ALACHUA, Fla. (WCJB) -A highly anticipated hearing on the Tara April stormwater permit came to an abrupt halt Tuesday night after the developer withdrew the application and postponed consideration.

The developer withdrew the application by email and did not attend the meeting. The Planning and Zoning Board voted to move the Tara April special exception hearing to Jan. 13, marking the second postponement since September.

The permit would allow a stormwater basin on land above the karst cave system that connects Mill Creek Sink to the Floridan Aquifer. The permit represents the first step toward more than 1,000 new homes and commercial buildings in the area.

County staff, environmental experts and residents have warned for months that the location is too geologically sensitive.

“Those wa

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