Although uneasy about increased
traffic from an industrial park planned east of Macclenny, the Baker County
Commission voted April 20 to alter the site's future land use to move the
project ahead.
Commissioners' concerns stemmed from the lack of any
-proposed transportation improvements during the first five-year phase of the
750-acre park, when 2.5 million .square feet of industrial' warehouse space is
expected between Interstate 10, and US' 90 on the county's eastern border from
Texas-based real Estate! 'estate developer Jackson-.
Shaw Co. .
"Over 100 trips an hour at my red light at [US] 90 doesn't sound like a good
idea," said , Commissioner Gordon Crews after hearing the amount of traffic
expected from the project.
Jackson-Shaw's' traffic engineer said the park is expected to generate about 467
additional vehicles per hour during peak traveling times, typically weekday
afternoons, and about 2570 additional trips on average each day ..
It's also anticipated -that 55% percent of that traffic will turn . west on US
90 to catch the interstate, he said.
With most of the vehicles heading into Macclenny, Commissioner Mark Hartley
feared that traffic backups at signals in downtown could worsen with the
additional vehicles. He asked if a turn lane could be installed 'at the
intersection of US 90 and. 5th Street to help relieve the G0nngestion.
That would be difficult, said County Manager Joe Cone, because the road isn't
wide enough for another lane without purchasing additional right-of-way.
Jackson-Shaw's regional partner Thomas Jones said the company hopes to
eventually construct a new interchange to the interstate, but that isn't planned
during the project's first phase and will require a study to demonstrate to
federal regulators there's no feasible alternative.
Commissioner Alex Robinson. asked if the interchange could be completed any
sooner.
"That would alleviate all the problems for downtown Macclenny," he said.
Mr. Jones responded saying he couldn't commit to a $40 million interchange at
this time.
"It's a pretty tall order," he said, adding that the project would depend
largely on the success of the park's first phase.
"If we land a big company or two [leasing space], we'll be pushing for the
interchange sooner," Mr. Jones said. "The interchange is our marketing hook ...
That will get us the kind of users we really want to have."
Although the board unanimously approved changing the property's future land use
from agricultural to industrial, commissioners were confident they'd have an
opportunity to address . traffic issues again, later in the review process.
Still to come are requests from Jackson-Shaw for rezoning the property and the
commission's consideration of a proposed site plan. .
During site plan approval, the county could negotiate for specific traffic
controls, like a right turn only signal at the park's exit to direct vehicles
toward Baldwin instead of Macclenny, for instance.
Next, and with far less discussion, commissioners unanimously approved land use
and zoning
, changes requested for another industrial project planned near Sanderson called
Woodstock Park.
Property owner Roberts Land & Timber of Lake Butler sought an industrial future
land use designation and similar zoning for 1600 acres located northwest of the
1-10 interchange with US 90. L
The land could one day be the location to 10 million square feet of industrial
space and more than 4000 new jobs, said Roberts' consultant Mike Brown, a'
planner with England Thims and Miller of Jacksonville.
In other business, the commission also passed rezoning. and re-designating the
future land use on a 72-acre property owned by James Yarborough north of Glen
about a half-mile south of Bob Burnsed Rd.
The moves from agricultural to residential land use and zoning will support
development of . the land into three-quarter-acre lots with individual septic
systems. Wetlands on the eastern end of the site will remain undeveloped.
. Commissioners also approved the appointment of C.J.. Thompson, chairman of the
Land Planning Agency, to serve as one of . three Baker County representatives on
the Northeast Florida Regional Council.
The other local representatives are Chamber of Commerce Executive Director
Darryl Register and real estate attorney Hugh Fish.
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