In 2016, smart growth advocacy group, 1000 Friends of Florida, released the Florida 2070 project. This project established a baseline for land use in Florida, then projected what the state will look like in the year 2070 based on current scenarios and growth trends. Additionally, the study provided an alternative view that illustrates what our state could look like if we begin to implement smart growth techniques.

The Florida 2070 project reveals that if Florida does not change the way it develops, by 2070 more than a third of Florida’s lands could be paved over, with development-related water demand more than doubling. A more sustainable alternative shows that if Florida follows compact development patterns and increases the amount of land conserved, it will save 1.8 million acres of land from development and conserve an additional 5.8 million acres of natural and agricultural land, while still accommodating the same growth in population. Using more compact development patterns and a modest 20 percent increase in water conservation will reduce water demand by more than a quarter in 2070 but, given many areas of the state are already experiencing water shortages, this is clearly not enough. What are the implications of Florida 2070 for St. Johns County?

As the third fastest growing county in the state, St. Johns County is experiencing its fair share of growing pains. Unsustainable growth threatens our environmental resources, our agricultural heritage, and our way of life. Join us for a discussion with smart growth advocacy group, 1000 Friends of Florida, about growth projections for our community as well as potential tools to ensure a more sustainable future for our community. We will host two community workshops in different areas of St. Johns County to present the growth projections for our county as well as gather resident feedback. Then a presentation will be made to our County Commission and Staff including the results of the SJC 2070 study, smart growth policy tools and recommendations, and feedback gathered from the resident workshops. 

The November 21st workshop in St. Augustine is officially SOLD OUT. The presentation will be the same on both nights, and there are plenty of seats left for the November 20th workshop in Ponte Vedra.

The workshops are free to attend, but please register. 

St. Johns County 2070 is supported by our community partners including discretionary funds at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida