City of Port St. Lucie header
File #: 2021-302    Version: Name:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 3/30/2021 In control: Special City Council
On agenda: 5/17/2021 Final action: 5/24/2021
Title: Ordinance 21-30, Public Hearing, An Ordinance Approving the Fifth Edition of The Citywide Design Standards (P18-024) And Repealing Citywide Design Standards Dated April 13, 2009, Ordinance 09-38.
Attachments: 1. Ordinance, 2. Citywide Design Standards, 3. Approved Colors Chart, 4. Staff Report, 5. Chamber of Commerce Letter, 6. Staff Presentation-May 17, 7. Staff Presentation-April 19

Placement: Second Reading of Ordinances / Public Hearing                     

Action Requested: Motion / Vote                     

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Ordinance 21-30, Public Hearing, An Ordinance Approving the Fifth Edition of The Citywide Design Standards (P18-024) And Repealing Citywide Design Standards Dated April 13, 2009, Ordinance 09-38. 

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Submitted By: Holly Price, AICP, Planning & Zoning Department

 

Strategic Plan Link: The City’s Mission to plan for smart and balanced growth.

 

Executive Summary (General Business): This is the fifth edition of the Citywide Design Standards. Major changes include the following: Added that garage doors and open bays shall not be oriented to face arterial or collector roads, added that garbage cans are required for commercial uses, revised the building articulation requirements, added minimum building transparency requirements for glass windows and doors, added minimum building height requirements, added new design standards  for gas station canopies, revised the Approved Colors Chart, added Design Guidelines showing examples of good design practices, changed the minimum Usable Open Space from a requirement to an option.

 

Presentation Information: Staff and consultant will provide presentation, approximately 20 minutes.

 

Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the proposed amendment to the Citywide Design Standards as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Board on April 6, 2021.

 

Alternate Recommendations:

1.                     Move that the Council amend the recommendation and approve the proposed amendment to the Citywide Design Standards.

2.                     Move that the Council not approve the recommendation and provide staff direction.

 

Background: See staff report.

 

Issues/Analysis:  5.17.21 Meeting -  All new or revised text is highlighted in blue in the Citywide Design standards document.  Based on comments from the City Council April 19, 2021 Meeting, revisions to the Citywide Design Standards document include the following: 

 

Applicability to Master Planned Communities - Added language to encourage existing and future Master Planned Communities such as Tradition and St. Lucie West to meet or exceed the Citywide Design Standards. The existing Master Planned Communities that are currently exempt from the Citywide Design Standards  include the following: Tradition, Southern Grove, Western Grove, St. Lucie West. 

 

Other areas that are exempt from Citywide Design Standards include City Center and the Becker Road Overlay District.  The Veranda PUD was approved to be exempt from the design standards.  In the Verano PUD, single-family residential support facilities such as clubhouses, recreation areas, and guardhouses are exempt from the design standards.

 

Design Relief - Removed 1) pitched roof on 25% of front and sides and 2) garage doors / open bays facing street requirements from the design relief section. In order to obtain relief from these requirements, the applicant will need to obtain a variance from the Planning and Zoning Board (PZB). If the PZB denies the variance, the applicant may appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.

 

Parapet Wall Height and Mechanical Equipment on Roof -  Revised the criteria to determine the height of a parapet wall. The parapet wall height is determined by measuring from 6 feet above ground level for a distance of 300 feet to the top of an A/C unit or other mechanical equipment located on the roof rather than from a line horizontal to the mechanical equipment. The  minimum parapet height is 24”. The intent is to make the criteria the same for all buildings.

 

Fueling Station Canopies -

 

                     Roof Materials - Added other types of allowed roof material for the pitched roof fueling station canopy that match or are compatible with the principle building such as tile, concrete, or asphalt shingles in addition to standing seam metal roof.

                     Stripe - Allow a maximum 10” stripe to be located at the top or bottom of the canopy fascia.

                     Length - Limit the maximum length of a single canopy to 140 feet. Two canopies could be substituted for one long canopy.

                     Signage - The Sign Code will need to be updated to address proposed requirements.  Logos are permitted on canopy fascia, business name not permitted.

                     Examples -  Added additional photos for examples.

 

Arterial and Collector Roads - Map and Chart - Reduced the number of streets designated as Arterial and Collector Roads.  Added a map showing the Arterial and Collector Roads.

 

 

4.12.21 Meeting - The (I) Institutional zoning district is in the process of being removed as a compatible zoning district with the ROI (Residential, Office, Institutional) future land use designation.  This revision needs to go to the State for review. The Citywide Design Standards will need to be revised after this is complete.

 

Staff requests direction from the Council as to whether there is the desire to add Master Planned Communities such as Tradition, Southern Grove, St. Lucie West to the Citywide Design Standards.  If so, this will require additional research by the Planning and Legal departments. Also, there are other questions as to whether PUDs (Planned Unit Developments) should be allowed to change the design standards or to be  exempt from design standards.  Please see staff report to Planning and Zoning Board for more detail.

 

Staff sent preliminary drafts of the Citywide Design Standards to the Chamber of Commerce, the Treasure Coast Builders Association, and various other stakeholders.  Staff held a Workshop with stakeholders on November 4, 2020. Staff sent a draft to the Planning and Zoning Board for preliminary review and comments on February 2, 2021.

 

The City hired Canin Associates located in Orlando Florida to assist the Planning and Zoning Department in amending the Citywide Design Standards.

                     

Financial Information: N/A

 

Special Consideration: N/A

 

Location of Project: The design standards apply citywide, except for exempted areas and uses as described in the Citywide Design Standards.

 

Attachments:

 

1.                     Ordinance

2.                     Citywide Design Standards

3.                     Approved Colors Chart

4.                     Staff Report

5.                     Chamber of Commerce Letter

6.                     Staff Presentation May 17

7.                     Staff Presentation April 19

 

NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.

 

Internal Reference Number: 5855

 

Legal Sufficiency Review: 

Reviewed by Elizabeth L. Hertz, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.