2010-252A (17) - Laserfiche WebLink

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CONSERVATION Conservation land use includes publicly owned and publicly managed conservation lands. Many of these lands are estuarine wetlands, spoil islands, and other environmentally sensitive and important wetlands and uplands. Within these areas, most development is prohibited. In 2007, there were 89,188 acres of conservation land on the county's Future Land Use Map, a 12,383 acre increase since 1998. In addition, approximately 16,000 acres of recent acquisitions by the county and the St. Johns River Water Management District are not yet reflected in the Conservation land use category. With the recent acquisitions, the actual amount of conservation land in public ownership is now 105,186 acres. Currently, conservation designated land plus recent acquisitions account for about 39.5% of the unincorporated county area. Encompassing approximately 75,000 acres in the western county, the Blue Cypress Lake and Fort Drum Marsh conservation areas, both of which are owned and managed by the St. Johns River Water Management District, form the county's largest conservation area. In addition to containing significant wetlands and Blue Cypress Lake, these marshes serve as the headwaters of the St. Johns River. The St. Johns River Water Management District maintains this significant freshwater wetland resource. Other conservation areas include land along the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Sebastian River. These areas contain freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangroves, and sea grasses, all of which provide significant wildlife habitat benefits. Conservation land uses are addressed in the Conservation, Coastal Mana eg ment, and Recreation and Open Space Elements, as well as the Natural Features section of this element. PUBLIC FACILITIES/INSTITUTIONAL This land use classification includes: Institutional/Public Buildings and Grounds, Educational Facilities and Public Transportation Facilities. The total area represented by this land use category in the unincorporated county is approximately 722 acres. Institutional/Public Buildings and Grounds include: federal, state and local government office buildings, storage and maintenance facilities; police and fire stations; jails and correction facilities; existing and former landfills; and water, sewer and other utility and service facilities. Various Institutional/Public facilities are located within the urbanized area of the county. Because of the importance of these services and facilities, they can have a significant impact on land use patterns. Since these land uses are considered to be components of urban services, they are discussed in detail in the Facilities, Services, and Infrastructure section and the Land Use Analysis Section of this element. Future Land Use Element 28