Commissioners vote to advertise hearing on Lakeshore Drive scenic‑road designation, add outreach and explore Outstanding Florida Water status

Alachua County planning staff and commissioners moved Oct. 7 to advertise a public hearing on designating Lakeshore Drive on the west side of Newnan’s Lake as a county scenic road, and the commission added several directions for staff ahead of that hearing.

Ken McMurray, senior planner in Growth Management, presented the scenic‑road analysis and staff recommendation. He described Lakeshore Drive as a roughly 2.3‑mile corridor that offers “excellent views” of Newnan’s Lake, contains extensive wetland and cypress swamp vegetation, and is adjacent to mapped strategic ecosystem corridors. McMurray noted approximately 70% of the corridor is undeveloped and much of that is publicly owned, including Palm Point Park.

After staff identified a small segment of frontage with active commercial forestry use near Hawthorne Road that it recommended excluding from designation, commissioners refined the scope and added outreach and study requests. A motion to proceed with the scenic‑road notice, with modifications, passed; the clerk recorded that the motion carried.

Why it matters: County scenic‑road status creates a protected buffer area 100 feet on each side of the right‑of‑way and allows the board to impose restrictions within that protected area (for example, limiting high‑intensity lighting, tree removal and certain signage). Designation affects future tree‑removal permits, vegetation maintenance and new development that would fall within the protected corridor.

Board directions and public input

- Scope and exclusions: Staff originally proposed excluding a commercial frontage near Hawthorne Road; during discussion staff and the board agreed to adjust the measurement of that excluded frontage to reflect property boundaries mentioned in the record. Staff indicated they had no objection to that change.

- Outstanding Florida Water inquiry: Commissioner Cornell asked staff to explore whether Newnan’s Lake might qualify for the state’s Outstanding Florida Water (OFW) designation or other state protections; the board asked staff to consult with the appropriate state agencies and report back.

- Property outreach and tree program: Commissioners asked staff to contact the commercial property owner on Southeast 70th Street (the lumber/forestry use) to inquire whether the county could work with the owner on tree‑planting or beautification, including potential participation in the county tree program.

- Resident notification and extension interest: The board asked staff to notify residents at the north end of Lakeshore Drive (near Southeast 70th Street) about the pending scenic‑road notice and ask whether they would like the county to consider extending the designation into that adjoining area in a future action.

Public speakers including nearby residents and representatives of the Eastwood Preserve development voiced support for designation and for protecting the corridor’s wildlife, native vegetation and night‑sky character. Long‑time resident Andreanna Liska said she has lived on Lakeshore Drive since 1967 and told commissioners the corridor “deserves attention and preservation.”

Vote and next steps

The board voted to advertise a public hearing on Lakeshore Drive scenic‑road designation, with the scope modification and the four staff tasks directed above. Staff said the public‑hearing notice will include summary language about potential restrictions that could be considered at the hearing. The hearing will allow the public to comment on the formal designation and any restrictions the board might adopt.