Update, July 21: This annexation and rezoning were unanimously approved by the Gainesville City Council July 21.

Two more pieces of the Gainesville 85 Business Park will be up for rezoning and annexation votes Tuesday, a step forward in the project officials hope can fill the need for additional industrial space in the city. 

One parcel is about 1,320 acres, while the other is about four acres. The larger tract would be rezoned to planned unit development, while the four-acre property would be annexed into the city with a zoning of planned unit development. The city of Gainesville is the property owner and applicant for the requests. 

Plans for the business park include 5 million square feet of industrial space, and the project will be built gradually over a 15 to 20-year period. The business park will have about 19 lots, ranging in size from two acres to over 100 acres. 

The land is near the Allen Creek Soccer Complex, along Fullenwider Road and Allen Creek Road. A future road will connect the business park to U.S. 129. 

When plans for the business park were announced in fall 2018, City Manager Bryan Lackey said the city was running out of business park space and wanted to provide additional options for new or existing businesses. 

“It’s great to have all this activity in Gainesville with companies wanting to expand and companies coming in. … We don’t want to turn away people that are wanting to be in our community,” he said in 2018. 

The Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board recommended approval of the requests at a June 9 meeting. The Gainesville City Council will have the final vote Tuesday, July 21.