GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Legislative Delegation of Florida Sen. Jennifer Bradley and Reps. Sam Garrison and Judson Sapp will host a public forum on Sept. 30 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the BCC Meeting Room, Administration Building, fourth floor, 477 Houston St.

The delegation represents all or portions of Clay County. It seeks feedback on applications for the passage of an act relating to Clay County, which would create the Shadowlawn Stewardship District.

The Shadowlawn Community Development District is a local, special-purpose government entity authorized by Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes as amended, and established on March 16, 2022, by the Board of Clay County Commissioners to plan, establish, acquire, construct or reconstruct, enlarge or extend, equip, operate, and maintain systems and facilities described and authorized by state statutes.

The Shadowlawn CDD is located entirely within the county and covers approximately 268.82 acres of land. The site is generally located south and west of County Road 218, north of State Road 16 and east of Thunder Road. The district is the best alternative method of planning, acquiring, operating and maintaining community-wide improvements in planned communities.

A Community Development District (CDD) provides the solution to Florida's need to provide valuable community infrastructure generated by growth, ultimately without overburdening other governments and their taxpaying residents. CDDs represent a significant advancement in Florida's effort to manage its growth effectively and efficiently. This allows a community to establish higher construction standards while providing a long-term solution to the operation and maintenance of the community's facilities.

Among the purposes for which the district was established are financing the acquisition and construction of, as well as the maintenance and operation of, the infrastructure and other public facilities necessary for the development of the lands within the district. The Act authorizes the district to issue bonds for purposes, among others, of financing the cost of acquisition and construction of assessable improvements including water management and control, water supply, wastewater management, reclamation and reuse, roadway improvements, landscaping, street lights, parks and other basic infrastructure projects within and, in accordance with the provisions of the Act, without the boundaries of the District.

Each Stewardship District established to date has been tailored to the specific needs of a particular community and local jurisdiction. Landowners generally elect the board (which is usually five members) for a specific period, and the transition to residents sitting on the board is usually much longer than with CDDs, reflecting the extended duration of development and build-out. In some cases, the transition to residents may begin after specified population triggers are met; in others, it may occur on specific dates.

To be placed on the Sept. 30 agenda, contact Tammy Still with Rep. Sapp’s office at tammy.still@myfloridahouse.gov before Sept. 26.