VILANO BEACH, Fla. — 2806 Coastal Highway in Vilano Beach is the future home of the Colonia project, which will be condominiums.

It’s also directly behind the Magic Beach Motel, which has made news recently.

Rick Johnston, a developer, is associated with Colonia. He is the same developer who is seeking permission to demolish the Magic Beach Motel in order to build condos and retail on that motel site.

The site of the Colonia project used to be covered in vegetation and cabbage palms, according to older photographs and county maps.  

In 2023, the trees and vegetation were cut down on the property. It appears a handful of trees along the perimeter still stand.

According to St. Johns County public documents, the trees were removed from about an acre of the Colonia project without a permit, stating the property had been “cleared” and “15 cabbage palm stumps were located.”

The county fined The Beach at Vilano, LLC,  which owns the property. Developer Rick Johnston said he is represented  by attorney Joseph Van Rooy.  Monday Van Rooy told First Coast News that overzealous crews were at fault for removing so many trees on the property. He said construction needed to begin, so instead of appealing the fine, they went ahead and paid it.

The county fined The Beach at Vilano, LLC $31,800.  A year earlier, The Beach at Vilano, LLC purchased the property for $4.7 million, according to the St. Johns County property appraiser’s website.

An arborist told First Coast News that that fine was quote “not very punitive.”

Meanwhile, the spotlight has not been on this Colonia project, but on the 1950’s motel next door for which the county has not yet issued a demolition permit.