Proposed 2,109-acre rezoning for Planned Unit Development in floodplain –City of Chiefland, FL 2024-07-08

Update 2024-08-12: Packet: Return of the proposed 2,109-acre rezoning for Planned Unit Development in floodplain –City of Chiefland, FL 2024-08-12.

Update 2024-07-20: Applicant slides and sound recording, 2,109-acre PUD, Chiefland, FL 2024-06-24.

The City of Chiefland has an application for a 2,109-acre Planned Unit Development with a 50-year plan for residential, commercial, industrial, and other uses, in an area now zoned as Agricultural / Rural Residential. It is mostly in the floodplain of Long Pond, and upstream of the Suwannee River.

2,109-acre 50-year PUD rezoning

A development where “when you live in the development you don’t have to leave” is not a bad idea. But the location is unfortunate.

Fortunately, the applicant pulled the agenda item for yesterday’s Chiefland City Commission meeting. Chiefland City Hall told me he would resubmit when he thinks he’s ready. So watch for it reappearing.

Two weeks before, many citizens asked many questions. The minutes for that June 24, 2024, City Commission meeting says a representative of the applicant answered all the questions, but the minutes do not say what the answers were.

The agenda for July 8 also does not say what the answers were.

If you oppose this rezoning, you can use the time to organize before the application re-appears.

You may want to consider joining the public facebook group RURL Residents United for Rural Levy.

Apparently the connection to the Suwannee River may involve an underground section.

Map: Long Pond to Suwannee River –The National Map

Water from Long Pond reaches to the Suwannee River through the Fowlers Bluff Conservation Area and the SRWMD Manatee Springs South Tract. That’s a couple miles downstream from Manatee Springs itself, and slightly upstream from Camp Azalea Ramp.

Map: Long Pond to Fowlers Bluff Conservation Area, Suwannee River in the WWALS map of the Suwannee River Water Trail (SRWT)

I’d like to thank Belinda Wilkerson, Deputy City Clerk, for responding to my Public Records Request within minutes yesterday. The agenda and board packet she sent is on the WWALS website. She also pointed me to the Chiefland Comprehensive Plan:
http://ncfrpc.org/MapsAndPlans.html

That web page also links to the Chiefland Future Land Use Map and Zoning Atlas. However, all three of those documents are from before Chiefland annexed the subject property.

Minutes, Chiefland City Commission, 2024-06-24

I added the bullets to make it easier to see the questions from citizens.

CITY OF CHIEFLAND
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
JUNE 24, 2024
The Chiefland City Commission met in Regular Session at Chiefland City Hall. Mayor Jones called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chris Jones, Mayor
Lewrissa Johns, Vice Mayor/Commissioner
Kim Bennett, Commissioner
Norman Weaver, Commissioner
LaWanda Jones, Commissioner
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
ALSO PRESENT: Laura Cain, City Manager
Belinda Wilkerson, Deputy City Clerk
Blake Fugate, City Attorney
Carol Gore, Planning Project Coordinator
Scott Anderson, Police Chief .
Dwayne King, Fire Chief
Visitors—Gerry Dedenbach of CHW Engineering, representing Williams Family Investments Planned Unit Development gave a presentation outlining their plan. Mr. Dedenbach explained the phasing of the plan over a time span of 50 years all dependent on how fast the City can grow with them and support the development as in water, sewer and other necessary infrastructure. Mr. Dedenbach also explained the development will work to implement a dark sky friendly approach in their standards for street lighting and other municipal utility structures.

Commissioner [Norman] Weaver asked about the commercial areas. Mr. Dedenbach stated there are designated areas for commercial and it is intended that when you live in the development you don’t have to leave but he also stated the commercial areas will be accessible to the general public from Highway 19.

Commissioner Jones asked about the multi family designation and Mr. Dedenbach explained that those would most like be apartment buildings.

These citizens spoke and asked questions about the development. Tammy Boyle, Kevin McCarr, Ed Vale, Christine Switt, Stacey Peters, Beth Reid, Daniel Barron, Terea, Raelynn Worley, Brooklyn Shields, Nancy Goobler, Dan Plonk, Brian Capps, Michael, Missy Callaway, Bob Virgil, Celia, Don Altgier, Reagan Hudson, Sylvia. Some of the questions asked were:

Will there be a cap on the phases or will they be able to keep going?,
Who takes care of the water and sewer?,
Could the City adopt a dark sky friendly ordinance?,
How are you going to handle getting water and sewer through the wetland areas?,
How will the flooding be handled?,
How many builders will there be for the development?,
What is going to happen with the wildlife that lives on the property?,
Can the multi family units be left out?,
How does the development benefit the City?,
How does the development fit the City’s vision,
Can the zoning be rural residential instead of PUD?,
how will we provide jobs and healthcare?

Mr. Gerry Dedenbach answered all of the citizen’s questions.
Vice Mayor [Lewrissa] Johns made a motion to continue the meeting on July 8, 2024 @ 5:30 p.m. stating she had not heard enough from City residents. Second by Commissioner Bennett. Motion Passed. Vote 5-0. The hearing continuation will be held at 5:30 pm on July 8, 2024 at Chiefland City Hall, 214 East Park Ave.

[…]

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Short Link:

WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

A healthy watershed with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable water.

Minutes, Chiefland City Commission, 2024-06-24

Maps

Agenda-for-7.8.24

V.A. ORDINANCE NO. 24-01

V.B. Ordinance Number 24-02

AMaps

V.C. Ordinance Number 24-03

ZDMaps

V.D. Resolution No. 24-04

V.E. James Moore Engagement Letter

XII. Minutes City Commission 2024-06-24

XIII. Minutes Budget Meeting 2024-06-24

Advisory

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