Seth Johnson
Alachua County’s Development Review Board approved final development plans for five projects, including the Springshills development off NW 39th Avenue, Tara Esmerelda in Jonesville and the Origis Energy substation.
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will also vote on these projects at future meetings.
The BOCC approved the overall plan for the 390-acre Springhills Community Development District in 2022. The project will span three of the four corners where NW 39th Avenue crosses I-75 and include residential and commercial development.
Thursday’s final development plan was only for the southeast quadrant and includes 352 multifamily residential units, a clubhouse and a hotel on 24.6 acres. The development will be nestled behind the Burger King, Wendy’s and Sonny’s BBQ that front 39th Avenue.
The development board approved the plan unanimously.
Origis Energy substation modification
Another continuation of past votes, the development board approved changes to Gainesville Regional Utilities electrical substation off Archer Road—near the intersection with Parker Road.
The substation was first approved in 1972, and now the utility needs to add equipment to handle a new solar array. The solar array, approved by the development board in October 2023, will be built around four miles to the south.
The development board approved the plan unanimously.
Tara Esmerelda in Jonesville
The first phase of Tara Esmerelda, located off NW 143rd Street, is already under construction, and Thursday’s meeting dealt with the second phase—16 lots.
While approved by the board, the developer won’t be able to begin construction on the houses under conditions set by the BOCC. The developer will need to wait until a second access road for the development is finished.
Plans are already underway to build that road through another planned development to the east, called Tara Verde.
These developments and others are building out the areas north of the Publix in Jonesville.
Gainesville Cottages in Jonesville
Just across NW 143rd Street, the development board approved a final plan for Gainesville Cottages. The project was announced in 2022 and plans to include 212 units with 20,640 square feet of nonresidential.
The BOCC accepted the preliminary development plan in December 2022. A South Carolina company purchased the land, and Gainesville Cottages will be their first project in Florida.