A Beach Boulevard grocery store and shopping center that drew opposition over a previous plan to add a slaughterhouse is headed to the Jacksonville City Council after receiving an endorsement from a Council committee on Feb. 3.
The Council Land Use and Zoning Committee voted to recommend a land use amendment and rezoning for Apna Bazar on two 5-2 votes, with member Rory Diamond and Council President Kevin Carrico voting no, and member Raul Arias absent. The owner of the market at 11153 Beach Blvd. seeks to create additional space for retail use and storage.
The land use amendment, contained in Ordinance 2025-0487, would change 1.81 acres of the property to Community/General Commercial from Low Density Residential. Rezoning Ordinance 2025-0488 would change 6.82 acres to Planned Unit Development from Residential Low Density-60 and Commercial Community General-2.
“[I’m] happy that the slaughterhouse is out, but I still have concerns about the bill,” said Carrico, whose District 4 includes the Apna Bazar property. “To see this expansion, it’s just piling along Beach Boulevard. There’s so many commercial sections there.”
“I know it is a pretty tough intersection there, but I also err on the side of property owners’ rights – not just the people that live there, but the people that own property there,” Council member Rahman Johnson said.
“The goalposts can’t continue to move,” said Joe Carlucci, the LUZ chair, referring to the proposal being amended after the version that included an animal processing facility encountered opposition from neighbors and others. “There has to be a point in time where we say this is what we’ve all come to agree upon, and I think that’s where we’re at right now.”
Both ordinances are expected to be taken up by the full Council on Feb. 10.
Slaughterhouse removed, application rereferred
After neighbors voiced discontent with plans to include the slaughterhouse, Apna Bazar owner Mohammad Faisal said he would forgo plans to build the facility on the market property.
When he followed through by withdrawing the request for the slaughterhouse, the written description of the PUD was changed to eliminate all references to the animal processing facility. With the changes, the PUD would permit the expansion of the existing building and additional warehouse space, as well as new retail storefronts.
The Feb. 3 vote was the second time LUZ voted on Apna Bazar’s expansion. It previously recommended approval of the rezoning to a PUD just after the slaughterhouse plans were removed, and approved a land use change to Light Industrial.
After Carrico negotiated a verbal agreement between the developer and area residents during a full Council meeting, the Light Industrial application was downgraded to Community/General Commercial, and the matter was rereferred to the Jacksonville Planning Commission, LUZ and full Council.
Residents voice dissatisfaction of new plan
At the LUZ meeting, speakers voiced concerns about traffic, intrusion into the adjacent residential neighborhood and commercial density along Beach Boulevard.
“There must be a balance in property rights,” Kathleen Perera said. “The applicant has a right to develop their land as long as it does not encroach upon the neighborhood. Therefore, the best scenario is for this property to continue with the current zoning so that all parties’ rights are upheld.”
“[Car accidents are] a common occurrence, and we will provide more information on that, but this is a very dangerous intersection,” Kirsten Brewer said. “We do not need semis at all.”
Attorney Cyndy Trimmer, who represents Apna Bazar, told Council members she had letters of support from neighbors closest to the property.
Because Apna Bazar could incorporate its plans into a CGC zoning, speakers questioned why the grocer sought a PUD. Trimmer said that the PUD existed to remove potential uses of the land, including animal processing, alcohol sales, adult entertainment, racing and more.