Wells Road is the Gateway to Clay County

County officials continue to work with community members and business owners in the Gateway to Clay initiative. The goal is to collaborate among law enforcement, local government, and the community to revitalize the area through beautification, safety, and other enhancements. Community involvement is critical to the success of this project, which will positively impact not only Wells Road but all of Clay County.

What is the mission? Improve the safety, security, and operability of the Wells Road corridor to improve the quality of life for residents, increase business opportunities, and refresh the overall look to create a Gateway to Clay its residents can be proud of. 

What is the vision? A safe and prosperous corridor using advanced technology and community partnership to create an area where businesses and families thrive.

Gateway to Clay Community Survey

Please click the Gateway to Clay community survey and provide your input on what you would like to see on the Wells Road Corridor.

Smart Corridor on Wells Road

Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Agreement with Smart North Florida Inc. for the Smart Growth Corridor along Wells Road to modernize infrastructure and innovate processes that will improve the quality of life for the county’s growing population. The $145,000 project was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and will include new technologies focused on transportation and pedestrian safety along Wells Road. The Smart Corridor project will coordinate with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and strategic partners to allow integration of data collection, cameras, and call boxes and connecting with the CCSO Real Time Crime Center, all intended to increase public safety and improve traffic conditions on Wells Road.

Urban Land Institute Study

Established in 1936, the Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute with more than 48,000 members across the globe. The Institute works with local governments to set standards of excellence in development practice to shape the future of the built environment.

Clay County is working with ULI North Florida on a strategy to bring real estate, planning, and development experts together to engage local land use leaders to address complex land use and real estate development issues through projects and policies. County leaders will participate in a Technical Assistance Panel workshop that will include a tour of the corridor, public official and stakeholder interviews, and client meetings that will result in recommendations from industry leaders to enhance the Wells Road corridor. Learn more about ULI here.

What challenges are we addressing?

Data was collected block by block through interviews with community stakeholders and community surveys to help identify the perceived issues and specific target areas to focus efforts.

Public safety leaders traveled the corridor during day and night hours to identify areas needing beautification, cleanup, maintenance, and repairs.

Identified challenges include:

• Traffic issues, bike lanes, crosswalks, and speed limit inconsistencies
• Public transportation
• Median maintenance
• Absence of public parks and green spaces
• Vacant businesses
• Homeless population
• Lack of affordable housing
• No senior center facility

What are the results?

•  As of November, 2024, the Clay County Sheriff's Office reports the YTD statistics are trending down. Persons Crimes are down 5.16%. Property Crimes are down 12.94%. 

•  The Clay County Fire Rescue Community Paramedicine team started focusing on strategic Narcan distribution points along Blanding Boulevard, near the Wells Road area. OctaPharma Plasma on Loch Rane Blvd. has been a recent distribution point. The team also organized weekly community distribution events to increase Narcan availability and accessibility in these high-risk areas.

• The Paramedicine team also began AED outreach to businesses on Wells Road. 

•  Clay County Public Works crews facilitate monthly road sweeping, monthly enhanced right-of-way cleanup, right-of-way mowing and edging, and drainage ditch maintenance.

• Public Works crews are working to remove unsightly plant overgrowth along the corridor and landscape the medians.

• Lincoln Memorial University’s second College of Veterinary Medicine calls Wells Road home. In 2023, the university announced it purchased two adjacent buildings, consisting of a total of 130,000 square feet, on approximately 12 acres in the area.

• In 2023, crews installed a new monument sign on Wells Road to welcome drivers to Clay County. The sign, which was funded with Tourist Development Tax dollars, sits at the corner of Wells Road and Blanding Boulevard.

• New businesses, including two hotels, Physicians Partners of America, Borland & Groover, and an apartment complex expansion call Wells Road home. 

• Trees were planted in the medians and an ongoing maintenance schedule is in place. 

• A contract with Smart North Florida Inc. for a Smart Growth Corridor along Wells Road is aimed to increase public safety and improve traffic conditions. 

• ULI (see link above) conducted a study to enhance the built environment.