Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in St. Johns County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues with medium priority
Swimming pool lot-coverage allowance for small lots
Two homeowners asked to build pools five feet from their rear property lines instead of the required ten. Both won — one unanimously, one 5-1 — with members pressing whether financial motivations like resale value satisfy the legal hardship standard.
3025 Old Moultrie Road Rezone
Nearly 10 acres at Kings Estate and Old Moultrie roads — a trash-strewn homeless encampment for two decades — is headed toward commercial intensive zoning for storage and flex-industrial uses. Neighbors including a cemetery and daycare owner support it; conditions ban vape shops and Live Local density.
PVZAB membership vacancies and appointments
The board had two empty seats; two Ponte Vedra Beach volunteers were recommended to the County Commission. Chip Greene is stepping down and John Patton will serve until the board is full again.
Affordable housing need
CARE advocates urged the county to use zoning incentives and conditions on rezonings to win more affordable housing, and to set annual unit goals.
Early Voting Information
Early voting is open in St. Johns County, and it’s your chance to weigh in on local leadership and ballot measures before Election Day. Check official county election info for locations, hours, and deadlines so you’re not caught off guard at the polls.
Cell tower siting in Open Rural districts
Two towers, two outcomes: the 199-foot Colee Cove monopole was approved 3-2 despite a PZA denial recommendation, while the board unanimously denied the 180-foot St. Thomas Island Parkway tower after hearing neighbors' compatibility concerns.
Live Local Act tax exemption opt-out
Whitehurst won board consensus for the county to opt out of the Live Local Act property tax exemption for market-rate multifamily projects — a decision that affects how much affordable housing incentive developers get.
Affordable housing land inventory
A CARE representative introduced the community land trust model — where a nonprofit owns land and leases it to affordable-home buyers — as a new tool to keep homes affordable in perpetuity, and said the group will brief each commissioner.
Tractor Supply on State Road 16
An 8-acre rezone from Open Rural to Commercial Intensive was scheduled for consideration at a growing State Road 16 corridor, with recommendations forwarded to the county commissioners.
Fruit Cove Baptist commercial rezoning and neighborhood concerns
Neighbors of 'the Patch' pasture opposed the 9.5-acre commercial rezoning, citing short notice, wildlife including bald eagles, and traffic on two-lane CR 16A. The board approved unanimously after the applicant detailed prohibited uses and buffers.
Warehouse build-out at 3440 Agricultural Center Drive
Platform Real Estate Group could get up to $969,206 back in fees and taxes for a 246,000-square-foot warehouse — the county estimates a 193% return over 20 years, but critics called it a tax holiday for unknown out-of-state owners. Final agreement comes back later.
Temporary construction fencing for neighborhood safety
Current rules only allow 4-foot fences during construction, which barely contain silt — and don't stop a climbing autistic adult from wandering onto a job site. The board approved one permit and wants a district-wide 6-foot temporary fence rule.
St. Johns Commons Commercial rezone
A 9.16-acre rezone to Commercial General was recommended after a prior 20.87-acre land donation to the water management district won neighborhood support.
Applicant scam warning
Staff confirmed scammers are sending fake invoices to permit applicants demanding payment for approvals; the county charges only a filing fee.
Regional impact on fiscally stressed local governments
A resident relayed the sheriff's warning that some poorer counties may become financially insolvent if Amendment 3 passes, potentially requiring St. Johns County to assist neighboring jurisdictions. Officials said a regional, shared-services approach would likely be needed.
Food truck park regulations update
New LDC rules allow food truck parks in certain zoning districts with 7 a.m.-9 p.m. hours and noise-ordinance compliance; local food truck owners celebrated.
UF/IFAS Extension and Master Gardener program
Master Gardener volunteers feared the program was at risk amid contract negotiations with UF and Amendment 3 revenue fears. Commissioner Arnold reassured them the county isn't cutting the program and said UF is holding up the contract.
Shores Boulevard median closure and U-turn safety
A Shores resident said a new median forces unsafe U-turns and muddy crossings; she asked the county to fix the mess it created.
Conservation easement consideration for 1365 SR 206
A 21-acre privately owned property next to Matanzas State Forest could get a county-held conservation easement, protecting its pine flatwoods and salt marsh while the owner keeps the land. It would stay private — no public access — with timbering and hunting allowed.
Marsh & Arrow outdoor archery range on US 1 South
A new low-intensity outdoor archery range is approved for US 1 South, open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily with no crossbows allowed. The county recently amended its land development code to make archery ranges possible.
Replacement mobile home at 198 Aiken Street
A property owner wants to replace a dilapidated 1980 mobile home with a newer used model on a small non-conforming lot near West King Street. It's about keeping an existing residence livable while matching the mixed mobile-home and single-family character of the area.
Park accessibility for people with disabilities
A resident surveyed nine county parks and found no adaptive playground equipment, urging inclusive design going forward.
Alcohol-distance rules keep coming up case by case
The county's 40-year-old 1,000-foot buffer between alcohol sales and churches/schools may change. Members lean toward changing how distance is measured, adding daycares, and fixing a gap that left liquor stores and bars with no legal variance path.
NourishED Kids Center farm-to-daycare pilot
A nonprofit founder asked the county for $65,000 — half the pilot's cost — to launch Florida's first scratch-made, locally sourced farm-to-daycare lunch program serving 100 children for six months. The board directed staff to explore funding options.
Chamber of Commerce contract renewal
The board wants staff to check whether the Placer visitor-tracking software duplicates data the VCB already has, and whether Chamber of Commerce marketing overlaps VCB efforts — with any savings going straight to reserves.
Players Championship contract funding
Members said the TPC hospitality house contract has drifted from its purpose of hosting travel-industry influencers and has instead served as an employee perk with county staff using extra tickets. The board cut the contract to $275,000, removed the extra tickets, and wants the VCB managing it as originally intended.
Cabinet Depot warehouse rezoning on Ronald Road
A displaced cabinet business owner wants to rezone two lots next to 30-year residential homes from mobile-home residential to Commercial Warehouse. Neighbors worry the zoning runs with the land forever; the board recommended approval with intrusive uses excluded.
Shofner Property Land Use Change
A family wants one house allowed on 16 acres off CR 208, but neighbor Tom Bell alleges the owners granted themselves an illegal access easement across his land. The county attorney steered the board to decide land use only, leaving the easement fight to civil court.
$1.2 million HUD grant for community development
The county accepted $1,203,938 in federal CDBG money and adopted its 2026-2030 Consolidated Plan and 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan, funding housing and community projects.
Our Lady Star of the Sea church campus expansion
The church plans to rebuild and enlarge its administration building, childcare center, and faith formation building on A1A, staying well under the impervious surface limit. The board's recommendation moves it to the County Commission, with construction targeted to finish by next summer.
110 Overlook Drive stairway setback variance
A homeowner built exterior stairs within about 20 inches of the side property line without a permit, originally for Airbnb access. The board denied the variance, so the stairs will likely have to come down unless the owners appeal to the County Commission.
St. Augustine Airport East rezone
The St. Augustine Airport wants 23 acres rezoned for a phased hangar development near Gun Club Road, backed by state and federal grants. Neighbors' main concerns were drainage impacts on Redfish Creek and Canopy Hall Drive, which staff said would be mitigated.
Boat ramp safety at Butler West and Palmetto
A resident warned the Butler West boat ramp road narrows to 15 feet with drop-offs and washouts, calling it a 'death trap,' and asked for warning signs and repairs.
A1A and Mickler Road traffic signal
Butler Beach residents are asking for a full traffic light at A1A and Mickler/Matanzas Roads, citing 45 mph traffic, a crosswalk, and free parking that creates safety risks.
Visitor Information Center Operations
New visitor counts showed roughly 29,500 people used the downtown VIC in June, but members questioned its role versus technology and proposed modernizing it, adding business showcases, or generating up to $400,000 a year in rent revenue. Mayor Sikes-Kline strongly defended keeping it.
Election Integrity Investigation
Charges are now filed in a fake voter guide scheme in St. Johns County, and commissioners are speaking out. If you vote there, the issue is whether your ballot information and trust in local elections are being protected.
Water system chlorine burnout complaints
Chair Hilsenbeck and neighbors complained the utility department's annual chlorine 'burnout' made tap water harsh this year; staff said it ends around June 21-22 and is DEP-required.
Aspinwall accessory family unit variance denial
A family wanted a 600 sq ft pool house 10 feet off A1A on a narrow through lot; the board said the hardship was self-created. Neighbors raised flooding, sight-line and privacy worries.
Parks funding under property tax pressure
A resident warned that already-funded parks — including the long-promised Passetta Park — are being put on hold amid potential property tax cutbacks, even though the money is already allocated and construction has started.
Certified Autism Destination initiative
St. Johns County is one certified business away from becoming Florida's first fully certified autism destination. The Chamber's renewal includes funding to onboard and promote certified businesses, and a resident testified movingly about a family with autistic children finding a welcoming venue.
Holey Ballz Pickleball & Event Center alcohol service
Pickleball is booming, and one commissioner floated running an indoor facility like a business through a special revenue fund, with fees covering costs and possibly funding future expansion. Staff will analyze the site and business model first.
Traffic at Shearwater Parkway and CR 210 West
A new traffic study on the Ashford Mills commercial interconnection showed it actually reduces the critical right-turn movements at the signalized intersection, which persuaded the board.
Mobile home special use permit in West Augustine
A homeowner sought a special use permit to place a manufactured/mobile home in an RS-3 single-family zone at 1015 West 15th Street.
Sun Trail alignment through St. Augustine Beach
Residents again urged the board to reconsider routing the Sun Trail on A1A Beach Boulevard instead of the county study's own safer option, Michler Boulevard (1 crash in five years versus 86, including a fatality). No board action resulted.
Treaty Park trail resurfacing
The most-used internal trail in the county park system is in rough shape, and staff want it resurfaced next fiscal year, similar to the rubberized surfacing just completed at Alpine and underway at Canopy.
Sheriff's Office training and administrative facilities
A new training building is going out to bid, and a $400,000 renovation of the old training center will free up 10,000 square feet for sheriff's administration — a low-cost, 'moving chess pieces' approach to meeting space needs.
Ferber tract right-turn lane pledge on County Road 4-Mile Road
A board member recalls a pledge that a right-turn lane would be built on 4-Mile Road as the Ferber tract develops; staff confirmed the PUD shows it as potential and a capital improvement project is under design for the corridor.
Animal Control space and scope crisis
Animal Control has grown from two staff to 21 but its 20-year-old facility hasn't — nine officers work out of their trucks with no substation space. The county is also wrestling with expectations beyond its state-mandated scope, like feral cat programs, and is eyeing fee increases to cover enhanced services.
Veterans Services funding and VA certification backlog
The county's tiny veterans office keeps winning huge VA benefits for local veterans and needs only about $2,100 more next year, mostly to train and certify a new service officer. A statewide VA certification backlog is slowing new officer approvals.
Hastings and Vilano Main Street funding increases
Hastings Main Street wants a $25,000 raise to finish sidewalk pavers and fix a historic building; Vilano wants to nearly triple its funding to $200,000, mostly to cover event costs TDC grants don't pay. Commissioners asked both to rank priorities.