Alachua County Commission hears from neighbors of Florence landfill, votes to do additional monitoring, and urges facility to close

BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – During the evening session of their January 28 regular meeting, the Alachua County Commission heard an update on the Florence landfill, heard from citizens, and voted to ask staff to do more monitoring of the site and seek an early closure of the landfill.
History and update
Growth Management Director Jeff Hays said the landfill’s operation goes back “many years,” but the first Special Use Permit was issued in 1972; the permit was revoked in 1991 due to violations, but it was restored in 1994 when the landfill was sold to new owners. The landfill was restricted to construction and demolition (C&D) debris at that time.
County Special Use Permits expire after five years, and the last one was issued in 2018, but the property owner has notified the County that they intend to make use of legislative extensions to their Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit. A group of neighbors challenged that permit in court, and a settlement agreement was reached between the parties in June 2024.Â
Florida statutes allow for extension of local government development orders, which would include the Special Use Permit and development approval for the site, during states of emergency. The property owners notified the County that they were relying on an emergency order associated with subtropical system Nicole, which was extended several times but expired in August 2024; however, the statute also extends the orders an additional 24 months, so Hays said the landfill can operate under its current permits until August 2026.Â
The landfill is required to sample its own wells, along with private wells within 1,000 feet of their property. If a sample exceeds a threshold, they have 30 days to resample, and so far, the levels have fallen back into the target levels every time.
Public comment
Before public comment on the landfill, Chair Chuck Chestnut told the audience, “We can’t make any decisions tonight. We’re just hearing public comment.”
Twenty members of the public spoke about living near the landfill, including a “horrible” smell, also described as a “rotten egg” smell, and unknown particles in the air that settle on cars and other surfaces. Several demanded immediate closure of the landfill and a clean-up of the area. Two people called the landfill “an example of environmental racism.” Another person said she knew she was buying land next to a “C&D historic landfill in violation,” and her objection was “not one of ‘not in my backyard’; it is an environmental justice objection.”
A UF student presented five pages of signatures from students that had been collected on campus to “demand action immediately,” and another person presented a petition with 218 signatures that were gathered by going door-to-door in the area surrounding the facility. Several people said that when they purchased their homes, they were told the landfill would be closed within a few years. Several people said they’d heard the owner had applied to double the height of the landfill, from 35 feet to 70 feet.
Alford: “It’s complicated, not as simple as I had hoped it would be.”
After public comment, Commissioner Mary Alford said she’d campaigned on talking about the landfill as an environmental justice issue, but “I found out when I got elected: it’s complicated, not as simple as I had hoped it would be. I am embarrassed, really, to say that we are still fighting this, and I support you.”
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler suggested sending the petitions to the Governor and the local legislative delegation “because face it, guys, Tallahassee doesn’t like us very much here, but they like… you voters.” She recommended that residents call their representatives and added, “Your concerns are our concerns, too… We care.”
Prizzia: “It’s time to find different solutions for our waste, and I think we’re prepared to do that, but the State has not given us the opportunity to do that.”
Commissioner Anna Prizzia said they all had “the understanding that we needed to right this wrong, that this dump needed to go. And Florence had, I think, run as responsible of an operation as he can for an unlined dump and really tried to be a good neighbor and community member, but it’s time to find different solutions for our waste, and I think we’re prepared to do that, but the State has not given us the opportunity to do that.” She said the legislature could change the rule that allows extension of local government development orders for 24 months after a state of emergency, for example: “They need to… make sure that in situations where communities have these incompatible uses, they can move forward with right decisions.”
Commissioner Ken Cornell said he was on the Board the last time the Special Use Permit was approved in 2018, “and I do remember that night, saying, ‘This is it.’… I’m hopefully going to start to make this right.” He said he believes there is “plenty of capacity” for construction debris in the county, “and we’ve kind of concluded that in previous meetings… We’re not really in compliance with our Comp[rehensive] Plan. You know, we have set prioritizing environmental justice and community engagement. We obviously know that this use is incompatible. It’s inconsistent with the land use. That’s why it’s a Special Use Permit, special exception…I think that… even though our hands are tied by many of the State statutes, I do think that tonight, after listening to our community, we can take some immediate action.”
Motion
Commissioner Ken Cornell offered a six-part motion:
- Work with the Health Department to begin implementing a regular air monitoring program and ask staff to bring back a plan within 60 days to include purchasing continuous air monitoring equipment to identify hydrogen sulfate gas concentrations and other known air contaminants;
- Direct EPD staff to restart graphing all groundwater data to help identify any potential contaminant trends and report that information to the Board;
- Refer to staff the issue of installing “No Truck” signs all along the Kincaid Loop and report back within 60 days;
- Ask staff to contact Mr. Florence and ask him to consider implementing an early closure plan that would result in a closing prior to August 2024;
- Prepare a Chair letter to the Governor, the local delegation, the Department of State, the Department of Environmental Protection, and any other governing State agencies over this facility, describing the community’s concerns, with a link to this meeting – and the petitions – and forward any responses to the Board;
- Direct staff to utilize their best efforts to review the current closure plan and bring back a presentation on what exactly is involved within 90 days.
Alford seconded the motion.
Wheeler: “I’m just worried about what’s coming down from our federal and our state government in terms of equity anymore, and I don’t know if that will hurt us”
Wheeler said, “The word ‘equity’ [is being used a lot], and I’m just worried about what’s coming down from our federal and our state government in terms of equity anymore, and I don’t know if that will hurt us, to tell you the truth.” She said she thought the way the petitions were written was good because they “don’t get into any of that stuff… I hate that I have to even think that way.”
Alford said, “Don’t obey in advance,” and Wheeler said, “I don’t want to, you know, be discounted because we are concerned about equity in our community, even though we are, and highly committed to it. It doesn’t seem to be very popular in some circles. That’s all.”
Landfill’s attorney says permit extension goes to October 2027
Attorney Patrice Boyes said her firm represents Southeast Land Holdings (the Florence landfill) and reminded the Board that the facility has a valid Special Use Permit and has provided notice to the County that they would be taking advantage of the statutory extension, which “by our math,… goes to October 28, 2027.” She said she came to the meeting to listen to the neighbors, some of whom were involved in the recent legal settlement and were given $2,000 each to pay for water filtration systems. She continued, “I think my client has made a number of concessions… In addition to what’s been discussed here tonight, they did reduce the height of the landfill from what was originally permitted; they brought it down five feet. So they’re doing everything they can to be a good neighbor.”Â
Boyes said she was concerned that the County seemed to be “attack[ing] alleged environmental issues that were settled and resolved in the DEP litigation… You’re trying to… turn [your] land use authority into something that exerts persuasion or authority over environmental issues,” which she said were exclusively under the jurisdiction of the State.
Boyes: “Their licensed state facility’s been called repeatedly a ‘dump.’ It’s not a dump; it’s a licensed C&D landfill under the state statute.”
She said her client’s “honor’s been disparaged tonight. Their licensed state facility’s been called repeatedly a ‘dump.’ It’s not a dump; it’s a licensed C&D landfill under the state statute.” She also pointed out that there are no ongoing violations at this time with regard to air or water, “and there’s no real justification to ask for an early closure.” She said she would like to meet with staff “and see if there’s something we can do to calm the community’s emotions about this issue and avoid further adversarial conflict.”
The motion passed unanimously.
I got an idea just dump the trash at the County Commission Chambers. That place is already full of trash that cums out of the Commissioners mouths. I wonder how much of the construction debris in that land fill is from homes that Mini Kenneth Cornholeth has sold. He sure doesn’t mind getting his commission checks from homes built, that have used the landfill for construction debris.
There’s lots of open space near Cornhole’s enclave available for a new site.
Several thoughts come to mind. First Florence is a construction debrit landfill, they take concrete and work and recycle the mess. Second if the construction industry would stop making everything out of wood they would be using the recycled concrete crushing it back to use in cement. Thirdly how close do these people live next to Florence ? Fourthy, we all know people sign petitions just to sign them knowing nothing about what they are signing except from those offering the petitions. Florence does a good service to the community. Rotten egg smell is usually from a Natural gas leak.
This problem can be solved very easily.
1) make the operator a fair offer to move the dump operation to a more suitable location.
2) if the operator refuse all reasonable county offers, then either imminent domain or
ticketing the hell out of their trucks for violating the ‘no trucks’ signs will do the trick.
BoCC, why are you struggling with this?
Lmao he done sold his business to wastepro for 50 mill these people just wasting their time
I’m wondering how many of those petition signers update their mobile devices each year and contribute to the other landfills.
So let me get this straight. The landfill was there first, then these neighbors knowingly bought their homes next to a landfill probably because it was cheap. Then they complain it is next to a landfill and accept money from the landfill in a settlement. Then go back on it complaining to BOCC claiming environmental justice and the landfill being there first is racist. The entire time it’s really only construction debris you rocks, metal, and wood already found in nature and all the surrounding wells pass drinking water standards. And if by magic they close Florence tomorrow they will still be living next to a landfill
I’m a little confused about why Alachua County Commissioners and staff thinks it’s OK to transport household trash and bury it in Union County New River landfill and contaminate this county water and air quality also providing them health issues. Everyone makes trash come up with new ways to dispose of it. Stop thinking about yourself only lead the way. It’s Alachua County waste stop 🛑 dumping on poor Counties.