The local government has officially rejected the proposed amendments to the Southwood development order. This outcome ensures that our community infrastructure will proceed as originally promised rather than facing significant delays. Thank you for your commitment to protecting the integrity of our neighborhood master plan.
June 16, 2024
Final supporters
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.]
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 7, 2024
April 5, 2024
The momentum behind this petition continues to grow as we approach two hundred fifty signatures. Please consider taking a moment to send this link to your neighbors or colleagues who are also impacted by these infrastructure delays. Your direct outreach remains the most effective way to ensure our position reaches the appropriate local officials.
Reached 100 supporters
April 3, 2024
63 Comments
We built our house in April 2006 and were promised a second pool at the time. It's been 18 years and we still don't have it, yet they continue to add more houses.
As a decade-long resident of Southwood, I strongly oppose the elimination of the communal/mixed-use space as well as the extremely lengthly delay of the buildout of much needed key collector and arterial roads.
This proposal is rooted deeply in corporate greed and not in the best interest of our community or property values. Our current pool is overcrowded and unsafe as a result of trying to cram all of Southwood into one pool. Home buyers bought under false pretenses of this bait and switch scam.
Proper vetting of these amendments should be in place for owners in the community. Language that is understood by all and not requires interpretation.
Orange Ave should have been reconstructed YEARS ago. Pushing this off to 2038 is totally and completely incomprehensible
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The concerns raised by this petition seem urgent, and must be addressed thoroughly before proceeding with the current plan of action.
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The local government has officially rejected the proposed amendments to the Southwood development order. This outcome ensures that our community infrastructure will proceed as originally promised rather than facing significant delays. Thank you for your commitment to protecting the integrity of our neighborhood master plan.
June 16, 2024
Final supporters
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.]
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 7, 2024
April 5, 2024
The momentum behind this petition continues to grow as we approach two hundred fifty signatures. Please consider taking a moment to send this link to your neighbors or colleagues who are also impacted by these infrastructure delays. Your direct outreach remains the most effective way to ensure our position reaches the appropriate local officials.
Reached 100 supporters
April 3, 2024
63 Comments
The Biltmore Ave extensions are desperately needed now. Southwood Plantation Rd from Apalachee Pkwy south is dangerous for the volume of traffic that is forced to use it, and has gotten worse with the new phase of residential development north of Orange Ave.
We built our house in April 2006 and were promised a second pool at the time. It's been 18 years and we still don't have it, yet they continue to add more houses.
As a decade-long resident of Southwood, I strongly oppose the elimination of the communal/mixed-use space as well as the extremely lengthly delay of the buildout of much needed key collector and arterial roads.
This proposal is rooted deeply in corporate greed and not in the best interest of our community or property values. Our current pool is overcrowded and unsafe as a result of trying to cram all of Southwood into one pool. Home buyers bought under false pretenses of this bait and switch scam.
Proper vetting of these amendments should be in place for owners in the community. Language that is understood by all and not requires interpretation.
Orange Ave should have been reconstructed YEARS ago. Pushing this off to 2038 is totally and completely incomprehensible
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The concerns raised by this petition seem urgent, and must be addressed thoroughly before proceeding with the current plan of action.
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The Biltmore Ave extensions are desperately needed now. Southwood Plantation Rd from Apalachee Pkwy south is dangerous for the volume of traffic that is forced to use it, and has gotten worse with the new phase of residential development north of Orange Ave.