Taco Bell is adding another St. Johns County location to its regional expansion plans, marking a fourth proposed location, in addition to three already open in the county.
The St. Johns River Water Management District began reviewing an environmental resource permit preapplication July 29 for a Taco Bell at U.S. 1 and Ponce Island Drive, just north of downtown St. Augustine.
With the site being undeveloped, an ERP regulates construction and development to prevent flooding, protect water quality and preserve wetlands.
The restaurant is planned on a portion of a 12.3-acre parcel owned by Ponte Vedra-based Sea Pine Equity Partners through Ponce Commercial LLC.
GPD Group is listed as the civil engineer for the project, continuing its role on all four proposed Taco Bell locations in St. Johns County, including those planned at:
• 3709 International Golf Parkway in World Commerce Center
• Sembler Drive off County Road 207 in south St. Augustine, east of Interstate 95
• 1549 County Road 210 near The Fountains at St. Johns mixed-use development, east of I-95 and west of Beachwalk
According to tacobell.com, the other St. Johns County Taco Bell locations are at 335 Harper Lane in Saint Johns and at 1820 U.S. 1 S. and 2453 Florida 16 in St. Augustine.
The new proposal follows a broader Taco Bell expansion across Northeast Florida. The chain is nearing three dozen locations throughout the region, with additional restaurants proposed in Jacksonville. Those include projects in Baymeadows, Southwest Jacksonville and two in West Jacksonville, where GPD Group also is the civil engineer, according to power provider JEA service availability letters.
A JEA service availability request means a project is being explored but has not been decided.