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Commission approves century‑old plat vacations and deeds of dedication amid access dispute
Summary
The board unanimously approved petitions to vacate portions of historic plats (Long Branch City, Florida Farms Industries) and accepted deeds of dedication for Pasifino (Paso Fino) and Little Dairy roads and a release on Saunders Road; a landowner raised a dispute over whether the county already holds a 60‑foot right‑of‑way and asked staff and applicant to continue discussions.
Clay County commissioners on Aug. 13 approved a series of land‑title actions to clear and modernize old plats recorded in the 1920s and 1930s, accept deeds of dedication for existing maintained county roads, and resolve an ambiguous 50‑foot deed recorded in 1939.
Susan Fraser of SLF Consulting represented petitioners asking the board to vacate map lines on Long Branch City and adjacent century‑old plats; staff and applicant explained the vacation process removes plat lines from the public record so future title work references acreage instead of inconsistent historic lot/lot‑and‑block references. The board approved the Long Branch City plat vacation and similar actions for Florida Farms Industries by voice votes.
Deeds of dedication and release: As part of the package, owners offered deeds of dedication conveying 60 feet of right‑of‑way for Paso Fino (Passafino) Road and Little Dairy Road — a wider, modern right‑of‑way intended to match county maintenance — and a release of any claim to an undetermined 50‑foot Saunders Road deed in exchange for a clear 60‑foot corridor where county improvements lie. Staff said all existing improvements fall within the surveyed 60‑foot widths and that acceptance makes title and maintenance consistent going forward.
Access dispute and public comment: Colin Grama (Paso Fino property owner) told the board his title search and county tax records show the county may already own a 60‑foot parcel extending farther along Paso Fino, and he asked the applicant to expand the dedication to the end of his property to preserve access. Applicant representatives said they had offered to meet and would continue discussions; county staff suggested civil title questions could be pursued outside the vacation process and that the deeds before the board do convey the 60‑foot corridor where county maintenance occurs.
Commissioners voted to approve the vacates and accept the deeds. Several commissioners said the actions were a first step to clarify historic platting and that unresolved civil title disputes could be litigated or resolved through later deeds if warranted.
Attribution: Quotes and claims are drawn from presentations and public comment during the Aug. 13 commission meeting by Susan Fraser (SLF Consulting), Janice Fleet (planner for Penny Farms), Colin Grama (property owner) and applicant representatives.
