The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners unanimously voted to deny a rezoning request for 247.26 acres of county land that could have been the site of as many as 376 homes.
The proposed development, known as The Preserve at St. Augustine Lakes, sought to change the land’s designation from Open Rural and Planned Unit Development to Planned Unit Development.
The rezoning request previously was considered by the county Planning and Zoning Agency on May 16, when it was recommended for approval with a vote of 4-3.
Carter Road Associates LLLP and Mary Ann Lewis own the land. St. Johns Law Group represented the rezoning proposal.
During the board meeting, more than a dozen residents, including Zeke Williams, voiced opposition to the project. Williams, who addressed the board for 10 minutes, cited concerns about drainage, traffic, compatibility with surrounding developments and connectivity as reasons to reject the rezoning.
Douglas Burnett of St. Johns Law Group told the board he offered to meet with Williams before the rezoning was considered, but Williams declined the offer. Burnett said that public meetings were not required and none were held.
“I did ask (Williams) about meeting with him. I thought I was going to be able to meet with some of the residents, and that didn’t happen, and that’s the best I can tell you related to that,” Burnett said. “Did we advertise and notice a public meeting? No.”
The property is south of Florida 16 and west of North Holmes Boulevard. It was proposed to be primarily accessed from Thompson Bailey Road, which intersects with Deer Run Road and Arcadian Lakes Boulevard.
The plan also included interconnectivity with the adjacent St. Augustine Lakes PUD to the east, which is currently under development and allows for a maximum of 575 residential units.
Before voting, board Chair Sarah Arnold said she could not support the rezoning because even now the land where The Preserve was planned is “wet, wet, wet.”
