Bunnell Housing Development Killed by City Commission

A massive proposed housing development in Bunnell appears to be no more, thanks to a vote on Monday by the Bunnell City Commission. The Reserve at Haw Creek, as the development was tentatively named, would’ve been 2,787 acres and brought some six to eight thousand new homes to Bunnell, plus an RV park with 800 spots. The developers will have 30 days to appeal the decision. A large contingent of residents attended Monday evening’s meeting, almost universally opposing the project. Public comments were lengthy, forcing commissioners to reckon with the sentiment of those who showed up to engage in the civic process. With Bunnell’s population at 3,276 as of the 2020 census, if each new home had added only one new resident then Bunnell’s population still had the potential to triple once The Reserve at Haw Creek was completed. The City Commission one Monday was given the opportunity to approve a statutory development agreement for The Reserve at Haw Creek. Documentation from the meeting agenda outlined a series of infrastructure projects planned by owner JM Properties and developer Northeast Florida Developers. Among the aspects agreed to by the groups were a water treatment facility, sewer lines, stormwater infrastructure, and a donation of four acres for ‘future satellite City offices’. The majority vote to strike down the development was formed by David Atkinson, John Rogers, and Pete Young. The dissenting vote was made up of Mayor Catherine Robinson and Dean Sechrist. Reasoning to support The Reserve included concerns about diversifying the city’s tax base, and creating a more robust consumer-base for Bunnell’s local businesses. Opponents worried about the strain the new homes could create for traffic, schools, and flooding.