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Arapahoe Avenue parcel falls short of LAMP threshold; board will not recommend purchase
Summary
After a second review and board scoring, the Arapahoe Avenue parcel averaged 44 points—below the LAMP 50-point threshold—so staff will not add it to the recommended list for the Board of County Commissioners; Parks & Recreation said the site would likely serve as a passive park if acquired.
St. Johns County’s LAMP board completed a second review June 9 of the Arapahoe Avenue property and concluded the parcel does not meet the program’s 50-point threshold for recommendation.
Staff described the parcel as a vacant, partially forested site east of Target on US-1 within an enclave of unincorporated St. Johns County that was the former site of a planned children’s museum. Meeting materials state a five-acre portion was sold in April 2025; staff cited the property-appraiser’s figure shown in the materials. Parks and Recreation reviewed the application and told staff that, given the proximity of Waldron (San Sebastian) Park and the site’s characteristics, the parcel would most likely be suitable only as a passive park (trails, pavilions and benches) rather than an active recreation site.
The board collected members’ individual evaluation scores and staff averaged the submitted scores to 44—below the 50-point threshold used to select candidates for the annual recommendation list to the Board of County Commissioners. Staff stated that a score below 50 means the project will not be added to the recommendation list for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners.
Robin Arnold, identified in the meeting as an owner connected to the property, attended to answer questions about site history and confirmed Phase I and Phase II environmental reviews had been completed for the southern parcel and records indicate removal and a clean Phase II outcome for contaminants identified there.
This action is procedural: the parcel was not recommended to proceed to county appraisal and negotiation stages. The board may revisit processes for high-risk or time-sensitive nominations, and staff noted that grant and funding considerations influence prioritization where Parks & Recreation and other departments identify competing resource needs.
