First Baptist Church proposes 12.3-acre satellite campus at Hamilton and U.S. 17 in Nassau County

Ron Flick, representing First Baptist Church, Central Nassau, told the Nassau County Development Review Committee on March 18 that the church plans a satellite campus on a 12.3-acre parcel at the intersection of Hamilton and U.S. 17.

The project would place about 12,500 square feet of building area on the former staging yard used by Myers Tractor Service and Myers Trucking Service. Flick said the parcel was acquired in December and that the church is aiming to complete the project “in the next 9 months to a year.”

County staff used the pre-application meeting to outline requirements the applicant must meet at formal submittal. Stephanie Kaiser, planner, said the site is zoned Commercial General and assigned a commercial future land-use designation; it therefore “will be subject to the maximum intensity standards outlined in the future land use element of the comp plan.” Kaiser also noted landscaping and screening requirements under local code LDC 3.705.

Caleb Person of roadway/drainage review told the applicant that vehicle use areas “are required to be paved” under county roadway and drainage standards and cited stormwater requirements in Article 10; he said those requirements overlap with the St. Johns River Water Management District. Person also noted that “a 6 foot sidewalk is required along the property frontage” and that a 6-foot connection into the site will be required.

County staff referenced traffic-review rules under a BOCC resolution. Person said he had not yet confirmed whether the church will need a full traffic study but recommended the applicant confirm requirements before submitting engineering plans.

Health department staff Ronnie (last name not specified in the transcript) told the applicant that if the sewer force main is across the street the project “would not be required to hook up to it.” He advised that, absent a required sewer connection, the project would need a septic permit and a public-use well permit and associated water testing. Ronnie also said county practice can require mandatory hookup when a gravity sewer is within roughly 50 feet of a parcel and that water hookup is required if a water line or hydrant is within a quarter mile.

Constance Lake of the building department recommended a secondary access point — at minimum as an emergency access — so traffic would not “bottleneck down at the bottom” of the proposed loop drive. Lake also warned that, depending on occupant load and type of construction, the building “may be required to have the fire sprinkler system.” Amanda Balvin of the fire department reiterated that an emergency-only access with a Knox padlock would be an acceptable option for fire access.

Ron Flick told the committee the project team has already provided surveys and a wetland delineation as part of initial planning. County staff reminded the applicant that a comprehensive set of comments will be provided during the formal submittal review for a preliminary binding site plan (PBSP), site engineering plan, final development plan, or plat. Staff also noted that current county procedure requires DRC approval prior to commencement of construction.

Flick said the applicant expects to submit engineering and planning materials “very soon, probably within 30 days.” County staff noted the PBSP and site engineering submittals can be filed together to expedite review; staff are also working on code revisions that could make the PBSP step optional in the future.

No formal decisions were made at the pre-application meeting; staff provided guidance and listed submittal requirements the applicant must meet during formal reviews.

Next steps: the applicant plans to submit formal applications to Development Services; the county will issue detailed written comments and any required technical studies during the engineering and planning review process.