Board/Committee Agenda Item

MEETING DATE:  3/13/2018

SUBJECT:  Site Plan - Vemo Auto Auctions: A request by Chris Gmuer, P.E., of Gmuer Engineering, LLC, applicant and agent for Bruce D. Neal and Lanette T. Neal, property owners, for consideration of a Site Plan for the redevelopment of the subject property, adding parking and vehicle storage areas and a ±1,120 square foot structure on a ±23.4 acre subject property, consisting of a ±11.3 acre project area. Tax Parcel No. 05949-013-000 and a portion of Tax Parcel No. 05949-018-000 (Quasi-Judicial Hearing).

PREPARED BY:  Justin Tabor, AICP

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Based upon the competent substantial evidence presented at this hearing, the presentation before this Board, and Staff’s recommendation, this Board finds the application to be consistent with the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan and in compliance with the Land Development Regulations and approves the Site Plan, subject to the three (3) conditions provided in Exhibit "A" and located on page 20 of the March 13, 2018 Staff Report to the Planning & Zoning Board. 

Summary

This site plan application is a request by Chris Gmuer, P.E., of Gmuer Engineering, LLC, applicant and agent for Bruce D. Neal & Lanette T. Neal, property owners, for consideration of the redevelopment of the subject property, to add parking and vehicle storage areas and a ±1,120 square foot structure, and associated drainage, paving, grading, and infrastructure improvements.

The overall subject property is ±23.4 acres in area; the project area consists of ±11.3 acres of the overall subject property. The subject property is located at 10100 Cellon Creek Boulevard, which is the terminus of the roadway. There are two (2) existing access points and connections to Cellon Creek Boulevard. Both access points would remain, with some modifications to the eastern ingress/egress to improve the turning radius and access to the property.

The development would modify / expand an existing stormwater basin in the southwest corner of the project area and would relocate another located in the southeast corner of the project area. The applicant has submitted an application to the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) for the proposed stormwater system modifications. Staff has proposed a condition requiring the applicant to obtain all other applicable local, state, and federal permits before the commencement of the development, which includes required permits from SRWMD.

In March 2017, and in accordance with the regulations set forth in Section 4.2.1(D) of the LDRs, the property owner submitted an application for an LDR Administrator Interpretation pertaining to a determination of the proposed use of the subject property. Based upon the information presented by the property owner in the application for an LDR Administrator Interpretation, it was determined that the proposed use, defined within a letter from the LDR Administrator dated March 21, 2017 as “wholesale automobile auctions”, is a use that generally has an impact similar in nature, function, and duration to other use types permitted in the Light & Warehouse Industrial (ILW) zoning district (the zoning of the subject property). As such, the LDR Administrator Interpretation for the proposed use was approved for the subject property. The LDR Administrator’s interpretation letter is included within Exhibit “B” of the Staff Report, attached to this agenda item.

It was noted in the interpretation rendered by the LDR Administrator that additional off-street parking would be needed to meet the requirements of Section 6.1 of the LDRs. This site plan has been prepared and submitted to provide additional off-street parking to comply with the minimum requirements as set forth in the LDR Administrator interpretation, as well as other improvements to the site (outdoor storage areas, outdoor storage area screening, site landscaping, etc.)