Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Planning Commission/Local Planning Agency (LPA) will hold a public hearing on the update of the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan to implement the recommendations adopted by the County Commission in the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR). The LPA will take comments from the public and provide recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on transmittal and adoption of the Comprehensive Plan amendments to the Florida Department of Community Affairs for review. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2010, at 6 p.m. in the Jack Durrance Auditorium on the second floor of the County Administration Building (12 SE 1^st Street, Gainesville) and may also be viewed on the County’s Video on Demand website live or any time thereafter.

A new Community Health Element and new Energy Element are proposed for inclusion in the Comprehensive Plan. Several Comprehensive Plan Elements are also proposed for update and revision including Future Land Use, Potable Water and Sanitary Sewer, Housing, Solid Waste, Stormwater, Conservation and Open Space, Recreation, Economic, Capital Improvements and Intergovernmental Coordination.  Draft materials and background information for the update of the Comprehensive Plan are posted on online at http://www.alachuacounty.us/ear.

This public hearing will be followed by a public hearing with the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, tentatively scheduled for September 28^th. Final adoption of amendments to the Comprehensive Plan is required by April 2011 as provided in the schedule established by the State.

For more information or to provide comments on the drafts and sign up for email updates, please email the Comprehensive Planning Division in the County’s Growth Management Department at ear@alachuacounty.us, call 352-374-5249, or visit the planning office on the third floor of the County Administration Annex Building  (10 SW 2^nd Avenue, Gainesville).