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Community Affairs
PRESS RELEASE - May 11, 2006 Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber Supports the Neighborhood Bill of Rights
County Commissioner Ben Rich at the Ponte Vedra Chamber The Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has voted to accept the recommendation of its Governmental Affairs and Economic Development Committee to support the general concept of a Neighborhood Bill of Rights as proposed and sponsored by County Commissioner Ben Rich. Mr. Rich has been working over to years to get this special ordinance adopted by St. Johns County. It is currenty being drafted by the St. Johns County legal department and will be presented to the County Commission by month’s end. The Chamber will send a letter of support for this bill to the County Commissioners and will monitor the bill’s development over the next few weeks. The Neighborhood Bill of Rights would give the Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber of Commerce the opportunity to apply for recognition by the county defining its boundaries and listing its presiding officers with contact information. The Chamber would then become an “Affected Party” with the same right of notification as an adjacent property owner for all zoning, Comprehensive Plan changes and Future Land Use Map changes. The Chamber would then have the right to request a hearing or meeting with an applicant who is seeking such changes for the purpose of discovering the details of the proposed change and to express concerns. In addition, the Chamber would have the right to adequate time before the Board of County Commissioners or any of its appointed boards including all quasi-judicial proceedings in all matter affecting their boundaries. The Chamber would also be notified as to road work, public works projects and any other county projects within its boundaries with a direct effect on our community. The bill is designed to empower the citizens of the county and encourage more participation in government. In addition, it would facilitate better communication between the county and its citizens. Finally it ensures equal and fair treatment of all our citizens by vesting them with the rights and standing needed for equitable participation in matters affecting our community. The Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber of Commerce is an association of 300 plus business and professional people who provide the leadership needed to create a business environment so strong and positive that it enables existing businesses to flourish and attracts new businesses while also striving to maintain the unique quality of life that exists in the Ponte Vedra Beach community. Click image to enlarge:
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Visit the St. Johns County site at: http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/
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