Lawmakers Cite Inadequate Long Term Growth Planning
Within its 815 acres, Oak Tree
Landing planned to have 590 homes, a PGA-pro designed golf course,
spa, fitness center, pool, mini-mart and an FAA-approved, 4,995
foot runway at its center.
In order for the development to be considered, developers
requested the county's Comprehensive (Comp) Plan be amended to
facilitate changes to the building code that would allow the
"mixed-use" community to begin construction on the Alachua County
line near Newberry and High Springs, FL.
The High Springs Herald reports at a meeting last week, the
Gilchrist County Planning Commission recommended denial of the
amendments as requested by the Stiles Corporation, developer of Oak
Tree Landing. The recommendations are directed to the Gilchrist
County Commission who will have final say on the matter at a latter
meeting.
Nearly all of the 100 people in attendance at the meeting were
against the controversial development, and asked the planning
commission to focus on spending time updating the outdated
long-range Comp Plan of the county before making changes to
accommodate developments like Oak Tree Landing.
"I'm very insulted that a developer can come in and suggest
amendments to our Comp Plan," stated local resident Wes Skiles. His
comments echoed those of Gilchrist County Planning Director Taylor
Brown who recommended the county needed to gain a better vision for
future growth through meetings where residents could come together
and decide how much the county should grow and where.
Such a process could take anywhere from six months to two years,
according to Brown.
The opinions of some were quite the opposite of the crowd. "Why
shouldn't this county get behind it instead of watching it go to
Levy County?" resident Jim Foster said to the Herald.
He, along with others, believed the development would bring
long-term jobs and contributions to the community.
One of the most controversial aspects of the community was the
fly-in aspect of Oak Tree Landing. Worried about the plane noise
and possible adverse affects the development would have on the
rural community, resident Jean Wonser organized a neighborhood
committee to oppose the development.
"If they want an airport, they can go to Gainesville," Wonser
says. "The density in there would make it like it's own little
town, and that's not what Gilchrist is about."