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Can Florida’s smallest city resist Marineland’s development?

Posted on by Bobb
Can Florida’s smallest city resist Marineland’s development?

The tiny town of Marinelandwhich borders Flagler and St. Johns counties on State Road A1A could become the site of a new mixed-use development if a proposal for a complex of homes, hotels and commercial real estate goes forward.

The project, proposed by Atlanta-based Jacoby Development, will be discussed at a meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. at 9741 Ocean Shores Blvd. in St. Augustine. Part of the property in question is within the jurisdiction of Flagler County.

According to the Jacoby Development website: “Marineland is poised for development as an eco-tourism paradise. The City of Marineland will consist of 241 residential units, 35 apartments or 70 beach hotels, a town center and 50,000 square feet of commercial space along with the potential to create another 300-plus units.”

“The development will also be accompanied by the Marineland Marina project, a cruising destination located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach in Florida,” according to Jacoby Development’s website.

Jim Jacoby of Jacoby Development, which owns some of the last 37 acres of undeveloped land in Marineland, did not return calls from The News-Journal.

Marineland Mayor Gary Inks also did not immediately return a call from The News-Journal.

Online petition signed by thousands ahead of town meeting

Some residents of the small town and its surrounding areas appear ready to fight for development of this small plot of land bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, which was originally founded as a location for underwater filming of films and newsreels starting in 1938. it is now a tourist attraction for swimming with dolphins called Marine Dolphin Adventure.

At the moment, 3826 signatures have been collected. Online petition on Change.org oppose the project.

In 2018, the city commission considered a proposal from a developer who wanted to build a large RV park in the city; this plan was not implemented, but overdevelopment of the village continues to be a problem for residents.