Fruit Cove Baptist Church is asking St. Johns County to rezone about 9.5 acres at 6351 County Road 16A from Open Rural to Commercial General for neighborhood-serving businesses near SilverLeaf. County case REZ 2026-16 and a companion small-scale land-use amendment, CPA(SS) 2026-08, are scheduled for a Nov. 3 Board of County Commissioners hearing.

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will vote on the request Tuesday, Nov. 3. The county's Planning and Zoning Agency recommended approval Oct. 15 after reviewing proposed business restrictions and buffers from nearby homes, St. Johns Citizen reported.

The church owns a roughly 29-acre property near State Road 16 where it plans a second campus, with a published timeline targeting a spring 2028 opening. The commercial zoning would cover the road-front portion along CR 16A. The rest would remain for the campus, which the church already can build under existing zoning.

During the Oct. 15 hearing, examples of potential tenants included coffee shops, sandwich counters and similar neighborhood businesses, according to St. Johns Citizen. A utility availability letter anticipates 100,000 square feet of commercial space, though that figure reflects a utility letter, not an approved building plan.

The church's representatives told the Planning and Zoning Agency they want the new campus to have the same kind of connection to nearby shops that their existing State Road 13 location enjoys. Jacob Lynch, the church's administrative pastor, said at the October hearing that the congregation sees the relationship as mutual.

"We have seen first-hand how our church and the businesses around it can strengthen one another," Lynch said, according to St. Johns Citizen.

The proposal would prohibit several uses, including storage facilities, breweries and liquor stores. Restaurants would be allowed to serve beer and wine. Gas stations and automotive businesses would be limited to the eastern portion of the commercial frontage, farther from homes.

Not everyone is on board. Several neighbors raised concerns at the hearing about difficult turns on two-lane CR 16A, school-bus safety, lighting, deliveries and wildlife. Some residents welcomed restaurants but opposed gas stations and automotive uses.

The property has a history of rejected proposals. County commissioners previously turned down plans for 115 single-family homes and, later, 288 apartments on the same land. Traffic concerns figured in both decisions, according to county staff cited by St. Johns Citizen.

Residents who want to weigh in can attend the Board of County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Nov. 3.