JEA is moving forward on a $160 million infrastructure deal with the developer of the master-planned, mixed-use Wildlight community in Nassau County to build out water, sewer and reclaimed water services over 40 years.
The JEA board of directors voted 6-0 on June 27 to enter into an agreement with Wildlight LLC, controlled by Raydient Places + Properties, a taxable subsidiary of real estate investment trust Rayonier Inc.
JEA holds the water in the wastewater franchise where the 15,000-acre, multiphase Wildlight development is located near Interstate 95 and Florida A1A/200.
During a presentation, board member Joe DiSalvo said JEA will participate in the cost to design and install the water transition mains at Wildlight at a maximum indebtedness of $160 million to the utility.
JEA Director of Content and Media Relations Karen McAllister said in an email that the utility’s investment will reimburse the developer for the design, permitting and construction of the mains.
DiSalvo said each phase of the project will be part of the city-owned utility’s procurement.
JEA will operate and maintain the water, wastewater and reclaimed service.
When complete, Wildlight will have 24,000 residential water connections and nearly 11 million square feet of industrial and commercial space.
The agreement also allows JEA to reserve a parcel within Wildlight for a water plant as needed.
“The initial phases of the project will utilize the existing water and water reclamation facilities. The decision on future plant sites will be determined based on how the system grows,” McAllister said.
“The facility work is not part of the agreement.”
Wildlight.com says the master-planned development, with 9 miles of frontage along I-95, will have 1,100 acres of parks and more than 50 miles of trails.
It is 20 minutes from Downtown Jacksonville and from Amelia Island.