Here are some topics from the last Board of County Commissioners meeting. If you want to know more about what was discussed and decided, you can read the agendas and minutes as they get posted here: https://www.claycountygov.com/government/agendas-and-minutes. You can watch the meeting in full on our Facebook page or website here: https://clayfl.new.swagit.com/videos/208304.
Update on major road projects that may impact Clay County drivers – the discussion starts at 40:38
Commissioners are redesigning our roads now to stay ahead of the anticipated growth in our area. Construction has started on two of the seven roadway capacity improvement projects that are part of the Bonded Transportation Program. Construction on the other five projects will start later this year. All projects will be complete by the end of 2025 when the First Coast Expressway opens.
Some updates from the meeting include:
Cultural Resource Assessments are being reviewed for County Roads 209 and 220. Utility work is continuing on Sandridge Road with construction anticipated to start this March. Work near the schools in Lake Asbury is planned to take place during the summer break to minimize traffic impacts. Plans are complete and permitting is ongoing for the new First Coast Connector, Cathedral Oak Parkway with construction estimated to begin in April.
Visit the Bonded Transportation Dashboard for anticipated start dates and project updates here: Bonded Transportation Dashboard.
New design for the future Northeast Florida Greenway Trail - The discussion starts at 1:27:45
The future Northeast Florida Greenway trail is a planned, 12-foot-wide, multipurpose, paved trail starting at the Baldwin Rails to Trails in Duval County and connecting to the Palatka Lake Butler Trail in Putnam County. This 50+ mile long regional trail will be a draw to long-distance riders and the path will travel through some beautiful scenery in Clay County.
Commissioners are seeking additional funding sources so construction can begin, and support from the Transportation Planning Organization is key. During the meeting, commissioners approved a change to the proposed route as the TPO’s Clay-Duval Feasibility Study recommended. The new route will follow State Road 21 between Long Bay Road and Highway 16 instead of following County Road 218 through Lake Asbury to State Road 16. This change will be included on the 2040 Bicycle and Pedestrian Map and has been included in the 2024-2028 Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan and Maps Update. Once the trail is complete, residents will enjoy the health and recreational benefits it provides as well as the boost to ecotourism and economic development spurred by this type of recreational trail.
Meeting our community’s educational needs through public school impact fees – the discussion starts at 1:32:39
Our area’s population is growing, and commissioners are working with the Clay County School Board to ensure we have the new schools and upgrades to existing facilities needed to accommodate that growth. Public school impact fees cover the cost of growth’s impact on the County’s school system and maintain a high standard of education in our community.
Commissioners approved the adoption of an ordinance, effective June 1, 2023, to update public school impact fees imposed to support the educational needs of our growing population. The changes were included in a study and report prepared by a school board consultant and presented to the Board, which updated the fees and provided for a phase-in of the fee increase over four years. These fees are uniform throughout the County and are assessed on residential development by type and imposed at the time of electrical clearance for a new home. An average new single-family household will see an approximate $800 increase annually over four years.
