JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Oceanway residents aren’t backing down from the fight against a proposed Chick-fil-A they do not want to come to their neighborhood.
In an hours-long city council meeting Wednesday, residents showed up to make their voices heard again to the Land Use and Zoning Committee about the rezoning on Lady Lake Road. The city council moved the agenda item to the bottom of the list since it’s such a hot topic.
The council members were trying to decide how to navigate the next steps: whether they would vote Wednesday night or defer the vote and make it contingent on a traffic study.
The LUZ committee decided to move forward by deferring the vote and requiring the applicant to do a traffic study within the time of the deferral.
For weeks, dozens have shown up to nearly every meeting in opposition to the project, stating issues with the plans to use the front entrance of the North Creek subdivision.
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Thirty residents spoke up at the meeting while 40 other residents submitted cards to not speak but still show their opposition against the rezoning.
Several referred to a mock simulation they did over the weekend that backed up traffic on Duval Station Road and residents said they feel like if this rezoning happens it would be a nightmare for them.
Residents also stated their concerns about a potential increase in crime and pedestrian safety since First Coast High School is right across the street from where the restaurant wants to move in.
The only person who spoke in favor of the project was the applicant’s lawyer Tom Ingram.
Councilman Reggie Gaffney, who has continuously advocated for this community issue, said he would vote no because people’s livelihoods are on the line.
Councilman Joe Carlucci asked about potentially making the exit only a right-hand turn and creating a physical barrier to keep people from going onto Bradley Cove Road... but residents said that still poses an issue.
Councilman Arias said he visited the site and that it was one thing to see it on Google, and it’s another thing to see it in person.
He said after hearing the residents’ concerns over traffic and quality of life, the condition with a traffic study after its approval was a backward way of doing things. He also wondered about drainage issues and wants to see a drainage study before he votes to approve it. Until he sees those conditions being met, Arias said he’s not going to vote in favor of the plan.
The next public hearing for the traffic study will be April 16.