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Hernando Today

Brooksville Looks To Gainesville For Planning Help

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: February 1, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - City officials are looking to the land of the Gator for help with planning Brooksville's future.

The City Council on Monday will consider a contract with Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Florida to bring together a plethora of planning documents into one manageable vision for the city.

"This is step one toward our future," said Vice-Mayor Lara Bradburn, who has worked with City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha and UF officials to come up with the proposal. "We can't move forward if we don't know where we are."

The city would pay $18,000 for the university's Center for Building Better Communities to analyze the city's comprehensive land use plan, zoning codes, and revitalization plan, among other documents, according to the proposal.

There are other elements to consider, Bradburn said, such as cooperative planning efforts with the county and the efforts of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority, which is including Hernando County in its efforts to develop mass transit.

She said county officials have expressed a willingness to help with the effort.

A group of planners and graduate students will work on the project led by Gene Boles, the department's director, and Gail Easley, an adjunct instructor. The two have decades of experience in planning issues, making the cost of the services a bargain, Norman-Vacha said.

"They are both very respected and seasoned professionals," she said. "Just bringing their talent, we think, is very valuable to the city."
Bradburn has been critical of the services that the city receives from the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council and said this is a way to get more for less money.

Mayor Joe Bernardini said he thought the idea was a good one.

"I think it's a great opportunity, and the price is right," Bernardini said, though he added the city needs to ensure that any goals set are "realistic," especially when considering cost.

The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 201 N. Howell Ave.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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