Alachua County drops plan to designate Lakeshore Drive a scenic road after heavy resident opposition

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously May 26 to halt consideration of a scenic‑road designation for portions of Lakeshore Drive and Southeast 74th Street after sustained public opposition.

Residents from the Lakeshore Drive area told the commission they oppose the county’s proposed scenic‑road process because of poor road condition, high water tables and the potential loss of private right‑of‑way. "I do not think it's a good idea at this time," said David Wilkam, a long‑time resident who urged the board to delay any designation until road and drainage issues are addressed.

Staff told the commission that public input and technical concerns supported recommending that the board not proceed. Commissioner Prizia moved to adopt staff’s recommendation to remove Lakeshore Drive from the scenic‑road process “at this time,” and the motion passed without objection.

Commissioners said they will pursue other tools to address residents’ safety concerns, including increased speed enforcement and traffic‑calming options. Commissioner Prizia noted the sheriff’s office had already signaled a willingness to increase patrols and speed enforcement in the area.

Why it matters: The scenic‑road designation could have changed roadside maintenance, access and right‑of‑way rules for lakefront property owners; opponents said those impacts were not acceptable without more engineering work and public outreach. Supporters of traffic slowing said they want measures that reduce speed without risking private property or causing unintended maintenance burdens.

What’s next: Staff will pursue local options to slow traffic and improve safety in coordination with the sheriff and public works. The county said it will not proceed with the scenic‑road designation unless circumstances change or further outreach and engineering work justifies a fresh proposal.