The proposed Small Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment (SSCPA) is a request by Clay Sweger, AICP, of EDA Consultants, Inc., for the consideration of an amendment to the City of Alachua Future Land Use Map (FLUM). The proposed amendment would change the FLUM Designation on a ±27.88 acre subject property from Corporate Park to High Density Residential.
The applicant has submitted a companion application for a Site-Specific Amendment to the Official Zoning Atlas (a rezoning) which proposes to amend the zoning on the subject property from Corporate Park (CP) to Residential Multiple Family – 15 (RMF-15).
The FLUM Designation of the ±125.14 acre parent tract was amended in 2009 from Agriculture to Moderate Density Residential (±40 acres), Medium Density Residential (±36.14 acres), and Commercial (±50 acres). In 2018, the FLUM Designation of a ±57.87 acre portion of the parent tract was amended from Moderate Density Residential (±50 acres), Medium Density Residential (±36.14 acres), and Commercial (±21.2 acres) to Commercial (±2.11 acres), Corporate Park (±27.88 acres), Moderate Density Residential (±39.36 acres) and High Density Residential (±27.88 acres).
The subject property is generally located north of the US 441/Interstate-75 interchange, and north of NW 161st Terrace. The property undeveloped and is comprised of a mixture of cleared lands and naturally wooded areas.
Existing FLUM Designation
Objective 1.4 and Policy 1.4.a of the FLUE establishes the Corporate Park land use category, and states that this category is intended to provide appropriate locations for mixed use office-oriented development to promote and foster the growth of established industries within the City, including but not limited to research and development and technology and biotechnology. The Corporate Park land use category may include office/business parks, biotechnology and other technologies, business incubators, a limited amount of retail sales and services, single-family and multi-family residential (provided certain criteria is met), building industry uses, and accessory storage facilities (including outdoor storage yards).
Proposed FLUM Designation
Policy 1.2.c of the FLUE establishes the High Density Residential land use category, and states that this category allows residential development at a density of 8 dwelling units per acre to 15 dwelling units per acre, as well as certain complementary uses, such as a limited range of neighborhood-scale retail and services. The following uses are examples of uses permitted within the High Density Residential land use category: single family, conventional dwelling units and single family, attached dwelling units; accessory dwelling units; apartments and townhomes; live/work units; residential planned developments; traditional mixed-use neighborhood planned developments; neighborhood-scale retail and services under 30,000 square feet designed specifically to serve the surrounding neighborhood (i.e., a convenience store without gas pumps, dry cleaners, pharmacies, green grocers, or business and professional offices); group living; and supporting community services, such as schools, houses of worship, parks, and community centers.
Planning & Zoning Board Recommendation
At the June 14, 2022 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting, the Board voted 5-0 in favor of forwarding the application to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve.