ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — During a regular meeting Tuesday, St. Johns County denied a rezoning application for a new shopping center on the southside of the county.
The Benchip Mixed Use PUD was a request to rezone approximately 33.4 acres of land from open rural and commercial general land to a mixed use property near Wildwood Drive and State Road 207.
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Action News Jax first reported this proposal in March. If approved, it would allow for up to 280 town homes and a shopping center on the property.
In May, the Planning and Zoning Agency reviewed this proposal and recommended approval, 4-2.
Over the past four months, some commissioners said they had received several emails from concerned residents about the effects of the development near their homes. It included comments about flow of traffic, public safety, overcrowding of nearby schools, and quality of life.
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According to a presentation by the developer, the Panning and Zoning reviews state, “The proposed commercial will allow more intense uses as compared to existing CG zoning. Based on the scale, uses within high density commercial could create significant impacts to the surrounding development.”
Commissioner Paul Waldron, District 3, expressed growing concerns about traffic in the area in conjunction with this development.
Commissioners unanimously voted to deny this public hearing.
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