There is an absolutely gorgeous parcel of property in St. Johns County, a one-of-a-kind location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, where Palm Valley Venture Partners is proposing to build The Watermarke Resort and Club, a private boutique luxury resort and club offering hotel rooms and event/meeting space along with resort-style guest amenities. Unfortunately, there are misconceptions about the project.
The Watermarke team has a deep respect for the unique charm and personality of Vilano Beach, and we are sensitive to the community’s concerns. The Watermarke has been designed to complement and enhance the surrounding community, both residential and commercial areas. The resort will be situated on approximately 43 acres in Vilano Beach, offering no more than 170 guest rooms and suites. The resort itself will be built on only a portion of the 17 acres of upland, leaving the remaining 26 acres as permanent conservation land. The proposed resort development is a smaller building footprint than the currently approved 79-unit residential development and will allow for maximum preservation of the site’s scenic wetlands and uplands.
The Watermark team is asking for a Future Land Use Map designation change from Residential C to Residential D, to include hotels, motels and club facilities, with an amendment that specifies the requested change is for this proposed private resort project only. This protects Vilano Beach by not allowing a different commercial project in the future.
Our team is committed to making The Watermarke Resort & Club a good neighbor and benefit to the community. I believe The Watermarke Resort & Club will one day be the crown jewel of the Vilano Beach community and I hope you will support the project by asking the Board of County Commissioners to vote yes on Sept. 20. Visit www.thewatermarkeresort.com for more information.
Steve Magiera
Owner/Partner
Palm Valley Venture Partners, the developer of The Watermarke Resourt & Club
