J. Thomas Dodson and Eastland, the developers who originally sold the Julington-Durbin Preserve to the City of Jacksonville and State of Florida now want it back. They are proposing to swap 403 acres on Black Hammock Island to build 1,400 homes on 403 acres inside the heart of Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve.
BACKGROUND & SIGNIFICANCE:
The Preserve consists of 2,031-acres located on a peninsula formed at the confluence of Julington and Durbin creeks, with approximately nine miles of shoreline along the adjacent waterways. The property was purchased in 2001 for $16.5 million as part of the Jacksonville’s Preservation Project, a land acquisition program conceived by Mayor John Delaney to manage growth, protect environmentally sensitive lands, improve water quality, and provide access to the City’s natural areas. Julington-Durbin Creek Preserve provides the public with an opportunity to experience old Florida. This Preserve is a shining example of what was the committed intent of The Preservation Project and Florida Forever.
CONCERNS:
- Destroy critical habitat for plants and wildlife;
- Adversely impact water quality in Julington and Durbin Creeks and the St. Johns River;
- Reduce flood protection;
- Degrade the ecological integrity of the property, since prescribed burns would no longer be possible. According to the SJRWMD, prescribed fire is the most important land management tool for restoring and preserving the ecological health and diversity of the site, while also decreasing the risk of wildfires.
- Diminish recreational opportunities;
- Increase traffic congestion;
- Establish dangerous precedent that could open up other conservation lands to future development.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
1. Contact Governor Rick Scott, St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board, and your City Council Members. Tell them to deny the land swap proposal and protect Julington-Durbin Preserve forever!
Office of Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
(850) 488-7146
www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/email-the-governor
SJRWMD Governing Board
P.O. Box 1429
Palatka, FL 32178
https://www.sjrwmd.com/governingboard/
Jacksonville City Council
www.coj.net/city-council
2. Write a Letter to the Editor to speak out on this issue!
Florida Times-Union
Mike Clark
(904) 359-4307
mclark@jacksonville.com
3. Attend the Rally to Save Julington-Durbin Preserve!
July 14 @ 9am, Julington-Durbin Preserve Entrance
See our Facebook Event
For more information:
www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org
#SaveJDPreserve