GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the county’s five-year Strategic Plan on its final meeting of the calendar year. From sticky notes on whiteboards, to community workshops, to discussions, to implementing feedback from residents and businesses, the blueprint for the county’s next five years has been an undertaking that has been months in the making.

“This is a good quality product,” said Commissioner Jim Renninger, in his first BCC meeting as chairman.

County Manager Howard Wanamaker was especially proud of what this plan means for the county’s future. So proud, he wants to send copies to Florida’s 67 other counties.

“It shows off our county, what we’re up to and what we will achieve,” Wanamaker said.

The plan created goals, targets and actions in five categories: community health and safety, economic and community development, good governance and quality of life. The plan is a culmination of a nearly year-long journey that was a collaborative effort between officials and the community, who gathered insightful perspectives through feedback in all five districts.

Some objectives include providing resources for citizens experiencing substance abuse, promoting “high yield recycling,” enhancing greater tourism toward the county, fostering greater communication with the community, developing community connectivity and maintaining access to various water-based activities: boating, kayaking, skiing and fishing.

Assistant County Manager Troy Nagle said the BCC can still change the plan by Friday.

The Strategic Plan has an emphasis on managing the county’s growth sustainability, favoring “smart” and conscious development as opposed to plans that would enlarge urban sprawl. The BCC cited this tenet as it approved and tabled rezoning requests throughout its meeting.

The Agricola Property, a proposed planned community, cited this tenet too as they brought their proposal to the BCC to rezone thousands of acres of land from “agricultural” to “planned community.” Agricola was presented not merely be an ambitious project for the county, but as a national model for what modern alternative living could look like.

“As a direct response to the sprawling development around the Jacksonville area, the Agricola family asked Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative to provide an alternative approach that supports a more sustainable lifestyle and development pattern,” according to agricolaproperty.com.

The Agricola team pitched a self-reliant, economically feasible community that would put environmental conservation at the forefront. Agricola would have its own schools, amenities, hybrid commercial and residential buildings, an emphasis promoting agriculture and an emphasis against traditional lawns in a self-contained, walkable community off the First Coast Expressway. Timberlands would transition back to natural habitats that the public would be able to enjoy along miles of trails.

The BCC expressed admiration, anticipation and concern regarding Agricola.

The public stood before the podium with the same mixed bag of emotions felt by the BCC. The public wanted “assurances not just promises” that the proposed wildlife corridor would be preserved properly. A nearby farmer in the area shared concern about the flooding development would cause, which would normally be absorbed by the surrounding wetlands. The farmer criticized Agricola as being “hobby agriculture.”

The Agricola team responded, “(These assurances) would be standards. Not guidelines.”

Commissioner Betsy Condon empathized with the public and affirmed the importance of agriculture. “A farmer’s land is their 401k,” she said.

“I love it,” said Commissioner Dr. Kristen Burke, referring to Agricola’s pitch. “Although, it seems early to me.”

Burke represents District 5 where Agricola’s proposed development would take place.

“It is honorable,” said Commissioner Mike Cella. “I’ve met with them two or three times before. The concept is good. I like the handling of the wetlands. I like the open space (for the public). I like the commitment of doing something different.”

This project and many more like it – including the developments along Sandridge Road and Henley Road – will put the county’s Strategic Plan to the test. The BCC remains hopeful and enormously grateful for its staff, the community, nonprofit organizations, constitutional offices and all participating departments which transformed ideas on sticky notes into what will hopefully be a bright future for the county.

Elizabeth Payne, CEO of the Northeast Florida Regional Council, has worked tirelessly to coordinate and hammer out details for the Strategic Plan that will define the direction of the county for the next five years. She expressed satisfaction with the final approved document after months of attending more than 30 meetings to ensure the plan’s viability.

“I think the plan looks great. Based on the way it looks now, I believe it has really come together,” Payne said. “I believe you all should be proud based on the work that you have done.”

Cella thanked Gabrielle Gunn, Director of Community and Social Services and Peyton Beattie, Community Resource Development Agent at the UF/IFAS Extension, for their contribution. It was an intensive process, but the county held strong to the finish line, he said.

“When I was at the first open house, I didn’t know how we would get to the end game, but we did it,” Cella said.