JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Southside residents expressed concerned to their city councilman Wednesday night, saying they're worried an upcoming development could bring more congestion to Gate Parkway.
Construction around the St. Johns Town Center has become a big headache for drivers because one of the turn lanes on the parkway is closed for construction.
Several new shopping areas at the Town Center are expected to open soon, and construction for those areas has created major backups during peak times.
RELATED: Closed lane causes headache for Town Center drivers
Jacksonville City Councilman Scott Wilson organized a community meeting Wednesday evening at the Sail Cove Condominiums on Gate Parkway North to hear from residents who are worried about more traffic and more noise near the Town Center.
It's a serene landscape that offers peace in a bustling neighborhood. But the view that was once comforting to people who live in Sail Cove will soon undergo big changes, which troubles them.
"I hear a concern about the development across the pond because of what they're going to see," Wilson said.
Wilson told News4Jax that a deal to build across that pond was reached in May 2015, and residents were notified at that time.
During the meeting, residents and a representative from the developer, Preferred Growth Properties, addressed concerns, including noise, increased traffic and maintaining the area's property values.
A Goo Goo Car Wash, a Wawa gas station and franchise chicken restaurant PDQ are all set to be built across the lake. But many are asking, "What will prevent the powerful lights from shining on homes, litter from going into the lake and traffic backups?"
According to the city, the developer is investing more than $2 million in traffic improvements before September, adding two more lanes from Town Center Parkway to Gate Parkway. Any businesses along the lake will also need to have landscaping -- dense plants so people can't see right through them -- with a height between 6 and 10 feet. The builder is also fixtures cast their light downward -- all changes meant to ease the residents’ concerns.
"I think it sounds pretty good. As long as they put in a water retention system, so we shouldn't have to worry about the contamination to the lake," said Clark Hoshall, a Sail Cove resident of seven years.
Beshka Hoshall said she also didn't see any other issues.
"I do not. Other than debris falling into the lake, I really have faith in the city and I believe that the folks at the Town center and the city will work together and everything is going to be just beautiful," she said.
There's no word on when all three of the new businesses will be up and running, but the gas station is set to open sometime in April.
Residents also voiced concerns about the heavy, speeding traffic along Town Center Parkway, and Wilson said he does plan to address the traffic issues.
Though he could not give a concrete plan, he did mention trying to possibly lower the speed limit along Town Center Parkway when residents mentioned putting a traffic light in front of their neighborhood.