A residential development that would have brought 3,000 homes to St. Johns County is downsizing to 205.
The developer says it “listened to the neighborhood.”
Jacksonville-based Aegis Gibson LLC said June 16 it plans to build 205 homes off County Roads 214 and 13 North in St. Johns County on land surrounded by farms and agricultural buildings.
The residential project was originally proposed as Water Lily, a mixed-use development.
The county’s Panning and Zoning Agency unanimously denied recommending approval of the original project April 3.
\The site is about 15 miles west of the Interstate 95 interchange with County Road 207 and about 13 miles north of Hastings.
Initial plans showed a 1,030-acre community with 2,800 homes and 385,000 square feet of commercial space.
Renamed Tocoi River Estates, the new plan, according to the developer, calls for a 1,035-acre riverfront neighborhood along the St. Johns River, according to plans submitted by the developer.
The updated plan protects more than 265 acres of wetlands and dedicates another 200 acres to open space and trail, said Demetrios Velissarios, Aegis Gibson’s business development director.
Velissarios said the development represents an estimated $3.5 million in annual ad-valorem tax revenue once fully built.
Aegis Gibson emphasizes sustainability, according to its website.
“Responsible land development is the cornerstone of a sustainable future ... a pledge to uphold the delicate balance between progress and nature,” a news release said.
The updated plan protects more than 265 acres of wetlands and dedicates another 200 acres to open space and trail.
“We listened to the neighborhood,” Velissarios said, noting the community will not be age-restricted.
Aegis Gibson has not yet scheduled its hearing with the county’s Planning and Zoning Agency.