St. Johns County Proposed Agrihood Project Update: Robinson Improvement Company PUD

Project Overview

Freehold Communities, the Shearwater and Arden Agrihood developer on behalf of Robinson Improvement Company, is seeking approval for an agrihood development on a 2,673-acre parcel in St. Johns County, Florida. The proposed development aims to rezone the land from Open Rural to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to accommodate up to 3,332 residential units, including single-family homes, townhomes, and age-restricted housing. The project also includes plans for approximately 18-20 acres of community farms and gardens and the preservation of 885 acres of wetlands. They initially proposed a commercial development component omitted from plans before the zoning meeting.

Recent Developments

Planning and Zoning Agency Meeting (October 17, 2024): The St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency unanimously voted to recommend denial of the proposed rezoning and PUD development. Key concerns raised by the agency included:

• Insufficient review time: Agency members had only two days to review the 224-page proposal.

• Incomplete and inconsistent information: The proposal lacked essential details and contained inconsistencies.

• Premature submission: The project was deemed rushed and inadequately prepared for review at this stage.

• Lack of specificity: The site plan was criticized for being overly generalized and lacking specific details about lot sizes and development layout.

St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Meeting (October 29, 2024): The proposed rezoning and PUD development will be considered by the Board of County Commissioners on November 5, 2024. While the project has received some positive feedback for its "agrihood" concept, concerns remain regarding:

• Traffic impact: The project is projected to generate 22,587 daily trips, raising concerns about increased traffic congestion in the area. Freehold offers $49 million in traffic mitigation for 7.4 miles of County Road 2209. However, there is a gap between their proposed roadway and the county's 4-mile road construction project between Silverleaf Parkway south to State Road 16.

• Drainage issues: The site's wet conditions and potential drainage challenges have been identified as a significant concern.

• Compatibility with surrounding areas: The project's compatibility with existing land uses and future development plans is being scrutinized.

• Overall project completeness: The proposal has been criticized for lacking sufficient detail and clarity.

Next Steps

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will decide on the proposed rezoning and PUD development at their meeting on November 5, 2024. Given the negative recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Agency and the various concerns raised, the project's future remains uncertain.