The Clay County Development Review Committee reviewed site plans April 11 for a proposed grocery-anchored shopping center called the Henley Grocery Center in Lake Asbury.
The 12.16-acre project would include retail, office space and a public park. Plans call for 243 parking spaces.
Newberry-Based AY Ventures Inc. owns the land. Jacksonville-based England-Thims & Miller Inc. is the civil engineer.
Thomas Yonge of AY Ventures said no grocery store is identified for the shopping center and it was early in the process of “marketing to tenants.”
The proposed 51,390-square-foot grocery store is similar in size to Publix locations.
When asked whether the grocery store would be a Publix, England-Thims & Miller Executive Vice President Peter Ma said “no comment,” and that there is no project timeline.
According to its website, England-Tims & Miller has done projects for 25 Publix locations in the region, including its Argyle Village, Deerwood Commons, Northpoint, Oakleaf Plantation, St. Johns Town Center and Nocatee locations.
The Henley Grocery Center would border Henley Road and Verbena Parkway south of State Road 23, also known as the First Coast Expressway. It is adjacent to 136 acres of undeveloped land owned by Black Sound Development Company LLC. According to Sunbiz.com, the Black Sound and AY Ventures leadership is the same.
Ma asked the board whether there were any “gotcha items” in the plan.
Clay County Planning and Zoning Chief Mike Brown said there were not, but there would need to be modifications made to it prior to approval.
Requirements include canopy trees every 50 feet on the property, arrangement of fire hydrants and additional offset, which must be a minimum of 150 feet. The current plan lists 100 feet.
The review committee comprises several county agencies that review plans for land development code compliance, including the offices of Public Safety, Planning and Zoning and Building.
A more formal committee review of the plan is due April 16.