The Alachua County Commission discussed which regulatory path a proposed 270-acre cultural and event space in Melrose would follow during its Tuesday meeting. Commissioners decided the WildFlowers proposal would follow the county’s temporary use permit process rather than a special area plan — a decision about the permitting path only, not project approval.
The project itself has polarized the unincorporated community’s residents.
WildFlowers Music Park intends to integrate music, art and environmental conservation. Plans for the property include hosting concerts and festivals alongside educational and agrotourism initiatives.
The project’s supporters emphasize its potential as a cultural hub and environmental initiative, while opponents cite a lack of road infrastructure, environmental damage and inadequate emergency services.
"You know, it's a beautifully created project, and at these divisive times in our country, when there's so much pain and so much fear, I think it's even more important that we find a way to gather together, to join hands and make this beautiful thing happen," said Shanti Vani, an Alachua County resident.
The proposal has also drawn scrutiny from residents who question whether the rural area can sustain the influx of visitors the park is expected to bring.
Located about 17 miles east of Gainesville, Melrose sits at the junction of Alachua, Bradford, Clay and Putnam counties. While estimates vary, one resident at the meeting said about 5,600 people live in the community.
Many residents worry the park will strain Melrose’s limited infrastructure, citing poor road conditions, environmental hazards and insufficient emergency services.
Melrose resident Michelle Baer said she’s concerned the park will pollute local water systems.
“We are all on well systems, and I worry about runoff after these events, with many attendees bringing campers without sewer hookups,” Baer said.
Baer said the county hasn’t properly repaired a neighborhood road where the development site is located, complicating access to the area.
“My elderly mother can no longer drive on it with her compact car to visit me,” she said.
Amid divided public opinion, county commissioners discussed whether the project should follow the county's temporary use permit — the current procedure in place for short-term local festivals and events — or if it warranted a special area plan, which involves a two-year process to address long-term impacts on land use, infrastructure and the local community.
Commissioner Ken Cornell supported a special area plan. He argued Melrose faces unique challenges compared with neighboring eastern Alachua County communities like Waldo and Hawthorne, which have their own elected representatives. Melrose’s multi-county status complicates representation and advocacy.
He said a special area plan would give Melrose residents a stronger voice in shaping the WildFlowers Music Park proposal.
Commissioner Anna Prizzia argued against a special area plan, noting Melrose is already covered by the county’s comprehensive plan. The current plan categorizes Melrose as a rural cluster with substantial safeguards for agricultural land, meaning development in the town is limited and emphasizes protecting farmland.
She said existing initiatives like Forward Focus are sufficient to address community needs, and adding another planning study would be both premature and costly.
Commission Chair Charles Chestnut called himself a “middleman,” acknowledging the merit of both sides of the discussion. He said a special area plan could help preserve farmland and protect the county’s food security.
He also noted pursuing a special area plan wouldn’t block WildFlowers’ organizers from applying for permits now, since applications filed now would be reviewed under existing rules. A special area plan would only affect the project if applicants delayed submitting permits.
After discussion, the commission left the temporary use permit pathway in place. The WildFlowers project itself is not approved; organizers must still apply for and obtain required permits before any work can proceed.
Anthony Duarte is a contributing writer for The Alligator. Contact him at aduarte2@ufl.edu.
