Alachua County DRC approves two Cross Creek minor development plans with conditions

A five-member Alachua County Development Review Committee on Nov. 20 approved minor development plans for two Cross Creek parcels, endorsing staff-recommended conditions intended to protect wetlands, preserve trees and ensure post-approval notifications.

Jacob Stout, planner with Alachua County Growth Management, told the committee the proposal for Cross Creek Parcel A North designates a 0.99-acre building impact area on an approximately 29-acre parcel and complies with limits in the Cross Creek Special Area Study and the Unified Land Development Code. "Staff finds that the minor development plan is consistent with the Alachua County comprehensive plan and unified land development code and recommends approval with conditions," Stout said.

Stout outlined required conditions including on-site wetland buffers, tree-preservation procedures and a requirement that a notice of regulated conservation resources be recorded in the public record before a building permit can be issued. Joseph Falls, the applicant's representative, said the applicant intends to construct a single-family residence with minimal disturbance: "We're trying to respect all the forest considerations of the property," Falls said.

The committee approved Parcel A North by voice vote after a motion and second.

For Cross Creek Parcel B South, staff said the approximately 27-acre site contains wetlands and exceptional upland habitat. Stout emphasized federal protections: he noted bald eagle nests were located within roughly 660 feet of the construction area and recommended that the applicant follow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines and obtain any required federal permits. Stout also repeated the same conditional requirements for tree permits and recorded conservation notices.

Leslie McClendon, senior planner with Alachua County Growth Management, clarified permit timing and transferability. McClendon said the development order issued after the hearing would expire on 11/20/2026 but that the code provides an administrative extension process: "It is actually 60 days prior to the expiration of the final development plan, and you can get an extension of up to 1 year, upon a finding by growth management that the approval is still consistent with the comp plan and code," she said. McClendon added that approvals generally run with the land and commonly transfer when parcels are sold.

The committee approved Parcel B South with conditions by voice vote.

Next steps: applicants must secure any required tree-removal permits, record the required notices of regulated conservation resources in the public record and obtain any federal permits related to bald-eagle protection before building permits can be issued. The development orders carry the expiration dates and extension rules McClendon described.