Commission Agenda Item

MEETING DATE:  4/10/2017

SUBJECT:  Ordinance 17-08, First Reading: Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment - A request by Jamie Poulos, of Poulos & Bennett, LLC, applicant and agent, for RL REGI Florida, LLC, property owner, to amend the FLUM from Medium Density Residential to Moderate Density Residential on a ±35.82 acre subject property. Consisting of Tax Parcel Numbers 03042-050-006, 03042-050-007, 03042-052-002, 03042-052-003, 03042-052-004, 03042-052-005, and 03042-052-006 (Legislative Hearing).

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Based upon the presentation before the Commission and Staff's recommendation:

(1) Approve Ordinance 17-08 on first reading; and,

(2) Authorize City Staff to transmit the proposed Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity under the Expedited State Review Process.

Summary

The proposed Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment (LSCPA) is a request by Jamie Poulos, of Poulos & Bennett, LLC, applicant and agent for RL REGI Florida, LLC, property owner, for the consideration of a Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment (LSCPA) to the City of Alachua Future Land Use Map (FLUM), to amend the FLUM of the subject property from Medium Density Residential (4 – 8 units per acre) to Moderate Density Residential (0 – 4 units per acre). The subject property is comprised of Tax Parcel Numbers 03042-050-006, 03042-050-007, 03042-052-002, 03042-052-003, 03042-052-004, 03042-052-005, and 03042-052-006, and is approximately 35.82 acres in size.

The subject property is located west of NW 173^rd Street (also known as County Road 235A), approximately 1,000 feet south of the intersection of NW US Highway 441 and NW 173^rd Street. The subject property is currently undeveloped, except for one dilapidated barn on site.

The subject property presently has a Medium Density Residential FLUM Designation. The proposed amendment would change the FLUM Designation to Moderate Density Residential, which permits residential development at a density lower than the density permitted by the current FLUM Designation. The Medium Density Residential FLUM Designation permits a density of 4 – 8 dwelling units per acre (a maximum of 286 dwelling units for the subject property); the Moderate Density Residential permits a density of 0 – 4 dwellings per acre (a maximum of 143 dwelling units for the subject property).

Policy 1.2.a of the Future Land Use Element establishes the Moderate Density Residential land use category, and states that this category allows residential development at a maximum density of 4 dwelling units per acre. The following uses are examples of uses permitted within the Moderate Density Residential land use category: single family, conventional dwelling units; accessory dwelling units; residential planned developments; and supporting community services, such as schools, houses of worship, parks, and community centers.