[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6602287,"mediaKeyId","3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d","parentId",3004720,"title","Waterways Commission approves small-scale land-use change for Pickettville Road site; ordinance moves to city council","audioSeconds",3143,"startMs",3148000,"endMs",4203,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d&start=3148&end=4","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d/thumbnail_3148000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602287/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Waterways-Commission-approves-small-scale-land-use-change-for-Pickettville-Road-site-ordinance-moves-to-city-council","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602287-0cf6ecf9ce8af69b74be22d0edfd59d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166968&Signature=f9aGb2DRzrskZbflkJbYIsCLTQ4622Zt2ZDN19112Cnj9EAaMYWHfiYJejIlaBWZ-ar4Tb-rfnqmnPL99AsynarNKv5wFNVmfjhlLIL9HrONZftsDOtAC9PuN-SCOq9gfVP85~dGcjdOAn15pz6SR7MxqSdHMb6xUEnHDVvdFDDW-gPeduT7HnknYmMzcQsyP40pSdP3SOGeliIDrkt1NGN5RdgLI~reiMpHy4R2tlwWUJ~CIBjvjZwyr1Dpmm85MrwRgR3Zqp-GpTD~RHAPxBd82zfdifi8xB~ZSL~Q1go7uV9UQToZCBsSKyWQ17mYAGCN07E9EBVS~LC5gZ6dKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Jacksonville, FL","date","2025-04-10T00:00:00Z","article","Ed Lukakovic, a planner with the City of Jacksonville planning department, presented a small-scale land-use amendment application (LSA l5998-24c) for a 15.87-acre site at 5355 Pickettville Road at the Waterways Commission meeting on April 10. The companion adoption ordinance was numbered 2025-0166. Lukakovic said the Planning Commission had approved the application on April 3, and the city council's land use and zoning committee would review it on April 15 ahead of a final city council public hearing on April 22.

Lukovic said the site is currently designated low-density residential and the application proposes changing the future land-use category to light industrial. The parcel contains about 1.57 acres of Category 2 wetlands that buffer 6 Mile Creek; Lukakovic said those wetlands are regulated and that a 100-foot industrial buffer along the creek applies. He described the site as largely undeveloped, with nearby uses including Pickett Elementary School, Westview Cemetery, a closed sanitary landfill to the south, and a mix of residential and industrial parcels in the vicinity.

Lukovic presented maps showing that more than half the site (about 10.4 acres) is within the FEMA 100-year floodplain (AE zone) and most of the property would be subject to coastal high-hazard and adaptation-area considerations. He said any encroachment into wetlands would require mitigation by law.

Michael Sittner, speaking for the property owner, said the owner does not have a specific end user identified but would market the site for light-industrial uses; potential uses mentioned included truck storage or parking, though Sittner said conventional light-industrial uses permitted in the zoning district would be allowed if approved.

Commission members asked about wetland class and mitigation requirements; Lukakovic confirmed the wetlands are Category 2 and subject to mitigation if altered. Commissioners also asked about stormwater controls if the site were paved or used for truck parking; staff said development of impervious surfaces would trigger required stormwater management and detention features.

A motion to approve the adoption ordinance 2025-0166 was made and seconded; the commission took a voice vote. The chair called for ayes and the motion passed. The commission recorded the action as an approval to forward the small-scale amendment and adoption ordinance through the city review process; the final decision is scheduled at the city council public hearing on April 22.

Quotes in this article come from Ed Lukakovic and Michael Sittner as recorded in the meeting transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Jacksonville, FL - Jacksonville Waterways Commission - Apr 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ed Lukakovic, planning department staff, presented a small-scale land-use amendment for 5355 Pickettville Road (15.87 acres) to change the future land-use category from low-density residential to light industrial; the Waterways Commission approved forwarding Adoption Ordinance 2025-0166 on April 10.","taxTitle","Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida","taxId",2881,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602292,"River report: temperatures normal, no harmful algal blooms; two recent manatee deaths noted",253,530000,783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d&start=530&end=783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d/thumbnail_530000.jpg","/articles/6602292/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/River-report-temperatures-normal-no-harmful-algal-blooms-two-recent-manatee-deaths-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602292-827d7cb7b3a2e3c7df88911e1c1697a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166968&Signature=Q99UE43scpZXsVI54DiyjiXqwZJ19XgS0cqEVsJTz4TQIUdwyX-GYIpYrDj7GC9RR01kx2T8HCYfm4DnaH6XsBeFP-jrYKHd5QPy1nVLEJidZ6R~cgyIQ21UKeDFxrK-pVqj-hRpmVM1vNFdEvtcAsLNgPB~q3p8IfE7BvBHdlRjMckaAyNinagmMaotlQMIkUty3WPc82bJn1Q-WzToht3DCPhPu3mHxcE7zE1RGl7pbsM9CA66jLCPHcerHccHnpGlIIzlGDc4EbMKR8PVKCSY6J4~uwPf6LNmI7b~fkfLSA6tUr~aXEYA47qSgsjGaWgNUPG2JNnYQmrdJVaGKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Pinto (listed on the meeting attendance roster) provided the Waterways Commission with a routine river conditions update on April 10, reporting typical seasonal temperatures and salinity measurements and noting two recent manatee deaths.

Dr. Pinto reported water temperatures around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and salinity readings ranging from about 23–33 parts per thousand at Mayport to 1–4 parts per thousand at Buckman, with intermediate readings at Dames Point, Jacksonville University and downtown monitoring locations. \"Water level's pretty normal, not really that elevated,\" Pinto said, and staff found no harmful algal bloom toxins in recent samples, though \"lots of mixed algae\" were present in the estuary.

Pinto told commissioners the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had been alerted to two recent manatee deaths: a perinatal carcass discovered near Big Fishingway Creek (decomposed and with an undetermined cause) and a separate fatality in Clay County in which an animal was crushed in a lock on the Cross Florida Barge Canal. Pinto said aerial surveys will resume this month after maintenance grounded the program earlier.

Pinto encouraged the public to use the commission's posted QR code to upload manatee and other wildlife sightings to the city website and solicited feedback on the reporting tool.

No commission action was taken; Pinto's update was presented for information and follow-up questions were answered by staff.","Dr. Pinto provided the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on April 10 with routine river monitoring data showing normal temperatures and salinity readings and reported two recent manatee deaths: one perinatal carcass found near Big Fishingway Creek and one animal crushed in a lock in Clay County.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602301,"FWC reconsiders proposal to open Pumpkin Hill Creek to shrimping after local opposition",503,1014000,1517000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d&start=1014&end=1517","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d/thumbnail_1014000.jpg","/articles/6602301/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/FWC-reconsiders-proposal-to-open-Pumpkin-Hill-Creek-to-shrimping-after-local-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602301-9abcf638d3d003fd303bbf8f183b7438/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166968&Signature=DLY1aHsBk1SEXn3FhEkeZhOyW4kn2M0hookv5Ozaw6JQO3yPILfhsX1uziIKGVj4GGSG-G~37USLQvD4HGEkOVCmIqJn~XaSd3OuoL9stp5vwTw8uhaSrE0lnxT7CihuJvQ698fMyyV8F2ftQYdSyUxsegJecATTFYgrsJp5Y5C-tqdlABoKmw4LElt~-fQyARD7ZyrF4z0vGMV~1OVkVRbWV4lvZLxq4NN2LIDIumTkkx5KyV~nFrgjzsIsZJFcBSphfy3Kvk9itfL5tP7CBD9clsmE6S42vGxukfy~x7lhrXj3Ruu~UFHtsX8k~AQHDLJMCuSVZRmGro2HaoJ8zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erica Burgess, a regional manager with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Division of Marine Fisheries Management, told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on April 10 that FWC staff have proposed two rule changes affecting Nassau and Duval counties: increasing the dead-shrimp allowance for commercial live-bait shrimpers from one gallon to five gallons, and opening portions of Pumpkin Hill Creek to seasonal recreational and commercial shrimp harvest from September through December.

The FWC proposal was prompted by commercial shrimpers who asked the commission to reduce regulatory burdens, Burgess said, and staff have held multiple public workshops in Northeast Florida. \"The proposal is to allow commercial live bait shrimpers in Nassau and Duval Counties to increase their dead shrimp allowance from 1 gallon to 5 gallons,\" Burgess said. On Pumpkin Hill Creek she said the proposal would open the creek from the Nassau River down to Tiger Point for a limited season.

The change to the dead-shrimp allowance would align Nassau and Duval with the rest of the state, Burgess said, and is intended to reduce waste by allowing baiters to retain dead shrimp that would otherwise be discarded. \"It still deters them from using practices that aren't good for keeping their live bait shrimp alive but it reduces waste,\" she said.

The Pumpkin Hill Creek proposal drew concern from Waterways Commission members and members of the public at the meeting. Elizabeth Filippelli, representing Duval Audubon and Timucuan Parks Foundation, urged the commission to oppose opening the preserve to shrimping, saying the area supports sensitive species and recreational uses. \"This is a vital ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife, including our vulnerable diamondback terrapins,\" Filippelli said during public comment.

Councilman Jimmy Paluso (District 7) told FWC staff he expected elected officials in Duval County would oppose opening the preserve and said he was pleased FWC was reconsidering. Several commissioners and local officials raised questions about bycatch, impacts to oysters and other habitat, potential user conflicts with kayaks and paddlers, and whether the scientific and economic bases for the change were sufficient. Commissioner Hardesty said a five-gallon allowance is a small amount, but asked why initial workshops were held elsewhere rather than in Northeast Florida; Burgess said multiple workshops have been held in the Jacksonville area.

Burgess told the commission FWC has received a formal resolution from the Jacksonville City Council opposing the Pumpkin Hill opening and that National Park Service staff at Timucuan National Park also objected. \"We are reconsidering our recommendation right now,\" she said, and FWC will consider public comments before making a final rule recommendation to the commission later this year. Burgess gave a web address and email for public comment (myFWC.com and marine@myFWC.com).

Commissioners asked whether the two proposed rule changes could be separated; Burgess said they could be split and handled independently. Commissioners also asked about economic analysis; Burgess said the proposal falls below FWC's threshold that would trigger a formal economic study. On the question of whether opening Pumpkin Hill Creek would increase shrimp abundance, Burgess said opening additional areas would not create more shrimp biologically but would create more places where harvest could occur.

No formal vote was taken by the Waterways Commission on the FWC proposal at the April 10 meeting. Burgess said FWC staff will take the commission's comments, stakeholder input and the city council resolution into account before making a final recommendation to the full commission.

The proposal remains under review; FWC staff said a final commission decision was postponed from an originally planned May date and no new date had been set during the April 10 meeting.

Quotes in this article come from Erica Burgess and Elizabeth Filippelli, as recorded in the Waterways Commission transcript for April 10.","Erica Burgess, a regional manager with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Division of Marine Fisheries Management, told the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on April 10 that FWC staff have proposed two rule changes affecting Nassau and Duval counties: increasing the dead-shrimp allowance for commercial live-bait shrimpers from one gallon to five gallons, and opening portions of Pumpkin Hill Creek to seasonal shrimp harvest.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602296,"Local group explores kayak launch on Ortega River; city ownership and parking are hurdles",412,114000,526000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d&start=114&end=526","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3004720-31617afda7283a2bbbeadf11b5f6737d/thumbnail_114000.jpg","/articles/6602296/Jacksonville/Duval-County/Florida/Local-group-explores-kayak-launch-on-Ortega-River-city-ownership-and-parking-are-hurdles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602296-5c5b2a03cede5915cea15341273921ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771166968&Signature=d6-pze2Af7NkCyFuNqbJAWeoaggWr~s62jwIqXylzmjh3fyWr2~62YETHQkbpBnzUX-O9HaPioMS5cKH4BUll5kcuWHouv6Zq76WHGMfPQzR~2k7W9k-m7fNSPBziuxLSzV8tHkROoJeqZEp4j62gWivPiFMKaHxZBkgjDagYVDmWz-06LrURQas68zBCZx9irzaIztdzQ-XHGOI1ejRquFMiOfVkhGVe1DJJnbELDFvRhUkCFYPkVBLndaXXLClFlObmqZOa4OjcvyM3VuxDzG~d2yvOSneDy4NKKq91Tzx6Ix92~wlD7Qp3bKAtNd3PuUg1CEcSWNjOiaK2l-zdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adam Hoyles, identified in meeting attendance as representing the Environmental Protection Board, briefed the Jacksonville Waterways Commission on April 10 about an informal project to develop a public kayak launch on the Ortega River, saying he has discussed options with landowners and local partners.

Hoyles described two potential sites. One is an approximately 80-acre forested floodplain owned by the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) near Collins Avenue where it crosses the Ortega River; Hoyles described that site as \"very challenging\" because it is a causeway and largely forested bottomland. The other potential launching area is an existing informal launch where people currently place kayaks from the shoulder of Argyle Forest Boulevard at Blanding Boulevard. Hoyles said converting the back of a nearby shopping-center parking lot into a formal launch would improve safety and public access.

Hoyles said he had contacted the private landowner who previously held the billboard at that intersection, identified as Jim Hogan of Devco, and learned Lamar Advertising now owns the billboard and would be willing to work with the city. \"They're willing to do a deal with the city,\" he said, and he introduced Lamar representatives to City staff by email. Mike Barker, a member of the Water Waste Commission, said NFLT has offered help and that Lamar may prefer a long-term lease or a sale; Barker noted a long-term lease could be an option if the city does not want to purchase the property outright.

Commission members highlighted practical barriers. Hoyles said the shopping-center parcel is held by a series of limited liability companies and a current contact is difficult to locate. Brian Burkett (not present at the meeting) was described as a staff contact who told commissioners the city would likely need fee ownership rather than a short-term arrangement before spending fine money on construction. Barker said Lamar \"doesn't really want to own the land\" and may prefer a long-term lease rather than owning 12 acres of bottomland.

Hoyles said the proposed launch would improve safety compared with launching from the highway shoulder and could create a safe public access point that repurposes underused parking. No formal decision or funding commitment was made at the April 10 meeting.","A Waterways Commission member reported plans to pursue a kayak launch on the Ortega River at Argyle Forest Boulevard and Blanding Boulevard. The concept has potential sites owned by the North Florida Land Trust and a private shopping-center lot, but the commission heard city ownership and long-term parking access present complications.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Waterways Commission approves small-scale land-use change for Pickettville Road site; ordinance moves to city council

River report: temperatures normal, no harmful algal blooms; two recent manatee deaths noted

FWC reconsiders proposal to open Pumpkin Hill Creek to shrimping after local opposition

Local group explores kayak launch on Ortega River; city ownership and parking are hurdles