The developer of eTown wants to rezone 237.52 acres southwest of the Florida 9B and Interstate 295 interchange for a recreation and entertainment destination that includes the proposed Jacksonville Surf Park.
The eTown developer, The PARC Group, announced Oct. 1 that global surf park creator Aventuur and a group of area partners will bring the world-class destination to town.
It is proposed on 55.27 acres at 11374 Etown Parkway, along Florida 9B.
Pending approvals, construction is expected to start in 2026 and open to the public in the fourth quarter of 2027.
It says the heart of the project is a 56-module Wavegarden Cove lagoon, “offering unparalleled surf, leisure and wellbeing experiences for all ages and abilities, delivered consistently in a safe, controlled environment.”
A written description of the proposed Planned Unit Development, Ordinance 2025-0007, says that nonresidential parcels at eTown West will accommodate an outdoor surf park that includes a surf lagoon and related activity; a surf park ecosystem that may include a surrounding beach area, pools, spas, outdoor fitness, wellness, offices for the surf park operations, and related uses; hotels, resorts and motels; museums and event venues; retail uses and more.
Residential uses can be multifamily and single-family.
The 23-page description, dated Nov. 21, 2024, also speaks to lot, architectural, parking and other requirements.
Attorney Paul Harden is the applicant for owner Westland Timber LLC, affiliated with the Davis family, which wants to rezone the land from Community General Commercial-1 to a PUD for E Town Village Center West.
Also part of the rezoning, AP ETDE LLC owns about 17.7 acres developed as the Cottage Street at eTown rental community at 11000 Domain Drive.
The PARC Group develops properties for the Davis family.
“The PUD zoning district will provide for a compact, dynamic mixed use recreational and entertainment destination that will enhance the quality of life at E Town Village West and South Jacksonville,” the description says.
It would expand “upon the successful E Town Village Center PUD (Ordinance 2018-0564-E), offering attractions not found anywhere else in northeast Florida, and increase opportunities for positive tourist experiences.”
The maximum gross density would be 3,500 residential units and 3.6 million square feet of nonresidential use.
The PUD may include office, institutional, commercial, multiple-family, entertainment and recreational uses and variety of building types, the description said, “that will create attractive working, shopping, lifestyle and living opportunities.”
Prosser | Prime AE is the architect, planner and engineer.
About 25% of the PUD would be open space.
The project may be developed in a single phase by a single developer or multiple phases by multiple developers, the description says.
It says the existing Cottage Street town home community on 17.7 acres was developed before the start of the Etown West PUD and is compatible with it.
The ordinance is scheduled for hearings Feb. 6 at the Jacksonville Planning Commission, Feb. 11 at Jacksonville City Council and Feb. 19 at the Council Land Use & Zoning Committee.
Jacksonville Surf Park
The city has been is reviewing civil engineering plans for Aventuur, a company with offices in Australia and Los Angeles, to build Jacksonville Surf Park at eTown.
“The park will provide waves, surf instruction, fitness training and physical recovery tailored to suit all levels, from first-timers and junior surfers through to elite athletes. Mental wellness, water safety, resilience and surf therapy programs will further encourage guests to develop healthy minds alongside healthy bodies,” said the PARC Group announcement.
Plans submitted to the city Sept. 30 show Jax Surf Park with surrounding restaurants and retail space, condos, apartments and “ecosystems” comprising supporting structures of a surf academy, wellness studio, conference rooms and more uses.
“A high-quality site has been secured in eTown,” the announcement says.
The eTown master-planned community is off of Florida 9B in South Jacksonville.