The Wildlight project, a massive development being built near Interstate 95 and A1A in Nassau County, continues to generate controversy.
A lawsuit filed Tuesday in circuit court alleges that the developer’s former lawyer violated attorney-client privilege when he took the job as Nassau County Attorney.
A second lawsuit filed the following Wednesday accuses the county of failing to turn over public records.
The suit says Mike Mullin, who holds the title of County Manager, was privy to information that he has since shared with the county in escalating disputes over the project.
The developers, Raydient – a subsidiary of timber giant Rayonier – is seeking injunctive relief (preventing Mullin from giving Nassau County any advice related to Wildlight) and unspecified damages.
The Florida Bar previously opened an investigation into Mullin based on a conflict of interest complaint from Wildlight.
The original Wildlight plan – which Mullin helped craft when he worked for the developer between 2007 and 2015 -- called for a massive mixed-use project.
At 24,000 acres, it dwarfs St. Johns County’s sprawling 14,000-acre Nocatee.
The project promised to bring parks to the heart of the county, along with thousands of homes and new retail.
The parks became a source of dispute last year when the county accused the developer of backtracking on a deal to build and pay for public parks inside the development.
Rogers Towers, a law firm Mullin worked for while he represented Rayonier, declined comment Thursday when reached by phone.
Rayonier also filed a second lawsuit Wednesday, accusing the county of failing to turn over public records. That lawsuit withheld text messages discussing the Wildlight development, which would be a violation of state public records laws.
Rayonier says in the lawsuit they are planning up to 24,000 residential units and 11-million-square-feet of nonresidential development on 24,000 acres of Rayonier-owned land.
Mullin, became Nassau County’s top attorney in 2015, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. He was appointed interim county manager in July 2018 before getting the full-time job in January 2019.
