Jubilee gets 1st rezoning win; plans shops, townhomes, village square off Berryhill Road

The people of Santa Rosa County are finally going to get to see what the developers of Jubilee can do when given a window of opportunity.

County Commissioners on Thursday approved the development group's request to rezone 34 acres off of Berryhill Road to allow the Jubilee Development Group to create a mixed-use community that will feature shops, restaurants, about 60 townhomes and possibly a grocery store, all of it built around a town square and surrounded by ample green space.

Santa Rosa County Planning Director Shawn Ward confirmed the 4-1 vote in favor of rezoning constituted Jubilee’s first successful effort in that arena in 17 years of trying. Ward said the group does hold previously approved plans that allow for construction of a subdivision that has been sold to Holiday Builder.

The section to be developed is separated by wetlands and utilities from a much larger 2,700 parcel in rural Pace that Jubilee has been trying to get permission to build upon for 17 years. Daniel Saba, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said, contrary to what some opponents of the project have said, there are no plans to turn the isolated parcel into a "gateway" for the larger development.

Saba said what this development could do is allow the Jubilee Development Group to showcase the vision of its CEO Ron Reeser.

Related: Jubilee developer's push for special district in Pace fails amid density concerns

"This really is one isolated piece, a postage stamp, of the opportunity we're asking for to actually show what the Jubilee developers can do with the property," Saba said. "If nothing else we're just looking for a chance here."

As with any request for Jubilee development, the rezoning request, which had been recommended for approval by the county's Zoning Board, was met with heavy opposition. Residents lined up to express worries about adding traffic to Berryhill Road, which is presently a two-lane road, or allowing high-density residential and commercial development on agricultural land they contend is too quickly disappearing in northern Santa Rosa County.

"We don't need any more car washes, strip malls, fast food joints, gas stations, grocery stores, mattress stores, chain drug stores, storage units, cannabis outlets or Dollar Generals," said Pace area resident David Lear. "What Santa Rosans do want are the quiet, rural tracts of land that prompted many of us to settle here originally. We like trees and wildlife in our back yards."

Saba said a lot of the negativity toward Jubilee is directed towards the name itself. The development group has been working to gain project approvals in the county for a long time and over the years "there has been a lot of negative outcry and negative press" directed toward the Jubilee brand.

"This particular 30-acre project is getting highly discriminated against because of the larger land holdings this same applicant has," he said. "We're not asking to change that entire zoning at this point."

County Commissioner Colten Wright said he agreed with Saba's assessment that the name of Jubilee had been unfairly used against the smaller development being considered. Despite the opposition expressed, he said he was prepared to support the rezoning of the 30-acre parcel on its merits.

"I don't have a problem with the request given the concept that's there," he said.

Previously: 'Retail village' in Pace would allow residents to shop where they live, developers say

Commission Chairman Sam Parker justified his own support for the project by noting that he and every commissioner he has served with in eight years on the board have voted against Jubilee Development Group's requests to develop its property.

"We have voted against Jubilee every step of the way," he said.

Saba's argument that the somewhat self-contained Jubilee development could actually have a positive influence on traffic flow by putting shopping and restaurants closer to the homes they are being built around was supported by members of the commission, who said smart growth is a concept the county needs to embrace.

"It's hard to see smart growth and vote against it," said Commissioner Kerry Smith.

The Commission approved the rezoning 4-1 with Commissioner Ray Eddington casting the single vote against.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Santa Rosa Commission approves Jubilee rezoning for Pace development