about my county st johns county florida

Let’s use an analogy to talk realistically about development. Imagine, if you will, a freight train pulling a few cars and a caboose down a track.

Now disconnect the rail cars and caboose from the engine while underway. What happens? The rail cars’ momentum slows to a stop. The engine moves forward. Alone.

The economic development of St Johns County is a little like that train.  The engine, let’s call it the “Economic Development” engine, is made up of the State of Florida, the SJC Chamber of Commerce, the St Johns Tourism Development Council et al and it gets its fuel from “tourism” and development.

The cars represent St Johns County – it’s needs and expectations. The caboose is the Board of County Commissioners, following the engine to catch up.

The “engine” is doing its thing – marketing the County to encourage economic development. And they are doing an outstanding job! Money magazine named St Augustine a “best place to live” in 2018.  Coastal Living named Ponte Vedra one of 20 best places to live on the coast.  In October 2023, St Augustine was named the 3d most romantic city in America.  In March 2023, Southern Living named St Augustine “the best small town in the South”. 

Add to that the message  the St Johns County Chamber of Commerce puts out as to why folks (and businesses) should relocate to ST Johns County promoting the fact that our County is surrounded by water – oceans and rivers, has temperate weather and no state taxes, the message  screams “Come here to live and play.”

Here is where the engine loses the car and the caboose.

The demand grows.  The developers respond. They build homes for the influx of new residents.  But what about roads and schools?

That’s where the caboose comes in – the Board of County Commissioners.  The Commissioners aren’t driving the engine, but they work on behalf of the residents to clean up the mess made by too much development.

Yet too many residents believe that they can stop the engine – stop development.  They can’t. 

The stage is already set and has been for years.  People want to move here.  St Johns County is an economic entity and development of residential and commercial property in response to the demand is critical to it’s economic survival. 

The BoCC

This is in no way diminishing the role of the Board of County Commissioners.  In fact, it is a much more difficult role then the role of marketing the advantages of St. Johns County.

The BoCC is tasked with trying to meet the often-competing demands of all of their constituents, residents and businesses.  Their work requires balancing economic development with quality of life.

Yet now a contingent of residents believe that they can stop development simply by replacing the Board of County Commissioners.

They think that simply voting against development will stop the train….and the engine. It can’t.  The engine is too strong and the message has already been broadcast widely….St Johns County is a great place to work and play.

What can be done?

I can think of a couple of old adages that apply…”don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.”  Or perhaps, “don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.”

Don’t throw out the very people who clearly understand the delicate balance they must maintain in favor of those who don’t recognize the need for balance.  

It is silly to think that if a majority of commissioners routinely deny development, development will stop.  It won’t.

But what it will create is a legal mess that will keep the taxpayers’ dollars going to attorneys instead of addressing ways to fix the infrastructure.  People want to come here.  Developers want to provide homes for them.  Do you really think they’ll stop?

A better idea…. work WITH the commissioners rather than make them enemies.  It conceivably might allow more progress than is possible when everyone is blaming everyone else.