NewsLine staff
Q: Residents frequently ask about the county’s rapid growth. How does the new “Vision 2050” plan address this?
A: One thing people talk about over and over is the Vision 2050 process. We went around the county for nearly 18 months collecting public input to figure out our priorities for the next 25 years. This plan, completed in 2025, directly ties into our new comprehensive plan, which is the actual roadmap for the future.
We know that by 2050, our population is expected to grow from around 106,000 to nearly 180,000. You cannot stop growth—if you own land, you have constitutional rights to develop it—but you can control the pace and shape it.
Q: You mentioned “controlling the pace” versus stopping growth. What does that mean in practice?
A: It comes down to “entitlements.” If someone owns 50 acres of agricultural land, they might be entitled to one house per acre. But to build a community with water, sewer, sidewalks and parks, a developer needs more density to make it profitable .
We control that density to shape where growth goes. For example, in our comprehensive plan, we draw specific boxes around municipalities like Callahan and Hilliard. We say, “You can grow in here, inside this boundary, but we don’t want the growth to escape out and gobble up the farmland”. This keeps housing tucked around municipalities and preserves the rural character of the West Side.
Q: The phrase “Think Big” appears in the county’s planning documents. Does that mean the county wants massive development?
A: That is a term we would change now if we could, because it does not mean “let everything grow.” It meant the county needs to think big—outside the box—to do things differently than in the past.
If you look at our planning maps, you will see large areas of dark green. That is targeted conservation land that currently does not exist, including the “Atlantic to Okefenokee” conservation corridor along the St. Marys River. In 2022, voters approved a $30 million bond referendum to buy conservation land, and we are actively working to protect those areas from development.
Q: The plan also identifies “commerce centers.” Why are these a priority?
A: Commerce is just as important as conservation. We need space for business so residents don’t have to drive to Kings Bay or Jacksonville for work.
We have designated commerce centers, such as the “Crawford Diamond” in western Nassau County. This is where two Class I railroads—CSX and Norfolk Southern—cross. That is a huge economic engine that can support high-tech manufacturing or data centers. We also unlocked a new employment center on the south end of the county near the Duval border. These centers bring high-wage jobs right here to Nassau County .
Q: With housing costs rising, how is the commission addressing the need for workforce housing?
A: We are significantly lacking in inventory. Our service industry workers often live in Kingsland or Duval County because they cannot afford to live here. The county doesn’t build housing, but we can unlock land for it.
We are working with Habitat for Humanity to identify parcels off-island, and there is a new multi-family project on Pages Dairy Road that will replace an old trailer park. That is the right place for it—close to schools and shopping. We have to plan these projects strategically so we don’t end up with affordable housing in places where we wanted economic development.
A.M. “Hupp” Huppmann represents District 2 and serves as Chairman of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners. Questions or comments can be directed to him at ahuppmann@nassaucountyfl.com or (904) 319-0686.
