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St. Johns County adopts 2050 comprehensive plan after narrow 3-2 vote
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Summary
The Board of County Commissioners approved the county's 2050 comprehensive plan, voting 3-2 after debate about changes required by state law and the limits of local authority under SB 180. The plan reaffirms development boundaries and includes housing and preservation policies; it takes effect after a 45-day period.
The Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 on April 20 to adopt the county's 2050 comprehensive plan, moving the long-running update into the state adoption phase. Jacob Smith, growth-management director, told the board the plan reflects nearly two years of public engagement and state review and "prioritizes infill development, preservation and a rural-area strategy."
Supporters said the plan balances growth and protection. Commissioner Christian Whitehurst moved to enact ordinance 2026-8 adopting the 2050 plan; the motion carried 3-2. "We dodged a bullet," Whitehurst said, describing the difficulty posed by recent state changes and urging the county to proceed.
Opponents warned that statutory limits at the state level narrowed several of the county's originally proposed measures. Commissioner Krista Joseph criticized the changes as a loss of local control and acknowledged the public's extensive involvement in the original draft. "This shows the loss of local control," she said, calling the adopted version a "watered down" result of state intervention.
Jacob Smith and staff said the county retransmitted the plan after removing provisions the state found "more restrictive or burdensome"; the state subsequently cleared the transmitted plan as "acceptable." If the board's ordinance remains unchallenged, the plan will go into effect after the statutory 45-day period for state review and certification.
Board members and public speakers cited the legislative context of SB 180, which restricts local governments from enacting regulations deemed more restrictive than state law. Commissioners discussed SB 180's current status and whether a "glitch bill" had addressed it; Smith said the glitch bill did not pass. The chair and staff noted SB 180 is set to sunset on October 1, 2027, which could create an opportunity to revisit original provisions after that date.
Why it matters: The comprehensive plan sets long-term policy for housing, infrastructure and preservation across St. Johns County. The adopted plan reaffirms a development boundary, encourages infill and includes provisions intended to expand housing options, but several elements proposed earlier in the county's draft were removed or modified to comply with state objections.
Next steps: County staff said they will submit the plan to the state for adoption and then update the land-development code over the following year to implement the plan's policies. The board may consider further adjustments if state law or legislative action alters the preemption framework.
