The historic Bowden farmstead property on Loretto Road has been posted for REZONING from RR zoning district (ONE unit per acre) to PUD to allow for up to 7 units per acre or 56 units on 23 acres of farmland and pecan grove.
Why Oppose Ordinance 2020-20?
If approved, this rezoning would create a development that deviates substantially from its current RR (Residential Rural) zoning district and would be out of character with the adjacent surrounding properties which are also predominantly RR.
This rezoning would generate an additional traffic burden on Loretto Road which is already considered a “failed” and over capacity roadway. AND the only way to widen could be through a “taking” of homes and properties thru eminent domain.
This rezoning will add a high number of additional students to local crowded schools.
What you can do!
1. PRIORITY… CALL or E-MAIL the District 6 Councilmember (Michael Boylan), the Planning Commission and the Land Use and Zoning Committee before the first meeting scheduled for Feb 6th!
Request that your phone calls, E-mails and/or letters be placed in the legislative record or file. Similar intrusions into Mandarin have been defeated due in part to strong public opposition (Julington Creek high rise, Oak Bluff Lane condos, Claire Lane apartments). Points: Quality of life, adverse impact, incompatibility, detrimental effects on neighborhoods, precedent-setting, sanctity of neighborhoods, managed growth, traffic concerns, etc.
Land Use and Zoning Committee (LUZ) Members (Council Office: 255-5200):
Link: https://www.coj.net/city-council/standing-committees/luz
Danny Becton – Chair Phone: (904) 255-5211 Email: DBecton@coj.net Assistant: Tiziana Onstead
Michael Boylan - Vice Chair Phone: (904) 255-5206 Email: MBoylan@coj.net Assistant: Sonia Johnson
Garrett Dennis Phone: (904) 255-5209 Email: GarrettD@coj.net Assistant: Taryn Roberts
Al Ferraro Phone: (904) 255-5202 Email: Ferraro@coj.net Assistant: Connie Holt
Reggie Gaffney Phone: (904) 255-5207 Email: RGaffney@coj.net Assistant: Joe Zimmerman
Ju'Coby Pittman Phone: (904) 255-5208 Email: JPittman@coj.net Assistant: Mercedes Parker
Randy White Phone: (904) 255-5212 Email: RandyWhite@coj.net Assistant: Rebekah Hagan
2. ATTEND and SPEAK at the Meetings including Planning Commission, Land Use and Zoning Committee (LUZ) meeting and before City Council.
Meetings will be held at, City Council Chambers, 1st Floor of City Hall, St.James Building, 117 West Duval St
Planning Commission- Feb 6th 1pm
City Council Feb 11th 5pm
Land Use & Zoning Committee Feb 19th 5pm
3. SPREAD THE WORD to your neighbors and throughout the community.
4. SIGN a petition to oppose the rezoning. Share the link on all your social media platforms
Link: http://chng.it:n7G6SLXBps
5. PLACE SIGNS on your street.
6. CONTACT the Southeast Citizen’s Planning Advisory Committee (CPAC), which advises the LUZ Committee on community issues.
CPAC District 3, Southeast Contact Information:
City Neighborhood Coordinator: Rosemary Wesolowski, rosemary@coj.net (904) 255-8261
City Planner: Arimus Wells, ArimusW@coj.net (904) 255-7824
CPAC Chair: Carol D'Onofrio, (904) 519-0924
Link: https://www.coj.net/departments/neighborhoods/neighborhood-services-office/citizen-planning-advisory-committees-(cpacs)/cpac-district-3-southeast
7. STAY VIGILANT! A common tactic is to wait until the opposition has receded or isn’t paying attention during holidays or summer vacation season.
8. WRITE and CALL the COJ Planning and Development (255-7865).
Attn: Ordinance 2020-20
Folks Huxford, Chief
Current Planning Division
Ed Ball Building
214 N. Hogan Street, Suite 300
Jacksonville, FL 32202
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Together, we can protect and preserve our neighborhoods!
History of the Bowden House:
On Loretto Road sits a house that exemplifies the rural charm of Mandarin. It is a simple home with “strong vertical character” that dates back to the turn of the century – built in 1907 (Wayne Wood, “Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage,” 1989). Originally, it featured “a two-tier veranda, which wrapped around to the right side of the house” (Wood, 1989). While most historic homes in the area have been constructed during the 19th Century, this building denotes “an important link to Mandarin’s architecture” (Wood, 1989).
Shortly after getting married in 1906, this house, on 25 acres of land, was built for Fleming H. Bowden and his growing family. Bowden had many different occupations during his life and was a very prominent figure around the area. He was a blacksmith, working out of his barn behind the house, and a vegetable peddler. Riding around Mandarin in his horse-drawn wagon, Bowden would spend the day going to various truck farms (small farms with the intentions of growing crop solely for the market) and buy produce to be hauled up to Jacksonville (Wood, 1989).
According to “Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage” (1989), after loading up his wagon with vegetables and other fruits in the afternoon, the trek to the River City was done at night. Bowden would sleep at the reins of his horses as they traveled down a “long sandy road.” Waking up by the clatter of the brick pavement was how he knew he arrived to his destination in South Jacksonville (part of the present day San Marco area, this used to be its own town, much like Mandarin in the mid-1800s) to catch the ferry into downtown. I can only assume that this long sandy road referred to is present day San Jose Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue…how times have changed.
In 1921, with the opening of the St. Johns River Bridge, Bowden bought a couple of Model-T Fords to make the journey a little easier. It is said he was one of the first to own a car in Mandarin. His most noteworthy job was serving as the Duval County Supervisor of Elections for 21 years until his death in 1964 (Wood, 1989).
Fleming Bowden had seven children, all of whom were born in this house. In speaking with Suzanne Bowden Hardison, one of Bowden’s grandchildren, she explained that her father, Upton Bowden, one of the Bowden seven, would hide in “secret closets” in the house when being babysat by his two sisters. His sisters would be in a panic thinking they lost him during their watch — a classic sibling prank.
Bowden’s granddaughter described him as a very friendly man. Outside of his life as a public servant, the hobby he was most fond of was farming. He was not one to shy away from working in the dirt, hand tilling the ground to help the citrus trees grow on his land. Some of his equipment he used is on display in the 1876 Barn in Walter Jones Historical Park.
Like with most houses that are more than 100 years old, this place needs a little tender loving care. It is buildings like this that make Mandarin, Mandarin. Surrounded by huge pecan trees and bordered by a classic white wooden fence, this home and the rest of our historic farmhouses give our community our identity — deserving our utmost attention in preserving them for generations to come.