Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
LAMP board denies island and Glen Hollow proposals, advances Arapahoe Avenue parcel
Loading...
Summary
At its meeting, the LAMP board (St. Johns County) voted to deny consideration of a small island parcel and to not advance a largely‑wetland 230 Glen Hollow Lane lot, while approving further consideration of a 5‑acre Arapahoe Avenue parcel; staff cited wetlands, access and funding limits as deciding factors.
The LAMP board in St. Johns County voted on three land‑acquisition items: it denied consideration of a small island parcel, voted not to advance 230 Glen Hollow Lane, and approved moving a 5‑acre Arapahoe Avenue property to the next phase of review.
Why it matters: Board members said conservation land use restrictions, limited access and the expense of bringing properties up to public‑use and ADA standards were the principal reasons for blocking two parcels, while staff described the Arapahoe Avenue site as suitable for a passive park that warrants further investigation.
Staff presentation and constraints Ryan (staff) described the Glen Hollow parcel as 7.4 acres that is “95% at least…wet” with roughly 0.5 acre of upland and adjacency to a wetland system that is under a recorded conservation easement to the Saint Johns River Water Management District. Ryan told the board Parks and Recreation had no current interest because the property’s wetlands make development and viable recreation challenging.
On the island parcel, speakers emphasized limited development potential under the property’s conservation land use (one unit per 100 acres, as noted in the record) and the likely need for dock and ADA upgrades if public access or primitive camping were pursued. Multiple members said those upgrades and access costs lessen the case for acquisition.
Votes and outcomes - Motion to deny consideration of the island property: passed by voice vote after discussion (motion recorded on the transcript). - Motion not to advance 230 Glen Hollow Lane to the next step: passed; staff had listed the application asking price at $300,007.07 and cautioned that permits would be required to fill wetlands if development were attempted. - Motion to move the Arapahoe Avenue parcel forward for further consideration: passed. Ryan described that parcel as about 5 acres, partly within the City of St. Augustine limits and “mostly forested,” with specimen trees protected by the land development code.
Public comment and context A member of the public, Chuck Levin, urged the board to consider nearby development patterns when weighing the Arapahoe parcel. Board members noted the parcel’s proximity to the Shipyards multifamily project and to existing parks (including Waldron Family Park, formerly San Sebastian Park).
Next steps Staff will proceed with additional review and due diligence for the Arapahoe Avenue parcel, including a planned on‑site visit next week with multiple departments and property owners. No further action will be taken on the two parcels the board declined to advance.
Ending: The board moved on to nominations and staff reports after the votes.
