St. Johns County Still Wants Part of Guana - UPDATED

[Steve W]

and now Herb Peyton, father of Jacksonville's mayor and owner of Gate Petroleum is try to help them out.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100303/met_13690894.shtml

Herb Peyton could care less about public use of lands in Florida. He has systematically wiped out wetlands in Jacksonville, through is real estate development and probably his political connections.

I find it very strange that he would support something of this nature when his son was endorsed by many that probably use this area or at least are hunters.

For the record:

1. The governor is against this
2. The FFWCC is against this
3. UW-FL is against this
4. DW is against this
5. Many other groups are against this

The ones for this this:
People that moved down here from other parts of the country that do not care if we have a place to hunt.

My calls to the St. Johns county school board have fallen on deaf ears as they will not return my calls.

I had planned to write a letter earlier this year, but put it off thinking I could discuss it with them on the phone.

Duke I hope you don't mind helping me with this. I will type up a letter and send it to you for your review.

[FLAWaterfowler]

It should also be noted that Mr. PAYton (the elder) was the owner of the land management group that originally owned Guana, and if I remember correctly, used the pressure of developing the island to prompt the state into paying a royal sum in order to purchase the property...then bragged that he would have sold it for less, but that the state had a weak negotiating team...

[northfla_hunter]

i cant get the article to come up, but judging from what you said about the school board, this still has to do with them wanting to build a new school over on that property? i am a st johns county resident so please let me know what i can do or who i can contact to help out our cause. oftentimes, a resident will draw a little more merit than outsiders opinions, seeing as how its my taxdollars and my votes that put certain people where they are. thanks!

[FLAWaterfowler]

I believe the plan to construct the school is still in the works / in the pipeline, so to speak. There was a great hue and cry when the plan was put before the public and many of the plan's supporters quickly 'backed down' and let the outrage settle...then began the process again, but very quietly...

havent seen much about it in the T-U...surprise on that one...

I had the students in my Environmental Studies class do a little research on some of the impacts that such a facility could do to Guana... its not just the school, per se, that is a threat to the nature of the place... stormwater runoff could be a factor but a major impact would be the necessary widening of access roads, including something on the northern part of the Guana preserve...

Consider the near-disasterous wreck at the boatramp during early teal season and then imagine increased traffic and school busses thrown into the mix... certainly there would be a push to widen access roads in the name of safety

On a political / philosophical note..it also sets a dangerous precedent...land that was to be set aside 'forever' for the citizens and guests of our state to enjoy and use being taken away due to 'pressing' problems (ie overdevelopment in an area that cannot otherwise support basic services {schools**) -- God forbid certain political forces seeing the 'value' of these lands if sold or the dollar signs in their eyes as they consider the 'lost tax base' -- once you give an inch, they'll take a mile...

[Steve W]

I do not know if the 100 acres includes a buffer zone.

If not, they would probably have to have at 600' around the school for a buffer.

[FLAWaterfowler]

The one hundred acres, i believe, does not include a buffer zone. From what Ive read, however, a buffer zone is planned if the project gets a go-ahead.

[Steve W]

Tried to call Colin Smith at Guana, but found out he has left FWC to work in MO.

Anyway, they have not heard anything from his managers.

I called Dianne Eggeman to see if she heard anything and she has not, but is checking around and will call me back tomorrow.

[northfla_hunter]

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100703/met_13719451.shtml


State officials yesterday said no to the latest proposal to build a high school in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area.

"The land was preserved for conservation reasons and that's how the land will be kept," said Kathalyn Gaither, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. "We're not interested."

[uncle D]

Sure Steve,

Draft a letter.

About 10 years ago, they were trying to do the school thing. Back then, (before the thought of Nocatee) we suggested to the Davis family(winn dixie) to donate some land on the other side of the intra costal. Obviously, that didn't fly.

Now winn dixie is building their mega community, (35,000 people) and they want a school on public land :mad:

Duke

[Steve W]

Looks like it was shot down by the state. Thank goodness.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100703/met_13719451.shtml

[Steve W]

I just received a return call from Dianne Eggeman, head waterfowl biologist for FWC.
She tried to speak with Jimmy Conner, who is the head of our region, but could not get in touch with him. Instead she spoke with Mike Abbott in Ocala.

Mike’s assessment is that the state DEP officials are against the proposal as was reported in the Times Union today. They have received no pressure to change their stance. Also the property that Herb Peyton wants to “swap”, known as the Outpost, is on the FWC’s list to acquire to shore up their property boundaries.

As noted many times the FWC, DEP, the cabinet and the governor are against the use of Guana for a school with or without the so called land swap.

Here is how this started. The county wants to widen SR210 in that area. It started out as a road improvement, then grew and grew to include a school. It’s only trees so what’s the big deal?

Anyway, the FWC is working with the county on the road widening and Guana will probably loose about 15 acres for the road in that area.

Personally, I would like to see them leave it at two lanes, that way the pain and suffering caused by traffic would hopefully discourage others from moving in the area. Adding two more lanes will only encourage more development. Sorry to those that live there now, if you are reading this, but I hope you understand what I mean.