by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Nassau County is planning a Development of Regional Impact in hopes of getting controlled growth along the burgeoning Yulee corridor.
“It is something very important to us, and will definitely shape the future of this county,” said John Lasserre, president of the Amelia Island/Nassau County Board of Realtors at their monthly luncheon held at the Amelia Island/Nassau County Board of Realtors office. “As Realtors, we will be impacted by it because our ability to continue to operate depends on its success.”
Vicki Samus, chair of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, joined the group to discuss the Yulee area DRI, located east of I-95 in Yulee and the newly created districts within.
The Yulee area DRI is 37,208 acres and will be divided into nine districts.
The Old Town district incorporates the historic Yulee area and will include office, retail, high-density residential and institutional.
“There has been a lot of conversation about 10,000 rooftops in Yulee but the realization of that is more like 20,000,” said Samus. “There are 10,000 approved at this point. It will take 20-25 years for those in the pipeline right now to be built, so it’s not like you are going to come through Yulee tomorrow and see 10,000 houses. The DRI is 50-75 years out.”
She said what they wanted to do with the DRI is protect what they have for future residents of the area.
“If we don’t, then we are going to become what the some are already calling us, which is a bedroom community for Jacksonville,” she said. “I don’t want us to be a bedroom community for Jacksonville. I don’t want people just living here and going away to work. I don’t think you do either because that affects the quality of life.”
Samus said the DRI is very flexible because they do not want to dictate to people what to do with their land.
“What we are trying to do is guarantee that there is green space, areas for schools, fire stations, and neighborhood churches along with houses and businesses,” she said.