Petition Title
Restore Local Control: Urge Tallahassee to Amend or Dissolve SB 686 and Protect St. Johns County Infrastructure (#HomeRuleStJohns)

Petition Goal / Short Description
Empower St. Johns County Commission Chair Clay Murphy to advocate in Tallahassee for the amendment or dissolution of Senate Bill 686, ensuring local communities retain home rule authority over developments that outpace vital infrastructure.

Why This Matters (The Petition Body)
Florida is growing at an unprecedented rate, but responsible growth must include the people who already live here. 

In St. Johns County, residents are facing the compounding pressures of rapid over-development, strained roadways, crowded schools, and critical infrastructure deficits. Unfortunately, Senate Bill 686 has severely undermined local authority by stripping counties of their traditional home rule safeguards over certain land use conversions—such as fast-tracking agricultural enclave developments. 

Under SB 686, local governments face aggressive timelines with default automatic approvals if rigorous reviews cannot be completed under arbitrary state constraints. This leaves communities vulnerable to high-density projects in areas completely unequipped to handle them, bypassing the local comprehensive plans carefully crafted by residents and local leaders. 

St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Chair Clay Murphy has heard the loud and clear concerns of local citizens regarding unreasonable over-development without the necessary supporting infrastructure. To truly protect our community’s quality of life, we need to give our local leaders the backing they require.

What We Are Asking For:
We call upon the Florida Legislature and Governor to take immediate action to amend or dissolve Senate Bill 686 by:

• Restoring Full Home Rule: Returning comprehensive planning and zoning authority completely back to local counties and municipalities. 
• Eliminating Default Approvals: Striking down provisions that automatically approve massive development enclaves if local review deadlines are missed.  
• Prioritizing Infrastructure: Ensuring that no large-scale development proceeds without guaranteed, thorough local review of traffic impacts, school capacity, flooding risks, and emergency services. 
• Please sign this petition today to stand with Chair Clay Murphy, protect our community's voice, and urge Tallahassee to put local control back into the hands of local citizens.