Alachua County approves rezoning near Newnans Lake, praises concessions

Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler (left) said she hopes the development off Hawthorne Road ends up as something the commissioners have never seen before. Photo by Seth Johnson
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler (left) said she hopes the development off Hawthorne Road ends up as something the commissioners have never seen before.
Photo by Seth Johnson

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted Tuesday to approve the land use and rezoning application for a 149-unit development off Hawthorne Road near Newnans Lake.  

The developer will now begin engineering the specific design features of the site for a preliminary development plan that will also need approval by the BOCC, and the commissioners will be looking for specifics included in Tuesday’s presentation. 

Clay Sweger, with eda consultants, serves as the agent for the developer and outlined a series of voluntary restrictions that the development would abide by, including no more than 149 homes, dark sky lighting, no entry from Lake Shore Drive and using native Florida landscaping above county standards. 

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The BOCC said they would trust Sweger and the development team to include those specifics in the preliminary development plan. The only concession added by the BOCC to the land use application change was for no vehicular access from Lake Shore Drive. 

When the development first appeared before the county commission, citizens packed the room in both opposition and support. Neighbors brought forward environmental concerns and the rural nature of the area, and other Alachua County residents said more housing is needed and called the project reasonable, especially since it’s within the urban cluster boundary.  

Tuesday’s hearing had considerably less participation. Several residents said the developer had listened to concerns and been willing to accommodate. These conversations led to the voluntary restrictions.  

Kelly McPherson, owner of nearby Workman Forestry, said Sweger thoughtfully responded to comments. She said not every developer would do the same and make concessions like no access from Lake Shore Drive and adding a landscape buffer beyond what county codes require.  

The 81-acre site under consideration. Courtesy Alachua County
Courtesy Alachua County The 81-acre site under consideration.

She encouraged the BOCC to continue the negotiations as the project moves forward.  

“This group of folks is easy to work with,” McPherson said. “If something happens and we come up with another group, we might not be so lucky. So I encourage you to continue to take these concerns into consideration and put them into a form that’s enforceable.”  

The BOCC said it was pleased with the collaboration between the developing team and the surrounding residents who had staunchly opposed the project.  

Commissioner Mary Alford said the development is hopefully setting an example that new housing can provide homes for people while also being sustainable and consistent with environmental goals.  

Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said the project would be one-of-a-kind. 

“We keep asking our developers to show us something we’ve never seen before. It would be really nice to see this one be that,” Wheeler said. 

However, residents still pushed for changes and protections.  

Public commenter and retired hydrogeologist Stephen Boyes said the new homes will block the sandhill habitat that absorbs water so well. He said the result will be flooding that could be quicker, or flashier.  

Boyes said that he recommends semi-permeable stormwater pipes, sidewalks and driveways along with curbless streets.  

Sweger said those design details are too specific for a land use change and rezoning. He said the team would look into the feasibility at the next stage, but highlighted that the development must still fit county codes for roadways, curbs and other design features.  

Sweger said the preliminary development plan could return this fall for BOCC review and approval. 

Editor’s Note: A previous version incorrectly named Stephen Boyes.

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Lesa Holder

The neighbor who recommended requiring a semi-permeable stormwater drainage system, which commissioners supported and the developer appeared willing to attempt to design and install in the site, was actually the well-respected Gainesville hydrogeologist Stephen Boyes. Greg Delong was not present for the meeting.

A.L.

No mention of the deadly threat to wild-life, all the animals who cannot speak for themselves who are now living in that space. This is not a good plan for that land which is in reality an extension of surrounding environs of the Prairie and the Lake.