Alachua County DRC approves park upgrades, replat, dental office and town-center plan with conditions

The Alachua County Development Review Committee on Dec. 18, 2025, approved a series of development plans and a replat recommendation, clearing the way for park improvements, a dental office, and a 25,000-square-foot commercial town-center project while attaching conditions to address lighting, tree mitigation and a site well.

Leslie McClendon, a senior planner with Alachua County Growth Management, told the panel that the revised final development plan for the county’s Moneoka Park (about 5 acres at 803 NW 192nd Avenue) includes a perimeter multiuse path, resurfaced courts, a renovated playground and structured ADA parking. Staff found the plan consistent with the county comprehensive plan and the Unified Land Development Code and recommended approval. The committee approved the plan by voice vote after a motion by a committee member and a second.

Jacob Stout, a planner with Growth Management, presented a replat for Farms of Kanapaha Lot 41 that would split Lot 41 into 41A and 41B (approximately 7.5 acres at 6715 SW 100th Lane). Stout said the planned development allows lot splits via the replat process and that staff recommended forwarding the replat to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners; Stout noted it will appear on the BOCC consent agenda Jan. 13. The DRC voted to recommend approval to the BOCC.

Stout also presented a final development plan for a 4,300-square-foot Heartland Dental office within the Newberry Park traditional neighborhood development on West Newberry Road. Staff said the design meets the TND zoning and required build lines, includes required screening and landscaping for waste facilities, and recommended approval. The DRC approved the final development plan by voice vote.

The panel approved the Steeplechase Town Center final development plan with conditions after Stout flagged a prior code enforcement action. The project proposes roughly 25,000 square feet of commercial uses on about 3 acres in the Jonesville activity center. Stout told the committee that the parcel had a notice of violation and an assigned consent order for clearing without an approved development plan; the final development plan is one step in resolving that consent order.

Key conditions placed on Steeplechase include: obtaining approval of a photometric plan that complies with Chapter 407, Article 14 (outdoor lighting) via administrative development plan review before Public Works will issue a construction permit; paying $1,430 to Alachua County Parks and Conservation Lands for tree mitigation or providing a revised landscape plan demonstrating compliance with tree mitigation requirements; and preventing issuance of a construction permit until an on-site well has been plugged and abandoned with documentation (a completed well registration form or well completion report) submitted to the County Environmental Protection Department.

Stout reported that the site had 114 total inches of tree caliper removed; 59 inches have been replanted in a stormwater basin to the south and 55 inches are included in the current landscape plan for the application. The plan also projects 30% canopy coverage after 20 years; current tree canopy retention on-site was reported as 20.8 percent.

Applicants and engineers for the projects were present and available for questions: Tim Bayline, professional engineer with JV Pro, spoke for the Moneoka Park application; Norett Saran, Commonwealth Engineering, identified herself as engineer of record for the Heartland Dental application; and Christie Holly spoke for the Steeplechase applicant. Each project was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee also approved the Nov. 20, 2025 minutes and adjourned at 1:56 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Moneoka Park revised final development plan — motion by committee member (speaker 4), second by committee member (speaker 7); outcome: approved by voice vote. - Farms of Kanapaha Lot 41 replat — motion by committee member (speaker 4), second by committee member (speaker 7); outcome: DRC recommended approval to BOCC (to appear on Jan. 13 consent agenda). - Heartland Dental, Newberry Park TND final development plan — motion by committee member (speaker 4), second by committee member (speaker 7); outcome: approved by voice vote. - Steeplechase Town Center final development plan (with conditions) — motion by committee member (speaker 4), second by committee member (speaker 7); outcome: approved by voice vote; conditions include photometric plan approval, $1,430 tree mitigation or revised landscape, and proof the well is plugged and documentation submitted before building permits issue.

What happens next Approved final development plans may proceed to permitting once conditions (where required) are satisfied; the Farms of Kanapaha replat will be considered by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 13 on the consent agenda. The DRC noted that appeals of development orders are by petition for writ of certiorari filed in Alachua County circuit court, generally within 30 days.