Placement: Second Reading of Ordinances / Public Hearing
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Ordinance 20-78, Public Hearing, An Ordinance of the City of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Adopting the Engineering Standards for Land Development - Commercial, Residential Subdivisions and Capital Improvement Projects; Providing for Conflict; Providing for Severability; Providing an Effective Date
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Submitted By: Colt Schwerdt, P.E. - Deputy Public Works Director, Public Works
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of high-quality infrastructure and facilities.
Executive Summary (General Business): A comprehensive review of the regulations relating to land development in the City revealed that certain chapters within the City Code required updating of outdated standards and to provide clarity to City Staff, individuals and entities using the Code for land development purposes. As part of the comprehensive review, Public Works revised several areas of the Code as well as policies and regulations. To that end, Staff identified several references throughout the Code to the “Engineering Standards for Land Development.” The proposed ordinance is one part of several revisions and seeks to adopt the revised, updated and consolidated Engineering Standards for Land Development - Commercial, Residential Subdivisions, and Capital Improvement Projects (“Engineering Standards”) which provides the minimum design and construction standards for land development within the City.
Presentation Information: Staff is available to provide a summary of the revisions and answer questions.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council complete the motion in the affirmative.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and complete the motion in the affirmative.
2. Move that the Council not approve and provide staff direction.
Background: Upon review of the regulations governing land development in the city, staff identified numerous references in the Code of Ordinances to the Engineering Standards for Land Development and determined that same needed updating. Previous updates to the City’s Code of Ordinances replaced references to an outdated Engineering Standards for Land Construction created in 1976 with the Engineering Standards for Land Development. The proposed ordinance serves to update the outdated Engineering Standards for Land Development and replace it with the Engineering Standards for Land Development - Commercial, Residential Subdivisions, and Capital Improvement Projects. Staff worked with multiple City Departments and Stakeholders to create this new document that provides the minimum design and construction standards for commercial, residential subdivision, and capital improvement projects within the City, entitled Engineering Standards for Land Development -Commercial, Residential Subdivision and Capital Improvement Projects.
Issues/Analysis: The Engineering Standards is a comprehensive document that outlines the minimum design, review, permitting and construction requirements for commercial, residential subdivision, and capital improvement projects. This will function as a reference guide for City Staff and Applicants and will provide detailed technical design and construction requirements. The major topics covered by the Engineering Standards include: drainage rights-of-way, road rights-of-way, easements, stormwater management, drainage, erosion & sediment control, roadways, traffic controls/signals & lights, landscaping, irrigation, parking areas, multi-modal/bicycle/pedestrian facilities, submittals, improvement guarantees, project permitting, construction standards, project inspections, project acceptance, standard details, applications/forms/worksheets, traffic calming policy & guidelines, beautification policy guidelines, fiber optic network design standards & details, St. Lucie TPO standardized traffic impact studies, and irrigation system standards.
Financial Information: The creation of the Engineering Standards for Land Development does not increase the City’s fees or charges.
Special Consideration: Ordinances 20-78, 20-79, 20-80, 20-81, 20-82, and 20-83 are each a part of a comprehensive review and revision of code provisions relating to Title V, Public Works, of the code of Ordinances. It should be noted that the ordinances are interconnected and requested revisions to one may necessitate revisions to another. It is also important to note that Development Stakeholder’s and multiple departments within the City, including the Planning & Zoning Department, Utility Services Department, Building Department, and Neighborhood Services Department have all reviewed the proposed changes and no objections or requested revisions were received.
Location of Project: Citywide.
Attachments:
• Ordinance 20-78;
• Exhibit “A” to Ordinance: Engineering Standards for Land Development - Commercial, Residential Subdivision and Capital Improvement Projects.
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: 5429
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Caroline A. Valentin, Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by James D. Stokes, City Attorney.