Dear Commissioners:

How far should a resident of Alachua County go to walk in the woods? A 10 minute walk? A 10 minute bike ride? A 10 minute drive? I can’t find anything in the county recreational policies to tell me what the County thinks is the reasonable expectation for a resident to have access to outdoor recreational space. Yes, the County is recommending new developments to install amenities like swimming pools and tennis courts but it is not the same as taking a walk in the woods with your dog.

As a park the West End Golf Course will probably never be another Central Park like New York’s but it could provide needed recreational space to thousands in the rapidly urbanizing Jonesville area. Right now it is zoned recreational but once the zoning is changed then the opportunity for green space is gone forever. It is impossible to un-develop property just as it is impossible to unring a bell.

Keeping parcels 04314-000-000 and 04333-001-000 zoned recreational preserves the County’s options for the future. Someday it might be the right thing to do but with all the other open land and available already zoned for development now is not the time.

Reginald Jones
Newberry

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Dear Commissioners, this is a quality of life issue. The residents of the area do not want to lose this75 acres of green space that provides a breath of trees, a glimpse of wildlife, a tranquil walk, a secluded place to meditate, the possibility of recreation for adults and children, the opportunity for garden plots.  Once this is clear cut and paved over, it is gone forever.

Gladys M. Lane

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Dear Commissioners

Two meetings have been held by JBPro to inform residents living near the former West End Golf Course about potential development plans by the proposed buyer of the property, Syed Moukhtara.  The July 23, 2020 meeting was held entirely on Zoom and the December 9, 2021 meeting was held in person at a local church as well as via Zoom.

On Thursday, December 9 there were about 100 people in attendance at a local church and 70 logged into the Zoom meeting.  None of the people who commented at this meeting were in support of this proposal.  The 70 figure is misleading because, as was with our household, there were probably multiple people watching via Zoom at each location.  Also, the Zoom portion of the meeting was very difficult to hear, especially Jay Brown, the main presenter, even with my computer volume at 100%.  

On July 23, 2020, I attended the Zoom meeting where over 200 people were in attendance.  At this meeting None of the people who commented in July 2020 were in support of the original proposal. I also attended two other in-person meetings between July 2020 and December 2021 and again, None of the people who commented at either of these meetings were in support of changing the zoning from Recreational to development.    

I agree wholeheartedly with the vast majority of people who spoke at the December 9th meeting.  Especially regarding:

(1) The choice of the date to hold this meeting between two significant holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas/NewYears) was poor.  Lots of people have busy holiday schedules including family commitments during this time.

This meeting surely could have waited until early January.  This was a deliberate attempt to minimize resistance to this proposed development plan.
(2)   Why should the Alachua County Commission change the current (and has been for well over 50 years) zoning from Recreational to "planned development" for part of this property especially in the proposed configuration of the inside 38+ acres?  Our forefathers had the foresight to zone this land Recreational because it was best for the area and it should stay zoned this way.  The zoning of Recreational was further substantiated at the September meeting of the Alachua County Planning Commission.  The Countywide Recreation Master Plan states that recreational opportunities are

 "... an important aspect in a community's quality of life".
(3)  Golf is not dead.  At least two of the speakers proved Jay Brown's hypothesis WRONG with their commentary and statistics.  I wonder how much else in the December 9th presentation or comments during the meeting is flawed.

(4)  Based on the latest drawing of the proposed development,about 50% "open" space on the west side of the property is earmarked for a "stormwater management facility" and therefore not usable for recreation.

(5)  Paul Hornby, one of the last people to speak, summed it up well.He said something to the effect that "the developer, Syed Moukhtara, is heading the wrong way on a one-way road."         

Additionally, it is extremely difficult to support any plan when the developer does not comprehend the wishes of the people in the area who want this unique historical and valuable property to REMAIN zoned Recreational.  The developer's other neighborhood in the immediate area (Tara West) demonstrates a lack of creative design with each 6-plex being "barracks style" units.  These units are sopopular that he has sold less than 20 units since January 2020.  

In conclusion, it is important to note that the seller, Peter Mimm (Min), now has well over $80,000 in code violations.  The seller purchased the property when it was zoned Recreational and he should either sell it as zoned Recreational or develop a viable Recreational business on the property.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts.     

Paul McLaughlin

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Sherry Dombek 1/27/22

A couple of years ago we began our efforts to stop the rezoning of West End Golf Course.  Mr. Sayed Moukhtara is wanting to purchase the property & change the zoning from recreational to residential.  In a zoom meeting with more than 100 of us in the Jonesville area community, Mr. Moukhtara said he would build something beautiful that we would be proud of.  Do you think we should be proud of this?  It looks like military barracks to me. 

Very cleverly Mr. Moukhtara delayed his plans, revised his plans and now is hoping to be successful in his quest to secure residential zoning.  All our efforts, letters, emails, TV coverage & demonstrations are in a past file.  Please continue to support the efforts of WECARE to secure recreational property for our community. 

Write or email the commissioners & make your voice be heard.  Bocc@alachuacounty.us  Alachua County Commissioners 12 SE 1st St. 2nd Floor, Gainesville, Fl. 32601.  Donations http://GoFundMe/3b3335dd62. Checks can be sent to WECARE 14260 W Newberry Rd. #129, Newberry, Fl. 32669.