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City seeks to conserve ~20 acres along San Sebastian River; Planning & Zoning Board recommends land‑use and zoning changes
Summary
The City of St. Augustine asked the board to recommend converting several recently purchased parcels near Florida and Theodore, Julia and Smith streets from residential/open‑land categories to recreation/open‑space and open‑land conservation. The board recommended approval for all parcels and will forward recommendations to the City Commission.
The Planning & Zoning Board on Aug. 5 recommended that the City Commission amend future land‑use maps and rezone a set of recently acquired parcels along the San Sebastian River to protect wetlands and create passive park/conservation land.
City staff presented four city‑owned properties totaling roughly 20 acres (combined upland and waterward acres across multiple parcels) in the West City area. For each parcel staff asked the board to (a) change upland future land use from residential medium density to recreation and open space and (b) change waterward acres from open land very low density to a city open‑land conservation category established in the 2020 comprehensive‑plan update. Staff said the open‑land conservation category had not previously been applied to any property and that the change would allow long‑term management as conservation or passive recreation.
Speakers from nearby neighborhoods voiced strong support, citing wetland preservation, flood buffer benefits and habitat protection. City staff explained the city will develop management plans for each parcel and that future uses or facilities would be defined through those plans and a public process. Several neighbors asked whether future land‑use designations are permanent; staff said any future change would need to return through public hearings, but the current action is to recommend the conservation-oriented land uses now while the city proceeds with management planning.
After public comment in favor the board voted to recommend approval for each of the city’s requested future land‑use and zoning changes for the parcels at Florida & Theodore, Florida & Julia, and several parcels along Smith/Evergreen/May. The board’s recommendations will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action.
