JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Residents of a Northside neighborhood are pushing back against a proposed 22-acre development that would bring more than 100 homes to the area.
According to a website named “Save Bridges Road”, created by concerned residents, the development would bring 141 single-family homes to the end of Bridges Road on Quiet Country Lane.
“It’s called Quiet Country Lane for a reason. And then with all the traffic and everything coming back here, it’s gonna be too noisy. It’s gonna be too much. Gonna drive our property by you down. We don’t want that,” Resident Sonja Coles said.
Residents’ concerns include the amount of time it will take to complete the development, daily traffic and congestion, and potential lower property values.
“There’s no safety measures, there’s no line paintings for the roads, there’s no sidewalks, there’s no easements, there’s nothing so just even the safety of our kids and our roads,” Resident Kendal Gill said.
Apart from creating the website, neighbors have also taken action by creating a petition to raise awareness and gain support.
“I came in this neighborhood, we came for peace and quiet,” Resident Tarrance Gilbert said. “We work in the city, and we come home to relax.”
News4JAX reached out to Council member Reggie Gaffney Jr.’s office, and sent a statement saying in part:
“Jacksonville City Council Member Reggie Gaffney Jr. has received numerous emails and calls from the Bridges Road Community (bill number 2025-0091). In response to this, he has been actively working with both the applicant and the developer to ensure the community’s voices are heard.”
Gaffney will host a community meeting to address residents’ concerns on March 6 at 6 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at 5401 Dunn Avenue.
“This meeting will bring together the community, the applicant, and the developer to discuss the project in greater detail,” Gaffney said.
In addition, Gaffney requested a one-cycle deferral for the project, which means the item scheduled for the March 6 Planning Commission meeting will be deferred until March 20 to allow more time for discussion.
Gaffney encouraged all residents to attend the community meeting and said he looks forward to working together.
