Daily's Withdraws Land-Use Application for 7.7-Acre Fruit Cove Site on SR 13

First Coast Energy, the Jacksonville-based company that owns the Daily's convenience store chain, has withdrawn a land-use application that would have changed the development rules for a 7.7-acre property in Fruit Cove. The company pulled its Small-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment request for the site at 600 State Road 13 North, removing the item from the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners' August 4 agenda where it had been scheduled for public hearing.

The withdrawal means the property at 600 SR 13 North will retain its current comprehensive-plan land-use designation. No vote will take place on the proposed change, and the public hearing that had been advertised will not occur.

What was proposed

The application, designated CPA(SS) 2025-13 in county records, sought a Small-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment for the approximately 7.7-acre parcel at 600 State Road 13 North. Small-scale amendments in Florida are a streamlined process for land-use changes affecting fewer than 10 acres; they require only one public hearing before the county commission rather than separate planning-board and commission votes that larger-scale amendments undergo.

The county notice did not specify what land-use category First Coast Energy had requested or what the site's current designation is. Comprehensive plan amendments change the allowable uses, densities, or intensities on a property — they are the first step in a rezoning process and set the ceiling for what could later be built. A follow-on rezoning application would still be required before any actual development could proceed.

The property is located in the Fruit Cove area along State Road 13, a north-south commercial and residential corridor that runs from Interstate 95 west of the county through the heart of northern St. Johns County. The SR 13 corridor in Fruit Cove has seen steady commercial and residential development pressure as growth radiates outward from the established neighborhoods closer to the Julington Creek bridge.

Why applications are withdrawn

Applicants withdraw land-use applications for a variety of reasons, and the county's notice does not state First Coast Energy's rationale. Common reasons include opposition from neighbors or the county planning staff, the realization that the desired project could proceed under existing zoning without the amendment, changes in business plans, or decisions to rework the proposal and reapply later.

In St. Johns County, comprehensive plan amendments require a recommendation from the county planning and zoning agency staff and a public hearing before the five-member Board of County Commissioners. Projects that draw significant public opposition at the hearing can fail or be continued for revisions. By withdrawing before the hearing, an applicant avoids a formal denial on the record and retains the option to return with a revised or different proposal.

The application had been filed in 2025, according to its case number, and had progressed far enough through the review process to be placed on the August 4, 2026, commission agenda. Staff review, legal advertising, and neighbor notification had presumably already occurred by the time of the withdrawal.

What it means for Fruit Cove and the SR 13 corridor

The withdrawal leaves the 7.7-acre site's development potential unchanged for now. Whatever uses are allowed under the property's current comprehensive-plan and zoning designations remain in effect. If First Coast Energy or a future owner wishes to develop the site in a way that exceeds those allowed uses — for instance, adding residential units where only commercial is permitted, or exceeding density or building-height limits — they would need to restart the amendment process.

For nearby residents and businesses, the withdrawal removes near-term uncertainty about the site. Neighbors who had concerns about the proposed land-use change will not need to attend the August 4 hearing to voice opposition, and the commission will not make a decision that could set the stage for a project some might have found objectionable. On the other hand, those who might have supported the change — for instance, if it promised jobs or filled a commercial need — will not see that outcome either.

The SR 13 corridor in Fruit Cove is a focal point for development debates in St. Johns County. The area offers proximity to the county's top-rated public schools, access to Interstate 95, and a semi-rural character that appeals to families, but it lacks the sewer infrastructure that denser development typically requires. Many properties along SR 13 still rely on septic systems, and extending JEA or county sewer lines is costly and often requires developer contribution or county capital projects. The interplay of school capacity, road capacity, and utility availability shapes what commissioners approve in this corridor.

What happens next

The application is now closed, and no further action is scheduled. The item will not appear on the August 4 St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners agenda. First Coast Energy could file a new or revised application in the future, which would restart the public review process from the beginning, including new neighbor notification and a new public hearing.

Property-tax records and future land-sale activity would reveal if First Coast Energy intends to develop the site under existing rules, sell the property, or hold it for future plans. The company operates more than 70 Daily's locations across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, many of them on prominent corners along growth corridors, and routinely acquires land for potential future stores or fuel centers.

For residents tracking growth in the Fruit Cove area, this withdrawal is a reminder of the rhythm of development in fast-growing St. Johns County: applications are filed, reviewed, and sometimes pulled back before a vote, reflecting the negotiation between landowner ambitions, county plans, and community input. The 7.7 acres at 600 SR 13 North remain on the map as a site to watch, even if the immediate development question has been set aside.

St. Johns County commissioners' meetings and agendas are posted on the county's website, and residents can sign up for email alerts about planning applications and agenda changes. The Board of County Commissioners meets regularly in the county administration building in St. Augustine, and meetings are livestreamed and archived online. Comprehensive plan amendments and rezonings that reach the public-hearing stage are advertised in the county's legal-notice newspaper and on signs posted at the property, giving neighbors and interested residents notice to participate.