Title
Gainesville Weyerhaeuser 121 Update (NB)
Explanation
The purpose of this item is to discuss options and seek direction from the City Commission regarding the Gainesville Weyerhaeuser 121 property.
On June 7, 2018, at the owner/developer’s request, the City Commission adopted Ordinance No. 170996 extending the deadline by which a PD rezoning ordinance must be adopted for the subject property to July 26, 2019. This was the fourth extension request granted since the approval of the original land use amendment over a decade ago.
Over the past year, the owner and city staff have met on several occasions to attempt to resolve several aspects of the proposal and work towards a resolution of the PD rezoning application. City staff received letters on May 28th and June 3rd, indicating Weyerhaeuser’s agreement with several conditions related to the application. With the extension deadline set to expire on July 26, 2019, staff is seeking direction from the City Commission in how to proceed.
Staff has identified three possible options for the City Commission to consider:
Option 1: Direct staff to prepare a City-initiated land use amendment and related rezoning petition to designate the entire property to the City of Gainesville Agricultural land use and the accompanying Agricultural zoning district. Since the original adoption of the land use plan for the property, significant changes that have occurred over the past decade including, the adoption of a new City Land Development Code and environmental regulations, expansion of wetlands on the subject property, a change in property owner/developer, and changes on the City Commission. These facts warrant City Commission consideration.
Option 2: Take no action whereby the PUD land use portion of the site would revert to an Agricultural land use designation as described in more detail below. Option 2 would leave an island of Agricultural Land Use directly on SR 121, surrounded by pockets of Conservatio...
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