridor that connects them to places they are seeking access to.
 
The Planning Department used information collected to create the SR200/A1A Corridor Master Plan to define the future of the community. Five planning priorities identified include:

• Nature Nature: Maintain, enhance, and extend the natural environment by creating opportunities for residents to access and enjoy Florida's unique natural areas.
• Grow Sustainably: Help stage a vibrant shopping center and neighborhood growth through development that creates places for people, supports local businesses, and generates additional jobs, encourage active lifestyles, and comprises a mix of housing options.
• Connect Communities: Improve linkages between neighborhoods shopping centers, and amenities through a network of slow, safe and livable primary and secondary streets, trails, bike paths, and pedestrian infrastructure.
• Catalyze Culture: Build on heritage while establishing new cultural assets that celebrate community creativity and identify in the public realm.
• Future Proof: Prepare for a future by looking ahead to build a resilient community in the face of growing climate concern and technological advancement.

At a community meeting held on October 27, 2021, the "Timber to Tides" plan was presented and residents were given an opportunity to ask questions and provide input on implementation of the plan.

A video of the community presentation can be found here. Please download this PowerPoint file so you can follow along with the presenter.

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

10/27/21 @ 8:45 a.m. - In case you missed it! The Planning Department will be presenting the SR200/A1A Corridor Plan "Timber to Tides Project" at a community meeting tonight.

In 2019, Nassau County began work on the corridor design study for 11 miles of A1A/SR200 from west of Police Lodge Rd. to the Shave Bridge. The goal of the study was to transform A1A/SR200 into a place that functions not only as a major roadway, but as a place that provides opportunities for living and working, and to create a sense of place in Nassau County based on our community's history, character, and quality of life.

We listened to the community and crafted a plan that incorporates the community's ideas and addresses the issues that are important to you. Now, the Planning Department is seeking the community's thoughts on prioritizing the implementation.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
WHERE: FSCJ Nassau-Red Ben Center, 76346 William Burgess Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097

For more information, visit https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/951/SR200A1A-Corridor-Master-Plan-Draft. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

9/1/21 @ 3:00 p.m. -

On Saturday, August 21, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners hosted an Open House to discuss the results of an island-wide beach access and parking study conducted by Walker Consultants which included a current supply and demand analysis, followed with reasoned projections for the future. The information collected will be used for planning purposes to develop a comprehensive plan for public beach access and parking on Amelia Island.

About 75 residents were in attendance at the Open House, many of which provided feedback about their personal experiences in accessing the beach. Others expressed concerns about the collection of data for the supply/demand analysis and capacity projections over the study's planning horizon.

After considering the feedback from the public, County staff and representatives from Walker Consultants have decided to extend the time frame for the study to allow for additional observation and data collections. Within the next few weeks, a new detailed project schedule will be announced. This will include additional dates/times for data collection, citizen surveys, and future public meetings to keep the public involved throughout the process.

The Board of County Commissioners is committed to ensuring that residents and visitors have adequate access to the beach. Development of a comprehensive plan that provides long-term vision and planning will be instrumental in maintaining adequate public beach access in a rapidly growing community.

If you have any questions, please contact Parks & Recreation Director, Jay Robertson, at (904) 530-6120 or via email at jrobertson@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/18/21 @ 4:15 p.m.- At the August 9, 2021 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners approved Ordinance No. 2021-12, amending the Land Development Code to repeal the current unincorporated Amelia Island Tree Protection Ordinance and creating a new tree protection ordinance. The new ordinance will provide a more comprehensive and flexible approach.

The unincorporated Amelia Island tree protection program was originally implemented in 2008 and requires preserving 45% of protected trees for new development including commercial, multi-family, and residential subdivisions (protected trees are native trees with a trunk diameter at breast height/dbh of five inches and greater). The new ordinance will require preserving 25% of protected trees in construction and disturbance zones on a development site, and preserving all protected trees outside those zones in the natural area of the site. Tree protection will also be extended to residential lots outside of subdivisions.

The Ordinance also creates the Nassau County-Amelia Island Tree Commission (NCAITC) to administer tree protection, one member of which will be filled by a soon-to-be-hired County Arborist. The NCAITC will review required tree protection plans for new construction and redevelopment projects, and will at a future date, develop a tree planting program to be considered by the Board of County. This program shall include strategies for planting trees on publicly-held lands in the unincorporated areas of Amelia Island, including rights-of-ways and lands owned or controlled by the Board of County Commissioners and Nassau County School Board, as well as strategies for working with private property owners to plant trees on unincorporated Amelia Island, with the possibility of partnerships using funds from a new Nassau County Tree Fund.

​The new Tree Fund will be a restricted fund which can only be used for purposes outlined in the Ordinance and at the recommendation of the NCAITC. Examples of authorized expenditures include: planting of new trees; performing studies relate to urban forestry, canopy protection an assessments of natural areas; education and outreach initiatives primarily focused on preserving the native canopy, impact of tree loss, value or natural, regenerating areas; and the development of grant applications.

The new Tree Ordinance will go into effect on February 13, 2022. Information on membership for the Tree Committee is forthcoming.

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer
 








-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