Agenda Item Name:
Title
Interlocal agreement No. 13163 between Alachua County and City of Gainesville’s Public Works Dept. for SW 62nd Blvd. Connector - Wetland & Buffer Mitigation
End
Presenter:
Stephen Hofstetter, 352-264-6811
Description:
The interlocal agreement is one of the required steps for the City of Gainesville to satisfy their mitigation requirements for wetland and buffer impacts anticipated with the construction of the SW 62nd Blvd. Connector Road
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Authorize the Chair to sign the Interlocal Agreement formalizing the mitigation obligations of the City of Gainesville.
End
Prior Board Motions:
October 12, 2021, Regular BOCC meeting Motion: The BOCC finds the proposed Connector project consistent with Section 77.20 requirements of the Countywide Protection Code and approves the proposed wetland and buffer impacts contingent upon the city satisfying the mitigation requirements outlined in the submitted Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Plan
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
None
End
Strategic Guide:Strategic Guide
Environment
End
Background:
In 2007, the FDOT and City of Gainesville commenced the planning evaluation of roadway alternatives to provide traffic congestion relief options to major transportation facilities including 1-75, SW 34th Street, Archer Road, SW 20th Avenue and Newberry Road. Evaluations of 11 potential alternatives of various existing and potential new routes located between Newberry and Archer Roads resulted in selecting an alternative that will result in the construction of a new 1.1 mile-long, 2-lane roadway facility commencing at the western terminus of Clark Butler Boulevard and connecting near the intersection of SW 62nd Street and SW 20th Avenue. Referred to as the SW 62nd Boulevard Connector, this proposed alignment includes two wetland crossings that would result in a total of 3.6 acres of primary impacts (fill material) and 7.6 acres of secondary impacts (total 11.2 acres). To compensate for these impacts, the City of Gainesville Public Works Department (PWD) has fulfilled regulatory wetland mitigation requirements by purchasing wetland mitigation credits from the Mill Creek Mitigation Bank. The PWD is also mitigating 1.1 acres of wetland buffer encroachment by conducting marsh habitat restoration and enhancement associated with the five-acre “Boardwalk Wetland” located at Gainesville’s Bivens Arm Nature Park. Proposed construction of the Connector is scheduled to commence this month.