Nassau’s Housing Slowdown… and the County Hits the Gas on Fees

There’s a quiet story unfolding in Nassau County—and it’s not the one we’re being told.

At a recent Planning Board meeting in Fernandina Beach, a simple question was asked: How many new building permits were issued in 2025?

The answer?

91 in the City

That might not sound like a lot… until you look just outside the city limits.

The County—on the island—issued 39.

Wait. What?

The City, often labeled “anti-development,” issued more than double the permits of the County on the same island.

Across all of Nassau County in 2025:

  • 650 single-family permits off the island
  • 39 on the island
  • 4 multifamily permits… total

That’s 693 total permits in an entire year.

And here’s the number that should stop everyone cold:

👉 Only FOUR multifamily permits.

In a growing county. In Florida. In a housing crunch.

Now fast forward to 2026.  First three months:

  • 167 permits off-island
  • 8 on the island
  • ZERO multifamily

Zero.

So what’s the County’s response to all of this?

Raise fees.

Tell builders to “pay their fair share.”
Tighten the screws.
Keep hiring.

No serious public conversation about:

  • Why multifamily has disappeared
  • Why island development lags
  • Why the private sector may be pulling back

Just… Charge More!

Let’s be clear—this isn’t complicated economics.

When you:

  • Increase fees
  • Add friction
  • Create uncertainty

You don’t get more housing. You get less of it.

And when supply shrinks?

  • Prices go up.
  • Young families get squeezed out.
  • Workforce housing disappears.

Here’s the uncomfortable question:

Is this intentional… or is it being ignored?

Because the data isn’t hidden.  It was sitting there during fee studies.
It’s sitting here now.

And yet—the policy direction hasn’t changed.

This isn’t about being “pro” or “anti” development. It’s about being honest about what the numbers are telling us.

Right now, they’re saying:

  • Growth isn’t booming
  • Housing diversity is collapsing
  • And the County’s response is making it harder—not easier—to build

At some point, residents have to ask:

Who is this working for?

Because it’s not helping:

  • First-time homebuyers
  • Renters
  • Local workers
  • Or businesses trying to attract talent

Nassau County doesn’t have a growth problem.

It has a policy problem. 

Bottomline:  You can’t raise the cost of building and expect more homes to appear. It doesn’t work that way—anywhere.

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Reconsideration of the Westside Regional Park Investment

Petition to the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners

Subject: Reconsideration of the Westside Regional Park Investment

 

Dear Commissioners,

 

We, the undersigned residents of Nassau County, respectfully submit this petition regarding the allocation of public funds toward the development of the Westside Regional Park.

 

It would surprise many to learn that 82.7% of all Nassau County Ad Valorem taxes are paid by properties located east of Interstate 95. Yet, the County has programmed $22.86 million into the Westside Regional Park, located 20 miles west of Interstate 95 — a location largely inaccessible to the majority of residents who are funding it.

 

This project spans over 100 acres with an estimated construction cost of $21 million. Although the land was purchased in 2007 for $1.09 million, it has taken 17 years to bring forward a plan, raising additional concerns about the project's long-term viability and true priority.

 

Over 67% of Nassau County’s population lives in the easternmost zip codes of 32034 and 32097, areas where residents would have to travel up to 35 miles to access the park. Research shows that individuals living more than 10 miles away from a park are unlikely to use it regularly, if at all.

 

In short: the taxpayers bearing the largest burden for this project are the least likely to benefit from it.

 

Given these facts, we have serious concerns about whether the Westside Regional Park is the most responsible and equitable use of taxpayer dollars.

We respectfully request the following:

  • A full public reassessment of the Westside Regional Park's location, accessibility, and return on investment.
  • Consideration of alternative investments in parks and recreation facilities that are more geographically equitable and accessible to the majority of Nassau County taxpayers.
  • Greater transparency and opportunity for public input regarding major capital projects moving forward.

We urge you to pause further expenditures on this project until a thorough and transparent review is conducted.

 

It is time for Nassau County to ensure that public funds are invested fairly, wisely, and in ways that serve the entire community — not just a select portion of it.

 

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

 

We look forward to your leadership and stewardship of our county’s future.

{Your name will be here}

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