Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - In order to keep the public well informed on important zoning, land-use and development review issues, Alachua County is augmenting its process of advertising these events. In addition to legally required efforts, the County will begin sending press releases as well as posting on Facebook, Twitter, the County Website, the County newsletter, and on local government access channel 12.

To stay informed and engaged, click the links below.

Facebook Twitter Newsletter/Press Release Alachua County Website

For the items below, the public is invited and encouraged to attend this meeting. If you know citizens who live near these projects, please share this press release.

Items for the May 16, 2012 Planning Commission

The following items will be on Alachua County Planning Commission agenda on Wednesday, May 16 21, 2012 beginning at 6 p.m.  The hearings will be held in Room 209 of the County Administration Building (12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville).

CPA 03-12 is a public hearing for a large scale land use amendment to change the future land use designation on one parcel owned by the Board of County Commissioners from Rural/ Agriculture to Preservation. The parcel (#16844-001-000) is located east of SW Williston Rd, north frontage on SW CR 234, west of I-75, and about two miles southwest of Micanopy. The 87 acre site was purchased through the County's Alachua County Forever land conservation program as an addition to the Barr Hammock Preserve. Uses on the property will be those consistent with the management plan for the site approved by the County Commission on May 8 of this year and will include passive recreational uses such as trails and wildlife viewing areas.  For more information contact Robert L. Norton at 374-5249 or rln@alachuacounty.us or Holly Banner at 374-5249 or hbanner@alachuacounty.us. 

CPA-04-12 is a public hearing for a large scale land use amendment to change the future land use designation on two parcels owned by the Board of County Commissioners from Rural/ Agriculture to Preservation. The parcels (#18235-000-000 & #18108-002-000) are located in southeastern Alachua County just south of the Grove Park area off CR 2082 east of CR 325. The 325 acre site was purchased through the County's Alachua County Forever land conservation program as an addition to the Phifer Flatwoods Preserve. Uses on the property will be those consistent with the management plan for the site approved by the County Commission on April 10 of this year and will include passive recreational uses such as trails and wildlife viewing areas.  For more information contact Holly Banner at 374-5249 or hbanner@alachuacounty.us. 

CPA-05-12 is public hearing for a large-scale Comprehensive Plan text amendment to amend the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Element Policy 7.1.22 by deleting the two times per year limit on large-scale Comprehensive Plan amendments.  Florida Statutes establish the process for adoption of Comprehensive Plan amendments. Until 2011, local governments were only allowed to process large-scale comprehensive Plan amendments two times per year.  A large-scale comprehensive plan amendment is an amendment to the local comprehensive plan either to the text or to maps involving more than 10 acres of land.  In 2011, the Florida Statutes were amended by revising the process for comprehensive plan amendments, in many cases shortening the state review process, and deleting the restriction that local governments process large-scale amendments no more than twice a year.  How often amendments are accepted and processed is now up to the local government.  For more information contact Missy Daniels at 374-5249 or mdaniels@alachuacounty.us

CPA 06-12 is a public hearing for a large scale amendment to the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan Intergovernmental Coordination Element to update the map of Reserve and Extraterritorial Areas consistent with recent changes to the Gainesville Reserve Area boundary adopted in accordance with the Alachua County Boundary Adjustment Act.  Reserve Areas set the boundaries within which each municipality in the County may annex land into their corporate limits.  These areas are established pursuant to the Boundary Adjustment Act, which is a special act of the Florida Legislature governing annexation in Alachua County.  In accordance with the Act, Reserve Areas are reviewed every 5 years and their boundaries may be updated as part of the 5-year review process.  The most recent review of Reserve Areas took place in 2011, and as part of that process, the County Commission approved the addition of approximately 740 acres of the north portion of Paynes Prairie to the City of Gainesville Reserve Area.  This change became effective on October 9, 2011.  The proposed large scale amendment would update the countywide map of Reserve Areas contained in the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan to be consistent with the adopted change to the Gainesville Reserve Area.  For more information contact Ben Chumley at 374-5249 or BDChumley@alachuacounty.us.

ZOX-01-12 is a public hearing for a special exception to permit a materials recovery and recycling facility at 5008 SW 41st Blvd.  This facility, if approved, will allow for the applicant to remove recyclable materials such as class, concrete and metals from construction and demolition debris.  Materials recovery and recycling is allowed in the MS zoning district only by special exception, which must be approved by the Board of County Commissioners.  All materials related to this application are available for review at the Office of Growth Management.  Please contact the Alachua County Growth Management Department at 374-5249 or Jerry Brewington at glb@alachuacounty.us for further information.