GREEN COVE SPRINGS – For most, last week’s announcement that Freehold Capital Management of Boston would build an “Agrihood” community called Saratoga Springs between the western side Magnolia West and County Road 315 came as another shock of the growth in the Green Cove Springs/Lake Asbury corridor.

The property development company said it will transform 2,240 acres into a master-planned community where its website said residents will enjoy “acres of farmland, miles of scenic trails, and robust amenities, all designed to foster a healthy, sustainable lifestyle” and “farm-to-table living, with open spaces that encourage outdoor activities and a strong connection to nature. With thoughtfully crafted homes and a vibrant community spirit, Saratoga Springs promises to be a place like no other, where modern living meets the beauty of rural Florida.”

Along with as many as 4,489 new homes.

Added to the 2,170 single-family homes, 1,830 multi-family homes and as many as 100 hotel rooms planned for Agricola on the southside of Green Cove Springs near Haller Airfield and another 2,100 homes inside the city limits near the old Gustafson dairy farm called The Rookery, the area around Green Cove Springs is about to experience an unparalleled growth boom of more than 10,500 homes.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are about 3,000 homes inside the city limits.

The Board of County Commissioners voted for the third consecutive year to extend a building moratorium to the Lake Asbury Master Plan to limit growth there until infrastructure projects are completed to keep pace. Last year, only 1,700 building permits were approved – well short of the 10,000 permits that remain in the Lake Asbury Master Plan.

While none of this came as a surprise, commissioners are concerned if the pace is too much, too fast, even if the Saratoga Springs project has been on the drawing board since 2006, according to former County Commissioner Mike Cella.

The “Agrihood” community was put on hold by the economic crash in 2008, the COVID pandemic and high rates and an uncertain economy during the last four years. Now that rates have reduced, Freehold decided on Jan. 10 to finalize the deal for $70.02 million.

The Clay County District Schools and BCC were already prepared. Both had it included in their 10-year long-range planning.

“I've seen it many for a number of years on our growth prospects,” Superintendent David Broskie said. “To me, it’s just common sense with the growth of Lake Asbury and future growth in Green Cove Springs.”

Broskie said the school district makes its projections 10 years in advance so it can be prepared. That’s why the district already made plans years ago to build a high school “RRR” known as Saratoga Springs High for 2,500 students with an opening target date of 2030, “AA” known as Governors Park Elementary for Kindergarten through eighth grade for 1,275 students with an opening target of 2031 and “C” known as Saratoga Springs Elementary for 862 students with an opening target date of 2032.

“A prediction is not set in stone,” Broskie said. “Just to kind of give you an idea how fluid this is, Spring Park Elementary first appeared as a projected school years out in 2008 and it wasn't built until 2023. We all know what happened in 2008, right? Yeah, the great recession. By the time the economy recovered, and growth started to pick up again, it wasn't until 2023 that the project was done.”

Arden was one of the first “Agrihood” developed in Florida. The property in Palm Beach County has 175 acres of lakes, a mile-long central lake, 20 miles of trails, 500 acres of parks, playgrounds and green spaces. It also has a five-acre farm and event barn offering fruit, vegetables and herbs that are shared among the residents.

Saratoga Springs won’t be built overnight, either. But Cella is convinced if it is delivered as promised, it may be one of the most popular developments in the county.

“They have 19 acres for parks, land that was baked into the agreement,” he said. “If they go through with the agricultural part, I think it will be a big hit.”