Alachua County Special Meeting

Minutes

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County Administration Building - Grace Knight Conference Room
12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601
Present:
  • Commissioner Mary Alford, 
  • Chair Charles S. Chestnut, IV, 
  • Vice Chair Ken Cornell, 
  • and Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler 
Absent:
  • Commissioner Anna Prizzia 

Commissioner Cornell moved adoption of the agenda. The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Prizzia absent. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

Senior Planner Ben Chumley presented the above item. 

Commissioner Alford stated that she would like staff to think of opportunities to improve the protection of cave systems throughout this process. She also encouraged staff to try and find ways to incentivize maintaining the topsoil already on site. She further stated that she would like to see meadows encouraged versus ground turf in developments. 

EPD Director Stephen Hofstetter, Commissioner Wheeler, Commissioner Cornell, and EPD Water Resources Stacie Greco presented comments. 

Chair Chestnut recognized Jim Konish, Jason Tisinger, Mark von Soestbergen, Ian Crest, and Commissioner Alford who presented comments.

Senior Planner Ken McMurry presented the above item.

Commissioner Alford, Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Wheeler, and Growth Management Director Jeff Hayes presented comments. 

Commissioner Cornell moved the following:

1. Staff find that there is a reasonable basis for designation of Lakeshore Drive, excluding the portion within approximately 710 815 feet of SE Hawthorne Road, as a County Scenic Road.  Staff to review the possibility of updating the Scenic Road Ordinance to comply with dark sky lighting requirements. 

2. Direct staff to advertise a public hearing to consider a Resolution for that designation

3. Staff is to contact the State and explore the possibility of an Outstanding Florida Waters designation for Newnan's Lake and return back to the Board with the State's response.

4. Direct staff to contact the commercial business just outside of the proposed Scenic Highway to see if there is any potential for tree planting opportunities to beautify the area. 

5. Staff to contact the residents on the north end of the proposed Scenic Highway area 74th Street to University Avenue of the potential change in designation, educate them on the meaning, and the potential opportunity to extend the designation to their portion of the roadway if they wish and get their input. 

2nd Commissioner Wheeler

Chair Chestnut recognized Paul Pritchard, Clay Sweger, Adriana Liska, Commissioner Cornell, Commissioner Wheeler, Parks and Open Space Ed Williams, and Paul Pritchard who presented comments.  

Commissioner Cornell stated that prior to any park improvements he would like to have extensive public outreach with opportunities for citizen input to ensure that the proposals do not conflict with the residents' expectations. 

The motion carried 4-0 with Commissioner Prizzia absent. 

Chair Chestnut recognized Josh Williams, Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels, Growth Management Director Jeff Hays, and Commissioner Wheeler who presented comments. 

Wild Spaces Public Places

Commissioner Cornell stated that at an upcoming meeting he will discuss the possible use of Wild Spaces funding for paving approximately a 1/4 of a mile of road. The road leads into a preserve and the Oversight Board have issued opinions on the matter. 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 3:24 p.m.