The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to reject an appeal from nearby homeowners seeking to halt a proposed Episcopal School of Ponte Vedra, clearing the way for the private K–8 campus to move forward.
The 5-0 vote followed public comment, with residents on both sides of the issue addressing the panel.
A Walden Chase property owner voiced concerns about increased traffic along Palm Valley Road and the school’s proximity to their homes.
They argued that daily drop-off and pick-up activity for a campus designed to serve up to 850 students could worsen congestion in an area already experiencing rapid growth.
Supporters countered that the project would meet a growing demand for faith-based private education in northeast St. Johns County and would be situated on ample acreage set back from the road.
The Episcopal School of Ponte Vedra is planned for 11 acres of the 45-acre campus of St. Francis-in-the-Field Episcopal Church at 895 Palm Valley Road in Ponte Vedra.
The church is leasing the land to the school.
“We really feel like this fills a void for faith-based private education in the county, in particular this area of the county,” project representative Patrick Krechowski told the board. “We think this is an ideal site. It’s very deep, it’s very wooded, it’s very hidden, and we think this will be an amazing community asset to St. Johns County.”
Plans call for a two-story academic building, athletic fields, a track and parking areas. Construction is expected to take about 16 months, with a targeted opening in 2027.
