Title
Waldo Road/Airport Gateway Analysis (B)
This item seeks City Commission approval of a phased land use and market analysis of the Waldo Road/Airport Gateway in order to assist in facilitating future industrial and commercial development in the area.
Explanation
For the last several months a group consisting of City, County, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce and Gainesville Regional Airport staff has been discussing a mutual interest in facilitating industrial/commercial development in the Waldo Road/Airport Gateway area lying along Waldo Road, proximate to the Gainesville Regional Airport.
This effort would be pursued to assist in positioning the area for future growth and development in terms of expansion of the underlying tax base as well as the prospects for promoting employment in the area. In addition, it is proposed in light of the constrained land resources available in the City’s Airport industrial park.
The scope of work associated with this effort would be to perform land use and market analysis of the geographic area proximate to the Waldo Road Gateway and the Gainesville Regional Airport with the intent to formulate recommendations regarding future governance, prospective incentives and future collaboration for pursuing future economic development opportunities.
The County and City would jointly fund the effort with other partners providing limited additional funding and/or facilitative support.
The first phase in such an effort contemplates pursuing a two day technical analysis (TAP - Technical Assistance Panel) through the Urban Land Institute (ULI) involving the convening of land use, real estate and development experts to analyze and provide initial recommendations. The second phase would involve a more in depth exploration of these initial recommendations and then a deeper dive market analysis.
The initial cost associate with the ULI - TAP is $25-30,000 and Alachua County has earmarked $100,000 for the overall effort. A draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is attached in the back-up as well as a proposed conceptual study area map.
Strategic Connection
Goal 4: Resilient Local Economy...Gainesville East Incentivized Development Plan.
Fiscal Note
The City Commission could reprogram the remaining Economic Development funding allocated for the Enterprise Zone Electric Reimbursement Program as the participating entity’s existing agreement expires in April. The current balance is approximately $94,000 and most of the geographic area to be analyzed is located within the Enterprise Zone boundaries.
Recommendation
The City Commission direct: 1) hear a brief presentation by staff; 2) direct staff to execute on the analysis and program.