There were residents from all over the county in attendance at the Aug. 15 St. Johns County PZA meeting. Most were opposed to the proposed request regarding the Outpost property on Neck Road in Ponte Vedra Beach. Representatives from both sides were well informed and presented their points of view with the utmost respect.
It would have been easy to let emotions get the better of them when considering the matter at hand. The PZA voted 3-2 to move forward with the transmittal of the requested change to the state. I was not surprised by the decision. What did surprise me was the thought process by which the board members went about making their decision. It seemed that some lost sight of the applicant’s overall request.
The Outpost application is requesting a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the Future Land Use Map from Conservation (CV) to Residential A Coastal and CV. This is not the first time a request of this kind has come before the county. What is a first, is that this particular application involves a private parcel that is almost completely surrounded by a federally recognized research reserve and hunting preserve.
The GTMNERR being federally recognized carries a lot of weight with this application. The 101-acre parcel is designated conservation and of all the residents in opposition, I do not believe anyone has an issue with the land being used in the manner in which it is currently. However, we do take issue with amending our county comp plan and land development code especially where designated conservation land is concerned.
See you at the Board of County Commissioners meeting Sept. 17.
Victoria Corlazzoli, Ponte Vedra Beach
