Vilano Beach is a treasure.  In 2003, Vilano Beach Town Center was designated as a Florida Main Street. This designation by the state of Florida is important in that it preserves “small beach town community character through the delicate balance of old and new residential and commercial uses that will provide goods, services and places for a synergetic lifestyle for residents and visitors alike, per the St. Johns County Website. 

There has been a lot of hard work in bringing Vilano Beach to life and it is growing.  There continues to be a push for increased development, beyond what is already approved by the county which is causing concerns for residents about whether or not the growth can be supported by the roads and utilities, and whether or not the “small beach town” character will be damaged.  The North Beach Community Alliance (NBCA), a citizens group of North Beach neighbors, was founded in 2021 to address major concerns over potential impacts to the North Beach environment and quality of life associated with this historic district.

Earlier in 2021, the NBCA collected over 600 signatures from supportive residents and effectively communicated concerns to the county official and Commissioner Dean who were helpful in the process and as a result, the development was halted as proposed. 

Given the significant development underway and under consideration, the NBCA would like to take an active role in better understanding what is proposed and the impact it will have on the community, and in helping to bring the voice of the residents to the table.

We believe that the best way to accomplish this is to request a moratorium on future development until issues related to the infrastructure, environment and lifestyle can be studied and discussed.  We  are asking for the community support in signing a petition to call for this moratorium.  We are not saying nor are we advocating halting further development.  We are merely asking the community to join us in slowing down the process until we can gain a better understanding any future development will have on our community. 

We are offering this petition to residents of the Saint Johns County asking for you to sign the petition to slow down future development. 

We have designed a website (https://neighbors4northbeach.com/our-story that contains information we now have, as well as research that we collect going forward.  Please review the information that we have now, and if you agree with slowing down development, sign the petition. 

NBCA Petition

The North Beach Community Alliance (NBCA) and its citizens petition St Johns County to place a temporary moratorium on building permits for commercial and mixed-use development permits in the Vilano Beach Town Center. 

Purpose:

To request that a moratorium be set to stop any future development within the Vilano Main Street zone until a much-needed assessment of the infrastructure status be completed to determine if the community can support and sustain the extensive current and proposed projects. 

1. The last Feasibility study for Vilano Main Street was completed in 2007.  Since that time, significant changes have occurred, both in commercial and residential development. 
2. This new development has significantly increased the flow of people and vehicles into and within Vilano Main Street, increased the demand for parking, and created a level of congestion that is rapidly approaching unsustainability
3. The assessment should include:
   -Traffic studies and an assessment of proposed parking capacity for visitors, workers and citizens who utilize the Town Center, e.g., Publix.
   -The effects of increased traffic on the Usina Bridge as well as north and southbound traffic on A1A.
   -The impact of developments on North Beach Utilities sewage and potable water supply, addressing the question whether there is adequate capacity to support the community as well as current and future developments. 
   -The impact of developments on beach utilization and environment.
4. We also suggest that the County sponsor “workshops” whereby citizens have an active and early voice in these development plans. In this context, the citizens, county, owner/ developers, and Vilano Beach Mainstreet organization would work towards a mutually acceptable plan for the present.

To allow for meaningful public review and input regarding the development of a long-term vision/plans for Vilano Beach Mainstreet which is so important to the health of our community. 

If you have any questions or are interested in becoming more involved, contact us at info@neighbors4northbeach.com or got to  https://neighbors4northbeach.com/become-a-member