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St. Augustine Commission adopts West City Community Redevelopment Plan
Summary
The City Commission approved the West City Community Redevelopment Area plan after a second-reading vote, with discussion on policing and code enforcement and public concerns about parking, blight and a proposed parking garage.
The City Commission of St. Augustine on second reading approved ordinance 2025-07 adopting the West City Community Redevelopment Area (WCCRA) plan, voting unanimously in favor.
The plan, presented by Jamie D. Perkins, Neighborhood Services and CRA Minister for the City of St. Augustine, was adopted after a public hearing and discussion that included residents and city staff. Ms. Perkins asked the commission to open the public hearing and consider a vote on second reading of ordinance 2025-07, the West City CRA plan.
The plan’s supporters told the commission the effort had broad stakeholder input. Ken McLean, speaking on behalf of CARE, praised the work and urged timely utility improvements. At least one longtime city resident, BJ Clady, urged the commission to slow adoption, saying the draft plan’s language about assigning city police to patrol the WCCRA was vague and that reliance on tax increment financing for a potential new parking garage at U.S. 1 and King Street would not improve West City quality of life without stronger enforcement of codes.
Jamie D. Perkins told the commission the plan includes a provision allowing the city to add community policing specifically within the West City CRA, but the language was intentionally broad so the commission could later determine how to implement that policing. She said code enforcement remains a citywide responsibility and would continue to operate under adopted policies and guidelines. Police Chief Michaux clarified the city is divided into patrol zones and officers routinely serve different beats, and she and other commissioners said officers already respond to incidents in West City.
Commissioners expressed support for the plan but also acknowledged residents’ concerns about enforcement. Commissioner [name withheld in transcript] said the plan had been thoroughly vetted and praised staff and the steering committee; Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder and other commissioners commended the steering committee’s work and encouraged ongoing community engagement.
After discussion, the Commission voted 5–0 to adopt ordinance 2025-07. The commission’s approval includes standard severability and effective-date provisions and returns the plan to staff for implementation steps. The commission also directed staff to continue community outreach and to bring proposals for how a community policing presence in West City might be structured and funded.
The vote followed the Planning & Zoning Board’s positive recommendation and multiple meetings with stakeholders. City staff noted the plan targets blight reduction and economic development through the CRA mechanism; questions raised at the meeting focused on enforcement details, use of TIF (tax increment financing) proceeds and how tree and environmental concerns raised during earlier reviews would be addressed.
The commission scheduled routine follow-ups through staff reports and indicated it expects staff to return with implementation proposals, including a potential policing/community-safety plan for the WCCRA and further detail on any proposed public parking investments.
