Planning & Zoning Agency approves several variances and hears two cell-tower cases

The St. Johns County Planning & Zoning Agency on July 29 approved a series of local zoning requests and heard detailed presentations and strong public testimony on two proposed cell towers.

Board members voted on a set of residential variances — including an exterior stair setback for a Ponte Vedra property, a rear‑yard pool request at 5068 A1A South, a Jackson residence setback, an accessory family unit request for the Volkovich parcel, and an Alta Vista retaining‑wall/stair variance — and moved a rezoning for a 23‑acre parcel for the Saint Augustine Airport. The board also considered two separate special‑use permit applications for communications towers; one (Thomas Island Parkway/Silverleaf area) was approved by the board in a close vote, while the second (the Colley Cove proposal) generated intense neighborhood opposition and a motion to recommend denial that the minutes record with a 5–2 roll call and ambiguous transcript phrasing about final disposition.

“Members of the public should present their evidence,” County attorney told the board during the tower hearing, reminding members that federal and state law limit the factors the agency may consider in telecom siting. Applicants pointed to third‑party RF analyses and county consultant reviews to show coverage and capacity needs, while neighbors focused on scenic‑highway buffers, tree‑harvest rights, construction logistics on single‑access roads and potential impacts on property values.

The board recorded several final tallies in the meeting transcript: the Edgerton exterior stair variance (vote recorded 4–3), the pool variance at 5068 A1A South (unanimous), the Jackson residence variance (6–1), the Volkovich AFU variance (6–1), the Alta Vista variance (5–2), the airport rezoning (vote recorded 6–1), and the Thomas Island Parkway tower SUP (vote recorded 4–3). The transcript records a 5–2 tally on the Colley Cove denial motion and the chair’s noting that the motion was “defeated,” language that leaves the formal record ambiguous on final outcome in the audio transcript. The case will advance per standard PZA-to-Board workflows and follow‑up hearing dates are scheduled on the county calendar.

The PZA also scheduled a legislative update and an August 20 workshop on alcohol‑distance policy relative to churches and schools. The board asked staff to ensure permitting-related technical reports (geotech, wetland delineations, maintenance‑of‑traffic plans) are in place before construction permits are issued for any tower approved today.