Alachua County adopts 'no-build' stance on state toll-road proposals after public outcry

Alachua County commissioners on Aug. 11 voted to adopt a resolution urging state leaders to pursue the “no-build” alternative for the MCORs toll-road proposals, citing potential environmental harm and local priorities.

The motion, removed from the consent agenda to allow public comment, passed unanimously by the commissioners present. The board directed staff to send the resolution to affected counties and the Florida Department of Transportation. Mark Sexton and other staff briefed the panel on the resolution'9s rationale, including language urging improvements to existing corridors before building new ones.

During a half-hour public-comment period, conservation and community leaders urged the commission to act. Herman Younger of the Sierra Club asked the board to “support the no build MCORS,” saying the county cannot “devote $110,000,000 in taxpayer funding for MCORS when we should be redirecting it to help the unemployed, small businesses, agricultural producers and workers” affected by COVID-19. Mike Roth, president of the Santa Fe River association, and Stacy Gallagher of the Sea Turtle Conservancy also voiced opposition, warning of harm to wildlife, water quality and rural communities.

Commission discussion stressed that the resolution is an expression of local policy preference — the commission has no authority to stop the state project but can communicate its position to the task force, governor and legislature. The item was pulled from consent so the public could be heard and the resolution could be made more visible to residents and neighboring jurisdictions.

Next steps: staff will copy other affected local governments and transmit the adopted resolution to FDOT and the task force compiling recommendations this fall.