Commission passes first reading of Timber to Tides code fixes for agricultural and buffer rules

The board voted to pass on first reading an amendment to the Nassau County Land Development Code intended to clarify how agricultural uses and certain transect boundaries are regulated under the Timber to Tides overlay.

Planning staff said the change will prevent permitted agricultural uses from triggering minimum residential density requirements and will define "equestrian subdivision" and standards for stables. Staff also proposed a 15‑foot medium‑density buffer where higher‑density transects abut lower‑density areas, with a minimum of four canopy trees and 67 shrubs per 100 linear feet.

"We recently had a whole process where folks could bring in their properties... it came to light that an, inadvertent, issue came to light," said a planning department presenter, describing the intent to remove unintended constraints on agricultural uses. After staff testimony and brief board comment the motion to pass on first reading (ordinance 2026‑028) carried unanimously; the item will return for a second reading.