7/8/22 @ 4:55 p.m. - 

From July 24, 2021 through December 31, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners sought nominations from the public for properties to be considered for acquisition by the County for conservation purposes. A total of 750 nominations were received. 

At the May 19, 2022 Conservation Land Acquisition Management (CLAM) Committee, Assistant Planning Director, Holly Coyle, did a presentation on criteria that was used in selecting the properties to be considered. At this time, 30 projects consisting of 173 parcels and 10,000 acres and a total value of $110 million have been recommended.

The CLAM Committee met again on July 6, 2022 to continue discussions regarding staff’s project recommendations and ranking.  Staff provided two alternative ranking recommendations, as well as an estimate of project acquisition timing. To view the July 6th meeting, please click here. 

At the next Committee meeting scheduled for August 2, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., nominators will be given the opportunity to advocate for project submittals. A final ranking recommendation by the Committee is anticipated.

If you have any questions, please contact Economic Resources Coordinator, Holly Coyle, at (904) 530-6010 or via email at hcoyle@nassaucountyfl.com. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

6/16/22 @ 2:45 p.m. - 

PROPERTIES TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ACQUISITION

From July 24, 2021 through December 31, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners sought nominations from the public for properties to be considered for acquisition by the County for conservation purposes. A total of 750 nominations were received. 

At the May 19, 2022 Conservation Land Acquisition Management (CLAM) Committee, Assistant Planning Director, Holly Coyle, did a presentation on criteria that was used in selecting the properties to be considered. At this time, 30 projects consisting of 173 parcels and 10,000 acres and a total value of $110 million have been recommended.

To view Ms. Coyle's May 19th presentation, please click here.
To view the staff reports related to each property under consideration, please click here. 

A CLAM Meeting has been tentatively been scheduled for Wednesday, July 6th at 4:00 p.m. to rank the properties and proposals. 

CLAM REFERENDUM

At the May 23, 2022 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners approved a Resolution authorizing placement of a referendum on the ballot for the November 2022 election for residents to vote on whether the County should issue up to $30 million in general obligation bonds for a Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Program. 

If approved by the voters, the bond funding would be used to purchase properties identified by the CLAM Committee for conservation purposes. The proposed Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Program would be subject to oversight and full public disclosure of all bond spending. 

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

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/31/22 @ 10:15 a.m.

PRESS RELEASE

We are pleased to announce that County Manager, Taco Pope, and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners have been jointly named as Partner of the Year by the North Florida Land Trust for the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Plan adopted on January 25, 2021. The CLAM was created to provide guidance in the selection of lands to be acquired by the County and set aside for conservation.

Mr. Pope and the Board were recognized at the North Florida Land Trust’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. North Florida Land Trust President, Jim McCarthy, stated, “Nassau County is being recognized for leading the effort in adopting the strategic Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Plan for Nassau County and for preparing for a local land conservation referendum to the voters in November 2022. The process they are following is exemplary in that they are planning for conservation in a rapidly growing county utilizing a commitment to transparency, equity, fiduciary responsibility and scientific integrity. Due to Nassau County’s efforts, they are preserving as much land as possible for wildlife habitat, environmental sustainability, and community resilience”.

According to Mr. McCarthy, to be considered for the title of Partner of the Year, an agency must advance the North Florida Land Trust’s mission in preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment.
 
County Manager, Taco Pope, stated, “Adopting the CLAM was a monumental step forward for Nassau County. We’ve had great partners to help us get to this point. With the support of the North Florida Land Trust Board of Directors and staff, we were able to successfully create a program that will guide the County in identifying properties for conservation, planning for acquisition of those properties, and ensuring that the properties are managed sustainably and with appropriate recreational opportunities for the public. We appreciate the guidance they provided us and are honored to have been selected as Partner of the Year”.

To view the adopted CLAM Program, please visit our website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

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