Comment on the Comprehensive Plan Draft

Learn more about Comprehensive Plans, a summary of our community engagement efforts, and why we're focusing on racial equity.

Gainesville today thrives as a result of the culture of the communities who call its neighborhoods home, and the creativity and innovation from people and perspectives from all over the world joining together at the University and in the local business community. View a snapshot of Gainesville, the City's strengths and challenges, followed by a short history of the City.

Local government bears a responsibility to improve communities and positively impact the lives of neighbors through laws, policies, and public investment. This responsibility is underscored by the reality that for the past century of American history, government at the federal, state, and local levels have played an instrumental role in establishing and reinforcing racial and economic disparities that are still experienced by neighbors in Gainesville today.  The City of Gainesville has begun to take important, incremental steps towards creating an organization focused on eliminating racial disparities in the community. 

One of the best ways to assess the cultural identity of a community is through their commitment to the arts, culture, and the preservation of its history. A community that does not know or respect its past cannot property build upon that past in a manner that is beneficial and comforting for its residents. The Cultural Affairs Division and the Department of Sustainable Development's Office of Historic Preservation have made recent advancements in preserving Black history and creating arts and cultural venues that serve Black neighbors, historically the largest minority population in the City. 

While Gainesville is home to many dynamic communities and neighborhoods, many residents across the city live in neighborhoods that lack access to basic services and resources. Ongoing needs include resources such as quality sidewalks and transportation, health and wellbeing services, childcare, grocery stores, and community parks and open spaces. At the heart of this disparity is a housing crisis. Today there is a significant and increasing need for housing which is safe, affordable, and provides access to transportation choices. Housing access has been established as a primary focus for the City since at least 2018 and a variety of work has taken place since that time to address the issue. Currently the City is exploring what drives housing inequity in Gainesville, how exclusionary land use controls drive local housing market trends, and how changes to exclusionary land controls could begin to make housing in Gainesville more equitable.

Government actions and policies such as zoning laws, lending practices, and investment decisions favored those with a vested interest in their own communities and overall has been at the expense of others. This has disproportionately affected members in our community who have not been served by our decision-making process, resulting in a lower quality of life. The City of Gainesville has begun to take important, incremental steps towards creating a community that meets the needs of all neighbors, regardless of race, culture, or socio- economic status. Through various City programs, Gainesville is committed to improving and investing in neighborhoods and communities who have historically been left behind.

Transportation is the backbone that supports many aspects of life in Gainesville, from everyday tasks like running errands and visiting family to accessing jobs, schooling, health care, and other destinations that are essential to individuals’ economic mobility and wellbeing. When access to transportation is limited by cost or location of services, the process of going about daily life becomes more challenging. In recent years, the City recognized the need to develop an equitable, balanced and safe transportation system and has formed partnerships with the University of Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation, and Alachua County to develop and implement forward-thinking solutions.

Our environment plays a significant role in the health and vitality of our communities and is inextricably connected to wellbeing, housing, health, food, and jobs. Our environment creates the conditions through which all Gainesville neighbors can live, work, and play and be safe from environmental hazards. In light of increasing pressures due to climate change and statewide population growth, now more than ever it is important to responsibly manage our resources and infrastructure to ensure Gainesville’s communities can adapt and thrive.

The ability to lead healthy lives takes many forms: having access to affordable fresh food; having a quality park in walking or biking distance; being able to receive healthcare, including both medical and mental health support; and feeling supported after experiencing a hazard or a life-changing emergency, among many others. Health and wellbeing are dependent on many different factors working together, and most of these are outside the control of individual residents. The City will focus on creating equitable access and experiences with respect to healthcare, food, exercise, fitness, and recreation, all with a more conscious and deliberate focus to improve the lives of those most in need, including neighbors of color, low-income neighbors, immigrant neighbors and neighbors experiencing homelessness.

How we earn a living is fundamental to our opportunity to thrive as individuals and our ability to support the people and communities around us. Economic development encompasses a broad range of functions, such as helping businesses thrive and grow; attracting new businesses to Gainesville; providing skill training for neighbors; ensuring that everybody can earn a living wage; and ensuring that people who have been unemployed or those from the re-entry community have the support they need to find work. In the last 25 years, the City has successfully grown existing industries, incubated businesses in new industries, and attracted businesses from outside the city. Moving forward, the priority for the City is to ensure the benefits of growth are shared by all people in Gainesville and that no neighbor is left behind.

Achieving equity in education is fundamental to making Gainesville equitable today and in the future. Having high- quality education means that children can attend public schools that offer learning environments that support them to thrive; high schoolers receive skills-based training that prepares them to enter the job market; adults can access affordable job training opportunities; and everybody has access to high-speed internet, among other resources that are essential to lifelong learning. Addressing racial inequities in education for the generations of today will create a more equitable society for the generations of tomorrow. A Gainesville where young people can achieve their full potential ensures that the city is maximizing its talent, which can lead to new businesses being started, a more skilled workforce, a more engaged public, and healthier and happier families. Investing in all students so that they have what they need to thrive unlocks that potential for the benefit of individuals as well as the community as a whole.