Agenda Item Name:
Title
Request to advertise Public Hearing on amendments to Unified Land Development Code Subdivision Regulations for rural residential subdivisions.
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Presenter:
Ken McMurry, Planner, Growth Management, (352)374-5249
Description:
This item is a request to advertise a public hearing on draft changes to the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) to implement the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan policy amendments adopted by the Board in October 2020, which became effective in December 2020, related to the requirements and standards for residential developments in the rural area.
This item was previously discussed by the Board on April 27, 2021, and at the conclusion of that discussion, the Board directed Commissioner Prizzia to work with staff on changes to better support agricultural uses in the open space of clustered rural residential subdivisions and to bring those changes back to the Board for request to advertise. Additional changes resulting from staff’s discussions with Commissioner Prizzia are now included in the draft ULDC amendments, attached.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Authorize advertisement of a public hearing by the County Commission to consider adoption of amendments to the Unified Land Development Code.
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Prior Board Motions:
On October 27, 2020, the Board of County Commissioners adopted ordinance approving Comprehensive Plan Amendment CPA 04-20 to Rural and Agricultural policies relating to clustering and paving requirements for rural residential subdivisions.
On April 27, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners approved a motion for Commissioner Prizzia to work with staff to implement some changes to the clustered rural residential subdivision code language to better support agricultural uses in the open space and bring that back at a future meeting for request to advertise.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Cost of advertisement is estimated at $1,200 and there is sufficient budget in account: 008.65.6500.554.49.04
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Background:
In October 2020, the County Commission adopted amendments, which became effective in December 2020, to Section 6.0 Rural and Agricultural Policies of the Future Land Use Element of the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan: 2019-2040. These policy amendments came out of consideration by the County Commission of issues and strategies related to promotion of the Local Foods initiative during the Evaluation and Appraisal of the Comprehensive Plan, starting in 2018. In the course of that Evaluation and Appraisal, in addition to new policies relating to local foods in the Economic Element of the Comprehensive Plan, there was extensive review by the County Commission of policies in the Future Land Use Element of the Plan relating to clustering of rural residential developments, and the Board directed changes to the policies in the Plan that were adopted in three categories:
1. Lowering the threshold for requiring clustered rural residential subdivisions from 25 lots to 10 lots, clarifying the permitted and prohibited uses in the open space, clarifying management plan requirements, deleting provision for continuation of an existing homestead in the open space, adding policy on transition of ownership and management to a homeowners association and implementation through the land development regulations, and providing definitions of community gardens, natural forest management, and regenerative agriculture;
2. Increasing the incentive for inclusion of agricultural uses such as community gardens in the open space of clustered rural residential subdivisions to further the local foods initiative, by providing for 1 additional unit per every 10 acres of such agricultural area instead of 1 additional unit per every 20 acres;
3. Providing more flexibility regarding internal road requirements by increasing the maximum number of lots from 6 to 9 in rural residential subdivisions allowed to have internal unpaved private easement roads.
The proposed amendments to the Unified Land Development Code are to implement these adopted Comprehensive Plan Policy changes (which are attached for reference) and clarify and reorganize the related Code provisions.
On April 27, 2021, staff presented to the Board draft ULDC changes and the Board directed Commissioner Prizzia to work with staff on changes to better support agricultural uses in the open space of clustered rural residential subdivisions and to bring those changes back to the Board for request to advertise. Additional changes resulting from staff’s discussions with Commissioner Prizzia are now included in the draft ULDC amendments, attached. (Also attached for reference is a table with Commissioner Prizzia’s comments on code language to better support agriculture and corresponding staff responses.