Water Lily has slipped beneath the surface.
A proposed residential development that once called for 3,000 homes in rural St. Johns County has been dramatically downsized following public opposition and a unanimous rejection from the county’s Planning and Zoning Agency.
Originally submitted as Water Lily, the project by Jacksonville-based developer Aegis Gibson LLC was envisioned as a 1,030-acre mixed-use community with 2,800 homes and 385,000 square feet of commercial space at County Roads 214 and 13 North.
The proposal met intense resistance from area residents and was ultimately denied a recommendation for approval by the PZA on April 3.
During that meeting, a parade of objectors voiced concerns about the project’s scale.
Dozens of speakers warned that the development would significantly worsen traffic congestion, put pressure on local infrastructure, and erode the rural, agricultural character of the area.
Many described the proposal as incompatible with the surrounding landscape, which is largely composed of farmland and open space.
In response to the backlash, Aegis Gibson has submitted a dramatically revised plan, now titled Tocoi River Estates. The new version proposes only 205 single-family homes on approximately 1,035 acres. Commercial space has been eliminated entirely.
According to the developer, the updated plan incorporates substantial environmental protections, including the preservation of more than 265 acres of wetlands and the dedication of 200 additional acres for open space and trails.
Aegis Gibson says the revised project will generate approximately $3.5 million annually in tax revenue once built.
Prior to the PZA vote on the original plan, the developer had argued that Water Lily would improve local infrastructure, conserve natural areas within the site, and help meet housing demand in St. Johns County. Those arguments failed to persuade the public or planning officials.
Aegis Gibson is presenting the rebranded proposal as a more balanced and context-sensitive alternative. The development will not be age-restricted.
The property lies about 15 miles west of the I-95 interchange with County Road 207 and approximately 13 miles north of Hastings.
A new hearing before the county’s Planning and Zoning Agency has not yet been scheduled.
