Unified Land Development Code Update 2012

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Unified Land Development Code

Update 2012

Public Workshop March 6, 2012

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Board workshops to discuss working drafts

Workshops with community organizations or citizens as requested◦ Met with Builders Association, Grow Gainesville, Rural

Concerns, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee

Request to advertise

Two Public Hearings

Process for Updating the ULDC

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EAR-based Comprehensive Plan update adopted April 5, 2011

Working with Revised Code since 2006 – clarifications and updates needed

Legislative changes

Recent Activity

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Reviewed Chapters 400-404

◦Chapter 400 – General Provisions◦Chapter 401 – Development Review

Bodies◦Chapter 402 – Development Application

Review Procedures◦Chapter 403 – Zoning Districts◦Chapter 404 – Use Regulations

Previous Workshop on 2/28

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Comprehensive Plan Policy 2.1.9, Future Land Element:◦ Development standards for Activity Centers shall

be adopted into the Land Development Code to implement Activity Center Policies 2.1.1 – 2.1.8

and shall address permitted uses, mixed use ratios, block sizes, civic space standards, etc.

◦ Objective 8.6 Policies 8.6.2 and 8.6.3 require developments over certain thresholds to be developed as TNDs and TODs

Chapter 405 Special Districts and Activity Centers

Future Land Use – Urban Cluster Area

Urban Services Area (USA)

Urban Cluster

Urban Cluster

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Article 2, Section 405.03 ◦ Activity Center categories have been redesignated– high

intensity/low intensity.

Article 2, Section 405.04 Deleted Activity Center Master Plans and Development

Review Added development on 25 or more acres or 150 or more

residential units shall develop as a Traditional Neighborhood Development or a Transit Oriented Development

1,000 or more residential units or 350,00 sq. ft. on a planned Rapid Transit Corridor shall develop as a Transit Oriented Development


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Article 2 Section 405.07(a)7 Language requiring public access easements on all private roads, alleys and pedestrian pathways has been added.

Article 3, Springhills, has been deleted


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Article 4, 405.15(d) Cross Creek Village bald eagle nesting zone language has been updated to be consistent with state and federal guidelines

Article 5 Section 405.19(c) Idylwild/Seranola bald eagle nesting zone language updated

Article 11 added Urban Service Area regulations consistent with the Comprehensive Plan

Design standards Exceptions

Alternative Design for Activity Centers and Urban Service Areas

Chapter 405

Some existing A.C. and portions of USA are already highly subdivided. (0.5-2.0 acres)

Presents unique challenges for creating walkable mixed-use centers as envisioned

Activity Centers / Urban Service Area

Jonesville Activity Center

Redevelopment introduces other issues Code has to offer guidance to owner and

staff but allow appropriate flexibility

Activity Centers / Urban Service Area

Former Texaco Station Parcel

•Two story bldg

•Architectural interest

•More aesthetically pleasing signage

•Bldg closer to street

•Enhanced Pedestrian Connections

•Enhanced vehicular connections and improved access management

•Tree preservation and landscaping

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Article 1 General ◦ Section 406.05(c)2 – deleted owner submitting

verification of BMPs◦ Section 406.06 (e) Fencing, adding language

recognizing that farm fencing is exempt (F.S. 604.50)

Article 2 Trees and Native Vegetation◦ Section 406.11(b) – deleted requirement for

written notice of exempt agriculture and silvicultural activities

Chapter 406 –Natural & Historic Resources

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Article 2 Trees and Native Vegetation◦ Section 406.12

30% canopy requirement within 20 years for residential developments has been expanded to include credit for up to 400 sq. feet of canopy coverage on private platted lots

Article 7 100- Year Floodplains◦ Adding language to the article concerning

property within flood hazard areas – change to Building Code

Chapter 406 Natural & Historic Resources

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Article 8 Springs and High Aquifer Recharge Areas has been added

Previous Article 9 High Aquifer Recharge Areas has been combined with Article 8

New combined article includes (Sections 406.58-406.59.2):◦ Outdoor water conservation standards

New residential lots 1/8 acre or greater No more than 60% of landscaped area may be irrigated

by high-volume irrigation Maximum irrigated area 0.5 acres per lot Florida Water Star standards

Chapter 406 Natural & Historic Resources

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Section 406.59.1 (c) and (d)Land application of Class A & B biosolids and septage prohibited within high aquifer recharge areas

Section 406.59.1 (d) Golf course design must protect springs

Article 16 Significant Geologic Features◦ 406.90(b)150 foot average buffer width (at least 100

feet) for sinkholes, swallets, quarries, karst windows and other such water containing features

Chapter 406 Article 8

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Article 1 Setbacks, Height and Other Standards◦ Section 407.01 Principal Building on Lot – Clarified

language

Section 407.02 Permitted Building Area◦ The principal building or buildings on any lot or

parcel…

Chapter 407 Development Standards

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Article 1 Setbacks, Height and Other Standards◦Section 407.05 Allowable Projections

Allowance for canopies, marquees, awnings or for zero-lot-line developments to extend over sidewalks, county rights-of-way, or other property. Section 407.05 (b) Changed projection of

ingress/egress steps or ramps from three feet to four feet to meet ADA requirements.


Article 2 Parking, Loading and Stacking

◦Section 407.19 (d) -Added ADA language

◦Section 407.19(e) – Added language to not require wheel stops for temporary grass parking except where necessary to protect natural resources

◦Section 407.21(b) Parking Schedule Added language that requires any parking spaces in

excess of the required number must be pervious or semi-pervious.


Article 3 – Signs - article reformatted ◦ Deleted sections 407.36 and 407.36.5 Mixed Use and

TND/TOD Sign standards

Section 407.34 Signs Allowed for Nonresidential Development◦ 407.34(a)2. Changed allowance for freestanding signs in

Activity Centers and mixed use planned developments from one sign per 400 feet of frontage to one sign per driveway connection

◦ 407.34(a)3. Reduced the separation requirement between

signs from 300 feet to 250 feet.


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Article 4 Landscaping

◦ Section 407.43(c) 5. deleted “shrubs at variety of heights

◦ Section 407.43.1(c) Landscaping in Paved Ground Surface Areas : Section 407.43.1 (c) 3. Old - one tree per 10 spaces

Deleted new language of a minimum of 40 square feet of landscaped area per parking space – just meet 50% canopy requirement


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Article 4 Landscaping◦ Section 407.43.1(c) Landscaping in Paved

Ground Surface AreasSection 407.43.1 (c) 4 Removed requirement for head-to-head

parking to be separated by a linear landscaped island.

Code would now allow up to 15 head-to-head parking spaces in a row without a landscape island


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Article 4 Landscaping

◦ Section 407.43.6 – changed firewise requirement to “should” instead of “shall” due to staffing constraints


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Section 407.46 Required Irrigation

Changed irrigation requirements to only apply to required landscaping and only require a temporary irrigation system.

Require irrigation plans to be submitted with the landscaping plans if the irrigation is going to be permanent.

Require use of reclaimed water where available.

Require trees to have individual low flow or micro-irrigation

supplies and for the irrigation to be discontinued once the trees or other plant materials are established


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Table 407.50.1 Appropriate Tree Plantings◦ Reduced all the 20 foot minimum tree planting

areas to 12 feet


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Article 5 Open Space

Section 407.54 (c) TNDs, TODs, and Mixed-Use Developments

◦ Deleted Quality Mixed-Use Developments

◦ Combined regulations for open space for TNDs, TODs and Mixed Use Developments into one place.


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Section 407.55 Designation of Open Space

◦Added the word “primary” to modify open space that shall be connected with other open space when protection of the resources can be maintained

◦Section 407.55(b)1 Deleted the word contiguous and replaced it with connected


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Article 6 Performance Standards – no changes◦ Fumes, glare, noise, Industrial standards

Article 7 TND and TOD◦ Major change in this article was to move language

from Section 407.70 Open Space, Civic Space and Landscaping to Article 4 Landscaping and Article 5 Open Space to consolidate regulations for all developments.


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Section 407.73(f)1 Clarified language concerning parent tracts that are divided once without having to comply with the subdivision regulations.

Section 407.77(b)1.a.vii. Added common renewable energy systems to the list of permitted uses in open space areas for Rural/Agriculture Clustered Subdivisions.

Section 407.83 Plat Document Requirements ◦ added amount of the required surety and acceptable documentation

Section 407.86(c)2. a. Clarified language for which documents are required to be submitted when an applicant is requesting the County to take over the maintenance of a facility

Article 8 - Subdivision Regulations

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Article 9 Stormwater Management◦ No major changes – just clarifications

Article 10 Building Design◦ No changes


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Article 11 Potable Water, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Service

Section 407.109 ◦ DRC may authorize an exception for connection to centralized water

and sewer for certain non-residential uses and for new residential uses designated Estate Residential in the Comprehensive Plan.

◦ This clarification is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.

Section 407.109(d) Granting of Exceptions ◦ Deleted requirement to install dry lines ◦ Added requirements use low-flow plumbing fixtures and use the St.

John’s River Water Management District’s Water Star standards.


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Article 11 Potable Water, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Service

Section 407.116.5 Reclaimed Water Supply◦ Added requirement that all new developments within

GRU’s reclaimed water service area shall provide reclaimed water to areas to be irrigated within the development

◦ Purpose is to encourage water conservation and require the use of the lowest acceptable quality source of water for landscape irrigation (reclaimed water).


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Article 12 Concurrency Standards

Section 407.118 (d) 5

◦ Added list of types of residential development that are exempt from concurrency requirements for public school facilities.


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Article 13 Access Management

Section 407.133 Required Information◦ Clarified information required for all driveway

connection permits

Section 407.136 Other Access Management Considerations◦ Added requirement that all left-turn storage lanes,

at a minimum must include the addition of paved shoulders and a full-width asphalt overlay


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Article 13 Access Management Section 407.141 (e) Minimum Design and Construction Standards for

Streets and Drainage Systems◦ added more roadway classifications to provide more variability in

required pavement thickness. Section 407.141(g) Drainage Systems

◦ 6. Roadside Swales Added new requirements for open drainage systems (roadside

swales)

Section 407.141(i) Intersection Design ◦ 4. Roundabouts and 5. Signal

Added language for roundabouts and when a signal is proposed to provide standards for current practice


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New Article 14 Lighting Standards

Added section on athletic field lighting that would now apply to any athletic field not just fields associated with educational facilities


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Section 408.21(a) 1.a. deleted language requiring a sign to conform to current code including illumination standards when changing use of a property

Chapter 408 Nonconformities

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Section 409.04(g) moved revocation of permit language from Section 402.177 to this location.

Chapter 409 Violations, Penalties and Enforcement

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New definitions◦ Agritourism activities◦ Child care center◦ Development Plan, minor◦ Dwelling, multi-family◦ Ecotourism activities◦ Education facility, college/university◦ Green roof◦ Industry, heavy◦ Internet Center◦ Rapid infiltration basins (RIBs)◦ Residential recreational camp

Chapter 410 Definitions

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New Definitions:◦ Sign, portico or entry◦ Sign, Wayfinding◦ Simulated Gambling Establishment◦ Simulated Gambling Device◦ Substantial improvement◦ Survey- boundary and ◦ Survey-topographic◦ University◦ Use, principal◦ Value-added good


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Amended Definitions:

◦ Education facility, private ◦ Education facility, public◦ Cocktail lounge, bar, tavern or nightclub◦ High aquifer recharge areas ◦ Industry, light ◦ Low Impact Development ◦ Nursing Home facility◦ Small-scale comprehensive plan amendment


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For questions, comments or suggestions:

Alachua County Department of Growth Management

(352) 374-5249 [email protected]

Contact Information

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Unified Land Development Code Update 2012