After being molded through efforts by Jacksonville City Council member Joe Carlucci, city staff, the developer and the community, legislation that would allow for an office and light warehouse on property adjacent to the Philips Craig Swamp Cemetery in San Marco is moving toward a full Council vote.
The Council Land Use and Zoning Committee voted 6-0 on Oct. 1 to back a land use amendment and rezoning request for the property, located along St. Augustine Road between Lorimier Road and Philips Highway.
The committee’s votes came on Ordinance 2023-0704 and Ordinance 2023-0705, the respective legislation for the land use amendment and rezoning. With the vote, as committee member Rory Diamond was excused from the meeting, the ordinances advance to the full Council for consideration.
With Council approval, the land use will change from low density residential to community general commercial and the zoning will change from residential low density to planned unit development.
The development drew opposition, including from the San Marco Preservation Society, when plans for it were introduced in October 2023. Among the concerns was the possibility of runoff into the cemetery, which dates to the 1800s.
The version headed to Council includes beefed-up protections for the cemetery. The developer also altered an original request for a land use amendment to industrial business park.
Cyndy Trimmer, a representative for the developer, said other alterations included limiting the square footage of the building to 4,000 square feet, adding an alternative that would allow town homes to be developed if the office use were denied, enhanced landscaping and architectural protections that are designed to be consistent with the appearance of nearby residences.
Trimmer said the property would be used by a father and son, with the son operating a mortgage office in the front of the building and the father, a building trade contractor, using the rear for storage.
Carlucci complimented the developer, staff and community, saying, “We started off on this a little bumpy but we got to a good compromise.”
Committee member Ken Amaro added, “It’s amazing when you put effort into something what you can produce.”
Documents attached to the legislation list the owner of the property as T20 Holdings LLC of Miami.
In state records, managers of the LLC are listed as Gabriella Davis and Roberto Fernandez-Moran, both of Miami.