August 26, 2026

Highlights from the August 25, 2026 County Commission Meeting

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

Everlee Farmstead Community

The commission approved the transmission of a Comprehensive Plan amendment for the Everlee Farmstead Community to Florida Commerce and other agencies for review.

The project is located off Parker Road, south of Oakmont and west of Haile Plantation. It has three components: 580 acres owned by UF Foundation, Inc., for a proposed golf course; land owned by UF/IFAS; and land owned by the Lee family.

The Everlee Farmstead Community is approximately 996 acres, 820 of which are within the Hickory Sink Special Area Plan, and will have a mix of housing and farmland.

Once the state receives the application, the state will have 30 days to respond. The item will return to the commission for final approval at a later date.

Read the complete highlights for this meeting.

Black Lake Preserve Ribbon Cutting

Recently, Alachua County held a ribbon-cutting for Black Lake Preserve, a newly opened 287-acre nature preserve at 6197 NE 225th St. in Melrose.

Watch a short video about the preserve and ribbon-cutting.

View a photo gallery from the ribbon-cutting event.

Located south of Lake Santa Fe, Black Lake Preserve was acquired by the Alachua County Forever program in 2020 for just under $2.3 million, using funds from the voter-approved Wild Spaces Public Places surtax. Approximately 32 acres of the preserve are within the Santa Fe River system’s Outstanding Florida Waters designation. The preserve also includes approximately 9,500 feet of shared wetland boundary associated with Lake Santa Fe and Black Lake. Visitors can enjoy a 500-foot accessible sidewalk leading to a pond overlook, as well as more than 3 miles of hiking trails. A 1-mile loop trail on the west side of the parking area winds through mesic flatwoods. The remaining 2 miles of trails pass through a variety of plant communities, offering opportunities for recreation and wildlife viewing.

All marked trails are open to hikers and bicyclists.

Preserve hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in April through September, and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in October through March.

Lloyd W. Johnson Memorial Avenue

Alachua County recently renamed S.W. 185th Avenue in Evinston as Lloyd W. Johnson Memorial Avenue, honoring the long time resident, farmer and civil rights advocate.

Watch a short video of the naming ceremony.

Alachua County GIS Division Launches Redesigned Map Genius Website

The Alachua County Growth Management Department’s GIS Division has launched a redesigned Map Genius website, making it easier and faster for residents to quickly access property and geographic information in one place.

With more than 60 information layers, Map Genius allows users to easily search for property and parcel information, municipal boundaries, wetlands, radon control areas, zoning and land use, flood zones, political districts, water management districts and more.

Visit the new Map Genius site.

The original Map Genius was one of the first online mapping applications to provide the public with simple, convenient access to property information. The redesigned website maintains the same URL (mapgenius.alachuacounty.us), while adding new features and improved functionality.

Built using the latest GIS platform software, the redesigned Map Genius is designed to evolve with advancing technology. New features include improved speed and reliability, the ability to export data, adjust the visibility of map layers, access geographic coordinates and view street-level imagery.

“Technology continues to advance, and it is our responsibility to advance GIS as well,” said Alachua County GIS Manager John Carlson. “Our team is up to the challenge of keeping all our GIS services, including the new Map Genius, in step with technological advancements so everyone can have 24/7 access to our GIS services.”

Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center Seeks Volunteer Helpline Counselors

The Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center is seeking caring and compassionate individuals interested in becoming volunteer helpline counselors. The center’s fall volunteer training program begins Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, and runs for seven weeks, with training sessions held every Tuesday and Thursday through Oct. 15.

Volunteers serve as counselors on the agency’s 24/7 crisis helpline, providing support to victims and survivors of violent crime during the hours when the office is closed, including nights, weekends, and holidays. Following completion of the training, volunteers are asked to make a minimum commitment of nine months.

Learn more about volunteering as a helpline counselor.

Volunteer Crisis Line Counselors Needed

The Alachua County Crisis Center is seeking volunteers to become crisis line counselors.

The next training class begins on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. After the initial session, training continues for eight weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and three four-hour sessions that can be flexibly scheduled around participant availability. There is no fee for training, and applicants do not need to possess any specific degrees or certifications.

Training includes active listening, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention. After training, the Crisis Center asks for a commitment of 24 shifts (each shift is four hours long).

Learn more about volunteering as a crisis line counselor.