GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The long-awaited process to build a library and community center in Oakleaf Plantation began with a unanimous decision from the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The decision approved a formal request to the Double Branch Community Development District (CDD) which would transfer land from CDD to BCC.

The land is located on a small empty at the end of Plantation Oaks Boulevard, near Oakleaf Village Elementary. The lot is split nearly in half; BCC owns a 0.47-acre parcel and CDD owns a 0.568-acre parcel. Once BCC acquires the whole lot, it will have sufficient area to pursue construction.

Once County Attorney Courtney Grimm signs the letter, the county’s request will go to the CDD Board. “What I anticipate is that in response to (the) letter, they will come back with certain stipulations,” she said.

Grimm believes the intended use of the parcel, among other details such as parking for the facility, will need to be hammered out during those discussions. 

Alexandra Compere, who represents Oakleaf constituents on the commission, said the BCC has long discussed the library and community center.

“Over the last several months, we’ve been working to meet the needs of the Oakleaf community. There have been many conversations about how to best move forward with this,” she said. 

Compere said the BCC is also planning a Government Center, a topic she has discussed with Supervisor of Elections Chris Chambliss on multiple occasions. “This is multifaceted, and we’re moving in a direction to meet the need in (several) different ways,” she said.

Compere is excited about the future of her district.

“I believe that this is a great idea. I appreciate the efforts that staff are making to move us in the (right) direction,” she said.

Compere also said the Oakleaf community had come a long way to reach this point. Like Clay Hill, which is facing a mailing address issue and seeking to secure a specific designation on the U.S. Board of Geographic Names, the library has been at the top of many residents’ minds.

The plan started in the early 2000s, but factors such as the 2007-2008 financial crisis and lack of dedicated funding have deterred the project in the past, she said. 

This time, residents have reasons to be hopeful. Signs are pointing toward the CDD ready and willing to work with the county to get the job done, Compere said.

“(I believe) the CDD is wanting to move forward with this. It seems like (talks) are very open and engaging,” she said. 

Until details are ironed out between the BCC and the CDD, the county doesn’t want residents “hanging in the balance.” Compere said a mobile library is the best course of action to address the community’s immediate concerns.

“That will provide access to library services, so there’s not a complete void while we’re in the process of building the community library,” she said. 

A new government facility will also help create a fourth voting precinct in the county’s northern areas.

“What I’ve come to notice during the past few years is that the lines are terribly long at our (voting locations), (especially) before or after work. Sometimes, those lines can be a deterrent, but we want to make that process easier for people so they can get out to the polls. It all boils down to growth,” Compere said.