PLAN EAST GAINESVILLE – A SPECIAL AREA IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

Renaissance Planning Group (RPG) is working in collaboration with the Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO) for the Gainesville, FL Urbanized Area to prepare a special area, land conservation and transportation plan for East Gainesville. The project is a direct follow-up to the MTPO’s Livable Community Reinvestment Plan, a 20-year strategic vision for the integrating transportation and land use, and promoting a more livable community.

The purpose of the Plan East Gainesville project is to develop joint City of Gainesville and Alachua County Special Area, Land Conservation and Transportation Plans to revitalize East Gainesville after considering the environmental, economic, neighborhood and transportation factors of proposed development in this area. This project will be developed consistent with the MTPO’s adopted 2020 Livable Community Reinvestment Plan.

East Gainesville has experienced limited economic investment and opportunity since I-75 was built west of Gainesville in the 1960s. As an area of ecological significance, East Gainesville is challenged with achieving an acceptable balance between redevelopment, economic growth and environmental / neighborhood preservation. With its proximity to downtown Gainesville, the Gainesville Regional Airport, and Paynes Prairie, East Gainesville faces both tremendous opportunities and risks.

Major tasks to be completed by the MTPO and RPG include:

· Discerning a viable Community Vision;

· Preparing a Special Area Land Use Plan Element;

· Preparing a Land Conservation Plan Element;

· Preparing a Transportation Plan Element, and

· Preparing an Implementation Plan that includes adoption of a land use plan, design guidelines, conservation priorities, a capital improvements plan and an ongoing monitoring program.

Contact:

Terry L. Hess, AICP

Director of Planning

Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council

301 E. Ocean Blvd.,

Suite 300

Stuart, FL 34994

(561) 221-4060

A community charrette will be held in April to further define the vision and study’s framework for the technical elements, and the remainder of the project tasks will be completed by December 2002.

For more information, please contact Gerry Dedenbach with the MTPO at (352) 955-2200, ext. 115, or Whit Blanton with Renaissance Planning Group at (407) 893-8175, ext. 13.