Development vote delayed

Development vote delayed



By PETER GUINTA
peter.guinta@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 04/22/09

A last-second appeal Tuesday night by St. Johns County developer Paul Fletcher derailed what would have been a negative vote by the County Commission for his 83-acre Southwest Commerce Park project.

"We have $100 million invested in (southern St. Johns County) property," he said. "I can't handle a negative vote today."

The commission voted 4-1 -- with Commissioner Ken Bryan dissenting -- to allow a six-month deferral to October.

Fletcher Land Development of Ponte Vedra Beach had been seeking approval to develop the L-shaped parcel behind a truck repair facility at County Road 206 and Interstate 95. The company wants to build a spine road that would funnel semis to its 460,000 square feet of light industrial and warehouse space.

St. Augustine attorney George McClure, representing Fletcher, said the project was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Agency in a 5-2 vote.

This application initially included 150 multi-family apartments, but McClure suggested the commission could allow Fletcher to turn that part of the project into non-residential space instead if they wanted to avoid approving more homes.

"There doesn't seem to be any demand for retail use there," he said, suggesting it could become industrial or warehouse.

A study said the project is ranked first in being "shovel ready," McClure said. A big advantage is its closeness to I-95.

"St. Johns County doesn't have the reputation of being business friendly," he said. "This would bring 450 permanent jobs."

Fletcher, who built 1,100-lot Marsh Landing and was a force behind Palencia, said he's put $1 billion on the county tax rolls in the last 35 to 40 years.

"We're a small company and have only nine employees," he said. "(But) the developments we have created in St. Johns County are some of the finest in Florida.

"The natural environment needs to be protected, now more than ever. But there's also an economic environment."

Cape Coral attorney Ralph Brooks, representing South Anastasia Community Association, which opposes the project, said it was far from law enforcement, water and sewage lines, drainage, transportation, schools and recreation facilities.

"There's no fire station within seven miles," Brooks said. "This is sprawl. They have leap-frogged out where there are no utilities.

"The Comprehensive Plan is not a vest-pocket tool (to adjust for different developers). It has the force of law and should be applied with strict scrutiny."

He said the project would destroy 28 acres of wetlands, six acres of which will be covered by a parking lot.

"We're now talking about the urbanization of the south county," he said.

Brooks said the commission was "letting a developer plan the south county for you."

"It's disingenuous to say they won't develop that land," he said. "This could open up the area without considering all the impacts."

Those impacts could affect the headwaters of Pellicer Creek, which flows to the Matanzas River.

According to Patrick Hamilton of Crescent Beach, "The watershed of the river needs to be protected. Agriculture, real estate and tourism are economic engines. This project jeopardizes those economic engines for another."

Sarah Owen Gledhill of the Florida Wildlife Federation said this project is not compatible with surrounding areas, there's no need for more warehouse space, and it will be "aggregated," meaning it eventually will be part of a larger development.

"There is three times more warehouse space already approved and with infrastructure," she said.

Nick Sacia of the Chamber's Economic Development Council didn't take a side in the discussion but said the No. 1 priority businesses look for in relocation is highway access.

Commissioner Mark Miner said, "We need more businesses here. I have no problem with this project at all. I don't see how this is going to destroy the environment."

But Bryan and Vice Chairman Ron Sanchez seemed to lean against the application.

"We have approved practically every business application that's come our way. But that doesn't mean every single thing, just because it's commercial, should be approved."

Fletcher, seeing two and perhaps three commissioners leaning against the application, asked for a deferral.

Miner made that motion, which passed 4-1.


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