HISTORY

On June 6, 2018, at the request of Commissioner Micky Steinberg, the City Commission referred a discussion item to the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee (SRC) pertaining to landscape and surface finish requirements, tree mitigation and timeframes for temporary parking lots.  On July 11, 2018, the SRC discussed the item and directed the Administration to draft an ordinance amending the temporary parking lot standards, and continued the item to the October SRC meeting.

The item was continued from the October SRC to the November 28, 2018 meeting. The Sustainability and Resiliency Committee discussed the draft Ordinance prepared by staff on November 28, 2018 and recommended that the City Commission refer the proposed LDR amendment to the Planning Board.

BACKGROUND

In January of this year, the City Commission amended Chapter 130 of the Code removing all provisions related to “Provisional Parking Lots.” Provisional Parking Lots, unlike "Temporary Parking Lots", had a lesser requirement for minimum landscaping, and did not require a paved surface. Under the Florida Building Code, gravel or lime rock parking lots, even on a "provisional'' basis, are not permitted. 

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Pursuant to the direction of the SRC, a draft ordinance is attached, which amends the Temporary Parking Lot requirements and procedures in Chapter 130, as well as the minimum Landscape requirements in Chapter 126. The following is a summary of the main changes proposed:

·       The procedures and requirements for temporary lots have been further refined and clarified, as well as re-ordered for ease of reading.

·       The timeframe for operating a Temporary Parking Lot is proposed to be increased from the current limit of three years to five years.

·       Planning Board would have the authority to grant an extension of time for up to five years. Currently the maximum extension is two years.

·       All extensions of time approved for temporary parking lots shall be subject to a recurring annual payment into the tree trust fund of $500 dollars per lot tree as shown on the approved landscape plan, until the temporary lot ceases; such annual payment shall be required at the time of the renewal of the business tax receipt (BTR).

·       All surfaces over the required lime-rock base, including, but not limited to, driveways, drive aisles, parking spaces and walkways, would now be required to consist of pavers set in sand, grass pavers, or similar semi-pervious material.

·       All required landscape areas along the perimeter of the property shall be planted with one native canopy tree every 20 feet of the landscape areas adjacent to the perimeter and within the interior of the property. The minimum tree size shall be in accordance with the standards specified in Sec. 126-6. Optional smaller native tree species may be considered at no less than 8 feet height and one inch diameter at breast height (DBH) at time of planting. A payment of five hundred dollars ($500.00) shall be made into the tree trust fund for each optional smaller lot tree.

·       Palms may be planted in addition to the minimum number of required lot trees. However, palms would not count towards the minimum number of lot trees.

SUMMARY

The Sustainability and Resiliency Committee discussed the item on November 28, 2018 and recommended that the City Commission refer the proposed LDR amendment to the Planning Board. The Sustainability and Resiliency Committee also recommended the following, all of which are included in the draft referral ordinance:

1.     There should be no temporary allowance for the use of asphalt within a temporary parking lot, even for 1 year or less.

2.     The ordinance should be modified to include a limited allowance for the use of ‘concrete ribbons’ as part of a temporary parking lot.