Media Release

February 20, 2009

4:15 p.m.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Please note: The March 5, 2009 BOCC/LPA Meeting has been cancelled. See below for revised schedule.

The public is invited to attend a series of joint special meetings with the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and Local Planning Agency (LPA) on the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) in February and March. The purpose of the meetings is to review the major community issues and potential options and strategies identified in the EAR process for the Comprehensive Plan, and to receive direction from the BOCC and LPA for Public Hearings expected to begin in April. All meetings will be held at the Jack Durrance Auditorium, Room 209 of the County Administration Building (12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville) and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Each meeting will focus on a different subject area, as follows:

• Thursday, February 12 - Community Facilities & Services
• Thursday, February 19 - Economic Development
• Tuesday, March 3 - Agriculture/Greenspace
• Thursday, March 12 - Land Use/Transportation
• Tuesday, March 17 - Resource Protection
• Thursday, March 31 - Urban Area/Housing

 These meetings will be followed by public hearings in the spring and summer to adopt the Evaluation and Appraisal Report by September 2009, including recommendations for update of the County's Comprehensive Plan in 2009/2010.

 A full schedule of meeting dates with the County Commission and Local Planning Agency are posted on the County's EAR website at http://www.alachuacounty.us/ear. A series of Issue Papers and a summary of all major issues and their identified options are also posted.

For more information, please call the Growth Management Department at 374-5249 or send an email to ear@alachuacounty.us.