This application is a request submitted by John C. Vick III of V3 Capital Group, to amend the City of Alachua Land Development Regulations (LDRs). The proposed amendments would revise use specific separation requirements for certain uses which fall under the category entitled “Vehicle Sales and Services.” The Use Specific standards for these uses are located in Section 4.3.4(J) of the LDRs. The following uses are included in Section 4.3.4(J):
- Automobile body shop
- Automobile rental and sales
- Automobile repair and servicing
- Boat and marine rental and sales
- Carwash and auto detailing
- Tire sales and mounting, transmission or muffler shop
In addition to other use specific standards for the above mentioned uses, the LDRs require a minimum separation of 250 feet from schools, day care centers, residential uses, or vacant land in residential zone districts. The applicant contends that this separation requirement does not consider intervening roadways or how enhanced buffering can serve as an additional separation tool between uses.
The proposed amendment provides two (2) conditions by which the 250-foot separation requirement can be reduced for the following uses:
· Automobile rental and sales
· Automobile repair and servicing
· Boat and marine rental and sales
· Gasoline sales
The applicant proposes that a reduction in separation distance could be permitted when an intervening arterial or collector street exists between the proposed “Vehicle Sales and Service” use and the school, daycare center, residential use, or vacant land in a residential zoning district. The applicant contends that this acknowledges that arterial or collector streets by nature provide separation between lands and such streets inherently have impacts on adjacent properties, including traffic, sound and light. The proposed amendment reduces the minimum separation when this condition is met to 100 feet, and to 50 feet when an enhanced landscape buffer is provided (except for the automobile repair and servicing use where the minimum separation is proposed to not be reduced to less than 100 feet).
The second condition that would permit a reduction in separation is when the “Vehicle Sales and Service” use fronts US Hwy 441. The City has established US Hwy 441 as a commercial corridor, thereby directing commercial development to occur along this roadway. The applicant contends that by reducing the separation requirement, the City will maximize existing and future land use patterns along this corridor, which promotes a planned and logical development pattern. The proposed amendment reduces the minimum separation when this condition is met to 100 feet and 50 feet when an enhanced landscape buffer is provided (except in the automobile repair and servicing use where the minimum separation is proposed to not reduce to less than 100 feet).
The applicant contends that the proposed amendment will enable the City to foster continued urban growth along its primary transportation and utility corridors, promoting a healthy and logical development pattern, while protecting neighboring residential uses.
At the June 14, 2022 Planning and Zoning Board hearing, the Board voted 5-0 in favor of forwarding the amendment to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve.