ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Another building boom is possible for the western part of St. Johns County
A developer, Late Day Enterprises, wants to build Grand Oaks, a 999 home proposed project on State Road 16, between County Road 208 and Pacetti Road.
John Kindorf loves living in St. Johns County, but is one of many residents who said they wish the growth would slow down. That’s not happening any time soon in an area where new home construction is a daily sight and sound.
"The growth has been incredible in the last 10 years," Kindorf said. "It's too crowded now. Just alone on State Road 16 here they're building homes like crazy. One development finishes then another goes up."
Grand Oaks would be a 999 home project on the south side of SR-16 between CR-208 and Pacetti Road. The 524-acre development would also include 50,000 square feet of office space and 100,000 feet of commercial space.
It's a project that's unwelcome by one viewer who emailed News4Jax to express concerns.
"There are so many families who drive their children to school in the morning that it is almost impossible to get out," the viewer, who lives off Pacetti Road, wrote. "If we allow 999 homes into this area imagine how bad that traffic will be."
If this project is approved, the schools for Grand Oaks would be Mill Creek Elementary, Pacetti Bay Middle and Nease High School. The district said the neighborhood would bring about 430 students, so the district could have to consider rezoning.
The planning and zoning agency recommended approval 5-1 and it soon will be in the hands of the commission.
"We love St. Johns County and I hope they use their heads because it is crowded it's getting too crowded," Kindorf said.
The developer was supposed to present its plan to the committee Tuesday but Friday it asked to take it off the agenda in order to make some modifications. No date has been set for it to be put back on the agenda.
For more information about the development, go to http://www.livegrandoaks.com.