The City Council recently approved a number of changes to the Zoning Code. These include:
- Ordinance 2015-250-E which clarified and revised the off-street parking requirements for restaurants. The previous language required one space for each four seats plus one for each two employees. The revised language requires one space for each four patron seats, both indoor and outdoor, plus one space for each two employees on a peak hour shift. This clarification should alleviate some of the issues that have arisen in the past.
- Ordinance 2015-327-E which creates a new Section 656.421 of the Zoning Code prohibiting the storage and maintenance of donation collection bins on any plot of land within any zoning district. A “donation collection bin” is defined as any stationary or free-standing container located outdoors and used for the collection of donated items such as clothing, books, shoes and other non-perishable personal property.” City of Jacksonville recycle bins, mobile collection trailers and structures owned and operated by governmental bodies such as post office mail drop boxes are excluded from the definition of a donation collection bin. Donation collection bins existing as of July 1, 2015, will have to be removed on or before August 1, 2015, or the owner may be subject to an enforcement action which could include a civil fine.
- Ordinance 2015-337-E which creates a new Section 656.422 of the Zoning Code entitled “backyard hens in certain residential zoning districts.” Residents of the City may remember that the City instituted a two-year pilot program in 2013 to determine the need for and public support of a permanent backyard hen program. The program has been deemed a success and the City is now creating a program for residents to maintain up to five backyard hens where they otherwise are not permitted. Residents will be required to obtain a permit, pay a one-time non-refundable fee of $25, and demonstrate successful completion of a chicken keeping seminar. Where the residential lot is over one acre, the owner may keep one additional chicken for each additional 21,780 square feet over one acre. The ordinance includes specific requirements with regard to the size, location, and screening of the hens’ coop. An opt-in provision has been provided for exempt neighborhoods and an opt-out provision has been provided for all other neighborhoods.
- Ordinance 2015-436-E adopted by the City Council as an emergency during the June 9th meeting which imposed a 180 day moratorium on the issuance of any development order for, or the allowance of, the growing, processing or dispensing of low-THC cannabis, also known as medical marijuana, was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance 2015-484-E. In its stead 2015-485 was introduced which proposes a 180 day moratorium on the issuance of any development order for the dispensing of low-THC cannabis in the City. Ordinance 2015-485 is set for a public hearing on July 27, 2015.
Finally, Ordinance 2015-377 which proposes to regulate the outdoor storage of vehicles that do not have visible license tags was sent back to the Finance and Recreation, Community Development & Public Health & Safety Committees for additional debate and revision. Three additional Ordinances were deferred by the Land Use and Zoning Committee, but will likely be considered by the Committee and the Council in the near future. Those ordinances propose adding a Residential Office (RO) zoning district (2015-338), a revision to the mailed public notice requirements with regard to rezonings, exceptions, variances and waivers (2015-378), and updates and changes to the Concurrency and Mobility Management System Handbook (2015-383).
