James Perran Ross has lived in Gainesville for nearly 45 years. With a background in wildlife science, Ross keeps a close eye on his local ecosystems, even conducting scientific studies near Alachua County’s Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park.
When Ross heard of a new housing development proposed off U.S. Highway 441 – adjacent to Paynes Prairie – the 75-year-old was concerned about the potential environmental impacts of the project.
“It couldn't be less well considered,” Ross said. “It’s frankly a ridiculous idea.”
Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a savanna larger than 20,000 acres that sits between Micanopy and Gainesville. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974 and is home to two endangered species.
Maronda Homes LLC, a residential construction company, is requesting a zoning change, which would subdivide 73 acres of land in an effort to construct 134 new homes at 5321 SW 13th Street.
A zoning change is when a property’s land usage is altered, changing the rules for what can be built on a given piece of land.
Since 1940, one of the largest threats to biodiversity is housing development. Housing growth near protected areas has increased at higher rates than average land development areas in the United States.
The recent development proposal sparked local debate about the protection of biodiverse land.
James Perran Ross has multiple concerns about the potential development, including runoff drainage. Water from lawns, gardens, driveways and roofs would likely drain directly into the prairie, posing environmental issues, he said.
Agricultural and urban runoff are major nonpoint sources of nutrients and contaminants to Florida waters.
The development would be located at the “narrowest point” between the prairie and developed infrastructure, he said, where the area is a pathway for wildlife to cross the northern and southern parts of the prairie when water levels are low.
“If the water level is high, you are going to completely block the passage of terrestrial animals back and forth,” Ross said. “In my view, the [environmental] buffers proposed are woefully inadequate.”
Smaller creatures, including toads and burrowing animals, would be negatively impacted by a development of the project's density, Ross said.
While he thinks the development’s proposed environmental considerations are “slightly reassuring,” Ross said it isn’t enough.
Maronda Homes has been active in 10 states, including Florida, since 1972. It developed multiple communities within Alachua County, such as Newberry’s Avalon Woods.
The company hosted a virtual public workshop informing residents of the plan and fielding questions.
Alex Moldovan, Maronda Homes’ director of entitlements and development, said the company’s primary goal is to develop single-family homes. There are no current plans for duplexes or townhomes on the property, he said.
Around 24 of the 73 proposed acres would be developed, leaving the remaining acres as open space.
The proposed plan of two single units per acre is most comparable to the Oakmont community in northeast Gainesville.
The development site is located on the Idylwild and Serenola overlay, an Alachua County Growth Management Policy covering areas in the Idylwild neighborhood and the Serenola nature preserve.
The policy states the land must be conserved, managed and restored to preserve natural and cultural resources. The policy requires developers to reserve 50% of their sites for “open space,” where half of the land in the development must preserve the natural area.
Moldovan said Maronda’s development proposal designates over 60% to open space, which is above the minimum requirements.
The company intends to have zero wetland impacts and maintain natural vegetation, including existing trees, Moldovan said.
The company also intends to have environmental protections written into its development approvals, so guidelines are legally enforceable by state and federal agencies, Moldovan said.
“We’re really trying our darndest to be good environmental stewards here,” Moldovan said. “Any residential development goes through very, very stringent review.”
Jennifer Beck, a 56-year-old Micanopy resident, was concerned about the site location and its entry points during the online workshop. Two entry points were proposed for the property. Beck wondered if there would be traffic lights installed, especially considering the location, she said.
“That is a busy highway across the street from two schools,” Beck said.
To obtain traffic lights, the development would have to go through a civil plan review process and undergo analysis with the Florida Department of Transportation before traffic assessments could be made.
The development is categorized as a Residential Estate zoning proposal. Residential estate zoning designations are utilized for the construction of single-family homes in rural or suburban areas. Different forms of zoning, like commercial zoning, exist for different types of projects, such as the construction of a business.
If rezoning is approved, there would be a long period before construction on any potential project would begin. There are no scheduled Alachua County rezoning meetings as of June 29.
Maronda Homes said it would have to formulate a detailed project scope, receive state and federal environmental permits, review with the Florida Department of Transportation and hold public hearings within the community.
If approved, Maronda developers said there would likely be at least 18 months before construction could begin.
Contact Logan McBride at lmcbride@alligator.org. Follow him on X @logandmcbride.
Logan McBride is a journalism junior and the Summer 2025 city commission reporter. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV shows or playing basketball at Southwest Rec. He is also a big football fan and will die for Dak Prescott.
