Jacksonville council members, residents debate proposed Northeast Development Review Board

Council members and planning staff met at a public notice meeting to discuss an ordinance to create a Northeast Development Review Board (NDRB) covering the area north of the St. Johns River, east of State Road 17/Main Street and extending to the county line, Councilman Mike Gay said at the start of the meeting.

The measure, presented as an adaptation of the existing Downtown Development Review Board, would shift certain planning-review responsibilities for the Northeast from the Planning Commission to a local review board. Proponents at the meeting said the board would give residents and business owners a more accessible forum to shape development. Planning staff and some council members urged caution, citing added administrative cost, potential inconsistency with citywide planning and other intermediary options.

“This will probably be one of several meetings … there’s a very good chance we may not get through all of it today,” Councilman Mike Gay said as he opened the discussion and described the geographic scope and mix of uses in the area, which he called unique for its…