The Jacksonville City Council has approved an infill multifamily development on a Southside parcel that was originally designated for a regional shopping center and business/industrial park.
In 18-0 votes, with member Ju’Coby Pittman excused, Council approved three agenda items Oct. 22 to allow construction of 160 multifamily units on a vacant 2.93-acre parcel near Baymeadows Way and Baymeadows Way West. The Council votes constituted final action on the items:
• Ordinance 2024-0660, a small-scale future land use map amendment changing the use from Business Park to High Density Residential.
• Ordinance 2024-0661, a rezoning from a Planned Unit Development approved in 1974 to a new Planned Unit Development.
• Ordinance 2024-0662, which removed the parcel from what is known as the Belfort Station Development of Regional Impact.
According to Planning and Development Department staff reports, the Belfort Station DRI was created in 1974 to permit a regional shopping center, commercial space, warehouses, offices and light industrial development on a 101-acre site along Philips Highway south of the intersection with Butler Boulevard.
Today, the property includes a mix of warehouse, light industrial and office uses.
“While the Belfort Station DRI is now close to build-out, with little land left for development and few development rights remaining, one of the entities that held remaining development rights is now defunct with no path for other entities to obtain the rights,” the report reads.
“With no Master Development to force an expiration date to the DRI, the removal of the subject parcel will allow for development of a vacant and underutilized site in the Urban Priority Area where infill development is encouraged at urban densities.”
The development came to City Council with recommendations for passage by staff and the Jacksonville Planning Commission.
The Council-approved rezoning came on condition that the developer provide a southbound left turn lane in the median at the proposed site entrance. The rezoned PUD reduces the minimum lot width and area to permit potential condominium or subdivision development, adopts site-specific minimum yard requirements and allows multifamily parking to be provided at a ratio of 1.35 spaces per unit with no guest parking.
The property owner is listed in city documents as Luxury Toy Vault LLC. According to state records, the LLC is led by Amal Soni of St. Augustine.
The proposed development neighbors the under-construction Rise Baymeadows to the south. According to the website of Rise: A Real Estate Co., that development comprises 331 units in a four-story, 327,000-square-foot structure. It is scheduled to open in 2025.