ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners approved two agricultural enclave certifications Tuesday in back-to-back 3-2 votes, opening the door to thousands of new homes in one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties. A third, larger application was continued to Sept. 1 for additional review.
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The votes stem from Florida Senate Bill 686, which took effect July 1, 2026, allowing property owners to seek certification of undeveloped agricultural land.
To qualify, a property must meet criteria:
- Undeveloped and located in unincorporated county land
- Owned or controlled by a single person or entity
- Used continuously for bona fide agricultural purposes for at least five years
- Must meet at least one of five perimeter or proximity definitions
- Served by adequate public services, or the owner agrees to fund them
- Parcels do not exceed 1,280 acres
- Located in a county with a population of 1.75 million or fewer
What was approved
The board certified Heritage Development East (ENCERT 2026-05) and Heritage Development West (ENCERT 2026-06), both submitted by Heritage Development of Northeast Florida. The two properties — situated near Interstate 95 and State Road 207 — have operated as timber operations for roughly 70 years. County staff determined both met all statutory requirements.
Combined, the two approvals could bring an estimated 15,000 new homes to the area. Both votes were 3-2, with Commissioners Taylor and Joseph dissenting.
The mood inside the chambers was tense. Board Chair Commissioner Murphy summed up the difficult position many on the board felt.
“I’m not happy about the growth in this county. I find ourselves put between a rock and a hard place from the state legislature. We are bound by the law.”
Commissioner Whitehurst pushed back on the notion that the board wasn’t fighting for residents.
“For the folks who came here — I don’t want you to walk away thinking that we’re not asking the questions of our staff,” Whitehurst said. “They found a way to turn away three applications. They have not found a way to turn away these three applications.”
What is still being decided
A third application — filed by BR-4700 covering approximately 4,462 acres north of Nocatee — was continued to Sept. 1 after questions arose about boundary calculations. The developer has requested certification at one unit per acre, totaling up to 4,462 homes.
Attorney Ellen Avery-Smith, representing the developer, maintained the application was on solid legal ground.
“It does meet all applicable statutory requirements,” she said.
Residents were not convinced. Concerns ranged from traffic and school capacity to water supply.
“I haven’t heard anybody talk about where the drinking water is going to be coming from,” Millie Morris, a resident who addressed the board said.
“I’ve been here for 40 years and I’ve already experienced and seen and witnessed a very substantial and significant change in the traffic pattern,” said Edwin Hernandez, a Nocatee resident.
Nicole Valentine, also a Nocatee resident, spoke after the meeting.
“The concern with this is that it’s not done properly, that it has been shoved on the community,” Valentine said.
Commissioners voted to continue the hearing on this property until Sept. 1.
Commissioner Ann Taylor said commissioners should be willing to vote against the certification of agricultural enclave properties.
“I would be okay with it. I mean, there are attorneys out there that can defend us,” Taylor said.