Gainesville Neighborhood Voices responds to Eastman’s upzoning proposal
Press release from Gainesville Neighborhood Voices
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Board of Directors of Gainesville Neighborhood Voices (GNVoices) does not support the multi-faceted proposal put forward by Commissioner Bryan Eastman to 1) change residential zoning across the city to allow 35’-wide, 3,500-square-foot lots; 2) reduce lot setbacks; and 3) allow cottage neighborhoods; while 4) maintaining the ordinance that allows two accessory dwelling units on any residential lot in the City.
Instead, GNVoices proposes two ways to strategically add residential density to the city, consistent with the spirit of Commissioner Eastman’s proposal.
GNVoices’ process, leading to our recommendation, included research, listening, and extensive communication:
Over the past year, members of the GNVoices Board have had lengthy personal conversations with Commissioner Eastman, attended both City-hosted information sessions and a session hosted by the YIMBY.org-affiliated local group, “Gainesville is for People.” GNVoices also hosted a meeting at the Blount Center, where Commissioner Eastman spoke with a group of more than 50 attendees. We have carefully read his proposal, posted on Substack. We have listened to participants’ questions and concerns at each public session.
We note that, despite hearing challenges, questions, concerns, and suggestions raised by many participants, including our Board members, Commissioner Eastman has made no changes to his recommendations and has incorporated none of the suggestions.
The rationale for our objection:
1) The City has not provided evidence, in the form of a map, showing which lots/neighborhoods would be impacted by this proposal. Such a map would include lots over 70’ wide that could be subdivided and highlight vacant lots.
2) There is no evidence that subdividing lots randomly will lead to a substantial number of “starter homes” since the cost of a home is largely dependent on the cost of labor, materials, fees, and permits. This approach will not achieve Commissioner Eastman’s stated goal of helping young families buy their first homes.
3) It is unfair to rezone all residential property in the City without individually informing all impacted residents and property owners.
4) In aggregate, the vast majority of those in attendance at public sessions did not support the proposal as presented. Because we believe our city’s residents’ voices should be heard, we support their positions.
Two alternatives to add residential density strategically:
1) Commissioner Eastman has used his own neighborhood, Oak View, as an example of a neighborhood that would benefit from lot splits and related zoning changes. With his leadership, his neighborhood could serve as a prototype. Other neighborhoods with lots wider than 70’ (whether vacant or not) might also choose to “opt in” at the same time, or once Oak View leads the way.
2) Some of Gainesville’s major roads include single-family zoning that has perhaps outlived its usefulness. Residential lots adjoining these arterial roads could be upzoned, consistent with best practices of transit-oriented design. This would likely increase bus usage, supporting the multi-modal transportation transition many in our community seek.
Gainesville needs greater density
No, we don’t.
People who want to live stacked on top of each other like animals in a garbage-strewn, open-air sewer need to leave Gainesville and move to Chicago, NYC, Baltimore, San Francisco, etc.
What’s obvious is you can’t get much denser.
It’d be much better to build ultra thin towers with one studio or efficiency unit per floor, several stories tall, saving the trees around them so nobody will see them set back from the streets. Deed restricted for single adult owner-occupancy — no couples or families — with HOA rules and self-security (crimewatch barriers).
This would free up multitudes of already existing family style housing, whether houses or multi room apts being stuffed with unrelated single adult renters today. That has driven up both rents and mortgages because multiple single adults combined per home can pay a much higher combined rent, which drives up home values and mortgages.
Problem solved.
It seems you’re advocating something that is essentially a stack of shipping containers serviced by a staircase or elevator.
How low would the rent need to be for renters to view this as preferable to a 4 bedroom house with a few roommates? And in a shared house the occupants can split the utilities, cable.
Why not create tiny house zoning?
Sounds like a good idea but keep it to areas that are already vacant on major roads
All you progressive liberal lemmings, still think Eastman cares what you think?
Keep believing.
Never forget that Eastman said he wanted to make Gainesville like D.C. well he’s trying, our crime rates are exploding, cost of living is absolutely unaffordable. I saw a mother of 6 today at the 75 exit asking for money, why don’t we take care of her instead of illegal immigrants? Our minority community is being abused by these liberal policies. These rich white liberals love keeping minorities under their boot, while they steal and pillage our enery resources for personal gain. Eastman doesn’t give 2 shakes about the people of Gainesville, he is trying to fill his portfolio before he moves on to destroy more cities. Stacknpeople on top of each of like it’s a meat freezer. GTFOH. Eastman lives in a big house that we taxpayers pay for now he should start working for the people and not developers. This commission is selling this city to special interests. This would be a great city if we could get liberal special interests out of it. Quit dividing this once great city.
None of these city commissioners, Eastman and Ward especially, even bother to think their ideas through, before slinging their mud on the wall, hoping some of it will stick.
Eastman will do what’s in HIS best interest. Be d@#%$& the residents or anyone else.
You vote em in, you deal with em.
GNV is directed by some board members – plural – with both professional experience in planning and long time residence in Gainesville and it’s proposals and rebuttals (see above) are both thought out and representative of the obvious majority of opinion on this subject in the community. Eastman is apparently reading too many magazines and foolishly ignoring the clear will of city residents on this subject.
Let’s all sell out and move out of the County?
Eastman’s proposal would ruin neighborhoods. The character of the city would be further ruined – note all the demolitions! More people are renting because they cannot afford to buy a home. What is the vacancy rate of rentals? I bet many units are vacant. Eastman has probably ignored this. As usual the city commission does NOT listen to its residents!!
Since the city commission likes wasting money so much, perhaps we could fund Eastman a one-way ticket to San Francisco, Portland or one of those places he’d fit right in
When Eastmans and Companies GRU kickback goes to zero, he may finally redirect his time into managing existing Gainesville issues, not continuing to create new problems that don’t exist.