The Gainesville City Commission on first reading approved a land‑use change and companion rezoning for the 15‑acre former Terwilliger Elementary site, authorizing urban mixed‑use future land use and Urban‑6 transect zoning that allows mixed‑use development up to four stories by right.

The parcel and request: The site — the former Terwilliger Elementary School property — sits on the east side of Northwest 60th Street, south of Newberry Road. The applicant, the School Board of Alachua County, sought a future‑land‑use map change from Education to Urban Mixed Use and a rezoning from Educational Services to U‑6 (transect) to enable adaptive reuse and broader redevelopment choices on the now‑vacant parcel.

Staff and plan‑board review: City planning staff found the application consistent with the comprehensive plan’s goals to support a diversity of housing, retail and workplace choices and to discourage peripheral sprawl. The city plan board unanimously recommended approval before the commission vote.

Commission discussion: Commissioners and staff noted that the parcel sits near an existing cluster of Urban Mixed Use and transect zoning (about 106 acres when the subject parcel is included), and that U‑6 provides a transitional intensity to the U‑8 zoning across the street at Oaks Mall. Residents raised concerns in public comment about existing noise and stormwater in the corridor; staff said those issues are addressed during development‑level review and any future site designs must meet stormwater and drainage requirements and address access and pedestrian connections.

Zoning and development details: U‑6 transect standards limit buildings to four stories by right and a maximum of about 50 dwelling units per acre (local codes set precise numeric thresholds). The transect form requires buildings to relate to the street and supports walkable, mixed uses; final site layout, vehicular access, block connectivity and stormwater design will be reviewed under the city’s development review process.

Votes: The future‑land‑use map amendment (LD25‑000071) and the rezoning (LD25‑000070) were both approved unanimously on first reading; the commission took the public hearing and the votes during the same meeting. (Mover for land‑use action: Commissioner Eastman; mover for rezoning: Commissioner Ingle; seconds not recorded on the public audio.)

What’s next: Rezoning and land‑use approvals permit a developer or the school board to pursue site design, subdivision and site‑development reviews under the U‑6 standards; any public comments requesting mitigation for noise or drainage must be addressed in detailed site plans and engineering/transportation studies during the development review process.

Speakers: Ari Rubenovich (City planner, Sustainable Development) presented the staff report; applicant representative Margo Mauer (NV5) presented the proposal and neighborhood workshop summary; public comment included neighborhood residents who asked about stormwater and noise mitigation.