Jacksonville business could move regional HQ to St. Johns County if development is approved

A food distributor could soon move its regional headquarters from Jacksonville to rural St. Johns County if commissioners approve of a proposed development.

And while it would bring more jobs to the area, some are opposed to losing more agricultural land in St. Johns County.

The proposal, planned for State Road 207 and County Road 305, would change the county's Comprehensive Plan for about 92 acres from agricultural-intensive to industrial land use. It would allow for up to 1.25 million "square feet of light industrial, warehouse and distribution uses," according to county documents.

St. Augustine commissioner: Vacation rentals are turning city into 'entertainment district'

TSt. Augustine traffic upgrades: St. Augustine gets funding for downtown shuttle, crosswalks, other mobility upgrades

According to a letter from project attorney Kathryn Whittington, "The project would allow for manufacturing and distribution centers, warehousing (including freezer, refrigeration, and ambient warehousing space) or similar business uses with associated office space, parking, loading docks, and other accessory uses required for this type of industrial park."

The Elkton property has been "used for row-crop farming," according to county documents. The area to the east is being used for farming, and the intersection has "a post office, restaurants, a vehicle service and repair shop, and agricultural procession facilities."

The proposal is tentatively scheduled to go before the County Commission on Sept. 20, and commissioners will consider sending the land-use change proposal to state review. The Planning and Zoning Agency recently voted 4-2 to recommend sending it to state review. If approved by commissioners, the project would come back with a rezoning application to the Planning and Zoning Agency for a recommendation and to the commission for a final vote.

Developer Chris Shee said KeHE, a food distributor, could bring one of its headquarters to the site if the project moves forward on time.

"The company plans on relocating their southeast regional headquarters from Jacksonville to this location. It's a major employment provider," Shee said.

Concerns about St. Johns County's rural land

Shee said one reason he bought the property is knowing that it will become a major intersection with County Road 2209 being extended down along 305.

"It makes for a perfect site being that close to the interstate with a major highway already in front of it," he said.

While he said rural land should be preserved, he believes his plan is the best use of the property.

"Farms are a critical part and should remain a critical part of this county. The farms, though, in my opinion, that fit that description of really needing to be protected are the ones that are more internal ― again, not the ones that have, like my piece of property, a quarter acre of frontage on a four-lane highway," Shee said.

Shee said the operators of the Sunshine Bus, the county's public transportation system, are open to adding at stop at S.R. 207 and C.R. 305, which would provide employment opportunities for people in the area without transportation, he said.

County residents voiced concerns during public comment.

Board member Richard Hilsenbeck said he is opposed to "taking farmland … and paving it over." He said the county's agricultural footprint is shrinking rather than expanding, so he doesn't see a need for storage.

An area designated as rural-commercial is at the intersection. Businesses in the area include Jim's Place restaurant, a vehicle repair shop and agricultural processing facilities, according to county documents.

"This is like a sleepy hamlet on a rural stretch of highway. This is not some big commercial development node that y'all are making it out to be in the development application," Hilsenbeck said.

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: Florida food distributor KeHE may move manufacturing to St. Johns