ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – An approved RV campground in St. Johns County is set to be discussed at the next county commission meeting, as the development moves closer to becoming a reality.
The property, located at 8000 U.S. Highway 1 South, lies just west of Matanzas State Forest and Wildlife Management Area and about five miles east of Interstate 95.
Mike Roberson, the county’s growth management director, said the project has been in the works for several years. “You have the 170 units, give or take, and then you have any accessory uses on the front, such as maybe an amenity center or anything like that that would support that kind of use,” Roberson said.
Currently, the site is home to an equestrian service. Roberson says the RV park was approved five years ago, but no set date has been established for when it might open.
Roberson explained that the delay is due to infrastructure challenges. “There is a hold up on it at this point for infrastructure reasons, but that has to do with utility infrastructure that’s not available at the time,” he said. “You have to make sure, if you have to connect to central water, sewer, if you’re going to come in. But again, once that infrastructure is installed, they will be able to move forward.”
In the upcoming county commission agenda it details a request for an amendment for a Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the Future Land Use Map designation from Rural/Silviculture to Rural Commercial for approximately 77.2 acres of land at 8000 U.S. Highway 1 South. The Planning and Zoning Agency (PZA) heard this request at its public hearing on July 17, 2025. The motion for approval failed in a 3-3 vote. Support came from members Perkins, Matovina, and Labanowski. Dissenting votes were cast by Hilsenbeck, Spiegel, and Olson. Member Green was absent.
The agenda for the upcoming commission meeting highlights that RV campsites are a limited resource in the county and notes the site’s proximity to trails, parks, beaches, and other natural attractions.
The agenda states, “The request proposes to expand the current equestrian activities and primitive campground to include RV campground. As pointed out within the narrative, RV campsites are currently limited in availability within our county. The applicant explains that the site will be ideally situated near a variety of trails, parks, beaches, and other natural resources, thereby supporting the goals and objectives outlined in our Comprehensive Plan to encourage the utilization and appreciation of the local trails, parks, beaches, and area natural resources.”
News4JAX reached out to the applicant for comment but did not receive a response. Roberson said the next step is for the commission to discuss the item, even though it has already been approved.
“They’ve submitted construction plans,” Roberson said. “And if I remember, those construction plans are approved with that utility delay whenever that gets installed. So the discussion is really just about RV campgrounds in general.”
