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St. Johns County transmits watered‑down 2050 comprehensive plan to state after split 3–2 vote
Summary
After hours of public comment and debate over state changes in SB 180, the Board of County Commissioners voted 3–2 to transmit a revised 2050 comprehensive plan to Florida Commerce, with commissioners saying they will reintroduce locally preferred language when state law permits.
The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners voted 3–2 on Jan. 20 to transmit its revised 2050 comprehensive plan to the state despite objections that parts were ‘watered down’ after a recent change in state law.
The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and two hours of staff and board discussion about whether to wait for a pending legislative fix. Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, who moved to transmit, said the county cannot operate effectively without an approved plan and that staff needs the authority to bring forward subsequent amendments.
“I'm gonna vote today to transmit this plan for these reasons,” Whitehurst said, arguing the county should transmit now and return later to restore language if state law changes.
Opponents — including Commissioner Taylor and Commissioner Joseph — urged delay until the legislature finishes action on bills they said would remove the legal obstacles that led Florida Commerce to reject portions of the draft. Taylor said she had consulted land‑use attorneys who advised waiting a few months; she argued transmitting now would feel “like a slap in the face” to residents who worked on the original plan.
Staff said the state had returned the draft as overly restrictive following changes in SB 180, leaving the county with two primary options: send the modified package that clears the state process or pause and risk restrictions on future local amendments. Mike Robertson, director of growth management, outlined the state review timeline and the consequences of missing statutory transmittal windows.
The motion passed 3–2. Commissioners who opposed the transmittal said they expect to press to restore the original, more protective provisions if the state’s “glitch” bill or other legislative fixes clear the way.
What happens next: Transmittal sends the updated plan to the state, which has 60 days to produce an objections and comments report. Staff said they will return to the board for adoption steps and any subsequent amendments required by state reviewers.
