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Protect Jacksonville Neighborhoods, Trees, and Future: Stop Bill 2025-0448

Sep 14
2 min read

Protect Jacksonville’s Neighborhoods, Trees, and Future

Bill 2025-0448 (part 12) is bad news for every neighborhood in Jacksonville. It would let commercial property owners skip landscaping as part of urban renewal and suburban retro fitting improvements on all commercial and industrial properties. That means no shade trees, no buffers, and no greenery—exactly in the places that need it most. Along sidewalks, bus stops and shopping centers.

This isn’t just about one part of town. It affects ALL of Jacksonville. From Brentwood to Lakewood to Arlington, Oceanway to the Beaches, Murray Hill to the Westside.

Our City Comprehensive Plan Requires Green Space:

• Policy 1.1.9 – Commercial areas next to homes must have trees and buffers to keep things compatible.

• Policy 6.3.2 – The City must protect and grow our tree canopy to fight heat, clean the air, and help with stormwater.

• Policy 2.2.8 – Commercial areas must have shade and trees to make walking safer and more comfortable.

In committee, our own council members brought up concerns about loosening landscaping requirements, because they could not be tightened later due to SB 180 (2025) which limits: the ability of local governments to pass new land-use or zoning rules that are “more restrictive or burdensome,” In other words, lessoning the landscaping requirements would be a would be a one way street, without trees!

What you MUST do to prevent this legislation from passing:

Contact all City Council members and tell them to VOTE NO on Bill 2025-0448, Part 12.

Remind them: Landscaping is not just decoration—it’s about safety, health, and infrastructure for the public realm. It creates desirable usable places within suburban and urban commercial areas.

Join us at City Hall for each and every full council and LUZ hearing, fill out your blue card and formally oppose this bill.

Share this flyer with your neighbors, friends, and local businesses.

Let’s not let developers off the hook. Every neighborhood deserves trees, shade, and safe, green spaces.

Please stand with us to protect Jacksonville.

https://www.jacksonville.gov/city-council.aspx (link to upcoming meetings and Council Member contact info)

Jacksonville City Council Members:

District 1: Ken Amaro Phone: (904) 255-5201 Email: Kamaro@coj.net

District 2: Mike Gay Phone: (904) 255-5202 Email: MGay@coj.net

District 3: Will Lahnen Phone: (904) 255-5203 Email: WLahnen@coj.net

District 4: Kevin Carrico Phone: (904) 255-5204 Email: KCarrico@coj.net

District 5: Joe Carlucci Phone: (904) 255-5205 Email: JoeCarlucci@coj.net

District 6: Michael Boyland Phone: (904) 255-5206 Email: MBoylan@coj.net

District 7: Jimmy Peluso Phone: (904) 255-5207 Email: JPeluso@coj.net

District 8: Reggie Gaffney, Jr. Phone: (904) 255-5208 Email: RGaffneyJr@coj.net

District 9: Tyrona Clark-Murray Phone: (904) 255-5209 Email: TClarkMurray@coj.net

District 10: Ju’Coby Pittman Phone: (904) 255-5210 Email: JPittman@coj.net

District 11: Raul Arias Phone: (904) 255-5211 Email: AriasR@coj.net

District 12: Randy White Phone: (904) 255-5212 Email: RandyWhite@coj.net

District 13: Rory Diamond Phone: (904) 255-5213 Email: RDiamond@coj.net

District 14: Dr. Rahman Johnson Phone: (904) 255-5214 Email: Rahman@coj.net

Jacksonville at large Council Members:

Group 1: Terrance Freeman Phone: (904) 255-5215 Email: TFreeman@coj.net

Group 2: Ronald Salem Phone: (904) 255-5216 Email: RSalem@coj.net

Group 3: Nick Howland Phone: (904) 255-5217 Email: NHowland@coj.net

Group 4: Matt Carlucci Phone: (904) 255-5218 Email: MCarlucci@coj.net

Group 5: Chris Miller Phone: (904) 255-5219 Email: Chrismiller@coj.net

Mayor’s office:

MayorDonnaDeegan@coj.net

Riverbrook

at Glen Kernan

a deed restricted community

2026 RBGK Proposed Budget

Protect Jacksonville Neighborhoods, Trees, and Future: Stop Bill 2025-0448

Riverbrook BOD Meeting