St. Johns Count Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month in the County Auditorium at 500 San Sebastian View.
The September 7 meeting has 5 items for review. The full agenda can be found here: PZA Agenda
Agenda Item 1 is a minor modification request in District 1, Bartram Park, to accommodate placement of a backyard pool.
Agenda Item 2 is another minor modification request in District 2, to allow an A/C unit to encroach into the required 5 ft. setback.
Agenda Item 3 is of interest to residents who live in Race Track Road area in District 1. This is a request to modify the Race Track Road PUD to accommodate construction of a Personal Property Mini-Warehouse Facility (Self Storage.) A Self Storage warehouse is already an allowable usage in this PUD however they are requesting modifications to the currently allowed commercial and office square footage.
Aerial Map of location for the Self Storage FAcility
The waiver being requested is for the proximity of personal property mini warehouse being located within five hundred (500) feet of a residentially zoned property or residential portions of Planned Developments. The proposed project currently measures approximately 420 feet away from residential properties to the west and approximately 390 feet from the single-family residence located to the east.
The application also seeks to to reallocate square footage requirements. This table demonstrates the changes in square footage being requested.
Screen shot from MAJMOD Race Track Road Application
Item 4 is of interest to residents of Flagler Estates. This is a request for a Special Use Permit for the construction of a 250 ft. cell phone tower on Helena Street.
Item 5 is another request for a modification to allow a self storage facility on US1, just north of County Road 210. This is in District 4. Self Storage Facility
“This is a request to amend Comprehensive Plan Policy A.1.11.3 to allow for a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 110% in lieu of the required maximum of 50% within the Intensive Commercial FLUM designation, specifically located at 11280 US 1 North. According to the provided conceptual site plan, the proposed footprint of the building is approximately 32,750 square feet with a total of 3-stories for an overall square footage of 98,250 square feet. The applicant attest that the amendment is needed since the Comprehensive Plan requires a cumulative calculation for FAR to be based on total floor area of all floors within a building, and does not adequately account for Self-Storage uses in all locations and situations.”
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The meeting started off with a statement from Chair Matovina that the Ponte Vedra Resort PUD would not be heard and has been continued to September 21.
For those interested in this PUD, there are other important meetings associated with this PUD review:
Sept 6, 5:00 PM, the Architectural Review Committee Meeting at the Sawgrass Mariott
Sept 11, 11:00 AM, the Ponte Vedra Planning and Adjustment Board at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine
Sept 21, the Planning and Zoning Agency Meeting, time certain of 10:00, at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine (subject to change.)
Nov 7 – the Board of County Commissioners meeting, 9:00 at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine (subject to change.)
Mr. Matovina then shared some additional information for the Board. These items are reported as recorded in the meeting transcript with some editing for grammar:
“I want to make sure that we all understand that staff doesn’t work for us. We don’t give instructions to staff. They work for the St. Johns County Manager who ten reports to the board so I think that, that is something we should understand. There is a lot of discussion about that item. And staff should not be asked to take direction from us. So that is number one.
Number two, I want to point out, the potential for conflict of interest. Because when we think of conflict of interest, we normally think of a monetary situation. Several that I have declared have been because DR Horton is my biggest customer.
If they have a rezoning up here, I clearly should declare a conflict of interest. But there are nonmonetary conflicts of interest. If you live next door to the development, you have a nonmonetary conflict of interest because you live next door to it. Our charge is to not only avoid an actual conflict of interest but also the perception of a conflict of interest.
So, I think thse are all things that are important for us to remember. Because there is going to be a lot of controversy surrounding this particular item on the 21st. And we could potentially, you know, put any decision that is made in danger by not following rules that we are supposed to follow.
So, That’s all I have to say about that matter.”
Items on the Regular Agenda
The first two items were minor and did not have extensive discussion. Approved by the PZA were a Zoning Variance in District 5 and a Minor Modification in District 4 to allow a Rear Yard setback to accommodate a swimming pool.
Item 3, in District 2
Elevation Pointe – Request for a Major Modification to the Elevation Pointe at Anderson Park PUD (Ordinance 1996-66, as amended) to increase wetland impacts with a corresponding decrease in preserved wetlands, open space and upland buffers; increase development area; reconfigure commercial outparcels; and decrease approved commercial entitlements from 190,000 SF to 170,000 SF.
“APPLICATION SUMMARY This is a request to modify the Elevation Pointe at Anderson Park PUD in order to accommodate a planned Publix Supermarket within the commercial portion of the development. The use is proposed at the corner of the future realigned CR 208 and SR 16. The applicant is seeking to reconfigure the commercial outparcels to allow for the use, which will result in additional impacts to adjoining wetlands and open space areas due to an increase in the development area. The applicant also proposes to decrease allowed commercial square footage within the PUD from a maximum 190,000 square feet to 170,000 square feet.”
Aerial view of the Elevation Pointe project
Included in the package for Thursday is a summary of comments received from the Public prior to the meeting.
“PHONE CALLS/CORRESPONDENCE Staff has received several phone calls regarding the proposed Major Modification. A majority of the calls were informational in nature with no stated objections. Several residential property owners to the west have called to express concerns about the proposed impacts to the wetlands, and the possibility of exacerbating drainage issues in the area. Several members of the public have also voiced frustration with regard to another Publix supermarket being built along SR 16, which would be the third Publix located along the SR 16 corridor between I-95 and International Golf Parkway. Staff noted to these callers that the County is unable to prohibit specific businesses from occupying designated commercial properties if the proposed use is allowed by right within the development.”
Whole 9 Yards. Request to rezone approximately 1.37 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Industrial Warehousing (IW), located at 5285 Big Oak Road S. This is property located in the Airport District.
Several residents spoke against this development because of the impact on the residential nature of the area.
There was quite a bit of discussion about what is allowed in the Airport District. Of note, the Airport Authority will need to review this item before it is presented to the Commissioners in September.
The application was denied by the PZA.
Item 5, in District 2
Deer Run Road PUD. Request to Rezone approximately 25.12 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow up to 26 duplexes for a total of 52 dwelling units, specifically located at 2380 Deer Run Road, 1109 Fazio Road, and 1150 Fazio Road.
This development appears to represent more much needed attainable housing in St. Johns County.
“APPLICATION SUMMARY The Applicant is seeking to rezone approximately 25.12 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for a maximum of 52 dwelling units consisting of 26 residential duplexes. The applicant asserts that the development will provide multi-family housing options for residents that are employed at the area businesses near the SR 16 and I-95 corridor at a price that they can afford. The applicant points out that the proposed duplexes will provide a more affordable and lower maintenance option as compared to single-family homes without the higher density of multi-family townhomes and apartments.” Deer Run Road Presentation
Aerial view of Deer Run Road project location
Questions were asked of the applicant if this was truly Workforce Housing. They indicated they did not know the threshold for Workforce Housing. When told that the threshold was $260,000, the acknowledge this is not workforce housing but at a range of $300,000 would be more affordable than other homes in the area.
Local residents objected to the development because of the impact on traffic on 4-Mile Road.
After discussion, this was approved 3-2.
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The St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) Meetings are held the first and third Thursday of each month at 1:30 PM in the County Auditorium at 500 San Sebastian View.
Ponte Vedra Club PUD – Change in Date
The agenda for August 17 has changed in a big way! As discussed at the August 3 Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) meeting, the Ponte Vedra Club PUD had been on the agenda for a time certain of 3:00. There had been anticipation this would be a long meeting because of great public interest in the PUD.
That topic has now been moved to a “date certain” of September 21.
For those interested in this PUD, there are other important meetings associated with this PUD review:
Sept 6, 5:00 PM, the Architectural Review Committee Meeting at the Sawgrass Mariott
Sept 11, 11:00 AM, the Ponte Vedra Planning and Adjustment Board at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine
Sept 21, the Planning and Zoning Agency Meeting, most likely 1:30, at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine
Nov 7 – (unconfirmed) the Board of County Commissioners meeting, 9:00 at the County Auditorium, 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine
Here’s what’s happening at this week’s PZA meeting
Item 1, in District 5
Request for a Zoning Variance to Section 6.01.03.E.3 of the Land Development Code to allow for a Front Yard Setback of 5′-10″ in lieu of the 25 foot requirement, and a second Front Yard setback of 7′-10″ in lieu of the 20 foot requirement in the Residential, Single Family (RS-3) zoning district, located at 3020 Third Street.
Item 2, in District 4
Request for a Minor Modification the Ponte Vedra By-The-Sea Estates PSD (ORD. 2000-5) to allow a Rear Yard setback of six (6) feet in lieu of the ten (10) foot requirement to accommodate placement of a swimming pool.
Item 3, in District 2
Elevation Pointe – Request for a Major Modification to the Elevation Pointe at Anderson Park PUD (Ordinance 1996-66, as amended) to increase wetland impacts with a corresponding decrease in preserved wetlands, open space and upland buffers; increase development area; reconfigure commercial outparcels; and decrease approved commercial entitlements from 190,000 SF to 170,000 SF.
“APPLICATION SUMMARY This is a request to modify the Elevation Pointe at Anderson Park PUD in order to accommodate a planned Publix Supermarket within the commercial portion of the development. The use is proposed at the corner of the future realigned CR 208 and SR 16. The applicant is seeking to reconfigure the commercial outparcels to allow for the use, which will result in additional impacts to adjoining wetlands and open space areas due to an increase in the development area. The applicant also proposes to decrease allowed commercial square footage within the PUD from a maximum 190,000 square feet to 170,000 square feet.”
Aerial view of the Elevation Pointe project
Included in the package for Thursday is a summary of comments received from the Public prior to the meeting.
“PHONE CALLS/CORRESPONDENCE Staff has received several phone calls regarding the proposed Major Modification. A majority of the calls were informational in nature with no stated objections. Several residential property owners to the west have called to express concerns about the proposed impacts to the wetlands, and the possibility of exacerbating drainage issues in the area. Several members of the public have also voiced frustration with regard to another Publix supermarket being built along SR 16, which would be the third Publix located along the SR 16 corridor between I-95 and International Golf Parkway. Staff noted to these callers that the County is unable to prohibit specific businesses from occupying designated commercial properties if the proposed use is allowed by right within the development.”
Whole 9 Yards. Request to rezone approximately 1.37 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Industrial Warehousing (IW), located at 5285 Big Oak Road S. This is property located in the Airport District.
Deer Run Road PUD. Request to Rezone approximately 25.12 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow up to 26 duplexes for a total of 52 dwelling units, specifically located at 2380 Deer Run Road, 1109 Fazio Road, and 1150 Fazio Road.
This development appears to represent more much needed attainable housing in St. Johns County.
“APPLICATION SUMMARY The Applicant is seeking to rezone approximately 25.12 acres of land from Open Rural (OR) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for a maximum of 52 dwelling units consisting of 26 residential duplexes. The applicant asserts that the development will provide multi-family housing options for residents that are employed at the area businesses near the SR 16 and I-95 corridor at a price that they can afford. The applicant points out that the proposed duplexes will provide a more affordable and lower maintenance option as compared to single-family homes without the higher density of multi-family townhomes and apartments.” Deer Run Road Presentation
Aerial view of Deer Run Road project location
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Beth Tate 