Staff Reports
Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and two Gainesville citizens filed administrative hearings against the city of Gainesville’s exclusionary zoning changes in November.
The first hearing was scheduled to begin Tuesday but has been postponed until Feb. 14 with the second happening Feb. 27. Administrative Law Judge E. Gary Early will preside over both Zoom hearings.
For details on the zoning changes and filing, visit our past coverage.
The delay means a new city commission will be seated before the hearings. This Thursday will be the last regular meeting for Mayor Lauren Poe, Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos and Commissioner David Arreola.
Commissioners-elect Bryan Eastman, Ed Book and Casey Willits will join the board on Jan. 5 as current Commissioner and Mayor-elect Harvey Hard takes the gavel.
Find coverage of those candidates’ victories.
Exclusionary zoning became a key issue during the election, and several candidates vowed to repeal the narrowly passed zoning ordinances.
Sitting commissioners Cynthia Chestnut and Desmon Duncan-Walker have also opposed the ordinances and will remain on the board with Commissioner Reina Saco who voted in favor of the zoning changes.