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St. Johns County residents challenge development plan for 52 new townhomes in World Golf Village

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Residents in St. Johns County gathered to share their thoughts on a proposed development that would add 52 townhomes to the World Golf Village area.

The developer behind the project faced pointed questions during a community meeting at Pacetti Bay Middle School.

Among the proposed units, 16 are slated to be workforce housing, aimed at individuals in “upper low to moderate income categories.”

The final price tag for those homes is set to be about $260,000.

“Home prices to our teachers, our young adults that are just starting out,” Autumn Martinage, who is part of the development team, said.

However, many attendees voiced concerns about how the area’s infrastructure would support the development.

“My house will be on the market tomorrow,” one resident said during the meeting. Others echoed frustrations, citing overcrowded schools, strained emergency services, and increasing traffic congestion.

Map of the property for the proposed "Enclave." (News4Jax)

Bill Bright is a resident of St. Johns County. He said he lives just a couple miles from the proposed project.

“It will take you 20 to 30 minutes to go 2 miles from one side of 16 to the other,” Bright said. “Now they want to add 52 units.”

The townhomes would be on an 18.5-acre property between Terracina Drive and Samara Lakes Parkway. The units would be 2,000 square feet with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Renderings of the townhomes from the meeting presentation. (Matthews | DCCM)

The property is currently zoned for 21 single-family units. The property owner said he hopes to get rezoned for the 52-unit project. That would require county commission approval.

Several commissioners were in the audience for Monday’s meeting.

In December, the county took steps toward a road improvement project to try and mitigate some of the stress from big businesses moving into the area.

No timeline has been set for when it will appear before the county commission.


About the Author
Chris Will headshot

Chris Will has joined the News4JAX team as a weekend morning reporter, after graduating from the University of Florida in spring 2024. During his time in Gainesville, he covered a wide range of stories across the Sunshine State. His coverage of Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida earned a National Edward R. Murrow Award.