Commission Agenda Item

MEETING DATE:  5/6/2019

SUBJECT:  Ordinance 19-25, First Reading: 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) Section 5.1.2, Table 5.1-2, Related to the Dimensional Standards within Residential Zoning Districts; Section 7.3.1 (B)(1), relating to required standard street improvements for subdivisions; Section 7.3.1 (B)(2), relating to design requirements for streets utilizing transitional swales; Section 10.2, creating a definition for “transitional swale” (Legislative Hearing)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Based upon the presentation before this Board and Staff's recommendation, this Commission finds the application to be consistent with the City of Alachua Comprehensive Plan and in compliance with the Land Development Regulations and: 

1) Approves Ordinance 19-25 on first reading; and, 

2) Schedules second and final reading for May 20, 2019 

Summary

The application is a request by Christopher Gmuer, P.E. of Gmuer Engineering. Inc., to amend the City’s Land Development Regulations 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 the transitional swale
• Requires that curbing still be provided with the swale system
• Requires that the swale system be maintained by a single entity such as the Developer or Home Owner’s Association