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REZONING - ALAMAR GARDENS (B)
Ordinance No. 0-07-27, Petition No. 180ZON-06PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the Zoning Map Atlas and rezoning certain property annexed into the City, as more specifically described in this Ordinance, from the Alachua County zoning category of "RM, manufactured/mobile home park" to the City of Gainesville zoning category of "MU-2: 12-30 units/acre mixed use medium intensity"; located in the vicinity of 4400 S.W. 20th Avenue; making findings; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
STAFF REPORT
This petition is related to land use petition 179LUC-06 PB. The purpose of this petition is to apply City of Gainesville zoning to land that was annexed into the City in 2006. When properties are annexed, zoning districts are recommended that either approximate those of the existing Alachua County districts or that are felt to be the most appropriate for the property based upon location, surrounding development and other factors. The County zoning designation remains in effect until the proposed amendment has been adopted.
The annexed area includes two parcels that total approximately 40.5 acres. The Alamar Gardens Mobile Home Park currently occupies the site, with 224 mobile home lots. The property is on the north side of Southwest 20th Avenue, north and west of Southwest 43rd Street. The Alachua County land use designation for the property is Residential Medium Density (4 to 8 dwelling units per acre) with a County zoning designation of RM (Manufactured/Mobile Home Park). The requested zoning change is from Manufactured/Mobile Home Park to the City of Gainesville zoning designation of MU-2 (12-30 units/acre mixed-use medium intensity).
This petition will likely have an impact on the provision of affordable housing. Redevelopment that may occur based upon this land use and subsequent zoning change will eliminate the existing mobile home park. Provisions exist within Florida Statutes Chapter 723 concerning notice requirements to mobile home owners about zoning changes. Before a local government can approve a rezoning or any other official action that would result in the removal or relocation of mobile home owners, it must be shown that adequate mobile home parks or other suitable facilities are available for the relocation of the mobile home owners. At the time of submittal of this petition in October 2006, the petitioners indicated that of the 224 lots in Alamar Gardens, 84 were occupied by renters, 52 were occupied by mobile home owners, 51 mobile homes were vacant and 37 lots were vacant.
The petitioners presented to the Plan Board a mobile home relocation program. They indicate that they have been in negotiations with several mobile home parks to arrange for the relocation of mobile homes from Alamar Gardens. Moving costs to a local mobile home park or a local private lot will be paid by Alamar Gardens. Selected parks will pay for the costs of skirting and connection fees and possibly provide rental incentive packages featuring free or reduced rent. For those tenants with mobile homes that cannot be moved, Alamar Gardens will sell them a mobile home at approximately 50% of the Blue Book value not to exceed $7,000. The purchase will be financed for three years with zero interest and no down payment. The mobile home owner will deliver the title of the old, unmovable mobile home to Alamar Gardens, who will move or recycle the unit at their expense. Ongoing negotiations are intended to obtain minimum two-year leases with guaranteed rental rates and 12 months free rent. Alamar Gardens was to have extended current leases ending May 31, 2007 to August 31, 2007 with no rent increase.
The Plan Board and some members of the public expressed concern about whether there were sufficient mobile home park spaces available in the local area to accommodate all of the people who wanted to move their homes to another park, in light of the situation at Buck Bay and Candlelight Estates. The petitioners believe that they have shown that adequate facilities do currently exist to accommodate the Alamar Gardens mobile home owners and that they have far exceeded the Florida Statute requirements for relocating these tenants. Negotiations continue with the mobile home owners to make appropriate arrangements.
The City Plan Board heard the petition and recommends approval.
Public notice was published in the Gainesville Sun on January 2, 2007. Letters were mailed to surrounding property owners on January 3, 2007. The Plan Board held a public hearing January 18, 2007.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
The second and final reading of this ordinance is a companion to Ordinance No. 060736, that was submitted to the Department of Community Affairs for their review and comment.