|
Leap in residential growth
inevitable? By Brad Buck
PALATKA — Palatka has a population of about 11,000, but
look for that number to grow, possibly by leaps and bounds,
city officials said.
City Manager Allen Bush made it clear to city commissioners
last week that he expects growth to come to the city, and not
just a few houses or businesses.
The city's Building and Zoning Department is getting many
requests for information, and that shows that the population
projections of the state are understated, Bush said in his
strategic planning report to city commissioners.
First came the proposal to build a condominium project on
the old Florida Furniture property on River Street.
Now comes word of a proposed development on the Whitehead
Property off Lundy Road. It has the potential to add almost
3,000 new residents to the city, Bush wrote.
The property is owned by Palatka Land and Timber Inc., city
Planning Director Adam Mengel said Wednesday.
"Developers are looking to begin this project immediately
with build-out being in 10 years," Bush wrote.
The city manager also said development on the city's west
side will remain strong with inquiries now being made for
"substantial residential development, whereas previous
development tended to be commercial," he wrote.
Mengel said Jim Morgan of Sperry Van Ness Investec Services
in Jacksonville met with him and Bush two weeks ago to talk
about water and sewer availability for a possible 1,300-acre
development off Lundy Road. Morgan's company is listing the
Lundy Road property.
But Mengel cautioned that no one has submitted any
development proposal in writing for the property.
Morgan was out of the office and unavailable for comment
Wednesday.
Since Sperry Van Ness Investec listed the property, Mengel
said he has had two potential developers ask about the
land.
Mengel said two parcels of land owned by the Whitehead
family were being listed. One is 1,300 acres, the other 130
acres. Both are in Putnam County, but the 130-acre site is
contiguous to property already in the city of Palatka.
The land in question is presently zoned agriculture by the
county.
The 1,300-acre site is located on the east side of Lundy
Road and south of Lundy Dirt Road.
bbuck@palatkadailynews.com | 
