12/18/20 @ 9:00 a.m. - Nassau County has received two Awards for Excellence from the Northeast Florida Regional Council. The first award is in the Environmental Stewardship category for the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Program. The other is in the Planning & Growth Management Category for the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Heritage Book.

Please see Press Release from the NEFRC below:

Date: December 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate Haigh
Title: Communications Specialist
Phone: 904-279-0880
Email: khaigh@nefrc.org
 
Northeast Florida Regional Leadership Award Winners Announced
 
Jacksonville, FL – The Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) announced the winners of the 2020 Northeast Florida Regional Leadership Awards this week. In light of the current pandemic, award winners will be recognized in their individual counties rather than at a central event. The NEFRC awards these honors each year to recognize the best projects and the brightest leaders in the Region.
 
The Regional Awards recognition program is anchored by the Regional Leadership Award, given to a leader who exemplifies service to community and commitment to regionalism. This year’s recipient of the Northeast Florida Regional Council Regional Leadership Award is recently retired Florida Times Union Editorial Page Editor Mike Clark. Mr. Clark has worked tirelessly to give unbiased views on the top issues affecting our region.
 
Other award winners include St. Johns County’s Workforce Housing Zoning Designation in the Affordable Housing category; Azalea City Brewing located in the City of Palatka in the Adaptive Reuse category; the Baker County Chamber of Commerce in the Economic Development category; the First Coast Disaster Council’s response to COVID-19 in the  Healthcare/Emergency Preparedness category, the Nassau County Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Program in the Environmental Stewardship category, the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Vision Book in the Planning and Growth Management category; the City of Jacksonville’s Project Save Lives in the Public Safety category, the Floodplain and Stormwater Management Program in Palm Coast in the Resilience category, and the TPO’s Path Forward 2045 in the Transportation category, the Long Term Recovery Organization in the Quality of Life category.     
 
“We look forward each year to honoring those in our region who standout in their efforts to improve the quality of life of citizens in Northeast Florida,” said Beth Payne, CEO of the Northeast Florida Regional Council. “This year’s winners are examples of the outstanding work that is ongoing in the Region. It is our honor to celebrate their accomplishments during such a challenging year.”  
 
The NEFRC is an independent, regional government agency serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Putnam, Nassau and St. Johns counties. It provides a regional perspective toward growth management, economic development, emergency preparedness, resiliency, and community development to enhance the quality of life of Northeast Florida residents. For more information about the Northeast Florida Regional Council, visit www.nefrc.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Thad Crowe       
Director, PEO Department
(904) 530-6300
tcrowe@nassaucountyfl.com
 
APPLICATIONS AFFECTING 5456 FIRST COAST HWY. (SUMMER BEACH PARCEL D-1) ARE WITHDRAWN
 
Nassau County, Florida, November 23, 2020 - On November 23, 2020, the County's planning staff were informed by the applicants of Application Nos. NOPC20-002 and FD20-008 were withdrawing the items from consideration at the December 1, 2020 Planning & Zoning Board Meeting and the December 14 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
 
NOPC20-002 was a proposed resolution amending the Development Order for the Summer Beach DRI; providing for a maximum of 7,000 square feet of commercial and office space and 24 multifamily residential units on Parcel D-1 (5456 First Coast Hwy.).
(Note: at present, Resolution 2007-105 allows for up to 25,000 square feet of commercial and office space and 16 residential units on this site).
The amendment would also have adjusted minimum setbacks and included a statement that the buffer along the southern boundary line must meet current County standards for separation of incompatible uses and shown on the Final Development Plan.
 
FD20-008 was a proposed final development plan for Parcel D-1, allowing for 4,500 square feet of commercial and office space and 24 multifamily residential units at this location.
 
Both items were withdrawn from consideration by the applicants on Monday, November 23, 2020.
 
The Nassau County Planning and Economic Opportunity Department is charged with leading long-range and current planning for the community, with a focus on technical planning, implementation and management of the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan, development and site plan review, and assistance to citizens, the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager and other staff, advisory boards, government agencies, and the private sector regarding growth and development in Nassau County. For more information on our Plan, Code, or current initiatives, visit www.nassaucountyfl.com/planning, call (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.
 

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.
 

8/28/20 @ 10:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Thad Crowe accepted the position of Director of Planning & Economic Opportunity. Mr. Crowe was hired by Nassau County in May 2020 as a Senior Planner and was asked to serve as the Interim PEO Director in July 2020.

Mr. Crowe's education includes a Bachelors Degree in Geography from the University of Georgia and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Georgia Tech. He holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Mr. Crowe's work experience includes 33 years of public and private sector planning positions throughout North Florida and South Georgia. He has extensive experience in the development of zoning codes and comprehensive plans, pedestrian and bicycle paths, development review, and historic preservation. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the George W. Simons, Jr. Memorial Award for lifetime achievement, received from the Florida Planning and Zoning Association in 2013.

County Manager, Mike Mullin, stated "We are happy that Thad has accepted this position. Even though Thad has only been with us a short time, he has become a valuable member of our team. His knowledge and experience made him a great candidate for the position and I am certain he has the skills needed to lead the Planning Department effectively.” 

Congratulations Thad! We wish you many years of success as Nassau County's Planning Director.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Office

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

7/21/20 @ 11:30 a.m. - The County previously announced receipt of applications for proposed development of 28 multi-family units on Parcel D-1 of the Summer Beach Planning Unit Development. This included small-scale FLUM amendment application CPA20-002, notice of proposed change to an existing DRI NOPC20-001, and final development plan application FD20-001 for property located at 5456 First Coast Hwy, at the intersection of First Coast Highway and Julia Street.

The applicant had previously requested a continuance to hold the hearing before the Planning Board on July 21st at 6pm and the Board of County Commissioners on Monday, July 27th at 6pm.

Please be advised that the applicant has now requested all three applications to be withdrawn from consideration.

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

The Planning & Zoning Board has a meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. tonight. A copy of the agenda can be located here.

Accommodations have been made to allow individuals to appear in person while maintaining social distancing. This includes additional seating, monitors, and speakers outside of the Board Room, distribution of masks and hand sanitizer, and a podium outside where speakers can address the Board without entering the room.

For individuals not wishing to attend in person but wanting to participate remotely, you can do so by utilizing the ZOOM link below. Once you have logged into the ZOOM meeting and the item you wish to speak on is being heard, use the "Raise Hand" feature to notify the Chairman that you would like to speak. You will be called on when it's your turn to speak. Please do not use the ZOOM meeting if you don't want to speak. Instead, just follow along by viewing the meeting live on the Clerk's website.

ZOOM Meeting:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83734465872?pwd=RWt1dUNzekZveEJQUmxQVXkrQmlrUT09
Password: 987321
 
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +12532158782,,83734465872#,,,,0#,,987321#  or +13017158592,,83734465872#,,,,0#,,987321#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 669 900 9128
    
Webinar ID: 837 3446 5872
Password: 987321

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

7/8/20 @ 10:45 a.m.

Impact Fees are a one-time fee collected when building permits are issued to fund future construction and improvements needed to accommodate growth.
 
There are currently five types of impact fees collected by the County: educational impact fees, recreation impact fees, administrative impact fees, fire impact fees, and law enforcement impact fees. The County also collects mobility fees to fund road improvements. While not an impact fee, it is still a fee charged during the permitting process to ensure that the builder bears the costs for improvements necessary to accommodate extra vehicles or “trips” to a home or business.
 
In August 2018, the Board hired a consultant to review recreation impact fees to ensure that adequate funds are being collected for construction of parks and recreational facilities to meet the demands created by residential development. The study is still underway and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020.  
 
In February 2019, the Board directed staff to move forward with ordering a study to review Fire Rescue Impact Fees, Sheriff Impact Fees and Administrative Impact Fees. This is being done to ensure amounts being collected are sufficient in comparison to counties of similar size and to ensure that any needed improvements are paid for by the individual pulling the permit rather than burdening taxpayers by using ad valorem revenues.
 
Sheriff Impact Fees are Fire Impact Fees are based on the knowledge that public safety needs are directly proportional to the presence of people. With growth comes the need for new fire stations, larger jails, and equipment for public safety personnel. Administrative Impact Fees are used for building, renovating, and/or expanding public buildings such as courthouses, maintenance facilities, and administrative offices. Sometimes a project will require use of multiple impact fee funds for a project. For example, the Sheriff’s Administrative Building was partially paid for with a combination of Law Enforcement and Administrative Impact Fees.
 
The County secured Tischler Bise, a fiscal and planning consulting firm, to perform an update/calibration of the County’s Fiscal Impact Model used to assess the fiscal impact of proposed development projects and rezonings in the County. The preliminary results were presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their meeting held on December 9, 2019.
 
Below is a chart reflecting the total impact fees currently being collected by Nassau County, as well as the maximum supportable fee for each development type.

The study also included projections for future facility and equipment needs such as fire stations, 911 call centers, sheriff vehicles, rescue vehicles, fire trucks, etc., based on a 10- year projected growth trend. Pursuant to these projections, it is anticipated that the County will need an additional 117,798 square feet in facilities at a cost of $28,308,912, and 64 new emergency apparatus (vehicles) at a combined cost of $5,762,521 to meet future needs. If the maximum supportable impact fees are adopted as recommended by Tischler Bise, it is anticipated that there will be enough impact fee revenues to cover approximately 67% of these growth-related costs.  
 
Below is a chart showing the current and proposed fees to be considered by the Board:

The Board will hold a public hearing to consider these changes on Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. The meeting is open to the public. The County has implemented additional procedures to allow proper social distancing to protect individuals wishing to attend in person. The meeting can also be streamed live at www.nassaucountyfl.com/watch-meetings. Anyone wishing to participate remotely can submit comments to comments@nassaucountyfl.com. You can also call (904) 530-6009 and submit a verbal comment for the record. Individuals wishing to be called during the meeting can email or call as directed above and request to be called. Please provide your name, address and the topic you wish to speak about and you will be called when that item comes up for discussion.
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

7/7/20 @ 1:45 p.m. - The Planning & Zoning Board has a meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. tonight. A copy of the agenda can be located here.

Accommodations have been made to allow individuals to appear in person while maintaining social distancing. This includes additional seating, monitors, and speakers outside of the Board Room, distribution of masks and hand sanitizer, and a podium outside where speakers can address the Board without entering the room.

For individuals not wishing to attend in person but wanting to participate remotely, you can do so by utilizing the ZOOM link below. Once you have logged into the ZOOM meeting and the item you wish to speak on is being heard, use the "Raise Hand" feature to notify the Chairman that you would like to speak. You will be called on when it's your turn to speak. Please do not use the ZOOM meeting if you don't want to speak. Instead, just follow along by viewing the meeting live on the Clerk's website.

ZOOM Meeting:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83734465872?pwd=RWt1dUNzekZveEJQUmxQVXkrQmlrUT09
Password: 987321
 
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +12532158782,,83734465872#,,,,0#,,987321#  or +13017158592,,83734465872#,,,,0#,,987321#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 253 215 8782  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 646 558 8656  or +1 669 900 9128
    
Webinar ID: 837 3446 5872
Password: 987321

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office