The City of St. Augustine Beach has signaled it wants to expand beyond its small Anastasia Island beach-side borders by annexing its immediate neighbors, the most prominent candidates of which are the Marsh Creek residential community and the Marsh Creek Golf and Country Club.
Marsh Creek’s eastern border abuts the western border of the City of St. Augustine Beach. In fact, it would seem to align perfectly to make Marsh Creek the Belle of this civic seduction.
The “invitation” is a voluntary appeal to all commercial and residential properties adjacent to the city, and came in the form of news release dated 10-24-2024, reprinted below. The city statement offered any takers a list of potential benefits, for which residential properties would see “… rapid police response and efficient solid waste removal”.
Contacted Sunday, John Hutson, President of the Marsh Creek Owners Association (MCOA), said he had not been approached by city officials, and was unaware of their intentions.
“I have no idea how it would affect us without inquiring further”, he said.
While adding more than 700 Marsh Creek high-end homes would be a boon for the city’s tax base, local attorney and Marsh Creek resident, Nina LaFleur, wondered what’s in it for Marsh Creek?
Lafleur regularly attends both the Marsh Creek Homeowners Association Board meetings and the St. Augustine Beach City Commission meetings, and saw the city initiative as a hunt for tax dollars.
“They’re trying to get money in … it’s the whole purpose of the annexation proposal”, she said.
“What would be the cost of garbage collection and taxes”, she also quickly wondered, noting that St. Johns County millage is 0512.6 cents while the rate in St. Augustine Beach is 15.2 cents. She also pointed to difficulties the City of St. Augustine Beach has had maintaining its police department, and went on to doubt what incentive could convince two-thirds of Marsh Creek residents to agree to city annexation.
“It’s not enough”, she said.
See the City of St. Augustine Beach notice below….
INVITATION FOR ANNEXATION
The City of St. Augustine Beach is inviting owners of commercial and residential properties that share a boundary with the City to consider annexing their property into the City. The City’s boundaries are Pope Road on the north side, A1A South on the west, and the Sandpiper Village subdivision on the south.
For owners of commercial properties, the City can offer, among other advantages, prompt attention to:
- Requests for land use changes, remodeling, re-roofing, signs, variances, etc.
- Review of demolition requests and plans for new buildings.
- Inspection of construction work in progress.
- Permitting and planning staff accessible to the public by email, telephone, or in person to answer questions and provide guidance.
For owners of residential properties, the City can offer the same advantages as provided to owners of commercial properties (plan reviews, permitting, inspections of work in progress, etc.), as well as:
- Rapid police response.
- Efficient solid waste removal and prompt attention to solid waste collection problems.
- Code enforcement.
- Through the City Commission a stronger political voice and defense of residents’ interests with the County and the State.
- Opportunity to run for Commission or be appointed to the City’s Planning Board, Code Enforcement Board and the Sustainability and Environmental Planning Advisory Committee to propose regulations and ordinances that will maintain the residents’ quality of life.
For more information about annexation, please contact the City Manager, Max Royle, at mroyle@cityofsab.org, or telephone (904) 471-2122.
As far as the annexation of Marsh Creek into St. Augustine Beach, I’m not seeing anything substantial for Marsh Creek to want to do this. SA Beach is just looking for more tax money. It’s a little thing, but I believe SA Beach discontinued collectng glass for recycling.
The tax implications are an increase of 22.2% for the mileage rate 15.4 versus 12.6, additionally there is another non ad valorem tax of about $348(average for MC lot sizes) for drainage that everyone pays, just like trash pickup. As everyone has stated, it’s a tax grab with no real benefit to the homeowner. Hard to imagine the MC homeowners voting yes for no foreseeable benefit. MC has 663 lots and if assuming that 650 lots have 2 residents per household = 1300. The city of St Augustine Beach has a population of 6759, MC would add 19.2% to their population. Of course they would want to annex us if allowed.
Would it increase the values of the properties in Marsh Creek by costing us more in taxes. Would the city over reach into the Marsh Creek area and start making plans for the home owners here. What other advantages would be lost . Seems like making up a problem where none exists. garbage is being collected. The Police do come very quickly as do other emergency services. The city has had its own problems functioning on the funds it has available to it. Not even an option in my opinion and no clear benefits are on the table even to consider this proposal.
I am a firm no to this. It is a grab for more tax dollars with no benefit to us.
I agree that the only reason they want this is to increase our taxes, which are high enough. I am a firm no to this.
This “gift” being offered to Marsh Creek residents does not mention the large, involuntary collection bag hiding behind it.
Please, please fight this. There would be no benefit to residents of Marsh Creek, only an increase in taxes. Why would anyone want to voluntarily add another layer of government?