Summary
This application is a Staff-initiated request to amend various sections of the Land Development Regulations (LDRs). The principle focus of the proposed amendments pertains to the site plan and subdivision review processes.
The current LDRs were adopted in February 2006. Since this time, the size and scope of residential and nonresidential development proposals within the City has changed. As such, over the past several years it has become apparent to City Staff, professional consultants (e.g., civil engineers and planners), developers, and land owners that certain changes could be made to the LDRs in order to more efficiently and effectively plan for future development.
City Staff has worked with stakeholders in order to better understand the concerns from these interests’ perspectives. In June 2017, the City hosted a forum for residential developers and lenders. The forum included a panel of members with expertise in development, real estate, finance, and civic organization. The forum provided an opportunity for attendees to provide input on residential development in the City and hear the viewpoints of the panel members.
In early 2019, the City engaged the services of CHW Professional Consultants to host a stakeholder meeting to solicit feedback about potential improvements to the development review process. Members of the development, building, real estate law, residential, design and professional consultant communities were invited to participate in the stakeholder meeting which was held in February 2019.
The feedback received through these outreach events has been incorporated into the proposed amendments.
In summary of the substantive changes, the proposed amendments would:
- Amend Section 1.4.5 to add an exemption from the requirement to obtain any permits required by Article 2 of the LDRs for projects identified in the adopted City of Alachua Long Range Transportation Plan.
- Amend Section 2.2.12 to establish an administrative withdrawal process for inactive applications for development permits.
- Amend Section 2.4.9:
- to include additional development activities which may be reviewed through the minor site plan process.
- to establish a new development permit for the review of infrastructure entitled infrastructure plans, creating standards of review, procedures for approval, approval with conditions, or denial, permit extensions, amendments, appeals, and the period of validity for infrastructure plans.
- to remove an exemption from subdivision review for divisions of land into tracts five (5) acres or greater, to amend an existing exemption relating to nonresidential and multifamily development requiring site plan review to remove a requirement that such development may not create, relocate, or extend a street, and creating a new exemption relating to infrastructure plans.
- to change the period of validity of a Preliminary Plat from a maximum of 18 months to a minimum of three (3) years and a maximum of six (6) years.
- to define minor amendments to Preliminary Plats which may be approved by the LDR Administrator.
- To allow a final plat to be reviewed concurrently with construction plans.
- Amend Section 6.8 to clarify the applicability of the design standards for business uses to existing development which proposes an addition, expansion, or renovation; to clarify the application of existing regulations; and to add a requirement for interconnectivity between adjacent compatible development.
- Amend Section 6.10 to reduce the required surety instrument for private improvements from 125% to 120%.
- Amend Section 7.4 to reduce the required surety instrument for public improvements from 125% to 120%.
- Amend Section 10.2 to create a new definition of “mixed-use” and to amend the definitions of “dwelling, multiple family”, “dwelling, townhouse”, and “subdivision”.
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