St. Johns County (Florida) residents are raising concerns about the future of a planned RV park in Vilano Beach after learning the development will not include traditional recreational vehicles.
The project, known as Ocean Club RV Park, has already begun construction, but questions remain about what will ultimately be built on the 30-acre site.
The property, which stretches from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Atlantic Ocean, was previously home to a campground abandoned in 2021.
County commissioners initially approved the landowner’s request for an RV park. Since then, the land has changed ownership.
According to county documents, the new plans include 170 “rentable cabins.” It remains unclear whether those structures will be mobile homes, permanent cabins, or another form of development. This uncertainty has fueled unease among neighbors and local advocacy groups.
Barbara Jennes, who lives near the property, addressed commissioners at a recent meeting. “What was approved was a rural RV park. We didn’t have a problem with that. We still don’t have a problem with that,” Jennes said, as reported by First Coast News on August 19.
First Coast News contacted the real estate company listed on the project’s documents. A representative confirmed that the park would not include typical RVs.
The removal of rows of palm trees and the arrival of heavy construction equipment on the site earlier this year were reported.
County staff have categorized the changes in the project’s design—larger buildings and additional pavement—as minor adjustments that did not require new approval from commissioners.
That interpretation is being challenged by residents.
Debbie Dickinson, president of the North Beach Community Alliance, told commissioners, “You need to review what is actually happening today. This project needs to be halted. You don’t know what’s being built. We don’t know what’s being built. Therefore, it should not be being built.”
Community members say their concerns go beyond design changes. They point to potential strain on an aging utility system, increased traffic along the two-lane A1A, and longer evacuation times during storms.