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Neighbors raise concerns over potential rezoning of church for new development

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Neighbors in Mandarin are concerned about the potential rezoning of church owned property to allow for new development.

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Neighbors said they are fighting to preserve the character that’s still left in mandarin.

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Rezoning signs sparked the attention of neighbors like Kent Dowling.

“They are wanting to bring in 100 townhomes, which is going to bring over 200 cars minimum daily in and out,” neighbor Kent Dowling said.

This comes after a bill was filled to rezone 11.49 acres of land between Old Saint Augustine Road and Pine Acres Road.

Neighbors said the bill will change the land use regulations to medium density residential and planned unit development. That means more homes and construction that they said will change the neighborhood’s character.

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The change could permit up to 100 townhomes with associated recreational uses, according to documents Action News Jax obtained.

That doesn’t sit well with neighbor Katrina Aprile.

“100 townhomes in a rural community is not fitting in with the Jacksonville plan,” Aprile said.

Action News Jax spoke with neighbors who said there are two schools on the corner of Livingston Road and Old Saint Augustine Road and these changes will greatly increase traffic.

“There’s only two lanes moving because each of the schools on Saint Augustine they take up a lane to turn in,” Aprile said. “People when they get on to Livingston Road when they are coming into the neighbor will wait 30 minutes to get through this traffic.”

Dowling said other concerns are limited drainage and the current infrastructure can’t support development.

“We are hoping for people to hear us, realize what they are trying to put in a small old neighborhood that’s been developed for years and years and years,” Dowling said.

There is a community meeting on Feb.8.

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Action News Jax reached out to the city council member representing that neighborhood and asked if neighbors’ concerns were heard and will be considered but did not receive a response to those questions.