Jubilee developer's push for special district in Pace fails amid density concerns

Alex Miller, Pensacola News Journal
·3 min read
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Santa Rosa County Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to shoot down the idea of turning the massive Jubilee project in Pace into a Community Development District.

"A lot of folks, and actually most folks (I've spoken with) don't want this. They're concerned about it," said Commissioner James Calkins, who represents the district that includes the Jubilee project. "And so I'm going to have to vote against what I want and I'm going to have to vote with the people."

The project developer's ultimate goal was to turn the project into a CDD as a way to finance the development. A CDD is an insular, special-purpose governance structure that provides a way to manage and finance infrastructure required to support the development of a community.

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In Thursday's discussion, after voting down the CDD proposal, board members went a step further by noting they were also against the increased density that would be needed to fulfill the full extent of the project.

The Jubilee development is a roughly 2,700-acre project planned to include housing, schools, a medical campus, commercial areas and more. It will sit north of Pace, mainly between Willard Norris and Luther Fowler roads.

Developers have said the project draws inspiration from the picturesque town of Seaside in Walton County and from Celebration, a master-planned community south of Orlando founded by the Walt Disney Company.

Ron Reeser, chief executive officer of the Eagle Group — which owns the Jubilee group — previously told the News Journal that if the CDD proposal fails, he still plans to develop.

"So the difference between having a CDD and not having a CDD, one of them is the transparency associated with the project," said Jonathan Johnson, an attorney representing the Jubilee project, explaining that an internal board helps run the project and eventually transitions to being homeowner-led.

For months, residents in Santa Rosa County have been voicing their concerns about the project potentially creating undue burden on existing infrastructure, exacerbating the county's stormwater issues and eroding the rural lifestyle of current residents.

Eagle Group CEO Ron Reeser speaks during a town hall meeting about the proposed Jubilee Community Development District in Pace on Aug. 8.
Eagle Group CEO Ron Reeser speaks during a town hall meeting about the proposed Jubilee Community Development District in Pace on Aug. 8.

A number of county residents spoke to the commissioners about their apprehension on the project.

One in particular, Bill Hayden, said he was aware that the area will likely be developed by someone, but added, "my contention is, it is the wrong design and far too dense for that community. We've had to absorb all of the subdivisions that have gone in around us already."

Ryan Fowler, whose family lives close to the Jubilee site, said the development will damage the country lifestyle they moved to the area to enjoy.

"I ask you commissioners to grant a favor to the citizens of Santa Rosa County by voting no today," Fowler said.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Santa Rosa County votes no on Jubilee Community Development District