Jacksonville City Council to consider $11 million credit to Sleiman's company

[tufsu1]

Ennis: isn't it the Planning Department, with the Planning Director being ultimately responsible, who administers the Mobility Fee?

yes....but the changes enacted in 2013 (championed by Paul Harden and Sleiman) allow for credits for "major" improvements not in the plan but deemed helpful to systemwide circulation/mobility....and the legislation required those credits to be voted on case-by-case by City Council.

[edjax]

And then we all worry about giving Khan some incentives to help revitalize downtown while we give this joker and the Eastland groups basically incentives for urban sprawl.

[tufsu1]

And then we all worry about giving Khan some incentives to help revitalize downtown while we give this joker and the Eastland groups basically incentives for urban sprawl.

credits and incentives aren't necessarily the same thing....fact is Sleiman also wanted incentives to redevelop the Landing....and wanted the City to pay for infrastructure improvements (like removing the Main St bridge ramp) that made his project more viable.

[brainstormer]

I thought the whole purpose of the original Mobility Fee plan was to promote infill development and development in areas with existing infrastructure. It sounds like the credit plan actually promotes urban sprawl, as long as the developer pays for the costs upfront. And then developers can turn around and sell those credits to other developers to avoid paying their own fees or what?

[thelakelander]

Yeah. It is what it is. Some of the modifications made over the years have focused more on issues involving the old concurrency mentality than idea of changing Jax's growth patterns for the better. Unfortunately, that's what happens when you lose too much institutional knowledge too quick.

[vicupstate]

Unfortunately, that's what happens when you lose too much institutional knowledge too quick.

Perhaps that played a part, but I tend to believe that those with the power, developers, exercised it to put in place loopholes and exceptions that gave them what they wanted, without 'growth patterns' being a concern on their part.   

[southsider1015]

Unfortunately, that's what happens when you lose too much institutional knowledge too quick.

Perhaps that played a part, but I tend to believe that those with the power, developers, exercised it to put in place loopholes and exceptions that gave them what they wanted, without 'growth patterns' being a concern on their part.

The whole damn thing is a big joke.  Ridiculous.