title
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT - GAINESVILLE INNOVATION ZONE (B)
Ordinance No. 0-07-03; Petition No. 159CPA-06PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, creating and adding a "Gainesville Innovation Zone" to the Intergovernmental Coordination Element of the City of Gainesville 2000-2010 Comprehensive Plan; creating a Gainesville Innovation Zone; adopting a new objective and new policies; providing directions to the city manager; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
The proposed Gainesville Innovation Zone originated with the "inner-city" trip to Norfolk, VA and New Haven, CT in 2004 by various public and private sector leaders of our community. Areas in Norfolk and New Haven that are proximate to a major university have undergone dramatic economic improvement due to concerted university, public and private sector efforts that have taken advantage of the unique strengths of each sector. The observations and insights of our community's trip participants led to the conceptualization of the Gainesville Innovation Zone, and to the formation of the Economic Development and University Community Committee (EDUCC). The EDUCC with its composition of City of Gainesville, University of Florida (UF), Santa Fe Community College, Alachua County and Chamber of Commerce members or/and ex-oficio members has served as a forum for developing this concept. On June 12, 2006, the City Commission approved the EDUCC's request for a referral of the Gainesville Innovation Zone and supporting objectives/policies to the City Plan Board for inclusion in the City of Gainesville Comprehensive Plan's Intergovernmental Coordination Element.
The proposed Gainesville Innovation Zone has five foundational principles: 1) proximity; 2) existing community assets/investments; 3) existing public incentives; 4) the State of Florida's recent emphasis on developing the "Innovative Economy;" and, 5) similar efforts of peer cities.
Several peer cities nationwide are establishing similar Innovation (or "Technology") Zones or corridors (Orlando FL, Madison WI, and the Research Triangle in North Carolina) that map areas of focused efforts designed to build critical mass for their respective local and regional Innovative Economies.
The Plan Board heard the petition and recommended that it be approved.
Public notice was published in the Gainesville Sun on November 29, 2006. The Plan Board held a public hearing December 14, 2006. Planning Division staff recommended that the Plan Board approve the petition. The Plan Board recommended that the City Commission approve Petition 159CPA-06 DB. Plan Board vote 6-0.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
Upon approval by the Plan Board on December 14, 2006, the Community Development Department requested that the City Attorney's Office prepare the appropriate ordinance amending the City of Gainesville 2000-2010 Comprehensive Plan, to include the Gainesville Innovation Zone in the Intergovernmental Coordination Element of the City of Gainesville 2000-2010 Comprehensive Plan.
On May 14, 2007, the City Commission approved the petition and first reading of this ordinance by a vote of 7-0. As required by state law, for an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan, this ordinance was transmitted to the State Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for review. As a result of its formal review, DCA issued a letter dated August 2, 2007, in which it raised no objections and had no recommendations or comments regarding Petition 159CPA-06PB. A copy of DCA's letter (DCA Reference No. 07-1, which includes two unrealted Comprehensive Plan amendments), is attached to this memorandum. The City may now proceed with the final adoption of this ordinance.
Florida Statutes set forth the procedure for adoption of an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The second hearing will be held at the adoption stage (second reading) of the ordinance and must be advertised approximately five (5) days after the day that the second advertisement is published.
Following second reading, the Comprehensive Plan amendment will not become effective until the DCA issues a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance in accordance with the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, or until the Administration Commission (Governor and Cabinet) issues a final order determining the adopted amendment to be in compliance.
fiscal note
None.