GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Although some have already been patrolling the streets, the police department officially swore in six new officers during Monday night’s city council meeting.

Preston Powers, Madison Lombardi, Tyler Heard, Sarah Hoeger-Holien, Jeff Kummoung and Matthew Waller took their oaths from Chief E.J. Guzman, followed by family members pinning their badges.

“These are the men and women who are the ambassadors to our city and the defenders of our citizens,” Guzman said.

After a 90-minute discussion, the meeting also included approving the first reading of a proposed ordinance to rezone nearly 112 acres on the southeast corner of U.S. Highway 17 and State Road 16 from General Commercial to Planned Unit Development for a future industrial park.

The council tabled the original request during its Feb. 6 meeting until land uses, site designs, buffering, and traffic studies, which are part of the city’s Future Land Use amendments, were addressed.

The city’s planning and zoning department said those issues were addressed, and it recommended approval of the project.

In Phase I, the owner, HLM Investments and Louis L. Huntley Enterprises of Orange Park, wants to turn the abandoned industrial building into 119,000 square feet of manufacturing space, 231,200 square feet of retail space, including one gas station with a convenience store, 264,000 square feet of warehouse space, 130,500 square feet of light industrial space and a train-delivery system.

The approved first reading advanced the ordinance but will allow the council to make changes, particularly the outdoor storage of construction aggregate materials, before the second and final reading.

The Green Cove Springs City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at City Hall.