Danny Becton

The St. Johns Riverkeeper is lending support to a group of residents who oppose the rezoning of more than 5,300 acres of timberland on Jacksonville’s Southside to allow for future development.

A zoning workshop on Jacksonville’s Southside got heated Wednesday night as residents voiced their concerns over 5,300 acres of timberland that could be rezoned to allow for development.

Proposed legislation aimed at changing Jacksonville’s building codes to increase parking is running up against opposition, despite getting unanimous support in one of the City Council committees in November.

A settlement between disability rights nonprofits, the Department of Justice and Jacksonville is well on its way to becoming law after passing its final City Council committee this Tuesday.

The full council is expected next week to approve the agreement that helps the city avoid trial for violating the federal Fair Housing Act.

A proposed Jacksonville ordinance aimed at diversifying the city’s workforce Tuesday unanimously passed through its first committee, but not without significant skepticism from some Council members.

Councilman Garrett Dennis filed the bill in response to a continuing federal investigation into alleged workplace discrimination at public utility JEA.