A Jacksonville grocer looking to expand its operation fielded criticism during a Sept. 18 community meeting over plans to establish an animal processing facility on its property.
Apna Bazar, an Indian and Middle Eastern grocery store at 11153 Beach Blvd., is making its second rezoning and land use amendment request to open a processing facility in Jacksonville. The company withdrew the first, for a property in Northwest Jacksonville, in April 2025 after it drew backlash from residents.
Apna Bazar returned in August with a request to build a 30,000-square-foot addition to its Beach Boulevard store and build a 23,800-square-foot freestanding structure east of it. Animals would be killed inside the freestanding structure, which also includes a warehouse, storage space and retail storefronts.
Although the most recent request passed through the Planning and Development Department and the Jacksonville Planning Commission, it stalled during City Council Land Use and Zoning Committee meetings after protests from area residents.
Residents had another chance to air their concerns to the developers and representatives during the community meeting at Living Stream Church, 2016 Anniston Road. About 150 people turned out for the meeting, hosted by Council President Kevin Carrico, the district representative for the neighborhood.
Community concerns include that the slaughterhouse would create unsafe living conditions for nearby residents. Neighbors say they are on well water, and any residue from the processing facility’s activities could taint their water supply.
Apna Bazar questioned
Apna Bazar representatives fielded audience questions and attempted to address concerns, saying safeguards were in place to ensure the slaughterhouse would not have a negative impact on the neighborhood.
“I know this one is really emotionally charged,” said Cyndy Trimmer, a land use attorney representing Apna Bazar. “Absolutely understand that, and I completely understand what you hear is going to be killing animals at a facility. That evokes a lot of fear of the unknown, of what it’s going to be like.”
Trimmer and other representatives for Apna Bazar, including land use attorney Michael Sittner, architect John Allmand and engineer Eric Almond, told neighbors they would not encounter noise, contamination or pollution should the facility be built.
They said a U.S. Department of Agriculture employee would be on site at all times to ensure the facility was kept sanitary and that all processed animals were fit for consumption.
Allmand said the facility would have cleaning systems and heavily insulated walls, keeping sound and odors from escaping the building. Allmand highlighted JEA, Environmental Protection Agency and water management district regulations he said would protect residents’ water from being polluted by the facility.
“I know that’s a lot of science that doesn’t necessarily carry weight and isn’t necessarily going to resonate,” Trimmer said. “But to the extent that we can assure you, everybody has done a tremendous amount of homework with this, talked to all the appropriate authorities, and there’s a lot of oversight on this facility.”
However, residents expressed distrust of the grocer throughout the meeting, which lasted just under two hours.
Attendees said their neighborhood already suffered from deteriorating roads, falling property values and poor wastewater management systems.
“There’s just so many concerns here. This is not the place for this,” Dawn Herron said. “Really, this should not even be a consideration to put something up against residential properties.”
Some said they didn’t believe Apna Bazar would follow through on its promises or that the safeguards put in place in the facility would hold up.
Another shared concern was that the slaughterhouse would reduce property values of nearby homes and would make it more difficult for homeowners to find future buyers for their properties.
Kimberly Robinson, who lives closest to the grocer, grew emotional talking about what she said would happen to her home.
“You’re going to dump a 320-foot building in my face. We won’t be able to ever move,” she said. “You’re extracting equity out of my home to put in your pocket.”
Plans show the proposed standalone building with the slaughterhouse is 340 feet long.
Some residents asked Apna Bazar to find a new space for the facility in Jacksonville, saying there was plenty of industrial space for the slaughterhouse to be developed.
Grocery sells Halal meats
Through city Ordinance 2025-0487, Apna Bazar requests a small-scale land use amendment from Community/General Commercial and Low Density Residential to Light Industrial on a 0.91-acre portion of the property, and from Low Density Residential to Community/General Commercial on a 1.38-acre portion.
For the overall 6.82-acre property, Ordinance 2025-0488 would change the zoning to Planned Unit Development from Residential Low Density and Community/General Commercial. A PUD is a special zoning district that allows for a mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses within a single district.
Property records show the plaza comprises two adjacent buildings totaling about 59,000 square feet with multiple businesses.
The grocer sells Halal meats, which are prepared according to Islamic dietary laws. Those laws include restrictions on the process of slaughtering the animal, who can do it and the type of meat that can be processed.
According to a memo from the Greater Arlington/Beaches Citizens Planning Advisory Committee, which opposes the facility, the Council ordinances would allow for processing of up to 50 poultry animals, 10 lambs, 10 goats and 2 cows at any given time.
The expansion would also include new storefronts attached to Apna Bazar. The site currently has a barber, doctor, grocery store, food court and more.
LUZ next to consider project
Land use and zoning issues are quasijudicial in Florida, meaning Council members act like judges in deciding them and are barred from expressing support or opposition to them until making their decisions. Carrico, in accordance with Council rules, did not divulge where he stood on the rezoning and land use amendment for Apna Bazar but expressed sympathy for the residents, saying “It’s very obvious what the people want.”
Residents pledged to continue opposing the development of the slaughterhouse, while Apna Bazar’s representatives said they would consider alterations to their plans based on what they heard during the meeting.
The Land Use and Zoning Committee, the body currently considering the legislation, will meet next on Oct. 7.