By Kate Kimmel
The Nassau County Planning and Zoning Board voted to transmit a rezoning plan that would allow large-scale development on roughly 3,000 acres north of State Road 200 between Interstate 95 and Griffin Road on Monday.
The zoning change divides land primarily owned by Rayonier, a forest management and real estate investment company, into transects. The land is an essential part of the county’s SR 200/A1A corridor master plan, which seeks to create neighborhoods and workplaces along the corridor to accommodate Nassau’s growing population.
At the center of the affected area sits a 10-acre property owned by Paramount Adaptive Riding Center, a nonprofit that provides therapeutic horseback riding for neurodivergent children, disabled veterans and trauma survivors. When founder Krista Jerkovitch bought the property, it and the surrounding land carried an open rural zoning designation.
Following the board’s vote, the land surrounding Paramount is now designated “suburban,” allowing up to five dwellings per acre under the county’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
Eleven county residents and Paramount supporters urged the board to redraw the zoning map, warning that nearby development could jeopardize the center’s peaceful setting, limit future expansion and damage the environment.
“There are lots of concerns about a high-density area being built around us relating to the safety of our students and horses, flooding issues and the atmosphere at our farm,” Jerkovitch said.
Her husband, Anthony Jerkovitch, said new housing would increase demand for the center’s services but leave no room to grow. Volunteer Dr. Nancy Webster agreed, adding, “When you bring in more housing, you bring in more families who will need the services of a program like Paramount.”
Nassau County Manager Taco Pope dismissed concerns that rezoning would affect Paramount’s operations, saying the organization could apply for conditional zoning in the future to permit equestrian use.
Some residents argued that Paramount’s “rural transitional” zoning classification was incorrect, noting that as an agricultural facility, the center should fall under a rural or natural category. Such a change would require a transitional zone between Paramount and surrounding suburban areas.
Volunteer Alice Weiss asked the board to establish a buffer around the facility’s acreage. “My urgent request to you all is to provide a protected area of buffer that will allow the students and the horses to be clearly protected in the rezoning decision,” she said.
Several speakers also questioned the lack of an environmental impact assessment for the project.
“I understand that there will be buffers, but if wetlands are filled in, we don’t want our facility to become wetlands,” Jerkovitch said at a previous hearing.
Nassau County Commissioner Allyson McCullough said environmental information was included in the county’s 2013 Corridor Study, though the document itself noted that more in-depth feasibility and environmental studies would still be required before construction.
Nassau County planner Elizabeth Backe said environmental considerations were accounted for, and that wetland areas were designated as natural zones off-limits to development. She added that developers must still obtain approval from the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Wes Hinton, a representative of Rayonier’s real estate subsidiary, Raydient Places and Properties, said the company has a “good track record in Wildlight for buffering.” He added, “A vote to transmit this tonight is not a vote against Paramount.”
Hinton encouraged the board to consider conditional zoning for equestrian uses but did not say whether Rayonier would sell nearby land to the nonprofit.
Several speakers shared how Paramount had changed their lives. Retired Air Force Lt. Janet Escobido broke into tears while describing how the horses helped her cope with losing her husband.
“I grew up in the suburbs of D.C. and learned to ride at Patty’s Riding Stable,” she said. “Now if you go to that area, it’s nothing but townhouses and traffic and congestion. It’s ruined. I beg you to think about preserving space for us veterans who need recreation close to home.”
Warren Matielo, a veteran and grandfather of a 5-year-old who benefits from Paramount’s services, said he disagreed with the board’s decision to rezone before Raydient had established specific plans for the land.
“As a businessman, I know you can’t run a business without a plan, and it doesn’t seem like there’s been enough planning for these changes that are happening so quickly,” he said.
Hinton said Raydient does not yet have solid plans for how the site will be developed. McCullough, however, pointed to the SR 200 master plan approved in 2021, which she said outlines the development vision for the area.
Following the unanimous vote to rezone the area, several county commissioners gave final comments.
“There will be those barriers and buffers and protections,” McCullough said. “[Rayonier] is a good neighbor, you have a wonderful facility and I am confident that you will continue to thrive.”
Commissioner John Martin seconded her comments, reiterating that if Paramount were to buy more land they could request a conditional use permit.
Commissioner Klint Farmer said “I think that this is the best thing that could ever happen to Paramount, honestly, because you guys are getting some real press out of your efforts.”
Though Rayonier has not announced official development plans for the area, once the area is developed it will become a segment of the county’s “Timber to Tides” overlay, which seeks to build and connect communities from Wildlight to Yulee’s east end. The SR200/A1A corridor master plan projects that the land will house low, medium and high residential areas, businesses and industrial facilities.
