Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission transmits 60-acre William Burgess overlay land-use amendment to state agencies
Summary
The board voted 5-0 to transmit CPA24-003, a large-scale comprehensive-plan amendment that reclassifies about 60.65 acres in the William Burgess Overlay from Medium Density Residential to Transect 1 and Transect 2.5 for state review; staff cited wetlands, gopher tortoise burrows and bluff adjacency as considerations.
The Nassau County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on March 20 to transmit CPA24-003, a large-scale comprehensive-plan amendment affecting about 60.65 acres in the William Burgess Overlay. The transmittal sends the amendment to state and regional review agencies as required by state law for plan changes larger than 50 acres.
Elizabeth Bach, Planning Director, told the board the application would reclassify 55.46 acres to Transect 2.5 and 5.19 acres to Transect 1 on the south side of Clyde Higginbotham Road north of the Duval County line. Bach described the site as currently undeveloped pasture with environmental features the county must protect: wetlands identified in the environmental assessment, a bluff adjacent to Lumber Creek and the Bridal Marsh, and the presence of gopher tortoise burrows that would require Florida Fish and Wildlife relocation permits for ground-disturbing activities within 25 feet of a burrow.
"Staff does find the requested amendment to be consistent with the comprehensive plan for policies FL.01.04 A through G," Bach said, and recommended transmittal for agency review. The applicant, WRC Cook Yule, LLC, through agent Greg Matovina, waived a formal presentation and relied on staff's report.
Because the amendment exceeds 50 acres, the board's action is a transmittal only; adoption requires further agency review and a future board hearing. Bach emphasized that when the property advances to site-specific reviews buffers and land-development-code protections would be applied. The motion to transmit CPA24-003 was made by Commissioner Gray, seconded by Commissioner McCullough and passed 5-0.
The record shows the county considered population growth trends and the overlay's intent to encourage a mix of compact and context-sensitive transects. Staff noted proximity to services along State Road 200 and the Wildlight development, and that a fire station is planned about 2 miles away. The transmittal will allow state agencies to comment on environmental and infrastructure issues before the board considers final adoption.
