Less than a week before the public hearing on the new Springhills development and the debate is picking back up again.

Alachua County is considering a new offer from the Springhills developer two months after county leaders rejected a so-called final offer from the developer.

County Manager Randall Reid says there are some significant steps forward with the latest offer. The biggest is that the developer has agreed to pay more of the cost to expand roads up front--as long as they are reimbursed later on. Plus, they've offered more affordable housing, land for a fire station and agreed to abide by larger wetland buffer zones.

A public hearing is set for Tuesday, May 1st, at 5 P.M. at the Santa Fe Community College Gym. It's something an attorney for the developer, Patrice Boyes, is looking forward to.

"I'm confident given enough time and explanation and a spirit of cooperation among all the parties, we can continue to answer questions from public, staff and board and resolve issues," Boyes says.

"Considering in February, these was 16 items that had to be accepted as a package, I think PREIT is advancing and trying to be more responsive to the concerns of the community and staff," says Reid.

But Reid adds even with the new offer, county staff would still probably recommend to deny changing the county's comprehensive plan because the project is just too big.

By Dan Breitwieser, WCJB TV 20 News.