Board/Committee Agenda Item

MEETING DATE:  6/14/2022

SUBJECT:  Convergence Research Park Cottage Neighborhood Preliminary Plat: A request Robert Walpole, P.E., of CHW, Inc., applicant and agent for San Felasco Research Ventures, LLC, property owner, for consideration of the preliminary plat of the Convergence Research Park Cottage Neighborhood, which proposes the subdivision of a ±14.82 acre subject property into a total of 72 lots with associated common areas and right-of-way; consisting of portions of Tax Parcel Numbers 03929-000-000 and 03969-000-000 (Quasi-Judicial Hearing).

PREPARED BY:  Justin Tabor, AICP, Principal Planner

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Staff recommends that the Planning & Zoning Board transmit the preliminary plat of the Convergence Research Park Cottage Neighborhood to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve subject to the three (3) conditions provided in Exhibit “A” and located on page 19 of the June 14, 2022 Staff Report to the Planning & Zoning Board upon making the following motion: 

Based upon the competent substantial evidence presented at this hearing, the presentation before this Board, and Staff’s recommendation, this Board finds the application to be consistent with the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan and in compliance with the Land Development Regulations and transmits the Preliminary Plat of the Convergence Research Park Cottage Neighborhood to the City Commission, with a recommendation to approve, subject to the three (3) conditions provided in Exhibit “A” and located on page 19 of the June 14, 2022 Staff Report to the Planning & Zoning Board.

Summary

This application is a request by Robert Walpole, P.E., of Causseaux, Hewett, & Walpole, Inc., applicant and agent for San Felasco Research Ventures, LLC, property owner, for consideration of the preliminary plat of the Convergence Research Park Cottage Neighborhood, which proposes the subdivision of a ±14.82 acre subject property into a total of 72 lots with associated common areas and right-of-way. The subdivision would consist of a single phase. 

The subject property consists of portions of Tax Parcel Numbers 03929-000-000 and 03969-000-000 and is generally located south of the San Felasco Parkway and north of Shaw Farms of Alachua. 

The Convergence Research Park Cottage Neighborhood subdivision will implement the recently-adopted standards for cottage neighborhoods. Cottage neighborhoods are permitted within the Corporate Park (CP) zoning district and are required to meet certain design criteria, such as the inclusion of common greens throughout the neighborhood and integration of a system of interior pedestrian walkways interconnecting the cottage neighborhood features, as further described in Section 4.3.1(A)(5) of the Land Development Regulations (LDRs).

Two (2) vehicular access points will be provided to the subdivision. The vehicular access points will connect to the private street network within the Convergence Research Park development, specifically to those streets approved with the Momentum Labs project. The subdivision will connect to potable water and wastewater facilities. Stormwater for the development will be conveyed to and treated within two (2) stormwater management facilities located to the northwest and west of the subdivision. Both stormwater management facilities were permitted as part of the Momentum Labs project. An analysis of the development’s impact on other public facilities, including transportation, potable water, sanitary sewer, solid waste, and public schools, is provided within the Staff Report.

Section 2.4.10(G)(2) of the City’s Land Development Regulations (LDRs) establishes the requirements for a preliminary plat. An analysis of the application’s compliance with the applicable standards of this section has been provided within the Staff Report.