GAINESVILLE – Unanimous approval was given Tuesday evening by the Gainesville City Council to a rezoning request that will bring twenty new residential housing units to a 1.56-acre vacant lot near downtown Gainesville.
Applicant Dave Odom told council that since his rezoning application for the property on Oak Street near West Academy Street was recommended for approval by the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board in February he has had an opportunity to speak with adjacent property owner Billy Powell about the proposed site plan.
As a result of that conversation Odom said he was submitting a revised site plan, changing the location of several of the townhomes.
“Rather than having townhomes on the eastern side that would back up to the office building that is there now that is owned by Billy Powell,” Odom began his explanation of the site plan change, “…we were actually able to reconfigure it, and the good news is we came out with a bigger park in the process.”
(According to the proposal the development will contain a private pocket park for residents’ use only.)
“He was concerned about the backs of our units being next to his building,” Odom said of his conversation with Powell. “And I feel like it ended up being a better plan.”
“It did change our mix: we couldn’t get nine cottages (two stories, 1150-square feet minimum); now it will be eight. And it did add one more townhome (three stories with garage, 1600 to 2100-square feet).”
Odom said that the theme of the development did not change even though the layout did. “To create a truly unique neighborhood for Gainesville all within a two to two-and-a-half block walking distance to the Square.”
When asked if the units would be sold or rented, Odom responded, “This is a ‘For Sale’ product.” He told council members he hopes to have the first units ready for sale by the end of 2021.
