St. Augustine commission advances four rezonings, schedules public hearings

The St. Augustine City Commission on Wednesday advanced four rezoning ordinances to second reading and public hearing, clearing the way for more detailed review and community input later this summer.

Amy Skinner, the city’s planning and building director, told commissioners the two Lewis Boulevard ordinances would rezone about 1.23 upland acres at 65 Lewis Boulevard to Residential General Office (RGO) and would reclassify roughly 9.07 acres at 69 Lewis Boulevard (including marsh acreage) to a mix of RGO and Open Land (OL). “These changes are consistent with the existing residential medium-density mixed-use land designation,” Skinner said, and she noted the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval at its June 2 meeting.

Commissioners also moved two connected measures affecting 18 and 20 Spring Street into second reading. Those ordinances (20-26-17 and 20-26-18) would amend future land use and rezone the former church property to allow an office use by exception, limited specifically to Habitat for Humanity of St. Johns County. Sid Ansbacher, counsel for the applicant, said Habitat plans to renovate and reuse the existing building rather than expand it. “Our office is open Monday through Friday; most applications are online and we typically have one or two walk-ins,” said Melinda Everson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity, in testimony to commissioners.

Each ordinance was introduced and then moved to the required second-reading/public-hearing step. Roll-call votes recorded the motions to proceed without opposition. The commission’s action puts public hearings on the calendar so that neighbors and other stakeholders can comment before any final rezoning votes.

Why it matters: The Lewis Boulevard items affect a property that contains a marina and upland uses near Flagler College and could shape waterfront open-land protections. The Spring Street rezoning is an adaptive-reuse move intended to keep a nonprofit’s operations in a neighborhood while including a reversion clause if the property ceases to be used by Habitat.

What’s next: Each ordinance will return to the commission for a second reading and public hearing (dates and notices to be published). Additional staff reports on any required parking improvements or site upgrades will be provided before final votes.