ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – In St. Johns County, the community is celebrating after the proposed land swap at the Guana Preserve was officially dropped. Local leaders gathered for a press conference this morning to express their satisfaction with the decision, and during the county commission meeting tonight, residents echoed their sentiments.
“I want to commend everybody who worked together,” one speaker said at the St. Johns County Commission meeting, where numerous residents stepped up to the microphone to share their gratitude.
“We are grateful,” another resident added.
The evening meeting was a chance for new faces to participate in public comment since meetings are usually at 9 a.m.
The change in the start time was marked by an outpouring of thanks from the public, following the withdrawal of a proposed 600-acre land swap from the Guana Preserve.
“I’m standing up here today to thank you all for being such good stewards of our county, our land, and our future,” one speaker said.
The issue had united thousands in the community, garnering attention from both state and national leaders. Many expressed a sense of gratitude for the solidarity displayed.
“I want to thank the developer who put this whole thing together because for the first time we spoke across party lines,” a resident noted.
However, some attendees viewed the situation as a wake-up call. They urged local leaders to recognize demands of the community.
“We ask you commissioners to please take notice of the power united people have,” one resident said during public comment.
And with St. Johns County experiencing rapid growth, several residents asked the to remember the support for the Guana Preserve and asked that they ensure that natural spaces are not overlooked in future development plans.
“We’re all counting on you to keep North Florida, and specifically St. Johns County, beautiful, peaceful, and ecologically intact,” one resident urged.
The commission also reviewed the 2050 Comprehensive Plan Draft, which outlines growth and development strategies for the county.
This plan is set to go to the Planning and Zoning Agency on June 5.
Click here for the full plan.
