4 September 2007 Mr. Charles Gauthier, AICP Community Planning Department of Community Affairs 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100 Attention: Planner Ron Horlick In Re. Levy County Proposed Large Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendments,LSA-07-02, New York Dairy and LSA 07-05, Boyette, et al.. Dear Charles, This comes to express the opposition of the Board of Directors of Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy to the referenced large scale Levy County Comprehensive Plan Amendments. Combining these two applications we find 940 acres of existing Agricultural/Rural Residential (A/RR) land would be converted to 940 acres of Rural Residential (RR) land use designation. This increases the permissible density from 1 dwelling unit (DU) per 10 acres to 1 DU per 3 acres. Thus the increase in dwelling units for both sites is 220 potential new dwellings and a potential population increase of 513 individuals. The properties are completely surrounded by A/RR with some grandfathered undeveloped subdivisions in the vicinity. We find these proposals inconsistent with Policy 9.2 regarding density allocation of the Levy County Comprehensive Plan (LCCP), inconsistent with development patterns in the vicinity and the proposals are clearly indicators of sprawl and far ahead of any demonstrated need for RR land use designations. We further argue that the plan amendments propose 220 new septic tanks and private wells in excess of the existing potential determined by the current land use designation. The septic tanks and additional ground water withdrawal will have a significant impact upon the ground and surface water quality in the Manatee Springs Basin and thus have a residual effect upon the quality of water in Manatee Springs, the Suwannee River and Gulf coastal waters. This is a vital consideration in view of the economic and recreational values of Manatee Springs, the Suwannee River and the aquaculture industry to Levy County. These kinds of unplanned incremental changes in land use have a sordid history in Florida and are clearly not justified in these cases. In addition to the issue of sprawl, the simple fact that these properties are located in Levy County 6 to 9 miles from urban services such as fire protection, police protection, emergency medical service, schools and centralized water and sewer services. From a sound planning view, this creates unacceptable living conditions and again is reflective of inconsistencies with the LCCP, Rule 9J5 of the Florida Administration Code and the State Comprehensive Plan, (CH.187 FS). It is with respect that we submit these arguments for denial of the proposed LCCP amendments to the Department of Community Affairs and thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Earl M. Starnes, FAICP President Florida`s Nature Coast Conservancy P.O. Box 234 Cedar Key, FL 32625 | 