Alachua P&Z: Ask Golf Course for More Environmental Protections
Schedule
Tue, 10 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
Alachua City Hall | Alachua, FL
Advertisement
The Tomoka Hills golf course project is coming back before the City of Alachua Planning and Zoning Board on March 10 to amend one of its conditions and it's an *opportunity to strengthen environmental protections*!The amendment is presented as a clarification about ownership and who can use the course, but it significantly expands the user base beyond what was originally approved.
If a condition is being amended, this is also an opportunity to strengthen environmental protections.
This project is located near Mill Creek Sink in sensitive karst geology that connects directly to our aquifer. The proposed course is expected to use approximately 250,000 gallons of water per day and includes a large lined pond that will be augmented with groundwater.
We are currently in drought conditions. Regional springs and rivers are already not meeting Minimum Flows and Levels.
At the original April 2025 hearing, Alachua County Environmental Protection staff recommended safeguards such as:
• Limiting the pond size
• Reducing or eliminating fertilizer use
• Limiting irrigation areas
• Using native and Florida Friendly landscaping
Those recommendations were dismissed.
Additional reasonable protections could include:
• Pursuing Audubon International Certification
• Adding automatic leak detection requirements
• Revising the planting list to prioritize drought resistant species
These measures would support the City’s own water conservation policies while protecting Mill Creek Sink and our drinking water source.
How You Can Participate
1. Send an email to [email protected] and ask the board to add environmental conditions. If submitted by Noon on Monday, March 2, your comment will be included in the official agenda packet. Subject line: Public Comment: Tomoka Hills Golf
2. Attend the Planning and Zoning Board meeting on March 10 and speak during public comment.
Now is the time to ask the applicant to be a good neighbor and help protect our aquifer.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Alachua City Hall, 15100 NW 142nd Ter,Alachua,FL,United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
