BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agenda Item #21
Title
Plum Creek Timberlands City Comprehensive Plan Amendment letter. (Amended)
Amount
N/A
Description
Request for Chair Letter to Gainesville Mayor concerning Plum Creek Timberlands, LP Petition to Amend City of Gainesville Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Plan and Map.
Recommendation
Approve the Chair letter to the Gainesville Mayor concerning Plum Creek Timberlands, LP Petition to Amend City of Gainesville Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Plan and map.
Alternative(s)
The Board should not approve the Chair letter to the Gainesville Mayor.
Requested By
Chris Bird
Originating Department
Environmental Protection
Attachment(s) Description
Exhibit 1. Draft Chair letter to Mayor on Plum Creek 0708. Exhibit 2. Chair letter to Mayor 091108. Exhibit 3. Henderson letters 121807 and 053008. Exhibit 4. City staff report. Exhibit 5. Draft City ordinance.
Documents Requiring Action
Exhibit 1. Draft Chair letter to Mayor on Plum Creek 0708.
Executive Summary
On September 11, 2007, the Board of County Commissioners sent a letter to the Gainesville Mayor recommending denial of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA) being sought by Plum Creek Timberlands, LP for 1754 acres located just east of the Deerhaven Power Plant. Clay Henderson, attorney for Plum Creek, has requested that the County no longer object to the CPA based on significant changes made to the project in the intervening time.
Background
Since the original BoCC letter was sent to the City, several meetings were held between the applicant and their consultant, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD) staff and an outside low impact development, stormwater design and management consultant. Based on these meetings and City public hearings, the project has been modified to reduce some of the impacts to natural resources. On June 9, 2008, the City approved the transmittal of the project to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The attorney for Plum Creek requests that the County not object to these amendments as they go through the DCA process.
Issues
The project has overcome some objections related to the environmental impacts as outlined in the previous letter. However, there are still fundamental concerns about the greenbelt location of the proposed development and some issues which are still outstanding that cannot be evaluated at the CPA level. Stormwater is going to be difficult to address due to the fact that the project is proposed for pine flatwoods areas which have a naturally high water table. ACEPD is still concerned about water quality and quantity issues because of the project being located in a headwaters area. The issue of habitat fragmentation cannot be evaluated until detailed site plans are provided. A full traffic study was never provided and Alachua County and the Florida Department of Transportation have expressed concerns about traffic impacts. Alachua County does not support any greater density or intensity than what is allowed based on the County’s current land use which is rural/agriculture.
Fiscal Recommendation
NA
Fiscal Alternative(s)
NA
Funding Sources
NA
Account Code(s)
NA
Attachment: Exhibit 1 Draft Chair Letter to Mayor on Plum Creek Final.pdf
Attachment: Exhibit 2 Chair letter to Mayor 091107.pdf
Attachment: Exhibit 3 Henderson letters 121807 and 053008.pdf
Attachment: Exhibit 5 Draft City ordinance.pdf
Attachment: Exhibit 4 City staff report.pdf
Attachment: ADV June 19 Plum Creek.pdf
Attachment: ADV June 24 Plum Creek.pdf