Blanchard 45-acre conservation acquisition, 6111 County Road 218
Summary
This unharvested timber land borders Mill Branch, a Black Creek tributary, and sits in the Florida Forever and O2O priority conservation areas. It's an unprotected wildlife corridor between Jennings State Forest and the Bradford Wildlife Management Area in a fast-developing, heavily logged area.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 1
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 20, 2026.
Impact analysis
No purchase price was disclosed; funding ultimately requires county commission approval.
Residents who value water quality, wildlife habitat, and green space in the rapidly developing Jennings State Forest area.
Taxpayers if the county pays for land critics call mostly undevelopable wetlands.
Mentions & discussions (3)
Land Conservation Committee - Oct 20, 2026
The county may buy 45 acres bordering Mill Branch for $522,871, protecting Black Creek tributary habitat and unharvested timber near Jennings State Forest. Supporters see future trails and a buffer against rapid development; critics object to fee-simple purchases draining the fund and adding maintenance costs.
Land Conservation Committee - Aug 18, 2026
This unharvested timber land borders Mill Branch, a Black Creek tributary, and sits in the Florida Forever and O2O priority conservation areas. It's an unprotected wildlife corridor between Jennings State Forest and the Bradford Wildlife Management Area in a fast-developing, heavily logged area.
Land Conservation Committee - May 19, 2026
Owner David Pepper wants the county to buy his 26 acres with 1,900 feet on Black Creek for about $650,000. Three members balked at the price for mostly-wetlands land without a partner like the water management district.
Related development
LCC Application 2026-1 (Shedd Rd)
Keeps a rapidly developing area near the St. Johns River from being built out, protecting wetlands, eagle habitat and aquifer recharge.
LCC Application 2026-4 (Little Bear Properties)
Could expand the Ravines Conservation Area and connect trails, potentially managed by the water management district at lower county cost.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Clay County
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.