Title
East Gainesville Sprout Project Property Acquisitions (B)
Explanation
At the February 28, 2000 City Commission meeting, staff presented a recommendation from the East Gainesville Sprout Project Task Force to remove a 300-foot wide corridor from the Florida Conservation Trust (FCT) acquisition plan for the proposed Depot Avenue stormwater park. A boundary modification to the acquisition plan is being sought to enable the City to encourage urban infill development along the edge of the park. The City Commission recommended staff prepare a boundary modification that is more cost feasible than the 300-foot proposal. This would provide a more affordable solution for the City to purchase the land outside the FCT project boundary with the option that it be used either for the stormwater park or for urban infill development. Land purchases outside the FCT project boundary are not eligible for partial reimbursement by FCT.
Staff has internally discussed alternative land uses for infill along the edge of the proposed stormwater park. Residential uses may be feasible as long as environmental cleanup plans currently being developed satisfy residential health standards. Office space may be possible and is compatible with residential uses. A charter school may be another compatible use. Commercial uses may be feasible as well. Site plans must be designed to be physically compatible with the outdoor recreational elements of the park as required by the FCT grant agreement.
If development is desired along the park edge, staff recommends modifying the FCT project boundary in order to allow the possibility of a mixed-use development on the northwest corner of the proposed park. The boundary modification, totaling approximately 4.04 acres, excludes one parcel owned by MCB Oil and two parcels owned by CSX Transportation. The recommendation encourages at minimum the following design elements: streetscape improvements to South Main Street south of Depot Avenue, design of buildings with front, rear, and side public entrances and landscaped alleys.
Fiscal Note
If the City purchases approximately 800 feet of rail spur, parcel 15704-6, and parcel 15704-7 for infill along the northwest park edge, the acquisition costs will not be reimbursable from FCT. Purchasing these parcels and parcels inside the park would cost the City approximately 66% of its funding for land acquisitions after receiving reimbursements for eligible costs from FCT. Cutting out the larger 300-foot area would cost the City about 73% of this funding. These figures assume the properties are purchased at fair market value as determined by information currently available to the City and are subject to future negotiations. The cost sharing for acquisitions involving FCT funding is 40% FCT and 60% City.
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) hear a presentation from staff; 2) adopt the proposed FCT acquisition plan boundary modification; and, 3) authorize staff to develop conceptual design standards for urban infill along the park edge.