Board/Committee Agenda Item

MEETING DATE:  4/16/2019

SUBJECT:  Land Development Regulations Text Amendment : A request by Christopher Gmuer, P.E.,of Gmuer Engineering, Inc. to amend the City of Alachua Land Development Regulations (LDRs) as follows: amend Section 5.1.2, Table 5.1-2, Related to the Dimensional Standards within Residential Zoning Districts; amend Section 7.3.1 (B)(1), relating to required standard street improvements for subdivisions; amend Section 7.3.1 (B)(2), relating to design requirements for streets utilizing transitional swales; amend Section 10.2, creating a definition for “transitional swale”. (Legislative Hearing)

PREPARED BY:  Adam Hall, AICP, Planner

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Based upon 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 transmits the proposed Land Development Regulations Text Amendment to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve.

Summary

The proposed amendment to the City’s Land Development Regulations seeks to permit the use of swales in developments that currently would require the use of curb and gutter. The swales would differ from a typical open (standard) swale as there would be certain performance standards the swales would have to meet by definition. Additionally, under the proposed amendment, the use of curb would still be required in those developments, however, swales for the treatment and conveyance of stormwater would be permitted. The proposed amendment would result in developments with decentralized stormwater facilities. The swale systems would be maintained by a single entity, such as the Developer or the Home Owner’s Association. 

In summary, the substantial changes being proposed as a part of this amendments are:

• Creation of a definition for “transitional swale” that is a swale that can meet certain pollutant removal standards
• Creates minimum lot size (10,000 square feet) for use of the transitional swale
• Creates minimum lot width (75’) for use of transitional swale
• Requires that curbing still be provided with swale system
• Requires that the swale system be maintained by a single entity such as the Developer or Home Owner’s Association