St. Johns County Permit Center approved for $13.5 million addition

Government

St. Johns County is launching a $13.5 million expansion of the building housing its Growth Management Department.

The county approved the project June 28.

The 34,000-square-foot expansion will more than double the size of its existing 31,474-square-foot permitting center, built in 1999.

The planned 34,000-square-foot expansion at St. Johns County Permit Center will double the size of its current facilities.

Site plans show a two-story building and 245 parking spaces on 1.62 acres at 4030 Lewis Speedway.

Passero Engineering Architect of St. Augustine is the architect. Baldwin-based SGM Engineering is the civil engineer.

County divisions operating in the building include Building Services, Planning and Zoning, Environmental, Code Enforcement, Transportation Development Operations, and the Fire Marshal’s Office. The Environmental Health Office and the Small Business Development Center are also there.

The $13.5 million expansion of St. Johns County Permit Center will add space for offices including Building Services, Planning and Zoning, Environmental, Code Enforcement, Transportation Development Operations and the Fire Marshal’s Office.

Colin Groff, deputy county administrator, said the county has undergone facilities space studies over the past three years that found its growth management department needs to expand to meet increasing demand.

According to the U.S. Census, St. Johns County’s population rose from 190,039 to 273,429 between 2010 and 2020. A 2022 St. Johns County Department of Economic Development report said the area population was 306,841.

Groff said construction is expected to start in about four weeks. A completion date has not been determined.