Well, that escalated quickly. Just hours after a new state law took effect offering a fast track to develop Florida’s farmlands, four large-scale developers applied to take advantage of it. Senate Bill 686 allows property owners to develop their land at least as intensely as adjacent properties without going through any additional rezoning process at the county level. The streamlined procedure also places a 30-day timetable for county approval, meaning longstanding agricultural lands could become massive residential developments without any input from the public or local lawmakers. As reported by the Jacksonville Business Journal, of the four properties in question the largest by far is a 4,426-acre parcel situated west of the Intracoastal and north of Nocatee Parkway. The land is owned by Sonoc Co., the holding company associated with The PARC Group, which developed Nocatee. We explore the practical implications of accommodating the new law in an increasingly growth-strained county, as well as the political debate that is already emerging among growth-averse residents.
Guests:
- Stuart Korfhage, managing editor at the Jacksonville Business Journal
- Noah Hertz, St. Johns County reporter at Jacksonville Today
High blood pressure study
A new drug for high blood pressure could make treatment far easier for patients — and its final trial is happening on the First Coast. A Phase 3 clinical trial will examine the effectiveness of a twice-yearly injection that’s designed to lower blood pressure at its source. During previous trials, the drug was shown to block the liver’s production of angiotensinogen, which in turn reduces levels of a hormone known to increase blood pressure. Researchers say the goal of the multiyear trial is to identify whether lowering one’s blood pressure through this new injection reduces the likelihood of stroke, heart attack and cardiovascular death.
Guest: Dr. Mitchell Rothstein, principal investigator, ENCORE Research Group
Overcoming obstacles
A songwriting competition built around obstacles. The Songwriter Competition hosted by local musician and songwriter Joyce Whorton invites songwriters to perform original songs inspired by a select theme. Hosted at The Inkwell Art Bar in Fernandina Beach, the space is an “intimate listening room setting” and participants are judged on quality of lyrics, melody and structure. The event also highlights the Art Bar’s weekly Open Mic Nights, which gives local musicians a welcoming space to perform. The event is at 6-10 p.m. Monday, July 20. There is a $10 entry fee that goes toward the winning prize. Participants can register here.
Guest: Joyce Whorton, local musician and songwriter
Topics and guests subject to change.