Alachua County commission unanimously approves UF Golf Institutional land‑use change and planned‑development zoning with conservation conditions

The Alachua County Commission unanimously approved a large‑scale comprehensive‑plan amendment and an implementing planned‑development zoning to allow a University of Florida‑affiliated golf facility on about 580 acres, while attaching conservation requirements, best‑management practices and a monitoring program.

Jerry Brewington, senior planner with Alachua County Growth Management, told the commission the ordinance and associated map changes implement the Hickory Sink Special Area Study and create a new UF Golf Institutional future‑land‑use designation. Brewington said the PD will include a zoning master plan and a set of five BMP packages addressing stormwater, nutrient management, landscaping, natural‑resources/karst management and conservation management area protections. "Staff recommends that the commission find the application consistent with the Alachua County comprehensive plan and adopt the ordinance approving the proposed comprehensive plan amendment," Brewington said.

During public comment, Phyllis Sarnin, a Haile Plantation resident, voiced support for protections of the preserved acreage and raised three questions: "I understand that golf course irrigation will use reclaimed water," she said, and asked whether land‑use conditions limit "the quantity and chemical composition of fertilizers and pest control chemicals" and what enforcement will keep a planned extension of Southwest 46th Boulevard from becoming a vehicular road.

County staff deferred some technical groundwater details to environmental staff. Stacy Greco, Water Resources Program Manager with EPD, described the nutrient management plan and monitoring in the BMPs: "There is a nutrient management plan...quarterly monitoring for the first three years, and then quarterly monitoring every third year," she said, adding that monitoring will cover a suite of parameters for surface and groundwater and that data will be shared annually with county environmental protection staff. Greco said the program includes adaptive management that will require changes to on‑site practices if monitoring shows concerning results.

Brewington pointed to a specific policy in the backup materials restricting vehicular access: "Vehicular access to the site shall be from Southwest 122nd Street and Parker Road," he said, and explained that conceptual access points and proposed crossings of conservation areas will be determined through the PD access review. The PD also incorporates limits of disturbance, requirements for Florida‑friendly and native plantings, and restrictions on mineral fertilizer outside golf play turf and event lawn areas.

Representative for the applicant, Tyler Matthews of England, Tims & Miller, said the irrigation strategy combines lined on‑site ponds, stormwater capture and reuse from the local utility (GRU) with the goal that stormwater plus reuse will "totally satisfy the irrigation needs." He said potable or well water would be used only as a backup "in the scenario where GRU can't give us what we need based on the requirements in the BMPs." Matthews noted the project has been discussed since 2020 and that the applicant will return this fall with a preliminary development plan and summer workshops.

Commissioners asked about traffic and public access. One commissioner urged UF to support improvements to Archer Road; Matthews said the applicant shares interest in funding and enhancing infrastructure but that such projects depend on state and other sources. Commissioners also sought clarity that pedestrian and bicycle access would be provided: the applicant described a multi‑use perimeter path and limited pedestrian access into preserved conservation management areas, with fencing to be determined based on disturbance and security considerations.

Commissioner Alford moved to adopt staff's recommendation on the comprehensive‑plan amendment (Z2600002); the motion passed unanimously. Later, the commission adopted the PD zoning resolution (Z26000004), which includes the zoning master plan and the five BMP packages. Each action included staff recommendations and the attached BMPs and monitoring requirements. The chair adjourned the meeting after the PD vote.

The decisions formalize the land‑use change and set the zoning rules and environmental commitments that will govern the applicant's subsequent development and the county's review of the preliminary development plan.