Proposals to pave the way for infill construction of duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes in Jacksonville are officially off the table after final City Council action April 8.
In 18-0 votes, Council members approved the withdrawal of two ordinances aimed at facilitating development of “missing middle” housing for residents seeking an option between a large apartment complex and a single-family home.
The votes were largely a formality after the Council Land Use and Zoning Committee approved the withdrawals April 1 at the request of member Rory Diamond, who introduced them.
In addition to the withdrawals, another land use ordinance in which the LUZ committee stripped out provisions allowing for missing middle development advanced to an additional public hearing April 22.
All three ordinances had come under fire from residents and some Council members who said that they opened the door too wide to infill development that would be incompatible with surrounding neighborhoods, overtax infrastructure such as roads and drainage systems, and diminish Council’s control over building proposals.
In debates during committee meetings stretching back to 2024, some Council members said they would exempt their districts from areas where restrictions would be loosened for development of multifamily housing.
Diamond and other supporters of the legislation argued that it would help fill a high demand for housing in Jacksonville while promoting resilient growth by helping protect natural areas from sprawling development.
Council members and Mayor Donna Deegan’s administration said they would continue to address the issue.
The April 8 withdrawal votes came on Ordinances 2024-0868 and 0869, which would have modified land use and zoning regulations to ease the construction of low-density multifamily housing.
The related piece of legislation was Ordinance 2025-0090, a bill that amended several elements of the city’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan for land use.
Council member Reggie Gaffney Jr. was not present for the vote on Ordinance 2024-0868. Council member Rahman Johnson was not present for the vote on Ordinance 2024-0869.