MACCLENNY, Fla. – A proposed 2,000-acre master-planned community in Macclenny is generating both interest and apprehension among residents and city leaders.
The development plan includes 2,500 homes, a community farm, commercial and retail spaces, industrial development, and a proposed flyover to redirect truck traffic away from downtown.
At a Thursday night workshop at the Baker County School Board, developers presented their vision to a large audience, emphasizing the project’s potential to create jobs and improve infrastructure.
The commercial and retail centers are projected to bring 1,500 jobs, while the industrial zone could generate 5,000 jobs.
Macclenny Mayor Mark Bryant acknowledged the need for growth but emphasized the importance of careful planning.
“People need places to live. People need places to work,” Bryant said. “But I don’t want communities where you can jump from rooftop to rooftop... and I don’t want to see us financially overwhelmed.”
Residents expressed concerns about the potential loss of Macclenny’s small-town charm and the strain on local resources.
One woman compared the situation to her husband’s hometown in Texas, which grew into a suburb of Houston.
“I hear the stories of how it used to be. It is not a charming small town. It is a suburb of Houston, and it’s just a very tragic loss,” she said.
Former city commissioner Phil Rhoden voiced support for growth but urged caution.
“Hopefully, they’re going to be amenable to compromising on the density. The city of Macclenny right now is 7,000 people. A buildout like this will be approximately 10,000 people. We can’t take that at one shot,” Rhoden said.
Thursday’s workshop was the first step in the planning process. The next step will involve the developers presenting their proposal at a regular city commission meeting, according to Bryant.