September 19, 2022

The Alachua County Commission will conduct two public meetings on the Hickory Sink/Lee Property Special Area Study, also known as FCL Timber, Land & Cattle, LLLP, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, and Tuesday, October 11, 2022. The public meetings will begin at 5 p.m. in the Jack Durrance Auditorium. These meetings are held at the Alachua County Administration Building (12 S.E. 1st Street, Gainesville). 

The public can attend the meetings in person or view them online on the County’s Video on Demand website. Masks for vulnerable citizens are strongly encouraged. 

County Commission meetings on planning and zoning matters provide an opportunity for public input in decisions on proposed changes to land within unincorporated Alachua County. The public can comment at the scheduled meetings either in person or by calling in. The call-in number is 1-929-205-6099. When prompted, enter meeting ID 873 5974 1977. If you wish to comment, Raise Your Hand by dialing *9. Once you are called on by the last four digits of your phone number, Unmute Your Phone by dialing *6. 

Learn more about the meeting.

In this episode of Alachua County Talks, host Mark Sexton, Alachua County Communications Director, interviews Alachua County Interim Growth Management Director Jeffrey Hays. Mr. Hays details the development review process in Alachua County.

Watch the interview here.

In speaking of the program, Alachua County Talks host Mark Sexton said, "There is currently a great deal of community interest in development and the issues around it. Mr. Hayes takes this very complicated topic and explains it in a way that makes it understandable."

The Growth Management Department works to promote a sustainable, vibrant, and equitable community through the implementation of policies to manage desired and expected growth in the County.

Alachua County Forever, the County’s environmental land acquisition program, has closed on the purchase of 605.27 acres from members of the family of Carrie C. Brown. The property is adjacent to the County’s 1,044-acre Phifer Flatwoods Preserve and protects over two miles of Lochloosa Creek as it flows toward Lochloosa Lake.

The closing was held on Friday, August 26, 2022, which would have been the 107th birthday of Carrie C. Brown, the family matriarch. Protection of the land, through the sale to Alachua County as a nature preserve, means that Carrie Brown’s legacy of wise stewardship of the property to safeguard her family’s future will continue.

Read more about Lochloosa Creek.

The Alachua County Barr Hammock Preserve South Trailhead (300 S.E. 175th Avenue, Micanopy) will be temporarily closed for habitat restoration activities. The trails will be closed beginning Monday, September 19, 2022. Depending on the weather, the closure is expected to remain in effect for three months. During this time, a timber harvest will occur over 311 acres of the Preserve. In addition to heavy logging equipment operating in the woods and trees falling, there will be logging trucks on the service roads, which partially overlap with the trail system. Trail closure was identified as the best way to protect public safety during the timber sale operation. Visit the Barr Hammock Preserve webpage for specific dates for trail closure.

For visitor safety, the public is expected to observe all closure signs. Unauthorized persons may be cited for trespass. When work is completed, the County will remove the closure signs and advise the public that the trails are open again. 

Find out more about the closure.

The Alachua County Housing Division will make available $200,000.00 in SHIP funding for home repair as part of the Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation program. The funds include grants for low and very low-income eligible applicants only. Applications will only be accepted as long as budgeted funds for the strategy are available.

This program is first come, first serve and is for Alachua County Residents only. Those living in the City of Gainesville are ineligible.

The Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation Program (Grants for roof replacement for Low and Very Low-Income applicants only) has $150,000.00 in available funds. The Emergency Repairs program has $50,000.00 in available funds (There is a $10,000.00 maximum per home). 

Grant staff will be available to review and assist applicants with the application process. For an application, please email [email protected]. In the subject line, add “request a roofing application.” In the body, include your name, address, and phone number.

The Alachua County Commission is seeking applications to fill two vacancies for an auditor or accountant and a Florida licensed professional such as an architect or engineer on the Local Government Infrastructure Surtax Citizen Oversight Board. The Oversight Board meets at least quarterly, or more often as necessary, on the third Monday at 5:30 p.m. The term is for four years, through September 30, 2026. The application deadline is September 30, 2022.

The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce that the September “Plant of the Month” is Swiss chard.

The leaves and stalks of Swiss chard provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals. Swiss chard is low in calories and high in magnesium, iron, potassium, and vitamins A, C, and K.

The Joint Water and Climate Policy Board is seeking applications to fill three openings for the Citizen Climate Advisory Committee (CCAC). The CCAC meets in the Grace Knight Conference Room at the Alachua County Administration Building (12 S.E. 1st Street, Gainesville) on the third Monday of each month. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2022.

The CCAC provides an opportunity for citizen involvement in climate change issues and concerns affecting Alachua County, the City of Gainesville, and the surrounding municipalities. The committee advises the Joint Water and Climate Policy Board on bold and innovative climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, policies, and target goals. The primary task of the CCAC is to advise on creating a Countywide Climate Action Plan that will guide policy and decision-making in multiple jurisdictions. The committee also engages with relevant stakeholders, agencies, non-profits, and the community to ensure that neighborhoods and communities that are most impacted or disadvantaged by climate change are taken into account in developing policy recommendations and action strategies.