By Brian Nelson

It was a good night for the homeowners of three neighboring communities, Marsh Creek, Ocean Cay and Commodore Club. They won critical political support from the St. Augustine Beach City Commission to stop a boat and RV storage development off Mizell Road and 16^th Street. And they learned a new buyer is interested in protecting the disputed from development.

“Florida Land Trust is interested in purchasing the 10 acres”, Mayor Dylan Rumrell announced to the packed room at St. Augustine Beach City Hall Monday night.

The property, heavily treed and partly wetland, is co-owned by developer Brad Runk, an Anastasia Island resident. He has announced plans to go before St. Johns County seeking a Planned Unit Development (PUD), to rezone the land from rural to “Neighborhood Business and Commercial”. Runk did not attend the Monday evening meeting and did not send a representative to address the Beach commissioners.

“We need a willing partner to sell”, Mayor Rumrell cautioned the three community homeowners.

The disputed project in question envisions a 187 unit outdoor RV and boat storage facility including two buildings for use as private vehicle condominiums and/or medical facilities on land facing the water treatment plant but which rubs elbows with the three communities. Each building could stand up to 35 feet high, according to county zoning laws.

St. Augustine Beach City Manager Max Royel reminded the homeowners that the property is not within city limits, and the commission has no decision-making power over its fate. However, Mayor Rumrell said the commissioners have received “lots of emails and we are following this very closely”.

Explaining his effort to reach out to Florida Land Trust, Rumrell said the city has an interest in protecting the land because it owns the adjacent water retention pond.

“We would love it”, Rumrell said of his hope the land could be conserved.

“Our Mizell pond is next to it and we are desperate to expand. We’d like to see the 10 acres conserved, five for water retention, and five as natural land”.

Now allied with the homeowners, the Commission agreed to send a letter of official support to St. Johns County Commissioners who will decide the project’s fate in April.

A mere 340 feet would separate one of the project’s two proposed vehicle condos from the closest home in The Villas of Marsh Creek. Marsh Creek resident John Brinson described it to the commissioners as “totally inappropriate”. A neighbor, Ed Kierce, also complained it was “not compatible with the surroundings”.

Commissioners also heard complaints from Elizabeth Smith of the Fish Island Community Alliance, and from Mary Foulks of ARK Animal Rescue, who warned of the impact chemicals would have on wounded birds the group nurtures back to health at a small facility loaned to it adjacent to the proposed storage site.

On Thursday, round three in this saga takes place in front of the St. Johns County Planning and Zoning Agency, the final step before the project wins its up or down vote from the full St. Johns County Commission next month.

Homeowners in the three communities have remained solidly united since learning of the project, citing noise, loss of wildlife and pollution concerns. Turnout Monday night was as large as it was two weeks ago when Runk, the co-developer, unveiled the project’s details to a noisy reception of boos. But on this night, there was a bigger feeling of accomplishment: the backing of an important ally.

And as he thanked the Beach commissioners for their support, a nervous and emotional Ed Kierce said simply, “It takes a village to win this”.