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ALACHUA COUNTY ‒ Gardeners, nature enthusiasts and families will have several opportunities this fall to explore the outdoors and learn from experts through a slate of programs offered by the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office.

The events, scheduled throughout September, October and early November, range from hands-on gardening workshops to a large horticultural expo and an in-depth water education series. Programs will be led by Environmental Horticulture Agent Cynthia Nazario-Leary and Master Gardener Volunteers.

Vegetable Gardening Workshop

The series begins Sept. 9 with The Fall Vegetable Garden workshop from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Alachua County Ag Auditorium, 22716 W. Newberry Road in Newberry. Fall is considered one of the best seasons to grow vegetables in North Central Florida thanks to cooler temperatures, fewer pests, reduced rainfall and lower rates of plant disease. Participants will learn soil preparation, planting techniques and harvesting methods for crops such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, leafy greens and root vegetables. The program is free, but registration is required online. Attendance is limited to 100.

Fall Horticultural Expo & Plant Market

On Oct. 18, the Alachua County Agriculture & Equestrian Center, 23100 W. Newberry Road in Newberry, will host the Fall Horticultural Expo & Plant Market from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is presented by the Alachua County Master Gardener Volunteer Program in partnership with the Gainesville Garden Club. Admission and parking are free.

The expo will feature keynote speaker Jennifer Jewell, presenting “Cultivating Place: Sow Wild Wonder.” In addition to a fall plant and seed market, visitors can explore Florida-Friendly Landscaping ideas, browse nature displays, visit the Kids’ Zone and enjoy food trucks. Attendees are encouraged to bring wagons for carrying purchases.

Follow the Water Program

From Oct. 23 through Nov. 13, the Follow the Water program will take participants on a four-day journey tracing the path of a single drop of water from southern Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico. Each day focuses on different aspects of Florida’s water systems, from natural hydrology and agriculture to urban impacts and coastal ecosystems.

• Oct. 23 (Day 1): Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, Ga. — includes a boat tour and Chesser Island Boardwalk.
• Oct. 30 (Day 2): Big Shoals State Park and Suwannee Valley Farm Tour, White Springs — includes hiking, springs exploration and farm tours.
• Nov. 6 (Day 3): Gainesville — tours of Sweetwater Wetlands, Depot Park and a Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ neighborhood.
• Nov. 13 (Day 4): Cedar Key — includes a boat tour, shoreline exploration and walking tours along the Florida Shellfish Trail.

The cost for the full four-day program is $125, plus a $10.23 Eventbrite fee. Registration for individual days is not available. Participants must register online by Oct. 3. The program involves extensive walking, and participants are encouraged to carpool and bring a lunch.

For more information on these programs or to register, call 352-955-2402 or visit the UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County website.

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ALACHUA – The City of Alachua Commission voted 3-1 Monday night to approve the first reading of Ordinance 25-05, a comprehensive amendment to the city’s Land Development Regulations that lays the groundwork for more mixed-use development. Commissioner Jacob Fletcher cast the only dissenting vote, while the rest of the commission agreed to advance the measure to a second and final reading on Sept. 8. Commissioner Jennifer Ringersen was not present.

Mixed-use development combines housing, businesses, and sometimes offices or recreational spaces within the same project or district, creating walkable areas where people can live, work, and shop in closer proximity. Planning Director Carson Crockett explained that the ordinance is designed to entice developers to pursue infill opportunities within the city rather than pushing outward onto greenspace and undeveloped tracts. The changes align with the city’s 2025 Strategic Plan and last year’s Comprehensive Plan update, both of which identified mixed-use zoning as a key growth management strategy.

The amendments modify multiple articles of the Land Development Regulations, adding standards for density and intensity in business districts, creating new definitions for mixed-use projects, reducing parking requirements by 25 percent in certain zones, and establishing new landscaping, buffering, and orientation rules to help commercial and residential uses coexist within the same development.

While city staff framed the ordinance as a carefully calibrated tool for managing growth, the vote drew criticism from residents who said the commission had acted too quickly and without sufficient public understanding. Alachua resident Tamara Robbins argued that commissioners themselves did not fully understand the ordinance they approved and insisted that greenspace should remain untouched regardless of infill strategies.

Several residents of High Springs added their voices in opposition, contending that the city should be more cautious before opening the door to broader residential uses in commercial zones. Alachua resident Rudy Rothseiden told the commission that too many unanswered questions remained and warned that mixed-use projects could easily overwhelm commercial corridors with parking problems and congestion.

Despite these objections, the majority of commissioners endorsed the ordinance as consistent with the city’s adopted planning policies and noted that it represents the continuation of work begun last year when the city created mixed-use future land use categories.

The new standards spell out what qualifies as mixed-use development and what protections are required when such projects are placed alongside existing single-family neighborhoods. City staff emphasized that the changes were researched with examples from peer communities across Florida and were intended to give Alachua flexibility to shape growth in a way that balances new housing opportunities with commercial vitality.

The ordinance does not impose any new fees or compliance costs on businesses, according to a state-mandated Business Impact Estimate. The report concluded there would be no financial burden on private, for-profit businesses, and no new regulatory costs for the city.

Supporters argue that the changes will provide additional housing choices, especially in areas like downtown Main Street and the U.S. 441 corridor, while protecting residential neighborhoods through buffers and landscaping standards. Opponents remain unconvinced, warning that parking and compatibility concerns will surface as soon as developers take advantage of the new rules.

With the first reading now complete, the ordinance returns to the City Commission on Sept. 8 for a final vote. If approved, the changes will take effect later this year.

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Photo special to Alachua County Today

LIVE OAK – The Suwannee River Water Management District is inviting photographers to showcase the region’s natural beauty through its annual photo contest, with winning entries to be featured in the District’s 2026 calendar.

The competition is open to photographers of all skill levels and aims to highlight the landscapes, wildlife and waterways of the 15-county region the District serves in north-central Florida. Organizers said the contest not only celebrates the area’s scenic resources but also underscores the importance of conservation and water management.

Thirteen images will be selected for the calendar — one for the cover and 12 for each month. Winning photographers will be credited, recognized on the District’s social media platforms and given copies of the calendar.

Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 20. A panel of District employees will review the submissions in October, with winners announced by the end of the month.

This marks the second year the District has produced a calendar featuring public submissions. Officials noted that the publication also highlights the District’s initiatives and conservation efforts.

The Suwannee River Water Management District, based in Live Oak, oversees water resource management across 15 north-central Florida counties. Its mission is to protect and manage water resources through science-based practices that support both natural systems and public needs.

Full contest details and submission guidelines are available at mysuwanneeriver.com

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NEWBERRY – After hours of debate and public comment, the Newberry City Commission voted Aug. 25, 2025, to set the city’s final fire assessment rate at $300 per residential property.

The vote came after weeks of discussion and public workshops. Although the previously discussed rate of $419 per residential unit was listed in the Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Truth in Millage (TRIM) Notice, City Staff recommended a reduced rate of $300 per residential unit for a final assessment

The commission ultimately approved the measure in a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Monty Farnsworth opposing.

Public Pushback and Calls for Broader Solutions

More than 10 residents and business owners voiced concerns over the increase, which marks the first change in three years. The commission had previously held the rate steady at $200 per residential unit, but officials said that amount was no longer sustainable.

Former commissioner Jason McGehee argued that the city could have avoided the steep increase if past boards had raised the rate incrementally, suggesting $25 annual increases as a way to reduce the impact on households.

Others focused on the burden for businesses. Industrial property is assessed at $0.09 per square foot, which drew objections from business owner Todd Russo. Russo said that much of the 119,000 square feet attributed to his company falls under canopy space, yet is still billed at the industrial rate. City officials explained that the county, not the city, determines industrial square footage. City Manager Jordan Marlowe said he would accompany Russo to meet with county staff on the issue.

Some residents urged commissioners to look beyond rate increases. Developer Trip Norfleet said the city should review its budget more carefully, while resident Sherry French called for expanding the commercial tax base to ease the load on homeowners.

Assistant City Manager and CFO Dallas Lee presented comparison tables showing that funding fire services through property tax increases would ultimately cost residents more than the flat assessment. Lee also explained that the fire assessment ensures costs are distributed evenly across property types.

Several speakers said they had not been aware of earlier workshops and urged the city to expand its outreach. Marlowe noted that Newberry maintains an email notification list for all meetings, but residents must sign up to receive those messages.

The fire assessment dominated the meeting agenda, extending the commission meeting to nearly five hours. Commissioners twice voted to extend the session, first beyond 11 p.m. and later to 11:30 p.m., before finally approving the new rate.

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NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission met Aug. 25, 2025, to review a series of development and zoning issues including the Avalon Woods development, a multi-phase project.

Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez presented an application from JBrown Professional Group, Inc., representing M3 Avalon Land 2, LLC, owner of the project. The plan for Avalon Woods Phase 5A covers 15.5 acres and includes infrastructure and site improvements to support 91 single-family homes within the mixed-use development.

A key point of contention centered on a proposed road connection linking the southern edge of the subdivision to Northwest 244^th Drive. That road provides access to 41 Commerce Park and had not been part of the previously adopted development plan. Because it constitutes a major change to the development order, the new connection required commission approval.

A traffic impact analysis by MPH Transportation Planning indicated that routing traffic through the industrial park could help disperse vehicle trips generated by Phases 4 through 6. However, staff also noted potential conflicts between residential and industrial traffic, raising concerns over maneuverability and use-type compatibility.

City staff recommended adoption of Resolution 2025-26 with multiple conditions. Among them were requirements to amend the master development plan before Phase 5B, to resolve outstanding utility and easement issues, and to sign a maintenance and indemnification agreement for backwater valves.

Another condition addressed force main infrastructure along U.S. 27/41. While the city agreed to reimburse the difference in material costs for upsizing from a 6-inch to an 8-inch pipe, officials emphasized that reimbursements would be subject to city approval of engineering cost estimates.

Assistant City Manager and Director of Utilities and Public Works Jamie Jones suggested advancing Phase 5A with conditions attached, while deferring the road connection question to a later stage. Under the motion, the road will currently end at the last lot, with future resolution required before Phase 5B construction.

Commissioner Mark Clark moved for approval, seconded by Commissioner Don Long. The measure passed 3-2, with Commissioners Monty Farnsworth and Tony Mazon voting against.

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