title
AMEND THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP FROM PUBLIC FACILITIES AND CONSERVATION TO BUSINESS INDUSTRIAL FOR THE ALACHUA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS AND COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE SITE(B)
Ordinance No. 0-09-55, Petition PB-09-80 LUC
An ordinance amending the City of Gainesville 2000-2010 Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Map; by changing the land use category of certain property, as more specifically described in this ordinance, from the City of Gainesville land use categories of "Public Facilities (PF)" and "Conservation (CON)" to the City of Gainesville land use category of "Business Industrial (BI)," consisting of approximately 74.48 acres, located in the vicinity of 2900 N.E. 39th Avenue, commonly known as the Alachua County Fairgrounds and Cooperative Extension Office; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission (1) receive the report of the Department of Community Affairs; and (2) adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
The property consists of approximately 74.48 acres that is the site of the Alachua County Fairgrounds and the Cooperative Extension Office. Approximately 5.14 acres located at the westernmost corner of the property has Public Facilities (PF) land use and Public services and operations district (PS) zoning; the other 69.34 acres has Conservation (CON) land use and zoning. This petition does not include the eastern 27.6 acres owned by the County, much of which is wetland and all of which has CON land use. The property is adjacent to and south of the Gainesville Regional Airport. The property fronts NE 39th Avenue and Waldo Road, and the majority of it is within the Enterprise Zone.
In 2003, Plan East Gainesville (PEG) was accepted by the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. The summary report for PEG recommends that the existing fairgrounds site be used as an "office and industrial mixed-use employment center." The proposed land use change to Business Industrial (BI) is consistent with redevelopment policies established in the City's Future Land Use Element (FLUE). FLUE Policy 2.1.5 states that "The City shall strive to implement certain land use-related elements of Plan East Gainesville, including, but not limited to: ... (b) Coordinating with Alachua County in its development of a strategy for the Alachua County fairgrounds for creation of a mixed-use employment center;...". The BI land use category was developed specifically to be applied to properties near the Airport and to other areas of the City where office, business, commercial or industrial uses are desired and residential use is not appropriate. The BI future land use category was added to the Future Land Use Element following approval by the City Commission on October 16, 2008.
This petition and ordinance propose to implement PEG and the Future Land Use Element as stated above by amending the land use of the subject property from CON and PF to Business Industrial (BI). The proposed BI land use is particularly compatible at this location near the Gainesville Regional Airport that fronts two arterial roadways (NE 39th Avenue and Waldo Road), both of which are also state roads (SR 222 and SR 24, respectively).
After public notice in the Gainesville Sun, the Plan Board held a public hearing on July 23, 2009, heard presentations by staff and the applicant, discussed the proposed future land use map amendment, and by a vote of 7-0, recommended that the City Commission approve the petition.
A related petition, PB-09-81-ZON, and ordinance propose to rezone this property to the BI zoning district. That petition and ordinance are scheduled for first reading on the same day as the adoption hearing/second reading of this land use amendment.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
Florida Statutes set forth the procedure for adoption of an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The first hearing is held at the transmittal stage and must be advertised seven days prior to the first public hearing. The second hearing will be held at the adoption stage of the ordinance and must be advertised five days before the adoption hearing.
On February 18, 2010, the City Commission adopted the ordinance on first reading, by a vote of 6-0. The proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Plan was then transmitted to the State Department of Community Affairs (DCA) for written comment. By letter dated September 13, 2010, the DCA informed the City that it had no comments, recommendations or objections to the proposed plan amendment.
Following second reading, the 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.