BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agenda Item #23
Title
ULDC Final Adoption Hearing: Hearing to consider amendments to the Alachua County Sign Code and other sections of the Unified Land Development Code (Amended)
Amount
N/A
Description
Second of two adoption hearings to consider amendments to the Alachua County Unified Land Development Code including revision and reorganization of the Sign Code as well as minor changes to the Use Table, Subdivision Regulations and other sections.
Recommendation
1. Convene as the Land Development Regulation Commission and find the proposed ordinance consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. 2. Approve the ordinance adopting changes to the Alachua County Sign Code and other sections of the Unified Land Development Code.
Alternative(s)
Do not approve the ordinance
Requested By
Holly Banner 374-5249 x 2223
Originating Department
Growth Management
Attachment(s) Description
Ordinance; Exhibit A to Ordinance; Changes to Sign Code; PowerPoint Presentation
Documents Requiring Action
Ordinance
Executive Summary
The Growth Management Department proposes to amend the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) to reorganize the sign code to make it more user-friendly and to remove the master signage plan concept in favor of providing incentives by right to mixed use planned developments and properties governed by an approved Activity Center Master Plan. Other minor changes include a provision for extension of time requirements for development plans, changes to the RM district, the Use Table and standards, and the Subdivision Regulations.
Background
Since its adoption in December of 2005, the Alachua County Sign Code (Ch. 407, Article 3) has undergone several revisions in an effort to make it easier for the public to use and understand and for staff to implement and enforce. The last changes were approved in April of last year and the Board of County Commissioner directed staff to come back and follow up on the various changes, including the standards for electronic message center signs. After reviewing the City of Gainesville’s sign code and others, and meeting with developers and sign company representatives, the Growth Management Department proposes amending the ULDC to completely reorganize the Sign Code to make it more user-friendly. Staff also proposes removing the problematic Master Signage Plan concept in favor of providing incentives by right to mixed use planned developments and properties governed by an approved Activity Center Master Plan. Other minor changes and clarifications are included throughout the sign code. No changes to the standards for electronic message centers are recommended at this time. Other minor changes in this Ordinance include clarification regarding setbacks in the RM district (Table 403.22.1), corrections to the Use Table (Ch. 404, Article 2), revision to the child care standards in Chapter 404 consistent with last year’s repeal of the County’s Child Care Ordinance (404.31, 404.32 & 404.33), clarification of classes of biosolids for land application requiring special exception approval (404.89), language allowing for the new fairground on the Weseman property consistent with the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan Amendment CPA 13-07 (Ch.404, Article 24), and changes to the Subdivision Regulations regarding lot splits on old government lots (404.73).
Issues
Because staff proposes a reorganization of the entire Sign Code, Exhibit A to the Ordinance shows the Article completely stricken and then completely underlined. In order to see where actual content of the Ordinance is changed, the attached file ‘SignsDraft22608’ shows the reorganized version with only the actual text changes shown in strikethrough and underline format. The additional changes identified in the PowerPoint presentation on March 25 are now incorporated, as are some other minor changes based on Commissioners’ comments and comments from staff as identified in the attached PowerPoint presentation.
Fiscal Recommendation
NA
Fiscal Alternative(s)
NA
Funding Sources
NA
Account Code(s)
NA
Attachment: LDRRevision6Ordinance042208.pdf
Attachment: LDRRevision6_ExhibitA_42208.pdf
Attachment: SignsDraft_42208.pdf
Attachment: LDRRev6_Powerpoint_042208.ppt
Attachment: ADVULD.pdf
Attachment: LDRRev6_Powerpoint_042208.pdf