All regular County Commissioner meetings are the first and third Tuesdays of the Month in the County Auditorium at 500 San Sebastian View.
One highly anticipated item is on the agenda – the Ponte Vedra Resort PUD!
There are 3 Proclamations and one Certificate of Recognition to be presented at Tuesday’s Meeting.
- Proclamation Recognizing November 11, 2023 as Veteran’s Day
- Proclamation Recognizing November 2023 as National Adoption Month
- Proclamation Recognizing November 15 – 17, 2023 as Entrepreneurship Week at the Link
- Certificate of Recognition for 10 Years of West Augustine’s participation in Keep Calm and Walk for Cancer
Public Comment is at Time Certain of 11:30. This continues to cause some confusion as other presentations may be interrupted to allow for the Time Certain Public Comment. Remember to stick around and they will resume interrupted presentations after Time Certain Public Comment.
There is another Time Certain Agenda item on the November 7 Agenda and that is the Ponte Vedra Resort PUD. This will be heard at a Time Certain of 1:00.
Consent Agenda Items
There are 40 items on the Consent Agenda Several of the items are minor, related to easements for utilities.
Some items of note:
Consent Agenda Items 3 & 4
Granting a 10 year historic property partial ad valorem tax exemption for 301 North Main Street, and 316 North Main Street, Hastings, beginning January 1, 2024 and expiring December 31, 2034. Details are here: 301 North Main Street
Background:
“St. Johns County Ordinance No. 2022-55, St. Johns County Historic Preservation Property Tax Exemption Ordinance, applies county-wide and establishes procedures for application to and review by the Cultural Resource Review Board (CRRB) for private properties seeking a property tax exemption for improvements to historic preservation in accordance with Florida Statutes. This preservation incentive contributes to stimulating business investment for commercial projects and higher property value retention for residential neighborhoods. The application submitted to the County was approved by the CRRB on June 12, 2023. The historic ad valorem tax exemption application is now before the Board of County Commissioners to approve or deny the tax exemption beginning January 1, 2024 for a period of ten (10) years and for permission to enter into a covenant with the property owner as required by Florida Statutes.”
301 North Main Street
This structure was previously known as the Stanton Motors Building and has been in existence since 1927. At the time, this was the oldest family-owned Ford dealership in Florida. The structure was determined to be a Significant Cultural Resource by the Cultural Resource Review Board in June of 2022. As part of the revitalization of Historic Main Street Hastings, this building as had extensive rehabilitation including restoration of interior and exterior deterioration, roof repair, and removal of accumulated debris.
The amount of the exemption is to be determined by the Property Appraisor.
Follow the link above to see historic pictures of the building.
316 North Main Street
There are two structures located at 316 N Main Street. The main structure was known as the “Big Brick Garage” while the second structure was used as the print shop for the Hastings Herald. These structures were determined to be Significant Cultural Resources by the Cultural Resource Review Board (CRRB) in August of 2022. The rehabilitation of the structures located at 316 N Main Street included repair of fire damage, vandalism, and restoration of interior and exterior deterioration.
Pictures of this building can be seen in the presentation at this link: 316 North Main Street
Consent Agenda Item 5
This is a School Concurrency agreement for the Browning Subdivision that was approved by the School Board in the October 10, 2023 School Board Meeting.
Link to the Concurrency Agreement here: Browning Concurrency Agreement
NOTE: Concurrency agreements were discussed in the Joint Meeting of the School Board and the Board of County Commissioners. If the School Board has approved the Concurrency Agreement, the development process continues forward to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. If the School Board votes NO, and does not approve the Concurrency Agreement, the developer cannot continue forward in the process. They must either wait for capacity to be available or continue working with the School Board to gain approval of Concurrency. The Board of County Commissioners cannot consider the school conditions as part of their review process if the School Board has approved the Concurrency.
Consent Agenda Item 27 is awarding a bid for the construction of the CR 2209 Extension Central Segment. This segment is a four-lane from Silverleaf Drive to State Road 16 and includes a twelve-foot multi-use path, five foot sidewalks, and a stormwater pond.
The back-up materials are at this link: CR 2209 Construction
Regular Agenda Items
Item 1 is a presentation of Total Earned Unused and Undistributed Revenue. No presentation on-line as of Friday.
Item 2
Approval and Recognition of FIND Grant Project Agreement for Genovar Land Acquisition
“On February 7, 2023, the Board approved the submission of a Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) grant application for reimbursement of Genovar land acquisition costs. FIND awarded a $1,055,500 grant for acquisition of the 31 acres of Genovar property located North of SR 312 and South of Nix Boat Yard and situated along the San Sebastian River with deep water access for a public boat ramp, parking, and passive recreation. Parks and Recreation is requesting authorization to sign FIND Project Agreement #SJ-23-217 for Genovar Land Acquisition.”
Background materials are here: Genovar Land Acquisition
Item 3 – REZ 2023-10 135 Nix Boat Yard
Link to materials: Nix Boat Yard
“Request to Rezone approximately 0.59 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Commercial Warehouse (CW) with conditions, specifically located at 135 Nix Boat Yard Road. The Planning and Zoning Agency heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on October 5, 2023, and recommended approval with a vote of 5-0. Agency members discussed the previous daycare facility and when it relocated. There was one public comment that questioned the buffering, traffic, parking and proposed clientele. In response, the applicant discussed a proposed 20/B buffer; since the PZA hearing, the applicant has included an additional condition to the Rezoning that states a 20/B buffer will be installed and maintained on the west side of the property adjacent to the existing Commercial Office.”
Application Summary:
“The Applicant is seeking to rezone approximately 0.59 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Commercial, Warehouse (CW) with conditions. The applicant’s narrative states the recent use of the property was a Daycare Center and points out that the surrounding properties are commercial. The narrative states that the request for a Commercial Warehouse zoning would allow a local business to further grow; the new owner of the property is Fishbites Trading LLLP which manufactures and distributes artificial baits worldwide. The applicant provides the following conditions to the zoning: • Uses are limited to light manufacturing, production, packaging and shipping, and associated office space and showroom • All uses shall be fully enclosed inside buildings with no outdoor storage • Loading zones shall be permitted • The applicant waives any right to develop the property pursuant to the Live Local Act, Chapter 2023- 17 Laws of Florida, and any subsequent amendment • ADDED since PZA 10/05/2023: The applicant will install and maintain a 20/B buffer on the west side of the property adjacent to the existing Commercial Office.”
More details in my post on the October 5 PZA Meeting: October 5 PZA Agenda Blog
Item 5 is the First Reading of Proposed Amendments to the St. Johns County Beach Code.
Link to materials here: 1st Reading of Updated Beach Codes
This came about as a result of a request from Commissioner Alaimo at the October 3, 2023 Board of County Commissioner’s Meeting.
The specific changes related to the use of electric bikes, drones, and motor vehicles on St. Johns County beaches.
Section 3.14 – Aircraft
No one operating, directing or responsible for any aircraft, seaplane, helicopter, glider, balloon, dirigible, parachute, drone or other aerial apparatus shall take off from or land within park property or the beach.
Section 3.15 – Electric Motorized Devices
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
- Operate any e-bike, e-scooter, or other electric motorized device in a careless manner. Careless operation of an e-bike, e-scooter, or other electric motorized device shall include but is not limited to:
1. Operation of an e-bike, e-scooter, or other electric motorized devices with another person on the handlebars or in any position in front of the operator;
2. Operation of e-bike, e-scooter, or other electric motorized devices at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions, having regarded to the actual and potential hazards then existing, including but not limited to, the safety of the operator or any other person or property;
3. Failing to yield to pedestrians;
4. Weaving in and out of pedestrians traffic or stationary beachgoers;
5. Operation of e-bike with more riders, operators, or passengers than for which it was designed; or
6. Any occurrence where inadvertence to the safe and normal operational procedures of the e-bike, e-scooter, or other electric motorized devices causes or is likely to cause damage to any person or property.
All operators shall at all times yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and shall take such precautions as may be necessary before parking, or before moving a vehicle previously parked, to avoid accident or collisions with or injury to any persons or property.
Section 5 Traffic and Parking Regulations
Section 5.03 Prohibited Acts
(k) Operate any motor vehicle so as to intentionally cause sand to be thrown into the air or across any beach area.
Agenda Items 6 and 7 are consideration of appointments to the Contractors Review Board and the Cultural Resources Review Board.
Item 7 is the Time Certain 1:00 Hearing of the Ponte Vedra Resort PUD.
This item has been hotly debated across in the press, in public meetings, and on social media.
“Request to rezone approximately 90.5 acres of land from Open Rural (OR), Single Family Residential District (R-1-B), Single Family Residential District (R-1-C), Multiple Family Residential District (R2), Commercial District (R-3), and Recreational District (R-4) to Planned Unit Development (PUD), to allow the redevelopment of resort lodging, restaurant, recreational, commercial, and office facilities within the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and the Lodge Property.”
Link to materials is here: Ponte Vedra Resort PUD
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Beth Tate 
TY. I understand that 210 is actively being widened. Has anyone in authority understood how bad the traffic situation will be with the current traffic. And with the already approved new develops it will be chaos. With any more additional. Thier plan of upgrading 210 is already obsolete. Fortunately, I rarely take 210. But I experienced it twice last week. And living in Aberdeen, we are already experiencing the explosion of traffic on Long Leaf Pine from Rivertown. And the smart folks who avoid 210 and use Long Leaf Pine to get to 9B. Just a question that I have not seen addressed. I have also inquired about attaching Aberdeen to Flora Branch Blvd. I have driven and reviewed current maps. We are a stones throw away for a connection. Why does this matter. For Aberdeen Residents, we have three choices to connect to State Road 13 / San Jose. Roberts Road (when they expand/widen this will be a nightmare), Veterans Parkway, and Greenbriar (210). Using Saint John’s Parkway, (to me is not a via option). THANKS FOR LISTENING.