Over the next few decades, rural Southwest Jacksonville could see what other corners of the county have experienced — development of housing and retail centers.
Two landowners are proposing to make almost 2,000 acres available for up to 5,000 single-family homes and 225,100 square feet of commercial space.
The project is called The Trails.
“Jacksonville has got to grow and I think this is where it is going to grow,” said R. Lee Smith, representative of landowners Timber Forest Trail Investments LLC and Diamond Timber Investments LLC.
The 1,978 acres are between Normandy Boulevard and the Clay County line, and between Maxville-Middleburg Road and Solomon Road.
Owners seek to change the land uses from rural residential, agricultural and light industrial uses to primarily low density residential and community general commercial uses.
The city is reviewing a mobility fee calculation certificate application for the project. Fred Atwill of Atwill LLC is the agent.
Smith estimates it could take at least 10-15 years for development. “It will be an extensive time frame,” he said.
The city enacted an ordinance in 2004 to rezone most of the property for The Trails Rural Village.
“We feel we are going to offer the community an option,” Smith said.
The property is shown for uses that include:
About 845 acres for a rural village satellite community with mixed uses including residential and village centers, including up to 900 single-family residences with lots starting at 40 feet wide.
About 677 acres for up to 1,354 single-family residences on lots from 0.5 to 1 acre with density up to 2 units per acre. The zoning on that property also allows for other uses.
About 322 acres for up to 863 single-family residences ranging from 50 feet to estate lots, not to exceed two dwellings per acre.
About 125 acres zoned for agriculture.
City Ordinance 2019-309 proposes to change the land-use designations. In addition to Diamond Timber Investments and Timber Forest Trail Investments, owners are listed as VCP-Real Estate Investments Ltd., Kameron L. Hodges and Duane Hodges.