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St. Johns County adopts 2050 Comprehensive Plan after state compliance revisions
Summary
After revising language to address state concerns under SB180, the Board adopted the 2050 Comprehensive Plan in a 3-2 vote. Commissioners and public commenters debated housing incentives and land-use categories before adoption.
The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners voted 3-2 on April 21 to adopt the 2050 Comprehensive Plan, after staff and consultants revised the draft to address issues raised during state review under Senate Bill 180 (SB180). Growth Management presenter Jacob Smith summarized the revisions the consultant made to remove language the State deemed potentially "more restrictive or burdensome."
Commissioner Christian Whitehurst moved to enact Ordinance No. 2026-8 and Commissioner Sarah Arnold seconded; the motion carried with Murphy, Whitehurst, and Arnold voting in favor and Commissioners Ann Taylor and Krista Joseph dissenting. Public commenters urged the Board to consider incentives for developers serving low-income communities and to clarify certain land-use categories; Judy Speigle specifically advocated for inclusion of triplex and quadruplex housing types during discussion.
Supporters and opponents framed their remarks around growth management and local control. Vicki Pepper asked the Board to "task the Growth Management department with revising the Comprehensive Plan to include incentives for developers serving low-income communities," while staff emphasized compliance with state standards. The adoption follows prior hearings and a transmittal vote; the County transmitted the revised plan after the State's letter dated March 25, 2026 indicating it found no objections or recommendations relating to SB180 compliance.
The ordinance adoption is the Board's final local action on the plan at this meeting; implementation steps and any future ordinance-level land-development changes would occur through separate staff proposals and hearings.
