St. Johns County has received six proposals to develop agricultural land under a new state law. One large residential development would be just north of Nocatee. | Google Maps
Published on July 23, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
More than 6,500 acres of agricultural land in St. Johns County could be developed into housing under a new state development law.
The county has received six proposals — covering 6,558 acres — since the new agricultural enclave law went into effect July 1.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
The new law eases the process landowners must follow to build single-family residential development on agricultural land adjacent to already-developed land.
Supporters argued the law will make it easier for agricultural property owners to develop their land when they’re already surrounded by development. Opponents contend the law will allow development to gobble up rural land and reduce local input.
The six new St. Johns County proposals propose development in areas that may be considered agricultural enclaves, or parcels of agricultural land surrounded by or adjacent to higher density development.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
The largest of the proposals comes from the Davis Family, founders of the Winn-Dixie grocery chain, along with PARC Group, the company that developed Nocatee. The 4,462 acres sit just north of Nocatee along the Duval-St. Johns County line.
The other proposed projects are:
- Two nearby projects from the Heritage Development Co. of Northeast Florida totaling 1,166 acres. The land sits on either side of Interstate 95 just south of State Road 207.
- A 176-acre proposal from Star Investors IV, the owners of Star 4 Equestrian. The development would be just north of County Road 208, west of I-95.
- A 610-acre proposal from Pacetti Investment Group and Windcrest Farms. The land is just east of the Trailmark communities and Picolata Crossing Elementary School in World Golf Village. The St. Johns County Commission denied a more-than-1,600-home development there in 2022.
- A 144-acre proposed development from Geoffrey Young, Land Trust Service Corp. and Osceola Lakes. It would be constructed between the St. Augustine Shores community and I-95.
Vetting the developments
According to St. Johns County Growth Management Director Mike Roberson, county staff is still verifying whether the proposals meet the criteria of the state’s new law.
Within the first 30 days, the local government must provide a report detailing whether the application complies with the state requirements, Roberson says. Within 30 days of the report, the government must have a public hearing to approve or deny the certification.
Once the county’s staff signs off on the projects, the County Commission will have the opportunity to approve or deny them. According to the new state law, commissioners must treat the proposals as if the agricultural land was already zoned for single-family housing.
County commission members have criticized the new law. Several said they did not even know about the bill until April, more than a month after the state Legislature approved it.
Every member of the state Senate voted in favor of the bill, except Sen. Tracie Davis, D-Jacksonville, and Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando. The vote in the state House fell largely along party lines, with many of the 20 votes against the bill coming from Democrats.
Every member of St. Johns County’s legislative delegation, including Sen. Tom Leek, Rep. Sam Greco, Rep. Kim Kendall and Rep. Judson Sapp, voted in favor.
St. Johns County is scheduled to hear the six proposals at a special meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 19. The meeting will be in the County Auditorium at 500 San Sebastian View and broadcast live on the county’s website.
