Last week’s Commissioner’s Meeting was a long day! Here are some of the highlights that may be of interest to the community.
Consent Agenda Items of Interest
Item #3 on the Consent Agenda is of interest to residents in the Northwest Sector.
This item was to approve the assignment of the Greenbriar Helow Development Agreement. Kevin Kramer of BTI Partners, one of the developers of the Greenbriar Helow project, spoke to the Commissioners. This marks the first payment to the county of $19 Million for the widening of 4 miles of Longleaf Pine Parkway. Commissioner Whitehurst highlighted that this project impacts his district and that the Commissioners did take a chance when they approved Greenbriar Helow in November. He is pleased to see the developer following through on the commitment. Coupled with Item 10 on the Consent Agenda, the county will now initiate the entire project for widening Longleaf Pine Parkway to four lanes from Veteran Parkway to Greenbriar Road. Construction is anticipated to begin within 60 days and take 18 months to complete.
Regular Agenda Items of Interest
Agenda Item 1 – Presentation of the St. Johns County Surplus and OPEB Investment Portfolios
The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Investment Policy, Section XVII Reporting, and OPEB Trust Investment Policy, Section XV, requires the Clerk, or designee, to prepare and submit a written report annually on all invested funds to the Board. Included in the report shall be a complete list of all invested funds, the name or type of security in which the funds are invested, the amount invested, the maturity date, earned income, the book value, the market value and the yield on each investment. PFM Asset Management, LLC, is the County’s investment advisor and has prepared the annual reports for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.
Presentation can be found at this link: Agenda Item 1
After the presentation of the Investment portfolios, questions were raised in public comment about funds that appear to be available to be spent on road projects. It was explained that these funds are held in reserve for specific projects and cannot just be reallocated.
Agenda Item 2 – Amendment to the Concurrency and Impact Fee Credit Agreement for Grand Oaks PUD revising required transportation mitigation and road impact fee credit amounts. Details below:
“Southeast Development Partners, LLC (Applicant) has proposed an Amendment to the Concurrency and Impact Fee Credit Agreement (PFS AGREE 2018-03) for the Grand Oaks PUD to revise the required transportation mitigation and road impact fee credit amount (Amendment). The Grand Oaks Comprehensive Plan Amendment (COMPAMD 2016-08), PUD (PUD 2017-02), and Proportionate Fair Share Agreement (PFS AGREE 2018-03) were approved by the BCC on July 17, 2018, for the development of 999 single family units (maximum 674 non-age restricted and 325 agerestricted), 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 50,000 sq. ft. of office space. PFS AGREE 2018-03 included the requirement to construct the 4-lane widening of SR 16 from San Giacomo to the eastern (main) entrance to the Grand Oaks development, approximately 3.1 miles. The estimated cost of the widening was approximately $15,000,000. The required proportionate share was calculated to be $10,132,643. The applicant proposed in the companion comprehensive plan amendment (COMPAMD 2016-08) to contribute an additional $4,867,357 as public benefit with no impact fee credit for a total of $15,000,000 for transportation mitigation. Payments for each plat were required until the widening of SR 16 was designed (no more than 442 lots can be platted) and construction commenced (no more then 580 lots can be platted). Plats have been approved for 442 lots and mitigation totaling $5,040,000 has been paid and is being held in escrow. The Applicant is requesting to amend PFS AGREE 2018-03 to remove the requirement to construct the widening of SR 16 and instead pay the remaining transportation mitigation to the County. The total transportation contribution of $15,000,000 is being revised to include pre-construction costs/pond acquisitions of $2,100,000; therefore, the total funds to be paid would be $12,900,000. The Applicant is also requesting that the road impact fee credit amount be increased from $10,132,643 to $15,000,000. The Applicant is further requesting that the platting triggers associated with the design and commencement of construction of the widening of SR 16 be deleted.”
For background related to Grand Oaks – This PUD was approved by the County Commissioners in 2018 and included an agreement for the developer to widen 3.1 miles of State Road 16. The developer is now coming forward to say they should not be required to pay for the widening of the road because it was already deficient and not caused by the Grand Oaks Development. After much discussion and reviewing of the previous Board meeting where the PUD was approved in 2018, the Board unanimously voted to deny the request from the developer. The developer does need to move forward with the work to widen State Road 16.
Agenda Item 3 – ICI Middlebourne PUD – Major Modification to add a car wash facility in the Gate Property within the PUD and add landscaping requirements. This is specific to a parcel on the north side of Longleaf Pine Parkway and south of Veterans Parkway.
“Request for a Major Modification to the ICI Middlebourne PUD (Ord. 2018-29, as amended) to (i) add one land use, a Car Wash Facility, to the permitted uses within the PUD solely for the Gate Property; and (ii) add landscaping requirements and a related waiver for commercial and office parcels within the PUD property. The subject property is on an unaddressed parcel located on the north side of Longleaf Pine Parkway, approximately 650 feet south of Veterans Parkway. This item was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Agency at their regularly scheduled public hearing on 10/06/2022 with a vote of 4 to 1. The Agency discussed the wetlands, trees on site, and the reduced buffer. This item was heard at the 11/01/2022 BCC meeting, where a Denial vote failed; the item was continued to a date uncertain and until a 5-member Board was seated. The Board discussed the existing wetlands, proximity to the residential neighborhood, noise, and landscaping.”
The Gate Car wash was approved 4:1 with Commissioner Joseph the No vote.
Public Comment:
General Public Comment began a little before the 11:30 time certain because it was a convenient time in the schedule. As has become a pattern, several residents of Marsh Landing appeared to provide public comment related to the on-going issues related to the Storm Water Management System in Marsh Landing.
Also present and presenting remarks was Trey Asner, the former Cultural Resources Coordinator for St. Johns County. Mr. Asner shared his concerns about the manner in which he departed his position. His remarks were picked up and covered by Action News Jax. You can watch the report here:
Trey Asner – Action News Jax Report
Other concerns raised were about the residency of our newest Commissioner for District 3, a storage building being constructed near a new development, and comments made by Commissioners at the hearing for the Public Housing Authority that were viewed as disparaging to county residents.
Agenda Item 7 – Workforce Housing Units – Proposal from the Northeast Florida Builders Association to modify the numeric percentage of dedicated workforce housing units in the Workforce Housing Zoning designation.
“This Comprehensive Plan amendment is a companion to an LDC amendment initiated by the Board at its regular meeting on October 18, 2022, and scheduled for first hearing at the February 21, 2023, BCC meeting. This Comprehensive Plan amendment changes two references in Policy A.1.11.1(m) to the numeric percentage of minimum required dedicated workforce housing units in the Workforce Housing Zoning designation and is required to maintain consistency between land code regulations. This CP amendment transmittal was heard by the Planning and Zoning Agency on February 2, 2023, and was recommended for approval with a vote of 6-0. Included in the motion was a recommendation of the proposed changes to the LDC Section 5.11.00 presented by NEFBA.”
Agenda Item 8 Workforce Housing Zoning Designation – Modification to the Land Development Code increasing the Maximum Initial Sales Price to $260,00 and decreasing the minimum percentage of overall units to 30%.
“The proposed amendment to the Workforce Housing element of Land Development Code, Section 5.11.00 increases the Maximum Initial Sales Price to $260,000 and decreases the minimum percentage of overall units to 30%. The Board of County Commissioners directed Growth Management to draft the amendment on October 18, 2022. The Planning and Zoning Agency recommended approval of the amendment with a 4-2 vote at its December 1, 2022 meeting.”
The NEFBA representative presented their rationale for their proposed changes to the County Ordinance for Workforce Housing. Their costs have gone up and they proposed these changes in order to continue to be able to build these homes at a profit.
TRANSPARENCY – I presented a statement on behalf of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce for Items 7 & 8. The Chamber is in agreement with 80% of the proposed ordinance but concerned about the price point of $260,000 and the reduction in the number of homes to be built from 40% to 30%.
Agenda Item 7 was approved 4:1 with Commissioner Joseph voting No and Agenda Item 8 was approved 3:2 with Commissioners Joseph and Whitehurst voting No.
There has been news coverage of the Workforce Housing Ordinance that can be viewed at these links:
Jacksonville Business Journal Coverage
Agenda Item 9 – Update on FEMA Category B Emergency Beach Berm for Hurricanes Ian and Nicole
Hurricanes Ian and Nicole inflicted severe impacts on Florida, resulting in a presidential declaration for federal assistance. FEMA’s Public Assistance program is a Federal grant to aid State and Local governments in returning a disaster area to pre-disaster conditions. The grant is provided to primarily address the repair and restoration of public facilities and infrastructure damaged or destroyed or the restoration of services that were negatively impacted. This update is focused on FEMA’s Category B Emergency Beach Berms. Specifically, eligible locations and volumes, resident easements, project cost, project funding, and project execution.
Agenda item 9 was approved unanimously.
Agenda Item 10 – FY 2024 Board of County Commissioners Budget Calendar and Initial Budget Guidelines
The Budget timeline was presented with budget workshops on May 22-24 in the administration auditorium.
Commissioner Reports
Considering the fatal accident at Pine Island Road and US 1 on the morning of the Commissioner meeting, Commissioner Joseph asked about a light at that intersection. There is on-going work to address this dangerous intersection and they are trying to prioritize efforts.
Commissioner Arnold raised a discussion point with the Board to put in place a reduced summer camp registration program at the Solomon Calhoun Center for the West Augustine residents to encourage enrollment.
Commissioner Dean brought forward the need to begin the work to update the Comprehensive Plan. Within 30 days staff will come back with a briefing on what needs to be done to update the plan. It is noted that the updated plan needs to be submitted to the state by August of 2024.
Commissioner Alaimo – Addressed the many public comments about his residency. He clarified that when appointed, a Commissioner has until election time to be a resident of the District. He also noted that he does have a home in the District and grew up in District 3.
Commissioner Whitehurst – Announced the Transportation Summit that will be held in the Auditorium on March 3, at 9:00 AM. A presentation from St. Johns County staff will be focused on strategic transportation infrastructure funding needs.
Invited participants at the Summit are:
- U.S. Rep. John Rutherford
- State House Speaker Paul Renner
- State Sen. Travis Hutson
- State Rep. Cyndi Stevenson
- State Rep. Bobby Payne
- FDOT District 2 Secretary Greg Evans
- St. Johns County District 1 Commissioner, Chair, Christian Whitehurst
- St. Johns County District 2 Commissioner, Vice-Chair, Sarah Arnold
- St. Johns County District 3 Commissioner Roy Alaimo
- St. Johns County District 4 Commissioner Krista Joseph
- St. Johns County District 5 Commissioner Henry Dean
Beth Tate 