PLANNING TO PROTECT QUALITY OF LIFE
Over the past decade, JOE has developed a detailed understanding of virtually every acre it owns. This knowledge allows JOE to focus on planning at all levels, from large-scale land-use plans that emphasize watershed protection to town and resort plans that preserve open space, promote community and reinforce a sense of place.
Coastal Dune Protection. Unlike the traditional model of beachfront development, JOE constructs beach communities behind the coastal dunes. This commitment means there is more protection for residents, natural resources and coastal species.
St. James Island. JOE partnered with the citizens of Franklin County, local elected officials and Florida State University to develop a long-range vision for 25,000 acres on St. James Island. By creating a vision of the community today, special places can be preserved and future growth can be directed to appropriate areas.
West Bay Sector Plan. In a unique public-private partnership, JOE helped develop the West Bay Sector Plan, a 75,000-acre land-use plan designed to guide growth and protect West Bay in northwestern Bay County for the next 100 years. More than 50 percent of the planning area was designated for preservation, by far the single largest approved land use. The innovative planning process included community input at a series of public forums. The Bay County Board of County Commissioners approved the sector plan in December 2002.
Wildlife-Friendly Communities. WaterColor was one of the first Walton County developments to install and maintain sea turtle–friendly lighting. Now WindMark Beach has become the first community in Florida to be Wildlife Friends Lighting certified. This national program, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, promotes protecting wildlife by minimizing light pollution.