Highlights: Triathlon Impact & Agenda Items
The May 17 BOCC meeting was a long one so focus today is on items from the Regular Agenda and the additional Agenda item that was raised by Commissioner Krista Joseph.
The weekend prior to the meeting, there was an Ironman triathlon event in Jacksonville. Part of the course came through St. Johns County. This was the inaugural Ironman in Jacksonville and there were many lessons to be learned from the event!
While there were many St. Johns County residents participating in the event, The event had been publicized on the news and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s FB page indicating there may be traffic impacts on Saturday; however the word did not get out to many residents along the route and there were upset residents, in both St. Johns County and Duval County, who were surprised and unhappy about the traffic impacts.
Commissioner Joseph had posted on her FB page about the impacts and that the County was not aware of the event and that it would be impacting St. Johns County. She brought the concerns to the Board for discussion at the May 17 meeting.
Administrator Andrews shared that the impact on roads and residents was far greater than had been conveyed to the County by the City of Jacksonville. She pointed out the course had changed over time and had much more impact on the NE part of the county than originally anticipated.
Watch the discussion here: IronMan Discussion
Regular Agenda Items
Agenda Items 1 & 2 were heard together. This was an appeal of a decision by the Planning and Zoning Agency to approve a Special Use Permit to allow for on-site sale and consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in conjunction with a restaurant. The Appeals came from God’s Way Baptist Church of Hastings and the First Baptist Church of Hastings. After close to 2 hours of discussion, the Appeal was upheld with a 5:0 vote.
“Request to appeal the Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) approval of a Special Use Permit (SUPMAJ 2025-27) to allow for the on-site sale and consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in conjunction with a restaurant located in Commercial General (CG) zoning. This request is being made on behalf of Jeb S. Smith, representing God’s Way Baptist Church of Hastings. This item was heard at the Planning and Zoning Agency’s regularly scheduled February 29, 2019, meeting. Motion to approve was made by Mr. Matovina was seconded by Mr. Olson, and passed with a vote of 4 to 3. Dissenting votes by Mrs. Spiegel, Dr. Hilsenbeck, and Mr. Labanowski.”
Background materials are here: Agenda Item 1 and Agenda Item 2
“Request to appeal the Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) approval of ZVAR 2025-32 and SUPMAJ 2025-27 to allow for the on-site sale and consumption of Alcoholic Beverages in conjunction with a restaurant located in Commercial General (CG) zoning within 1,000 feet of an existing Church. This request is being made on behalf of Benjamin Rodda, representing First Baptist Church of Hastings. This item was heard at the Planning and Zoning Agency’s regularly scheduled February 29, 2019, meeting. Motion to approve was made by Mr. Matovina, seconded by Mr. Olson, and passed with a vote of 4 to 3. Dissenting votes by Mrs. Spiegel, Dr. Hilsenbeck, and Mr. Labanowski.”
Watch the discussion/presentation here: Discussion on Agenda Items 1 & 2
Agenda Item 3 – “Request to rezone approximately 3.08 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for a maximum 11,500 square feet Automobile Repair Facility with a maximum of ten (10) active service bays and accessory Outdoor Storage located at 10150 Cartwheel Bay Avenue.”
Background materials here: Agenda item 3
With commitments to address concerns about vehicle parking and keeping the location neat and orderly, the request was approved 5:0
You can watch this discussion here:
Agenda Item 4 – Anchor Faith Mall – Request to rezone approximately 9.56 acres of land from Commercial General (CG) to Commercial Intensive (CI), located specifically at 2121 US Highway 1 S. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at their regularly scheduled public hearing on April 2, 2026, and was recommended for approval with a vote of 7-0.
After adding 2 conditions, no Data Center and nothing built under the Live Local Act, the request was approved unanimously.
Materials are here: Agenda Item 4
The application states, “This rezoning merely seeks to rezone the middle two parcels that are buffered from any adjoining properties by their own CG parcels that they also own, which creates a built-in buffer and planning step down in intensity. The parcel rezoning is limited their two inner parcels that will allow some temporary outside use of the parking area deemed necessary for some current use. The property is in the middle of the MIXED USE DISTRICT on the arterial federal highway and is bordered by a car dealership, restaurants, and their own properties. This request is both reasonable and compatible to the area and current uses thereon and in the area.”
Agenda Item 5 – 4060 County Road 13S. – This was a simple request to change the Future Land Use Map desgination from Agricultural Intensive to Residential A to allow the construction of 1 single family dwelling unit on the property. It was approved 5:0.
Agenda Item 6 – Rivers Edge CDD (Rivertown)
This petition proposes to remove approximately 298.07 acres from the 983.88 acres of land currently comprising the district, leaving approximately 685.81 acres within the amended CDD boundary.
The petition was approved 5:0
Agenda Item 7 – Landscaping Service Accessory Use – This is a follow up to an item that came up at the February 17 BOCC Meeting requesting a change to the Land Development Code to allow Landscaping Service businesses as an accessory use to Commercial Plant Nurseries.
The Board of County Commissioners requested changes to Land Development Code (LDC) regulations regarding Landscaping Service businesses as an accessory use to Commercial Plant Nurseries as a Special Use at their regularly scheduled public hearing on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
This was heard in conjunction with Agenda Item 8, “This amendment amends Land Development Code Article II (Zoning Districts and Special Uses), Article III (Special Districts) and Article XII (Definitions) to codify changes to State Statute that went into effect on July 1, 2021 with the enactment of House Bill 403. The bill added Florida Statute 559.955, which stipulates the policies local governments may implement to regulate home-based businesses. This amendment brings the Land Development Code into compliance with F.S. 559.955 by adding the allowed specified criteria to Home-Based Business as permitted in zoning districts allowing residential use. The amendment also removes outdated language no longer in statute.”
This was a First Reading of both ordinance changes so no vote was required.
Agenda Item 9 – SUN Trail Network Presentation This was a presentation to help the current Board understand how we got to the current work on the SUN Trail. Important to note this project has beeh moving forward since 2008.
“Presentation to the Board concerning the SUN Trail, the Northeastern Florida regional loop trail represents a coordinated, multi-jurisdictional effort to create what is anticipated to be the longest multi-use loop trail in the Southeast, totaling approximately 260 miles upon completion. Within this broader system, nearly 40 miles will be in St. Johns County, including segments within the City of St. Augustine and the City of St. Augustine Beach, positioning the County as a critical link in the regional network. The loop integrates with major statewide and national trail systems, including the East Coast Greenway and the Coast to Coast Trail, enhancing both interstate and cross-state connectivity. This presentation will focus on the segment along Beach Blvd. from Pope Road to A1A, within the City of St. Augustine Beach.”
Watch the presentation here: SUN Trail Discussion
Commissioner Reports
During Commission Reports Commissioner Whitehurst reminded residents about the Memorial Day event at the St. Augustine National Cemetery. He also shared information about a presentation he and Commission Taylor attended a presentation on Data Centers and wanted to share that new data centers being built today are not using water for cooling, but a synthetic coolant.
Commission Taylor followed up with her appreciation for that presentation and the concern that data centers do require a tremendous amount of electricity.
Commissioner Murphy wanted to bring back a project that had been presented to the BOCC 2 weeks ago, and now that he has additional information would like to bring it back to the Board for consideration. After discussion and public comment, the project will be brought back before the board for action. This was approved 3-2 with Taylor and Joseph being the no votes.
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Beth Tate 
Thank you for sharing. Often we would like to attend these meetings but cannot.