ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County community is experiencing rapid growth and county leaders are working to keep up with the projected increase.
Residents expressed what they wanted to see in their neighborhoods 25 years down the road.
The county held its first of two open houses as it works to construct its 2050 comprehensive plan.
People wrote down and discussed suggestions they would like to see.
Growth Management Director Michael Roberson is part of the team working on the comprehensive plan.
“Well, the first thing, and probably most importantly, is to get feedback from the citizens because they will be put in for their county,” Roberson said. “So, we’re asking what it is that is important to you. For example, as part of the comprehensive plan and a lot of topics like levels of service and roads, parks and recreation of housing, affordable housing.”
One of the visions was to maintain and improve roadways like County Road 210, where they’re working on widening the road to help the traffic flow.
Vicki Pepper felt the county should add a public housing authority.
“If we don’t tackle our need for more affordable and attainable housing for all of the people in our county including service workers hospitality and the health care industry. That really hurts our community,” Pepper said.
Other residents suggested county leaders consider growth past the 25-year timeline.
“They probably need to consider growth far beyond that, because they’re building infrastructure that’s going to last more than 25 years,” Glenn Landers said.
Landers said the county has done well with current resident concerns.
“My particular concerns will be sea level rise and the increasing strength in the coastal community,” Landers said.
Roberson encouraged others to attend the open house to give their feedback, but the date for the next event has not been set.