DRC approves Barnes Dock and Boathouse at Lake Santa Fe with conditions

Jacob Salplanner, a growth-management planner for Alachua County, presented and recommended approval with conditions of a final development plan and floodplain development permit for the Barnes Dock and Boathouse on Parcel 18398-001-000 at Lake Santa Fe. The proposal calls for an 892-square-foot boathouse and dock with a 30-foot enclosure width, a covered elevation of about 12 feet, 10 inches, and an approximate lateral shoreline of 150 feet. Salplanner told the committee the proposal meets the Unified Land Development Code and comprehensive-plan standards staff reviewed and that there are no navigation hazards at the proposed location.

The applicant, Fletcher Worley of Worley Construction, did not present additional materials and had no questions from the committee. Committee member (speaker 4) moved to approve the final development plan and floodplain permit with conditions; another member (speaker 7) seconded, and the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

Why it matters: The DRC takes final action on development plans under the Unified Land Development Code; approvals of docks and boathouses in floodplain areas carry site-specific conditions intended to limit floodplain impacts and protect navigation. Any further appeal of the development order must be filed in circuit court within 30 days, per the county’s procedures cited by the chair at the start of the meeting.

The committee did not list the specific conditions on the record in the hearing; staff indicated the project must meet the code-established setbacks and the floodplain permit conditions before permits are issued.