Paynes Prairie Has a Second Chance
Kathy Cantwell

On February 12, 2008, The Alachua Board of County Commissioners voted to allow a land use change on 25 acres owned by the Gainesville Golf and Country Club (one of the most affluent and influential communities in the county) next to Payne’s Prairie State Preserve. This would change the land use from Recreational (it is currently the Club’s driving range) to Medium Density Residential. This would allow up to 200 residences (condominiums) to be built on one of the highest bluffs on the Prairie Rim.

 

 The Commission did this despite Jim Weimer, chief biologist at the Payne’s Prairie Preserve, begging them not to do this, the County’s planning staff recommending denial, the county’s Environmental Protection Department recommending denial and over 150 e- mails and letters to the commission requesting denial. A huge overflow crowd attended the hearing, most opposed to the land use change.

 

The amendment to the comprehensive plan went then to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the agency that regulates county comprehensive plans. Surprisingly, (DCA usually is pretty lenient about counties changing their plans) DCA wrote a letter to the county on May 5 objecting to the land use change. They stated the county did not prove that the environment would not be harmed by this development.

 

The county has 60 days to (1) somehow show that the land use change will not harm the environment or (2) reverse their decision.

 

There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 5:30 pm, when the county will make this decision. They need to hear from the citizens regarding this very significant choice.

 

We expect the applicant will try to show that by special lighting, painting the buildings a bland color and fencing in pets they will not harm the Prairie. They will hire experts to claim that these actions will mitigate any harmful effect hundreds of people living on the edge of the prairie would have. We believe it impossible to not harm Payne’s Prairie with this intense of a development.

 

We need your help:

  1. Write a letter to the board of County Commissioners to bocc@alachuacounty.us or  PO box 2877, Gainesville, Fl 32601. (Talking points on back) put subject Paynes Prairie on e mail so not sent to spam folder
  2. Attend the County Commission meeting on the evening of July 8 at the county administration building at the corner of Main St and University Ave (date and time may change so stay alert and watch the SSJ Sierra Club webpage at www.gatorsierra.org)
  3. Send a letter or copy of your letter to the Gainesville Sun at cunninr@gvillesun.com

 

Talking Points

 

  1. Although we know the Country Club will move its clubhouse away from the Prairie as part of this development, we do not believe that justifies putting so many humans next to Alachua County’s most valuable natural treasure

 

  1. The intensity and density of use this will allow is not compatible with this protected area and will cause adverse impacts on the ecosystem.  This is why the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan restricts increasing density on parcels adjacent to conservation areas.

 

  1. There is no need for this land use change.  There is no shortage of empty condominiums in Gainesville’s depressed real estate market.

 

  1. Essentially, the petitioners are seeking an exemption from the prevailing standard for conservation in order to launch a profit-making venture for themselves that would finance the building of a new club house.

 

  1. This would set a dangerous precedent for allowing high density development next to the rim of the Prairie, opening up hundreds of acres of vacant land next to the Prairie to intense development

 

  1. The “dark sky lighting” the applicant proposes is only to decrease light pollution directed at the sky for better illumination of the night sky. This lighting still impacts animals and insects and may even be worse because the light is directed down and then reflects from paved surfaces, creating more confusion.

 

  1. The number one problem that park managers face is the impact of human development next to conservation areas. The noise from traffic, light pollution from buildings, the pets that prey on wildlife and the invasive plants that are released are just a few of the headaches that occur. Controlled burning, essential to land management in Florida, also becomes a problem when high density development is so close. The best solution is restriction on development.

 

  1. As a citizen that uses the park for outdoor recreation (hiking, biking, camping, horse back riding), you would be adversely impacted, especially by the lights and buildings that would now be visible in a view shed that is presently relatively unspoiled.

 

For more information: Kathy Cantwell at kacmd@aol.com or 352-395-7441

 

 

 

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