St. Johns County Commission Chair Clay Murphy stated Tuesday that the county intends to mount a legal challenge against Senate Bill 686, commonly referred to as the agricultural enclave law. This decision follows the commission's vote to reject a proposed 4,462-acre development situated near Nocatee.
The rejected project was put forward by the Davis family, who established the Winn-Dixie supermarket chain. Murphy argued that the state statute has limited the county's authority to enforce its own zoning regulations. He described the law as an overreach that prevents local residents from having input on land use decisions that should remain under local control.
The PARC Group, which represented the developers, announced it will appeal the commission's ruling. In a statement, the firm claimed the decision contradicted both the facts presented in their application and a staff report that recommended approval. The group asserted that the application met all legal certification requirements and that the vote did not follow Florida law.
They expressed confidence in prevailing and reaffirmed their commitment to responsible community development.
Murphy highlighted that St. Johns County has faced significant growth fatigue over the past 15 years, a situation he noted is distinct from other regions. He emphasized the need to slow development to construct critical infrastructure. The agricultural enclave provision allows developers to bypass standard planning processes for roads and services, which Murphy said undermines long-range community planning.
The chair indicated that St. Johns County has been impacted by this law more than any other in the state. While he confirmed the county has received applications through this process, he did not provide specific details on the number of pending cases or their current status.
