Summary Application for a Site Specific Amendment to the Official Zoning Atlas (“rezoning”) would amend the zoning of ±154.5 acres from Agriculture (“A”) and Planned Unit Development ("PUD") to Community Commercial (“CC”) (±12.88 acres), Commercial Intensive ("CI") (±128.64 acres), and Governmental Facilities ("GF") (±12.96 acres).
The subject property is currently vacant; however, contains a Stormwater Management Facility (SMF) owned by the City of Alachua, known as the T.K. Basin. The T.K. Basin and a portion of the area surrounding the basin is proposed to be designated as Governmental Facilities while a majority of the subject property is proposed to be designated as Commercial Intensive. The applicant also proposes a Community Commercial zoning designation along the southerly tip of the subject property to provide a transition area between the Commercial Intensive and neighboring agriculture and residential uses.
Located to the north of the subject property is U.S. Highway 441, McDonalds, BP Fuels, Quality Inn, and Eco Lodge; south of the subject property is Clover Ranch Estates; west of the subject property is U.S. Interstate Highway 75 (I-75); and east of the subject property is Park Vegetariana, NW 151st Blvd, One 51 Apartments, Wyndswept Hills, and Clover Ranch Estates.
It should be noted that impacts on the transportation system resulting from the proposed maximum development scenario of the proposed development could potentially cause deficiencies along various roadway segments within the City. At the time of submittal of a site plan or subdivision, the applicant will be required to provide a detailed impact analysis showing the impacts on effected roadway segments within the City’s Comprehensive Plan based on a specific use. Development approval shall be issued only if the proposed development does not lower the existing levels of service of public facilities and services below the adopted LOS in the Comprehensive Plan. Therefore, at the time of site plan or subdivision review, concurrency will be re-evaluated. It should also be noted that the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan places the burden of showing compliance with the adopted levels of service and meeting the concurrency test upon the applicant.
This application was presented to the Planning and Zoning Board on March 10, 2015. A motion was made to defer the decision until the next Planning and Zoning Board meeting, which would be in approximately 30 days. Rather than delaying the application for an additional 30 days, the applicant requested a vote of no from the Planning and Zoning Board. Accordingly, the Board voted 3-1 to not accept staff's recommendation and to transmit this application to the City Commission with the recommendation to not approve.
At the March 10, 2015 public hearing, several members of the public spoke in regard to the proposed amendment. Some of the comments and concerns raised by members of the public were related to uses allowed in the Governmental Facilities ("GF"),Community Commercial ("CC"), and Commercial Intensive ("CI") Zone Districts, Future Land Use Map Designation of the Subject property, Environmental (sinkholes, karst sensitivity, and other environmental features), and traffic impact and concurrency. Draft minutes from the March 10, 2015 Planning and Zoning Board hearing are included in the Commission back-up material.
The City Commission held a Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing on March 23, 2015, and voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 15 03 on First Reading and to schedule the Second and Final Reading of Ordinance 15 03 for April 13, 2015.
At the public hearing, several members of the public spoke in regard to the proposed amendment. Some of the comments and concerns raised by members of the public related to environmental features, traffic impact, and traffic concurrency.
At the April 13, 2015 City Commission meeting, Ordinance 15 03 was rescheduled to the April 27, 2015 City Commission meeting.
The City of Alachua received two (2) letters from Alachua County regarding the subject property on April 7, 2015. A copy of the letters are contained within the backup materials. |