The applicant is requesting the rezoning of approximately 3.08 acres from Open Rural (OR) to Commercial, General (CG). The property has a Future Land Use Map (FLUM) designation of Commercial (COM). 

As stated in the Intent preamble of Article 16 of the Land Development Code (LDC), the CG zoning district “designates areas for general commercial uses which will meet the retail sales and service needs of Nassau County residents. This district is intended to encourage the concentration of general commercial uses and not the extension of strip commercial areas.” 

The preamble further states that the “Commercial General District shall abut a roadway classified as a collector or higher facility on the adopted functional highway classification map of the adopted comprehensive plan.” The property meets this standard as it fronts on US-1, an arterial roadway. 

The proposed rezoning is in a transitioning area characterized by a mix of Open Rural (OR) and Commercial General (CG) uses along US-1 and residential communities to the southeast in and around the Town of Hilliard. The existing uses in the immediate vicinity include commercial services, a retrofitted apartment complex (converted from a motel), timberland, and mobile home and single-family dwellings. 

At their meeting on January 16, 2024, the Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval of the rezoning application. The motion to recommend approval passed with a vote of 6-0.