Latest news with #JacksonvilleTributary
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Guana land swap proposal withdrawn following widespread backlash
State Representative Kim Kendall, R-St. Augustine, confirms The Upland, LLC has withdrawn its application for the proposed land swap that would have transferred 600 acres in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area into private hands. Action News Jax has obtained the following letter from Upland's representative, which was sent to the state Department of Environmental Protection deputy secretary announcing the withdrawal. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] News about the proposed land swap brought swift condemnation from national state and local leaders. The plan called for trading the 600 acres in the northeast corner of St. Johns County, where the Guana River Wildlife Management Area sits, for more than 3,000 acres along the Florida Wildlife Corridor in various parts of the state. Even White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, a resident of nearby Ponte Vedra, spoke out condemning the land swap in the Jacksonville Tributary. In the letter, a representative for The Upland LLC said there was 'never any intention to develop the acquired land for commercial or community development purposes.' Instead, it claims the deal would have resulted in additional conservation land for Florida, and the backlash was fueled by 'misinformation.' St. Johns County Commissioner Sarah Arnold says local leaders planned to pressure the Governor and Cabinet, who would have ultimately determined whether to approve the trade. 'I would say the same thing we said with the state parks argument, parks are for people,' Arnold told Action News Jax earlier Monday. 'This land, this conservation land is for the residents of this county and this state.' [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Terrifying': Guana land swap protests continue with questions about private company involved
St. Johns County leaders and residents are continuing to speak out against a proposed land swap that would transfer 600 acres in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area into private hands. On Wednesday, the state Acquisition and Restoration Council will decide whether to recommend trading 600 acres of land in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area for just over 3,000 acres along the Florida Wildlife Corridor in various parts of the state. The proposal unveiled last Tuesday, sparked immediate condemnation, with protests held over the weekend. State Representative Kim Kendall (R-St. Augustine) sent a message to all members of the Florida Legislature, calling on lawmakers to oppose the proposal. 'This goes against the spirit of the law, the legislation we just passed to prevent development in state parks and this really shouldn't be happening,' said Kendall on Saturday. Even White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, a resident of nearby Ponte Vedra, spoke out condemning the land swap in the Jacksonville Tributary. St. Johns County Commissioner Sarah Arnold told Action News Jax that local leaders are planning a press conference Tuesday morning to continue pressuring the Governor and Cabinet, who will ultimately determine whether to approve the trade. 'I would say the same thing we said with the state parks argument, parks are for people. This land, this conservation land is for the residents of this county and this state,' said Arnold. It's unknown exactly who is behind the trade. The Upland, LLC is the party listed on the ARC proposal, but there are suspicions the company could be tied to Dream Finders Homes. Dream Finders is a client of Driver, McAffee, Hawthorn & Diebenow. The firm partners with Contega Business Services and offers the company's services to its clients. Contega is listed as the registered agent for The Upland, LLC and Steven Diebenow signed off on the formation documents for the company. Dream Finders also recently developed a community in Colorado called 'Uplands' and CEO Patrick Zalupski is associated with six LLC's tied to that development, though none exactly match the company named in the land swap. Despite all the apparent connections, Dream Finders Homes has denied any involvement in the land swap or The Upland, LLC. 'Even with the state parks, we were at least able to look at renderings, the plans and we knew what we were up against, what they were hoping to do,' said Arnold. 'This time we know nothing and that in and of itself with the very short timeline that we've been given to fight it is terrifying.' Arnold said she's also hoping to get the board of county commissioners to come out in formal opposition to the plan during Tuesday night's commission meeting. She and other local residents will head to Tallahassee Wednesday to share their concerns with ARC in person. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Jacksonville's Morning News - Monday, April 21
Tributes are pouring in for Pope Francis, who died this morning at the age of 88. Vice President J.D. Vance, who met Francis at the Vatican just yesterday on Easter Sunday, said his heart goes out to all who loved him. The White House posted on X, 'Rest in Peace, Pope Francis.' LISTEN: First Alert Meteorologist Corey Simma is tracking a warm, dry week. Three Big Things to Know: Hours after the Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died at 88, the Diocese of St. Augustine released the following statement from Bishop Erik Pohlmeier. 'With sorrow and gratitude, I join the faithful of the Church and the world in mourning the death of our Holy Father Pope Francis. His life was a gift to the Church and a reflection of Christ's love lived with humility and devotion'. The city of Jacksonville Beach is set to discuss parking time limits, and smoking on the beach. Jacksonville Beach City Council meets tonight at 6:00 pm. The parents of a 2-year-old westside boy are being interviewed by Jacksonville police after he was shot and killed. The people's Pope has passed at 88. Tributes are pouring in for Pope Francis. Posted by Rich Jones on Monday, April 21, 2025 LISTEN: Father Tom Willis, Director of Liturgy with the Diocese of St. Augustine reflects on the legacy of Pope Francis. WOKV INVESTIGATES: The still-unexplained death of 31-year-old Charles Faggart at the Duval County jail was a searing reminder of the perils that lurk within the decades-old building: Jacksonville's jail is a dangerous place, and often not because of its inmates. That's how the Jacksonville Tributary, a nonprofit newsroom, described the investigation last week. We spoke live with reporter Nichole Manna about the perils that lurk in the decades-old building.
