Alachua County, Florida

Continuing Code Advisory Services
   

For Alachua County, home to the City of Gainesville and the University of Florida, Duncan Associates’ is playing a somewhat unique role as a continuing advisor to the Growth Management Department. The County is experiencing steady growth due to a high quality of life and the presence of a growing university with an enrollment approaching 50,000 students. The County recently approved major amendments to its state-mandated comprehensive plan. Principal among the amendments was a requirement for cluster or conservation zoning on most undeveloped rural or semi-rural properties and an accompanying requirement for 20 percent open space in major new developments. A basis of this plan amendment is to avoid continued sprawl of large lot developments and to protect important environmental resources within the County. In addition, the County is actively seeking to address affordable housing through the use of varied types of

housing in different zoning districts. At the County’s request, the firm is providing assistance on both procedural and substantive matters. On a purely procedural basis, we have assisted in reorganizing the entire code. The reorganization allows consolidation of related elements and creation of a rational format that is logical and user-friendly. The reorganization also allows identification of code provisions that are duplicative, conflicting and outdated. On a substantive basis, the firm is acting both as a resource and a “devil’s advocate” to ensure all perspectives of a problem or issue are considered. If necessary, the firm will make presentations to the Board of County Commissioners on complex or controversial issues, and will draft language on such issues as sexually oriented businesses or similar sensitive topics. One final task in the project is for the firm simply to act as a reference or “second eye,” allowing us to provide information that may not otherwise be readily available or to provide another perspective on routine but challenging issues.