A new player in St. Johns County’s caffeine scene could be rolling in, as developers move to permit a Dutch Bros drive-thru in the St. Augustine area. Plans on file call for a compact, 986-square-foot kiosk geared toward quick pick-up and drive-thru service rather than linger-with-a-laptop vibes.
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, the property owner has submitted an environmental resource permit application to build the Dutch Bros, a required step in both county and state review. The filing spells out the proposed 986-square-foot footprint for the small-format shop.
County records and local planning documents point to 3405 International Golf Parkway in the World Golf Village area as the likely site, across from Tocoi Creek High School, per St. Johns Citizen. That report identifies the applicant as Kim Rickman of Orlando-based Z Development Services and lists World Commerce Center LLP as the property owner. County staff have not yet set a hearing date for the proposal.
Drive-Thru-Only Design
Plans reviewed by the Jax Daily Record show a slimmed-down, drive-thru-only setup with double lanes and no indoor seating. Dutch Bros is known for a menu that leans on espresso drinks, iced beverages and small grab-and-go items instead of full kitchen service. The chain has been rolling out similar compact footprints in other recent Florida approvals.
Permit Path And Environmental Review
Environmental resource permits regulate work that can affect wetlands, surface waters and stormwater systems. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection notes that ERP applications are handled either by the agency itself or by one of the state’s water management districts and can trigger public notice requirements or mitigation measures. DEP guidance explains that ERP reviews focus on stormwater and wetland impacts and lay out application steps and public-notice procedures for affected projects. The Dutch Bros application falls within that process and remains under county and state review, with no hearing date set yet, according to local reporting.
Where This Fits In Locally
If it clears permitting, the World Golf Village location would join a growing list of Dutch Bros proposals and recent openings across St. Johns County and Jacksonville, as the chain speeds up its Northeast Florida expansion. The Jax Daily Record has tracked the rollout, noting that the first area shop opened at 50 McCoy Way in August 2024 and that several other sites have since been identified or permitted. In other county reviews, neighbors and planners have frequently raised questions about traffic and vehicle queuing around drive-thru-heavy projects, a concern that often trails this kind of fast-service design.
For now, the Dutch Bros proposal sits in the permitting queue, and interested residents can keep tabs on county permit records and DEP notices for updates. The filing adds one more data point to Dutch Bros’ rapid Northeast Florida push and could bring another compact, drive-thru-only option to the St. Augustine area if the project wins approval.
