Southwood’s developer, the St. Joe Company (“St. Joe”), recently submitted applications (collectively, the “Applications”) to local government seeking to substantially amend Southwood’s Development of Regional Impact (DRI) development order and Planned Unit Development (PUD) -- two very important documents which establish the development entitlements, zoning requirements and overall master plan for SouthWood. The Applications propose hundreds of changes to our DRI and PUD, most of which are technical, innocuous, and/or beneficial to varying degrees. Some of the proposed changes, like the creation of another Town Center section adjacent to Capital Circle, were thoroughly discussed with neighbors in 2020 prior to St. Joe’s decision to then withdraw their applications from further consideration.

However, there are several changes in the recent Applications which are new and not positive for our community. First, St. Joe is proposing the delay of the hard deadline to finish construction of key collector and arterial roads within Southwood by more than a decade, to potentially September 2038, the final buildout date for the entire SouthWood development. By contrast, under the current DRI, these key road segments (most notably, Biltmore Ave. from Orange Ave to Apalachee Pkwy; and Orange Ave from Biltmore Ave to Southwood Plantation Rd) must be completed by December 31, 2025. This is the appropriate completion date for these roads as they are desperately needed to safely and efficiently carry commuter and residential traffic through SouthWood. As you are well aware, the segment of Orange Ave from Biltmore Ave to Southwood Plantation Rd is not a permanent road, but only a temporary roadway, installed more than a decade ago to relieve the unsafe and dysfunctional commuter traffic flow that was cutting through our residential streets. This road segment, which is merely a strip of asphalt, routinely develops large potholes and ruts after it rains. This important arterial road should be fully completed by December 31, 2025, as our current DRI requires. We do not support delaying further the completion dates for our internal transportation network.

The second concern with the Applications involves its proposed elimination of the Neighborhood Village Center (NVC-1) designation from our DRI and PUD. NVC-1 is an undeveloped 6-acre parcel (Orange Ave @ Biltmore Ave) that is currently approved and designated for mixed-use development, including commercial, office, community/civic buildings and recreational facilities (eg, pools, health clubs, etc.). The Applications propose rezoning and converting this NVC unit to pure residential uses (MDR). If this land use and zoning change is approved, this parcel of land, in the northern section of our development, will no longer be an available site for a future second pool and community center, for example. The NVC unit should be preserved in Southwood’s DRI and PUD to benefit the entire community, as was originally planned and is required by the Comprehensive Plan.

We, the undersigned residents of SouthWood, strongly oppose these proposed changes to our DRI and PUD. Thank you in advance for your support and concern for the future of our wonderful community.

[If you oppose these proposed changes to our DRI and PUD, please add your name, email and street name only in the fields to the right.]