Board approves mini‑golf entertainment rezoning despite neighbors' wetlands and traffic concerns

The St. Johns County Board approved a rezoning request (ordinance 2026‑2) to allow a family entertainment venue — marketed as “Nothing But Fun” — on a parcel along U.S. 1 near International Golf Parkway.

Applicant representatives said the proposal is a single‑story, ~16,000‑square‑foot indoor/outdoor mini‑golf and entertainment facility with arcade games, event space and restaurants/food trucks. The site currently carries commercial zoning that allows a broad range of uses, and the applicant requested CHT zoning to explicitly permit the proposed entertainment use.

The proposal drew dozens of public comments. Neighbors described the property as largely wetlands and questioned whether filling and parking would worsen local flooding and habitat loss. Several speakers asked how the project would handle night lighting, live music and alcohol sales. One resident noted: “Putting some trees in that buffer is not sufficient … they’re not gonna buffer the lights or the sound.”

Applicant Barrick Tennant and his representative said the design shrank from earlier two‑story concepts to a single story, includes enhanced landscape buffers with minimum 10‑foot tree plantings, and that noises and lighting will comply with county codes. The applicant also emphasized local demand for family entertainment and said the building was intentionally chosen to be one story to reduce visual impact.

After questions from commissioners about long‑term use and potential fallback tenants, the board voted 5–0 to approve the rezoning and related staff findings. Staff noted any future redevelopment or nonconforming uses would remain subject to county development review and permitting, including wetland and floodplain permits required by state and federal agencies.