Settlement Attempt Failed To Prevent Trial in Pegasus Vs. Green Cove Springs

Planned Apartments Would Have Been Moved Out of Runway Path

Documents filed in Florida Circuit Court disclose details of runway extension plans at Reynolds Industrial Park and a proposed settlement that would have precluded the need for a trial.

The trial in the Pegasus Technologies lawsuit against the City of Green Cove Springs and Virginia Hall was conducted on schedule on July 6 and 7. Now, the parties have until August 4 to submit their own proposed final judgements for Judge Don Lester to consider.

Lester will likely rule on the case before Aug. 31 because after that he faces mandatory retirement.

The lawsuit was filed last year after the city approved the development of a four-story apartment complex a half mile from the end of the runway used by Pegasus, an aviation company and tenant at Reynolds Industrial Park. The land is owned by the Hall family, a local political dynasty. Pegasus contends the apartments would create a safety hazard.

Meanwhile, it is worthwhile considering a proposed compromise—an out-of-court settlement—that was offered by Reynolds, which is co-plaintiff with Pegasus against the city. The fact of the trial is proof that the attempted settlement failed, and it’s particulars probably played no role in the recent testimony.

The renderings below were entered into evidence in earlier pleadings and reveal the nature of the settlement. Essentially, Reynolds proposed that the apartments be rearranged so none were in the direct flight path to the runway, and, in exchange, Reynolds would give up some of its land to relocate a water feature at the complex.

Apparently, this settlement also would have given Reynolds and Pegasus the flexibility to extend the current runway. The city and the Halls have argued that the idea of a runway extension should have been disclosed earlier for it to be considered in land-use decisions, not after the fact, as it happened.

Existing Plan

This graphic shows the existing plan for the development of the Hall parcel on Highway 17 just south of Green Cove. Overlaid is Pegasus RPZ, or runway protection zone, which includes two apartment buildings and part of a third. Note the pond feature at left just above the yellow access point.

Settlement Compromise

The settlement plan envisions moving all the apartments out of the runway protection zone, which would eliminate the pond included in the original. To compensate for that, Reynolds would have contributed five acres in which to dig a pond and provide a hiking path around it.

For previous stories about the Pegasus litigation visit the Green Cove Springs Substack.