City Council approves new Mandarin development despite opposition

Neighbors pushed back over traffic concerns

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Despite overwhelming opposition from area residents, and the Planning Commission’s vote against it, the City Council’s Land Use & Zone Committee voted 6-1 to approve a proposed 21-home development off Loretto Road near County Dock Road in Mandarin, just south of I-295.

Those homes would be built on a 9-acre wooded parcel. Resident say the development will ruin the character of the area, and create traffic hazards. The LUZ Committee did make some changes to the plan:

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1. The 30 foot wide access to Loretto Road shall be eliminated.
2. An Environmental Impact Study shall be prepared by the developer.
3. A traffic study subject to the review and approval of the Transportation Planning
    Division shall be conducted by a professional traffic engineer.
4. Prior to requesting a final building inspection, the developer will demonstrate that
     all conditions have been satisfied.

The proposal still has a hearing before another committee before going to the full council.

Councilman Matt Schellenberg, who represents this part of Mandarin, says not everyone he has spoken to is opposed to this. However some neighbors who are opposed believe the solution is to build up to seven houses at one house per acre.

For the last two months, Jeff Edwards has passed out fliers, bringing attention to the proposed development which, if approved, would go off County Dock Road. He's not on board.

"It would begin to tear down the fabric of historic Mandarin. And set a precedent for future developments," said Edwards.

Last month, the rezoning motion was denied after a vote, but here's the kicker- it's not a binding recommendation, so this could still go through.

Edwards said not only would adding houses change the rural feel to the neighborhood, it would also add more traffic.

"You can see the traffic coming through here while you stand here. And this isn't even rush hour,” said Edwards. "This road is already an alternate route for traffic on San Jose Boulevard. And so it's carrying thousands of cars it's not designed to carry."

News4Jax reached out to Paul Harden's office for comment. He's the attorney representing the developer, but did not hear back.

Harden did speak at the commission meeting last month, where he pushed to get the road rezoned.

"These are superb locations. They're superb in size. They're going to be very nice, very expensive houses," said Harden.

The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Neighbors say they do plan to be there. The motion would then go to the full city council.


About the Author:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.