Proposed Development in Gilchrist County
Cave Diving Friends
This is a proposed development in the spring shed area around Ginnie, Blue, Poe and other springs that would open the door to the same development you have seen occur in the counties below us where the springs have been ruined. Pete came by and we talked about it and his wife sent me the information below: I trying to get the PDF's size approved for uploading so it might be a little while before you see the documents.
Hi Tom...Pete said you will spread the word about the upcoming meeting.
Below is the email I've been sending around. I've also attached the
proposed comp plan changes.
Thanks,
Georgia
I don't know if you have heard about the proposed changes to the Gilchrist
Comprehensive plan. I'm emailing the information below in hopes of raising
awareness and encouraging people to come to the meeting on Monday, April 28
at 6:00 in Trenton and/or write a letter stating their concerns. Please
feel free to pass this information on to anyone interested.
Thanks,
Georgia
The Stiles Corporation from Ft. Lauderdale proposes to develop a mixed-use
development on 814 acres (654 in Gilchrist and 160 in Alachua) with a total
of 624 units to include:
paved air strip
golf course
69 1- acre single family lots
93 3/4 acre single family lots
100 1/2 acre single family lots
134 1/4 acre single family lots
71 golf residential villas
62 coach single family dwellings
33 hanger condo units
village center/neighborhood commercial (stores/businesses)
It is worth noting that the developer came in one unit short of the number
of residential units that would qualify it as a Development of Regional
Impact (DRI).
Gilchrist County¹s current Comprehensive Plan does not allow such density.
In order to make this happen the Stiles Corporation has written proposed
amendments to our Comprehensive Plan to allow what they want to do.
The amendment, written by the attorney for the Stiles Corporation, proposes
a brand new land use category called a Special Area Plan (SAP) which will
permit a developer to cluster residential development among various mixed
uses such as an airport, golf courses, stables, spas, restaurants,
convenience stores, etc. The permitted density is a uniform average of 1.0
unit per acre and there are no restrictions on where SAPs may be located.
Currently the density is for land zoned agricultural is one unit per at
least five acres.
This proposed amendment, if passed would pertain not only to the Oaks
Landing development. Developers would be able to propose SAPs anywhere in
the county. The Oak Tree Landing Development claims to be a high end
development. There would be no regulation of the quality of the SAPs to
follow. This would forever change the rural character of our county.
There will be a meeting on Monday, April 28th at 6:00pm of the Gilchrist
Planning and Zoning Board to consider these proposed changes. It is
important to show up at this meeting.
It is also important to write a letter to express your concerns. You can
send an email or write a formal letter. Your letter will be included in the
packet of information that goes to the Planning and Zoning Board Members,
the County Commission (who will hear the proposal next) and will become part
of the public record.
Address the letter to Mr. Taylor Brown, the Planning and Zoning Members, and
the County Commissioners.
Send the letter to:
Mr.Taylor Brown
Planning Director
Gilchrist County
Community Development Department
209 South East First Street
Trenton, FL 32693
Phone (352) 463-3173
Fax (352) 463-3189
Email: tbrown@gilchrist.fl.us
Though an email is better than nothing, an old fashioned letter with
signatures has more impact. The more letters the better. Volume counts here,
too.
Here are some reasons to oppose this proposed changeS..
It is not right for a corporation from out of the area to come to Gilchrist
County and dictate that we need to change our comprehensive plan to suit
their needs without considering the long-term impact that those changes will
have. This should outrage the citizens of Gilchrist County.
With the proposed increased densities in the recharge areas for our drinking
water, the quality of our water supply will be threatened. This proposed
development is in the heart of the area identified as the springshed that
supplies both Ginnie and Blue Springs. Whatever plan is proposed it will
meanSmore landscape and golf course fertilizers and chemicals, more septage,
and more impervious surfaces.
If the Comprehensive Plan is changed to allow these SAPs there is no telling
how many of these mega development will come into our county. In a short
time the eastern side of Gilchrist County could easily be overrun by the
worst aspects of over development that can be seen in places such as Marion,
Lake, and Orange CountyS.think The Villages, North Phase IS
Though the developers will tout the increased tax revenue to the county,
any county planner will tell you that new residential development does not
pay for itself through itself in the long run. Sooner, if not later, these
development will require more in county services, schools, and
infrastructure costs than they pay in taxes.
There are additional issues that will affect different people in different
waysS
Increased traffic
Overcrowded schools
Airplane traffic--increased noise, crash danger, aircraft fuel storage
While there have been many issues that this county has dealt with during
past years---dairies, bottling plants, borrow pits, cell tower---you name
I---whether you are a native or you moved here because you liked the rural
nature of Gilchrist County, this proposed Comp Plan will profoundly
transform the quality of our lives.
I encourage you to use these ideas and/or words to write a letter. Please
pass this along to any others.
Try to come to the meeting and urge others to come, even if you are not sure
where you stand. Attend the meeting to hear both sides.
I have pdfs of the proposed changes to the comprehensive plan and will be
glad to email them to you.
Georgia
plbgs2@windstream.net
