April 29, 2026

Highlights from the April 28, 2026 County Commission Meeting

These highlights will give residents a quick review of the most recent County Commission meeting and provide video, agenda, and other useful links.

UF golf course

The commission approved a large-scale Comprehensive Plan amendment request that changes the future land use designation on 580 acres east of Parker Road from Rural/Agriculture to a new land use category, “UF Golf Institutional.” The property, part of the Hickory Sink Special Area Study, is owned by the UF Foundation.

The land use amendment will allow for outdoor recreation, a clubhouse, temporary lodging, office and maintenance facilities. The site has environmentally sensitive zones that will be classified as conservation management areas.

The requested change will be sent to the Florida Commerce for review before returning to the commission for adoption at a later date.

Read the complete highlights for this meeting.

Forest Edge and East Tumblin Creek Ribbon Cutting

Alachua County proudly marked a major milestone today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the East Tumblin Creek and Forest Edge housing communities. This achievement reflects years of planning, strong partnerships, and a shared commitment to bringing this vision to life.

The Alachua County Commission purchased both the former Budget Inn and Scottish Inns as part of a community-wide response to homelessness that prioritizes individuals based on vulnerability and need, helping to create a lasting, positive impact for residents.

The former motels have been transformed into safe, stable housing for some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. These projects reflect a growing nationwide best practice of repurposing motel properties into permanent housing to expand access and reduce homelessness.

Forest Edge now includes 31 efficiency-style studio units, and East Tumblin Creek features 36 one-bedroom units, along with a laundry facility and a shared common area designed to encourage comfort, connection, and community.

Alachua County Declares Local State of Emergency in Response to Active Wildfires

​​​​Alachua County has declared a Local State of Emergency in response to active wildfires burning within the county that have not been fully contained. The declaration is intended to help county government quickly allocate resources, carry out emergency response plans, and protect lives and property.

The emergency proclamation took effect at 1 p.m. on April 20, 2026, and remains in effect for seven days unless extended or terminated by further action.

Learn more about the State of Emergency.

After reviewing Alachua County’s current wildland fire conditions and in consultation with state officials, the mandatory countywide burn ban has been extended and will remain in effect through May 1, 2026.

Alachua County remains under a State of Emergency declaration due to multiple active wildfires throughout the county. Continued historic drought conditions and lack of rainfall over the past week have left the county’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) levels largely unchanged, sustaining a high wildfire risk across the county. The KBDI is a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of the soil and duff layers.



Read more about the burn ban.

​​On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue, Florida Forest Service and the Melrose and Windsor fire departments received reports of a brush fire along County Road 2082, near Hawthorne.

At approximately 3:45 p.m., crews responded to multiple fires along the roadway. Witnesses reported that a vehicle with a flat tire traveled along CR 2082, with sparks from the wheel rim igniting fires along approximately one mile of roadway.

Find out more about the fire response.

Compost Caddy Giveaway for County Residents

​In partnership with O-Town Compost, Alachua County’s Solid Waste & Resource Recovery department will distribute free kitchen caddies to Alachua County residents on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the county’s five rural collection centers.

The giveaway is part of an effort to encourage residents to divert food scraps and other biodegradable waste from landfills and turn them into nutrient-rich compost.

“Compostable materials make up roughly one-third of our household waste,” said Waste Collection & Alternatives Manager Patrick Irby. “Diverting these materials from the landfill and using them to create soil-enhancing compost is a far better use than simply throwing them away.”

Read more about the compost caddy.

Cuscowilla Summer Day Camp Almost at Capacity

Registration for Cuscowilla Nature and Retreat Center’s 2026 Summer Day Camp is almost full, with some weeks already at capacity and close to 85% of total spots reserved.

Families are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible to secure their child’s place.

“This is one of the premier and most affordable summer camp options in Alachua County,” said Camp Manager Jamie Bass. “If families are considering enrolling, now is the time to act.”

Learn more about the day camps.

County Celebrates Foster Grandparent Program During National Volunteer Week

In celebration of National Volunteer Week (April 19 – 25, 2026), Alachua County is proud to recognize the dedicated AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers who serve through the Foster Grandparent Program, a division of Alachua County Community Support Services.

Since 1973, the Foster Grandparent Program, sponsored by the Alachua County Commission, has connected older adult volunteers with children in need of additional academic and emotional support. Serving as mentors and tutors in schools, Head Start centers, daycares, and community centers across the county, these volunteers have made a lasting impact on thousands of young lives over the past 53 years.

Find out more about the Foster Grandparent Program.

May Extension Programs

Environmental Horticulture Programs

Commercial Horticulture Programs

Consumer Science Programs

Current Legal Notices

City of Newberry - Planning and Zoning Board Notice of Public Hearings on 5/4/2026

Public Hearing - Board of County Commission Meeting Z26-000003 Amendments to the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan Based on Evaluation and Appraisal of the Plan (Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment)

City of Newberry - Request for Qualifications 2026-06 (“ITB 2026-06”) City of Newberry Professional Engineering and Consulting Services

City of Newberry - Invitation to Bid 2026-08 (“ITB 2026-08”) Newberry SR 26 Elevated Storage Tank (Re-Bid)

Invitation to Bid - ITB 26-590-LC: Alachua County Sunrise Inn Renovation and Modernization - Phase 1