St. Augustine, FL — Environmentalists claimed victory Tuesday when county commissioners voted “no” to a developer’s plans to build a large subdivision in a rural part of St. Johns County.
Calling it a “litmus test on sprawl,” Matanzas Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon and others rallied the public to attend the September 15 meeting and oppose the development, called Kings Grant. Approximately 30 citizens spoke during the public comment session, with all but two against it, and 150 citizens submitted comments online. But in the fastest growing county in a state with strong pro-growth policies, some feel state agencies never say no to new business.
“Our coalition put in a great deal of work on this and we hoped it would mean something,” Armingeon said later. “When the vote came down and we actually won, it was a shock. We don’t win many.”
The vote that was before commissioners was to approve a developer’s request for a zoning change from Rural to Planned Urban Development for a 774-acre pine forest on the northwest corner of I-95 and 206. Cumberland Development LLC wants to build 999 homes, a medical campus, a memory care facility, a hotel, and retail space.
The county’s Planning and Zoning Agency had voted 4 – 3 to recommend denial of the rezoning, which was an improvement from an earlier vote of 7 – 0 for denial. Tom Ingram, an attorney for the developer, said they had addressed the agency’s initial concerns by including more features for the community and offering money for a fire station. He argued that the “best use” of the property is to develop it because it fits in the county’s official growth plan.
Val Hubbard, an urban planner with 30 years of experience who is also working for the developer, agreed. She said the county plan calls for “compact centers linked by corridor development,” and Kings Grant is the exact type of growth the plan anticipates.
But critics argued the development doesn’t fit with the rural surroundings, will drain county resources, and doesn’t protect the environment.
“This is quintessential sprawl,” said Jane West, an attorney representing the Florida Wildlife Federation and a nearby homeowner’s association.
Sarah Owen Gledhill, an urban planner with the Florida Wildlife Federation, said the county already has a $280M backlog of roads and infrastructure projects that it should catch up on before approving new development.
Armingeon told commissioners during public comment that the state studied the property’s drainage a couple of years ago, and determined it flowed into the Matanzas River. He’s concerned runoff from development could harm the river’s oyster beds. “The Matanzas River is one of the last places in Northeast Florida where one can harvest some of the best oysters on earth,” he said.
After five hours of contentious back-and-forth, commissioners voted 3 – 2 against the zoning change. Commissioner Rachel Bennett, who voted “yes,” said Kings Grant fits in with the county’s growth plan. But Commissioner Jay Morris, who voted “no,” said it’s the “wrong time and wrong place” for such a large development.
The developer has already spent millions purchasing the property and hiring experts to develop plans. Reached later, Ingram declined to speculate what the developer’s next step might be.
