JACKSONVILLE BEACH | The developer of a proposed 427-unit luxury apartment community has revised its plan for the project that would replace Adventure Landing amusement park in Jacksonville Beach.

The major revisions include increasing by 60 percent the amount of land planned for conservation/recreation/open space, reducing by 40 percent the amount of property being developed and adding a 2,000-square-foot building designated for a coffee shop or a restaurant.

Trevato Development Group still proposes 427 apartments at the site fronting Beach Boulevard. But it has reconfigured its plans so there will be a 67 percent traffic reduction compared to the development potential, according to its modified proposal.

The Jacksonville Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to consider the amended rezoning and future land use applications from Trevato during its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at Jacksonville Beach City Hall, 11 3rd St. N.

City staff is recommending approval of Trevato's modified rezoning application "assuming approval" of the companion future land use amendment. The plan complies with the relevant land development code, according to a report from Heather Ireland, director of the Planning and Development Department, prepared for the meeting.

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Jacksonville Beach City Council can accept or reject a Planning Commission recommendation.

Trevato, a privately held real estate investment and development company based in Jacksonville Beach, recently announced the revised plans in a news release.

The design and permitting process generally takes about 15 months. If the rezoning and land use is approved in November,  construction could begin in the first quarter of 2024, according to a representative for Trevato Group.

Opened in 1995 Adventure Landing Jacksonville Beach remains in business at 1944 Beach Boulevard. The popular park's owner previously said he was looking to relocate to a new site.

Its sister amusement park Adventure Landing Jacksonville — at 4825 Blanding Blvd. on the city's Westside — closed on June 27, 2021, after 24 years in business. The property subsequently was sold to Amazon for use as a parking lot for its delivery center.

Development plans revised

Pushback from residents plus concern about protected wetlands led to the revisions.

The main property consists of just over 22 acres of land located on the south side of Beach Boulevard just east of the Beach Boulevard bridge.

Trevato unveiled its original proposal to redevelop the Adventure Landing Jacksonville Beach property into apartments in June 2021. At that time, it was estimated the project would cost about $80 million.

After holding two public workshops about the original plan and analyzing the proposal, city staff recommended the Planning Commission deny that original rezoning and land use application.

Staff noted concern about the impact on protected wetlands and residents' concerns that the proposed development was too big for that location. The project as originally proposed didn't comply with the city's Comprehensive Plan, staff determined.

In December 2021, the Planning Commission deferred action on the application when  Trevato asked for time to revise their plans and re-submit their rezoning and land use applications.

Trevato submitted the amended plans for the mixed-use development on Aug. 25. The most significant changes include:

• Increasing the conservation and recreation area to 19.43 acres from 6.83 acres.

• Reducing the planned lands zoned for Community Commercial and Low-Density Residential use by half.

• Condensing the mixed-use development parcel to 10.9 acres, which is a 40 percent decrease in total land development as permitted by the city of Jacksonville Beach Comprehensive Plan

The proposed amendments "will result in approximately 43 acres of open space and conservation land, comprising 80 percent of the property," Trevato said in the news release.

The revised plan also includes the construction of a viewing platform that could be connected to the public right-of-way. The platform would provide "a vista of the conservation area that will be open to the community."

The development is among several mixed-use developments or renovations in Jacksonville Beach, some by Trevato, including the Gallery, which reactivated the former J. Johnson Gallery along the First Street North and Fourth Avenue corridor that includes O-Ku; he former location of the Dolphin Depot at 704 1st St. N.; property at 502 1st St. N.; and the renovation of Surfer Bar and Rip Curl at 200 1st. St. N.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Adventure Landing apartment plans change in Jacksonville Beach