Commission Agenda Item

MEETING DATE:  9/10/2018

SUBJECT:  Ordinance 18-21, Second Reading; Site-Specific Amendment to the Official Zoning Atlas: A request by Clay Sweger, AICP, of eda, inc., applicant and agent for Alachua County Housing Authority, property owner, for consideration of a Site-Specific Amendment to the Official Zoning Atlas (Rezoning) to amend the Official Zoning Atlas from Agricultural (A) to Residential Multiple Family - 8 (RMF-8) on a ±5.00 acre portion of the subject property and from Residential Single Family -3 (RSF-3) on a ±15.47 acre portion of the subject property, which is ±20.47 acres in total size. Consisting of Parcel Numbers 03214-001-000 through 03214-069-000, including each parcel consecutively numbered in between and Parcel No. 03204-001-000 (Quasi-Judicial Hearing).

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Staff recommends that the City Commission approve Ordinance 18-21 on second and final reading, upon making the following motion:

Based upon the competent substantial evidence presented at this hearing, the presentation before this Commission, and Staff’s recommendation, this Commission finds the application for a Site-Specific Amendment to the Official Zoning Atlas from Agricultural (A) and Residential Single Family -3 (RSF-3) to Residential Multiple Family - 8 (RMF-8) to be consistent with the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan and in compliance with the Land Development Regulations and approves Ordinance 18-21 on second and final reading. 

Summary

The proposed Site Specific Amendment to the Official Zoning Map (rezoning) is a request to amend the Official Zoning Atlas from Agricultural (“A”) to Residential Multiple Family- 8 (“RMF-8”) on a ±5.00 acre portion of the subject property and from Residential Single Family -3 (“RSF-3”) to Residential Multiple Family-8 (“RMF-8”) on a ±15.47 acre portion of the subject property (total subject property ±20.47 acres)

The subject parcels are parcels currently within the Merrillwood subdivision and a parcel located to the east (03204-001-000).

The subject property currently has a Medium Density Residential and Agriculture Future Land Use Designations. A companion application proposes an amendment to the City’s Comprehensive Plan that would d the 5 acres designated Agriculture on the Future Land Use Map to Medium Density Residential.  The proposed zoning district is consistent with the existing FLUM designation for the 15.47 acre portion of the subject property and consistent with the proposed FLUM designation for the 5 acre portion of the subject property.  

The Residential Multiple Family-8 (“RMF-8”) Zone District is described as follows in Section 3.4.2 (G) of the Land Development Regulations (LDRs):

(G) RMF-8, Residential Multiple Family District-8. The RMF-8 district is established and intended to encourage a mixture of medium-density housing types, including single-family detached, townhouses, two- to four-family, and multiple-family dwellings, in areas served by water and sewer systems. Complementary uses customarily found in residential zone districts, such as community facilities, religious institutions, parks and playgrounds, and schools, are also allowed. The maximum density allowed is eight dwelling units an acre.

At the August 14, 2018 Planning and Zoning Board hearing, the Board voted 5-0 in favor of forwarding this application to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve.

At the August 27, 2018 City Commission hearing, the Commission voted 5-0 in favor of approving Ordinance 18-21 on first reading, and scheduling second and final reading for September 10, 2018.