At its regular Tuesday meeting, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) authorized staff to negotiate a contract to build a new parking garage, discussed legislative priorities for the next session and OK’d a special study for the Pine Hill Forest strategic ecosystem. 

The county’s new parking garage would provide 700 spaces for the new Alachua County Court Complex in downtown Gainesville. The city of Gainesville has approved preliminary plans for the complex, but voting items will continue to come before the city.  

The BOCC approved the ranking of six firms that applied to win the construction bid, placing Finfrock Construction on top. County staff will now work on an agreement with Finfrock. 

The county has estimated the design and build cost at $10.7 million. 

The Florida Legislature will convene on Jan. 9, and the county will ask for funding on three different projects.  

The first request for $1.4 million would fund an initial study on Newnans Lake aimed at improving hydrologic function and floodplain connectivity. The entire plan would cost between $10 million and $19 million. 

The second project asks for funding for the Florida Department of Transportation and Alachua County to study an expansion of Archer Road. The expansion would happen between where Archer Road crosses Tower Road and Parker Road and would widen the segment into a divided four-lane highway instead of the current two lanes.  

The third request asks for $2.7 million but not for Alachua County. The funds would support the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championship that Alachua County is attempting to host. The Legislature, if it agrees, would send the money to the nonprofit organizing the event locally.  

The BOCC has already set funds aside that could support the championship if Alachua County wins the bid.  

Alachua County staff asked the BOCC to approve the start of a special study on the Pine Hill Forest strategic ecosystem. The ecosystem, one of 47 in Alachua County, lies just north of where Parker Road and Newberry Road cross. 

A study is required when development occurs on a strategic ecosystem, and staff noted that the land is one of the largest undeveloped tracts within the county’s urban cluster. The study would identify protection areas, land use options for the area, utilities and stormwater connections and roadway connections.  

For years, the county has planned to extend Parker Road, SW 122nd, to the north from where it stops at Newberry Road. Running north, an extended Parker Road would cross the strategic ecosystem and require a study.  

Staff are also looking into plans to extend NW 23rd Avenue to the west from where it ends near NW 98th Street. This extension could meet an expanded Parker Road somewhere near Pine Hill Forest.