 |
Chattahoochee (Last Updated: August 25, 2014) |
 |
Land Development Regulations |
|
|
Chapter V. Site Development Standards |
| Appendix 5.00.00. General Provisions |
| § 5.00.01. Purpose and intent |
|
Latest version.
|
|
The purpose of this chapter is to provide site development standards applicable to all development activity in the City of Chattahoochee. The provisions are intended to ensure functional and attractive development. The standards allow for flexibility in site design, while ensuring compatibility of neighboring uses through design features such as landscaped buffers. All development shall be designed to avoid unnecessary impervious surface coverage and adverse effects of traffic, noise and drainage on surrounding properties. |
| Appendix 5.01.00. Performance Standards |
| § 5.01.01. Generally |
|
Latest version.
|
|
This section contains basic standards applicable to the character and land use districts established in this code. These standards regulate the density of residential development, the floor area ratio of nonresidential development, and the impervious surface ratio, open space ratio and maximum height of both residential and nonresidential development. The standards also allow for flexibility in determining lot sizes and building placement. However, developments that use on-site sewage disposal systems must comply with the minimum lot size requirements set forth in rule 10D-6, F.A.C. |
| § 5.01.02. Density |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Generally. The density is the relationship between the number of dwellings on a site and the base site area. The base site area is the gross site area minus the land devoted to public rights-of-way. The density is calculated by adding together all the dwelling units on a site and dividing this total by the base site area. |
| § 5.01.03. Floor area ratio (FAR) |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Generally. A floor area ratio is a measurement of the intensity of development on a site. For purposes of this code, floor area ratios (FAR) are provided only for nonresidential development. B. Calculating floor area ratio. The floor area ratio is the relationship between the total floor area on a site and the gross site area. The FAR is calculated by adding together all floor areas of all floors and dividing this total by the gross site area. |
| § 5.01.04. Impervious surface and open space ratios |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Generally. 1. Impervious surface ratio (ISR). An impervious surface ratio is a measurement of the amount of the site that is covered by any material that substantially reduces or prevents the infiltration of stormwater into previously undeveloped land. Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited, to roofs and streets, sidewalks and parking lots paved with asphalt, concrete, compacted sand, limerock or clay. The impervious surface ratios (ISR) in table 5.01.06 are applicable to both residential and nonresidential development. 2. Open space ratios (OSR). An open space ratio is a measurement of the amount of the site that is devoted to recreation, resource protection, amenity and/or landscaped buffers. Open space may include, but is not limited to, lawns, decorative planting, walkways, active and passive recreation areas, playgrounds, fountains, swimming pools, wooded areas and watercourses. Open space does not include driveways, parking lots or other surfaces designed or intended for vehicular travel. The open space ratios (OSR) in table 5.01.06 are applicable to both residential and nonresidential development. B. Calculating impervious surface and open space ratios. 1. The ISR is calculated by adding together all the square footage of all impervious surfaces and dividing this total by the gross site area. 2. The OSR is calculated by adding together all the square footage of all open space and dividing this total by the gross site area. |
| § 5.01.05. Table of development standards | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest version.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appendix 5.02.00. Landscaping |
| § 5.02.01. General provisions |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to protect the quality of water resources from future degradation by maintaining vegetative cover and controlling disturbances to vegetation, to encourage the selection of native plant species for vegetation, to reduce the impact of urban and suburban development on remaining stands of natural vegetation, to provide shade, to reduce heat and glare, to abate noise pollution, to provide habitat for living things and to buffer incompatible uses. B. Exemptions. Lots or parcels of land on which a single-family home is used as a residence shall be exempt from the provisions of these landscaping regulations, except that champion, heritage, historic and specimen trees on such parcels shall be protected according to the tree protection regulations. This exemption shall not be construed to apply to residential subdivisions or other residential developments that require site plan approval. C. Landscape materials. Diversity of plantings should be strived for in all required landscape plantings, and in no case should one species constitute more than 50 percent of a planting. D. Prohibited plants. Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) shall not be installed as landscape material. |
| § 5.02.02. Landscaped buffers |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Purpose and intent. This section requires landscaped buffers to be provided between incompatible land uses which are adjacent to or directly across from each other in order to protect uses from the traffic, noise, glare, trash, vibration and odor likely to be associated with a more intensive land use. The width of the buffer may vary depending upon the relative intensities of the abutting or adjacent uses. The buffer requirements are intended to be flexible; the developer may choose among a number of combinations of buffer width and buffer plantings to satisfy the requirement. B. How to determine landscaped buffer requirements. If required, landscaped buffers shall be located at the perimeter of the building site for any given use, and shall not be located in any portion of a public right-of-way. The following procedure shall be followed to determine the type and size of landscaped buffer required: 1. Identify the land use category of the proposed use by referring to section 2.02.02. Identify the land use category of the adjacent adjoining use(s) by on-site survey. 2. Identify whether the proposed and adjacent or adjoining uses are high impact, medium impact, or low impact, residential class I or residential class II uses by referring to section 5.03.02(E). 3. Determine the landscaped buffer required on each building site boundary, or portion thereof. 4. Select the desired landscaped buffer option from those set forth in section 5.02.02(F). Any of the listed options shall satisfy the requirement of buffering between adjacent or adjoining land uses. C. Landscaped buffer design and materials. 1. Existing native plant material. The use of existing native species of plant material is strongly encouraged in landscaped buffers. Existing natural ground cover should be retained where possible by avoiding scraping, grading and sodding within the landscaped buffer. Where the planting requirements of section 5.02.02(F) require additional trees or shrubs to be installed in an existing natural area, it should be done in a manner which minimizes disturbance to natural species. 2. Mixed use development. Where a building site is used for a single mixed use development, landscaped buffers shall not be required between the various constituent uses. Landscaped buffers required at the perimeter of the development shall be based upon the individual uses on each portion of the property. 3. Parking lot landscaping. Perimeter plantings for parking lot landscaping may be counted toward satisfying buffer requirements. D. Use of landscaped buffers. 1. Open space. Landscaped buffers may be counted toward satisfying open space requirements, and may be used for passive recreation. They may contain pedestrian or bike trails, provided that the total width of the bufferyard is maintained. In no event, however, shall the following uses be permitted in landscaped buffers: playfields, stables, swimming pools, tennis courts, parking lots and vehicular use areas, dumpsters, equipment storage and other open storage, buildings or overhangs. 2. Stormwater retention/detention facilities. The city shall be authorized to allow stormwater retention/detention facilities to encroach into landscaped buffers a maximum of 40% of buffer width, where it is found that all planting requirements of this section are met and the visual screen provided by the landscaped buffer will be fully achieved. E. Classification of uses for determining buffer requirements. 1. Nonresidential uses. For the purposes of determining landscaped buffer requirements, nonresidential land uses are classified as either high, medium, or low impact uses as follows: a. High impact uses. High impact uses are particular uses of land that, because of their operational and physical characteristics are expected to have a strong effect on abutting or adjacent uses. High impact uses include: (1) Industrial uses, as defined in section 2.02.02(G); (2) Water and wastewater treatment plants; (3) All accessory uses associated with the above uses. b. Medium impact uses. Medium impact uses are particular uses of land that, because of their operational and physical characteristics are expected to have a moderate effect on adjoining or adjacent uses. Medium impact uses include: (1) Commercial uses, as defined in section 2.02.02(E); (2) All accessory uses associated with the commercial uses. c. Low impact uses. Low impact uses are particular uses of land that, because of their operational and physical characteristics are expected to have a limited effect on abutting or adjacent uses. Low impact uses include: (1) Agricultural uses 2.02.02(K); (2) Recreational 2.02.02(I); (3) Residential use 2.02.02(A), (B), (C), (D); and (4) All accessory uses associated with the above. F. Landscaped buffer options. 1. Use these specifications to select the desired landscaped buffer option for the building site. These buffer requirements are stated in terms of the width of the linear feet of the buffer. 2. The buffer is normally calculated as parallel to the property line. However, design variations, especially when used to incorporate native vegetation into the buffer area, are allowed. The edges of the landscaped buffer may meander provided that: a. The total area of the buffer is equal to or greater than the total area of the required landscaped buffer; and b. The landscaped buffer measures at least five feet in width at all points along the perimeter of the property line of the site requiring a buffer. 3. When the requirements of this section result in a fractional number of plantings, the fraction shall be counted as one plant unit. G. Responsibility for landscaped buffers. 1. The desired width of a landscaped buffer between two parcels is the sum of the required landscaped buffers of the parcels. Where a new use is proposed next to an existing use that has less than the required buffer for that use, a lesser buffer will be allowed, except as provided below, until the conforming parcel is redeveloped and brought into conformity with the buffer requirements of this code. The developer of the new adjoining use is encouraged, however, to take into account the inadequacy of the adjoining buffer in designing the site layout of the new development. 2. Where a residential use is proposed next to an existing nonresidential use, or a nonresidential use is proposed next to an existing residential use, and the existing use does not have a conforming buffer abutting the property proposed for development, the proposed use shall provide 80 percent of the combined required buffer of the two uses. Where the existing use has a buffer, but such buffer does not meet the requirements of this code, the proposed use may provide less than 80 percent of the combined required buffers if the provision of such lesser amount will create a buffer meeting 100 percent of the combined required buffer of the two uses. H. Maintenance of landscaped buffers. The maintenance of all landscaped buffers shall be the responsibility of the property owner. Failure to maintain such landscaped buffers in an attractive and healthy state shall be considered a violation of this chapter subject to enforcement in accordance with chapter X. |
| § 5.02.03. Landscaping of vehicular use areas |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Applicability. The requirements of this section shall apply to off-street parking facilities and other vehicular use areas that: 1. Have ten or more parking spaces; or 2. Are designed to accommodate vehicles that are larger or smaller than automobiles and are over 3,500 square feet in area. B. Perimeter requirements. A ten-foot wide strip of land, located along the front property line adjacent to the street right-of-way, shall be landscaped. In no case shall this strip be less than ten feet wide. Width of sidewalks shall not be included within the ten-foot wide front perimeter landscape area. Trees and other landscaping in the perimeter strip shall be maintained to assure unobstructed visibility between three and nine feet above the average grade of the adjacent street and driveway intersections through the perimeter strip. C. Interior planting areas. 1. At least ten percent of the gross area of the interior vehicular use area shall be landscaped. Interior planting areas are to be located within or adjacent to the parking area as tree islands, at the end of parking bays, inside seven-foot wide or greater medians, or between rows of cars or as part of continuous street or transitional protective yards. Interior planting areas shall be located to most effectively accommodate stormwater runoff and provide shade in large expanses of paving and contribute to orderly circulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. a. No more than 15 parking spaces shall be permitted in a continuous row without being interrupted by an interior planting area. b. Trees shall be required at the minimum rate of one shade tree for every 3,500 square feet of total vehicular use area. All vehicular use areas located within the same block which serve one or more businesses or uses of land or share unified ingress and egress shall be considered as a single vehicular use area for the purpose of computing the required rate of trees, notwithstanding ownership. 2. Minimum size of interior planting areas. a. A minimum of 90 square feet of planting area shall be required for each new small shade tree. b. A minimum of 125 square feet of planting area shall be required for each medium or large shade tree. 3. A minimum planting area of 50 percent of the drip line area of the tree shall be required for all existing trees. If conditions warrant that no area greater than 50 percent is needed to preserve the tree, additional areas may be negotiated between the applicant and the county. 4. In no case shall the minimum planting area be less than 90 square feet. D. Vehicle overhang. Vehicles shall not overhang more than two feet into any interior planting area or perimeter strip. 1. Where landscaping is installed in interior or perimeter strip planting areas, a continuous curb or other acceptable means of protection shall be provided to prevent injury to the vegetation. Such curb shall be designed to allow percolation of the water to root system of the landscape material. Where existing trees are preserved, tree wells, tree islands or a continuous curb shall be utilized to protect the trunk and root system from alterations to surrounding grade elevations and damage from automobiles. A drainage system, sufficient enough to allow percolation into permeable soil, shall be provided in the area defined by the drip line of the tree(s). |
| § 5.02.04. Removal of trees and native vegetation |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Permit required to remove protected trees. Unless exempt from the provisions of this section, no person shall remove, or in any way damage any protected tree without first obtaining a permit from the city in accordance with section 10.06.05 B. Protected trees. The following trees are considered protected trees for the purposes of this code: 1. All trees with a diameter at breast height of eight inches or greater. 2. Small trees—diameter at breast height of four inches or greater. (a) Dogwood (Cornus Florida) (b) Redbud (Cercis canadensis) C. Exemptions. The following uses shall be exempt from the tree protection requirements: 1. Single-family dwelling units. Lots or parcels of land on which a single-family home is used as a residence shall be exempt for all trees where the removal of the tree is necessary for the construction of structural or building improvements and for all trees with a diameter at breast height of less than 18 inches, except that champion, heritage, historic, and specimen trees on such parcels shall be protected according to the protection regulations. This exemption shall not be construed to apply to residential subdivisions or other residential developments that require site plan approval. 2. Utility operations. Tree pruning and removals by duly constituted communication, water, sewer, electrical or other utility companies or federal, state, or county agencies, or engineers or surveyors working under a contract with such utility companies or agencies shall be exempt, provided the removal is limited to those areas necessary for maintenance of existing lines or facilities or for construction of new lines or facilities in furtherance of providing utility service to its customers, and provided further that the activity is conducted so as to avoid any unnecessary removal and, in the case of aerial electrical utility lines, is not greater than that specified by the National Electrical Safety Codes as necessary to achieve safe electrical clearances. All pruning and trimming shall be done in accordance with National Arborist Association Standards. Written notice of the areas where authorized removal is anticipated shall be provided to the department at least five days prior to the removal, except that when the removal is needed to restore uninterrupted service under emergency conditions, no prior notice is required. 3. Rights-of-way. The clearing of a path for existing or new roadway rights-of-way, provided that the rights-of-way are for existing roadways that are built in conformance with standards or for new roadways that will be built in conformance with standards. 4. Commercial growers. All commercial nurseries, botanical gardens, tree farms and grove operations shall be exempt from the provisions of this part, but only as to those trees and sites which were planted or managed for silvicultural or agricultural purposes or for the sale or intended sale in the ordinary course of business. 5. Emergencies. During emergencies caused by hurricane or other disaster, the city may suspend these tree protection regulations. D. Conditions for tree removal permit. 1. It is the intent of this section to minimize the removal of protected trees and that no permit shall be granted to remove a tree if the developer has failed to take reasonable measures to design and locate the proposed improvements so that the number of protected trees to be removed is minimized. In particular, the design must attempt to preserve specimen and historic trees. 2. No permit for the removal of a protected tree shall be granted unless the developer demonstrates one or more of the following conditions: a. A permissible use of the site cannot reasonably be undertaken unless specific trees are removed or relocated. b. The tree is located in such proximity to an existing or proposed structure that the safety, utility or structural integrity of the structure is materially impaired. c. The tree materially interferes with the location, servicing or functioning of existing utility lines or services. d. The tree creates a substantial hazard to motor, bicycle or pedestrian traffic by virtue of physical proximity to traffic or impairment of vision. e. The tree is diseased, insect ridden, or weakened by age, abuse, storm or fire and is likely to cause injury or damage to people, building or other improvements. f. Any law or regulation requires the removal. 3. The procedures for obtaining a tree removal permit shall be in accordance with section 10.07.06 [10.06.05]. E. Historic, specimen, champion, and heritage trees. 1. A historic tree is one that has been designated by the city as one of notable historical interest and value to the city because of its location or historical association with the community. A public hearing shall be held by the city on the designation with due notice to the owner of the tree. 2. A specimen tree is one that has been officially designated by the city to be of high value because of its type, size, age or other relevant criteria. A public hearing on the designation shall be held by the city with due notice to the owner of the tree. 3. A champion tree is one that has been identified by the Florida division of forestry as being the largest of their species within the State of Florida or by the American Forestry Association as being the largest of their species in the United States. Any tree within the city selected and duly designated a Florida state champion, United States champion or world champion by the American Forestry Association shall be protected. 4. A heritage tree is any tree with a diameter of at least 30 inches or seven feet ten inches in circumference, whichever dimension is less, measured at a point 54 inches above ground level. Heritage trees shall be considered protected trees. 5. No historic, champion, heritage or specimen tree shall be removed without a finding by the city that the tree is a hazard or that it is not economically or practically feasible to develop the parcel without removing the tree. F. Protection of trees during development activities. 1. Generally. To assure the health and survival of protected trees that are not to be removed, the developer shall avoid the following kinds of tree injuries during all development activities: a. Mechanical injuries to roots, trunk and branches; b. Injuries by chemical poisoning; c. Injuries by grade changes; d. Injuries by excavations; and e. Injuries by paving. 2. Tree protection zone. A circular tree protection zone shall be established around each protected tree as follows: a. If the drip line is less than six feet from the trunk of the tree, the zone shall be that area within a radius of six feet around the tree. b. If the drip line is more than six feet from the trunk of the tree, but less than 20 feet, the zone shall be that area within a radius of the full drip line around the tree. c. If the drip line is 20 feet or more from the trunk of the tree, the zone shall be that area within a radius of 20 feet around the tree. d. The drip line shall be considered the centermost point of foliage on the tree. 3. Development prohibited within the tree protection zone. All development activities except those specifically permitted by section 5.02.04(F)5 below shall be prohibited within the tree protection zone provided for any protected trees, including any construction of buildings, structures, paving surfaces, and stormwater retention/detention ponds. All temporary construction areas, including all digging, storage of construction material, and parking of construction vehicles. 4. Fencing of tree protection zone. Prior to the commencement of construction, the developer shall enclose the entire tree protection zone within a fence or similar barrier as follows: a. Wooden, or similar, posts at least 1.5 × 3.5 inches shall be implanted in the ground deep enough to be stable and with at least three feet visible aboveground. b. The protective posts shall be placed not more than six feet apart, and shall be linked together by a rope or chain. 5. Permitted activities within the tree protection zone. a. Excavating or trenching by duly constituted utilities, except where the trees are historic, specimen, champion, or heritage, in which case utility lines shall be tunneled beneath tree roots in order to protect feeder roots. b. Sodding and ground cover—placement of sod or other ground covers, and the preparation of the ground surface for such covers. G. Preservation of native vegetation. In addition to the tree preservation requirements, development sites shall comply with the following requirements for the preservation of native shrubs and ground cover: 1. Within the recreational land use district, a minimum of 25 percent of the total acreage of the site that is populated by native shrubs and/or ground cover shall be preserved. 2. Within all other districts, a minimum of ten percent of the total acreage of the site that is populated by native shrubs and/or ground cover shall be preserved. 3. The native shrubs and ground cover occurring on the site may be used to satisfy the landscaped buffer and vehicular use landscaping requirements of this chapter. H. Preservation of protected trees and native vegetation as grounds for reduction in required parking. 1. A reduction of required parking spaces may be allowed by the planning and zoning commission when the reduction would result in: a. The preservation of a protected tree with a trunk of 12 inches in diameter or greater; or b. The preservation of native shrubs and/or ground cover in a quantity exceeding the minimum requirements of section 5.03.04(H). 2. The reduction in required parking may be granted only if it will prevent the removal of a protected tree or native vegetation that is located within the area of the site designated as a vehicular use area. The following reduction schedule shall apply: REDUCTION SCHEDULE |
| Appendix 5.03.00. Off-Street Parking And Loading |
| § 5.03.01. General provisions |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Purpose. The requirements of this section are intended to ensure that every building, structure, or use erected or instituted, except for agricultural uses and buildings, shall be provided with adequate off-street parking facilities for the use of occupants, employees, visitors, and patrons, and that certain uses be provided with adequate off-street loading facilities, thereby reducing congestion to the public streets and promoting the safety and welfare of the public. B. Existing structures and uses. Buildings or structures as of the effective date of this code may be modernized, altered or repaired without providing additional off-street parking or loading facilities, provided there is no increase in floor area or capacity and no change of occupancy classification. C. Expansion of structure. The proposed expansion in floor area, volume, capacity, or space occupied of any structure existing on or before September 1, 1995, shall result in the compliance with all off-street parking and loading requirements contained in this code for both existing and new structures. D. Change in use. If, after the effective date of this code, a change in the use of a building or structure would result in a requirement for additional parking over that required for the existing use, then all off-street parking and loading requirements contained in this code shall be complied with for the new use. |
| § 5.03.02. Off-street parking requirements |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Off-street automobile storage or parking space shall be provided on every lot in which any of the following uses are hereafter established or, where no space is available on the lot, space shall be provided within 500 feet of such uses and such space shall be provided with vehicular access to a street or alley and shall be equal in area to at least the minimum requirements for the specific use as set forth below. For the purpose of this section a parking or storage space shall not be less than ten feet wide and 20 feet deep excluding all driveways and entrances and exits except that adequate driveway space may be counted to credit for one automobile for single-family residence. 1. Single-family residences: two spaces. 2. Multi-family residences: 1½ spaces per dwelling unit. 3. Rooming and boardinghouses, hotels: one space for each unit. 4. Tourist homes, tourist courts or motels: one space for each unit or suite, plus one additional space for every two employees. 5. Mobile home parks: one space for each mobile home space. 6. Private clubs or lodges: one space for each 50 square feet or total floor area in the auditorium, assembly hall, and dining room in such building. 7. Churches: one space for each five seats in the main auditorium. 8. Stadiums and theaters and other places of public assembly: one space for each four seats in the building or structure, based on maximum seating capacity. 9. Retail sales stores: one space for each 200 square feet of floor area. |
| § 5.03.03. Drainage |
|
Latest version.
|
|
All required off-street parking facilities shall conform to the stormwater management requirements of section 6.03.00 and shall be drained so as not to cause any nuisance to adjacent private or public property. |
| § 5.03.04. Handicapped parking |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Handicapped parking shall be provided as required by the Florida Uniform Traffic Control Law, F.S. ch. 316. Handicapped parking spaces shall be appropriately marked. |
| § 5.03.05. Provision of reserved parking areas |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Where, in the determination on the city, the required number of spaces is excessive for a specific use, the owner or agent may substitute landscaping in lieu of paving provided said areas are reserved for future parking should the city find those spaces are needed, and further provided: 1. The owner of the land upon which such parking is being reserved shall enter into a written agreement with the city to be filed with the city clerk, with enforcement running to the city ensured that the reserved parking area shall never be encroached upon, used, sold, leased, or conveyed, for any purpose except in conjunction with the building or use which the off-street parking facilities are required. 2. The owner of the land upon which such said reserved parking is located agrees to bear the expense of recording the agreement which shall bind his heirs, successors, or assigns. 3. The written agreement shall be voided by the city if the reserved parking area is converted to usable parking area or if the reserved parking area is no longer required. |
| § 5.03.06. Off-street loading |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Off-street loading requirements. Every building or structure used for business, trade, or industry, shall provide space as indicated herein for the loading and unloading of vehicles off the street or public alley. Such space shall have access to a public alley or, if there is no alley, to a public street. Retail business: one space of 300 square feet for each 3,000 square feet of floor space. Wholesale and industry: one space of 500 square feet for each 10,000 square feet of floor area. Bus and truck terminals: sufficient space to accommodate the maximum number of buses or trucks to be stored or to be loaded or unloaded at the terminal at any one time. B. Location of required loading space. Loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the building or structure to which they are accessory. C. Designation and use. Each required loading space shall be designated as such and shall be used only for loading purposes. D. Design and maintenance. 1. An off-street loading space shall be an area at grade level at least 12 feet by 55 feet long with a 14-foot vertical clearance. 2. Each loading space shall be accessible without crossing or entering any other required off-street loading space. Such loading space shall be accessible from the interior of the building it serves and shall be arranged for convenient and safe ingress and egress by motor truck and trailer. |
| Appendix 5.04.00. Operational Performance Standards |
| § 5.04.01. Noise | ||||||||||||
|
Latest version.
|
||||||||||||
|
Unless otherwise defined, all terminology shall be in conformance with applicable publications of American National Standards Institute, Incorporated (ANSI) or its successor body. A. Method of noise measurement. Noise shall be measured with a sound level meter that meets the standards of American National Standards Institute (ANSI section 51.4-1979, type 1 or type 2). Noise levels shall be measured using an A-weighted sound pressure level scale. Impact noises shall be measured using the fast response of the sound level meter, and other noises using the slow response. Measurements shall be taken from the property line of the receiving land use. B. Maximum permissible sound levels by receiving land use. 1. Maximum sustained sound. No person shall operate or cause to be operated any source of sound in such a manner as to create a sound level which exceeds the limits set forth for the receiving land use district in the table below. SOUND LEVELS BY RECEIVING LAND USE
C. Exemptions. The following activities or sources are exempt from these noise standards: 1. Activities covered by the following: stationary, nonemergency signaling devices, emergency signaling devices, domestic power tools, air conditioning and air handling equipment for residential purposes, operating motor vehicles, refuse collection vehicles. 2. Railway locomotives and cars. 3. The sounds of necessary farming equipment for a bona fide agricultural operation. 4. Construction or routine maintenance of public service utilities. 5. Houses of worship bells or chimes. 6. The emission of sound for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency, or the emission of sound in the performance of emergency work. D. Notice of violations. Except where a person is acting in good faith to comply with an abatement order, violation of any provision of this code shall be cause for notice of violation to be issued by the city clerk. E. Preexisting uses not in conformance. Where an industry or commercial business has established its use away from other incompatible uses and subsequently, through the encroachment of development, now finds itself adjoining a receiving land category which would require a reduction in noise generation, said industry or commercial business shall not emit a noise which exceeds the maximum noise limitation for the receiving land use category by more than ten decibels. |
||||||||||||
| § 5.04.02. Air pollution |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Standard. To protect and enhance the air quality of the City of Chattahoochee, all sources of air pollution shall comply with rules set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (Code of Federal Regulations, title 40) and the Florida department of environmental regulations [department of environmental protection] (Florida Administrative Code, chapter 17-2). No person shall operate a regulated source of air pollution without a valid operation permit issued by the department of environmental regulation [department of environmental protection]. B. Testing. Air pollution emissions shall be tested and results reported in accordance with techniques and methods adopted by the Florida department of environmental regulation [department of environmental protection] and submitted to the state. These tests shall be carried out under the supervision of the state and at the expense of the person responsible for the source of pollution. |
| § 5.04.03. Glare |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Any operation or activity producing glare shall be conducted so that direct light or indirect light from the source shall not cause illumination in excess of 0.5 footcandles when measured from the property line of a residential property. |
| § 5.04.04. Odor |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Every use shall be operated to prevent the emission of objectionable or offensive odors in such a concentration as to be readily perceptible at or beyond property lines on which the use is located, as required in chapter 17.2, ``Rules of the Department of Environmental Regulation: Air Pollution,'' Florida Administrative Code, as revised. |
| § 5.04.05. On-site burning |
|
Latest version.
|
|
No on-site burning is permitted during the construction or remodeling of any structure or development which will have a deleterious effect on air quality within the city or which would violate air quality standards of the department of environmental regulation [department of environmental protection]. |
| Appendix 5.05.00. Supplemental Standards |
| § 5.05.01. Generally |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Certain uses have unique characteristics that require the imposition of development standards in addition to those minimum standards set forth in other sections of this code. These uses are listed in this part together with the specific standards that apply to the specified use or activity. These standards shall be met in addition to all other standards of this code, unless specifically exempted. |
| § 5.05.02. Manufactured housing or mobile homes sited in residential land use districts |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Any person desiring to site a manufactured housing unit or mobile home residential land use district where manufactured housing or mobile homes are permitted shall comply with the requirements of Ordinance No. 436, which is found in sections 14-131 through 14-141 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Chattahoochee. |
| § 5.05.03. Institutional residential homes |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Institutional residential homes shall be allowed in residential districts subject to the following conditions: 1. When a site for an institutional residential home has been selected by a sponsoring agency in a residential land use district, the agency shall notify the city in writing and include in the notice the specific address of the site, the residential licensing category, the number of residents, and the community support requirements of the program. Such notice shall also contain a statement from the district administrator of the department of health and rehabilitative services indicating the need for and the licensing status of the proposed institutional residential home and specifying how the home meets applicable licensing criteria for the safe care and supervision of clients in the home. The district administrator shall also provide to the city the most recently published data compiled that identifies all institutional residential homes in the district in which the proposed site is to be located. The city shall review the notification of the sponsoring agency in accordance with applicable requirements of this code. 2. Pursuant to such review, the city may: a. Determine that the siting of the institutional residential home is in accordance with applicable requirements and approve the siting. If the siting is approved, the sponsoring agency may establish the home at the site selected. b. Fail to respond within 60 days. If the city fails to respond within such time, the sponsoring agency may establish the home at the site selected. c. Deny the siting of the home. 3. The city shall not deny the siting of an institutional residential home unless the city establishes that the siting of the home at the site selected: a. Does not otherwise conform to existing regulations applicable to other or institutional uses in the area. b. Does not meet applicable licensing criteria established by the department of health and rehabilitative services, including requirements that the home be located to assure the safe care and supervision of all clients in the home. c. Would result in such a concentration of institutional residential homes in the area in proximity to the site selected, such that the nature and character of the area would be substantially altered. A home that is located within a radius of 1,200 feet of another existing institutional residential home shall be overconcentration of such homes that substantially alters the nature and character of the area. 4. All distance requirements shall be measured from the nearest point of the existing home to the nearest point of the proposed home via path of travel. 5. The city shall, within 20 days of the receipt of the application provided for in subsection (1) above, review the application and provide the applicant with a written decision outlining reasons for the decision. The applicant may appeal the decision of the city by notifying the city clerk within ten days from the date of the city's decision. Appeals of the decision of the city shall be in accordance with section 10.11.00[sic]. |
| § 5.05.04. Recreational vehicle parks |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. General requirements. A recreational vehicle park shall meet the following general requirements: 1. It shall be primarily for recreational use by persons with transportable recreational housing, with appropriate accessory uses and structures. 2. The land on which it is developed shall be under unified control and shall be planned and developed as a whole in a single development operation or programmed series of development operations for recreational vehicles and related uses and facilities. 3. The principal and accessory uses and structures shall be substantially related to the character of the development in the context of the district of which it is a part. 4. The park shall be developed according to comprehensive and detailed plans that include streets, utilities, lots and building sites. 5. The park shall have a program for provision, maintenance and operation of all areas, improvements, and facilities for the common use of all or some of the occupants of the park, but will not be provided, operated or maintained at general public expense. 6. Location, space and general layout standards. a. Recreational vehicle parks shall be established on parcels of land which have an area of at least four acres, and shall be located within an R-1MH district as a special exception or within an R-3 or B-1 district, and shall have a density not to exceed 12 sites per net acre. b. The recreational vehicle park shall be located on a well-drained site and shall be so located that its drainage will not endanger any water supply. c. Each space for recreational vehicles shall contain a minimum of 1,000 square feet. Each space for tent camping shall contain a minimum of 500 square feet; tent sites shall constitute no more than 15 percent of the total sites in the park. These spaces, vehicle and tent, shall be clearly defined and shall be exclusive of any space used for common areas, such as roadways and general use walkways, storage areas or recreation areas. d. There shall be no more than one recreational vehicle or tent occupying a camping space. e. Recreational vehicles and tents shall be located within their designated space in such a way that there shall be a minimum of ten feet between recreational vehicles and/or tents, or between any recreational vehicle and/or tent and any building other than approved covered parking areas or storage buildings. f. Recreational vehicles and tents shall be located at least 25 feet from all recreational vehicle park property lines. h. The recreational vehicle pad shall be covered with crushed rock, gravel or paved with asphalt, concrete or similar material and be designed to provide runoff of surface water. 7. Transportation standards. a. Recreational vehicle parks shall abut and have direct access to an arterial or other major street. b. Access drives shall be provided to each rental space and shall be continuous unless provided with adequate turnaround area. c. No access drive will be less than 30 feet wide if for two-way traffic or if parking is permitted on one or both margins of the drive. Other access drives shall not be less than 20 feet wide. d. Access drives shall be surfaced with concrete, asphaltic cement or similar hard-surfaced material which is resistant to dust or mud. Such surfacing shall be suitably sloped and drained and will be maintained in good condition at all times by the owner or owners of the recreational vehicle park. 8. Service buildings standards. a. There shall be: one lavatory and one shower or bathtub for each sex for each ten recreational vehicle sites or fraction thereof; one toilet for females for each ten recreational vehicle sites or fraction thereof; and one toilet for males for each ten recreational vehicle sites or fraction thereof, not more than one-third of which shall be urinals. The requirements will be reduced by 75 percent for sites that include individual water and sewer connections. b. No recreational vehicle space shall be more than 200 feet from a service building with a lavatory, toilet and a shower or bathtub for each sex. This distance may be increased to 400 feet for sites that include individual water and sewer connections. 9. Sewage disposal standards. a. Waste from showers, bathtubs, flush toilets, urinals, lavatories, slop sinks and laundries in service and other buildings within a recreational vehicle park shall be discharged into the public sewer system in compliance with applicable ordinances. b. At least 80 percent of recreational vehicle sites shall be provided with a trapped sewer at least four inches in diameter, which shall be connected to receive the waste from the shower, bathtub, flush toilet, lavatory and kitchen sink of the recreational vehicle harbored in such site and shall be connected to discharge the recreational vehicle waste into the public sewer system in compliance with applicable ordinances. 10. Garbage. a. Garbage cans with tightfitting covers shall be provided in quantities adequate to permit disposal of all garbage and rubbish. b. Garbage cans shall be located not farther than 200 feet from any recreational vehicle site. The cans shall be kept in sanitary condition at all times. Garbage and rubbish shall be collected and disposed of as frequently as may be necessary to ensure that the garbage cans will not overflow. 11. Additional standards. a. General use recreation areas will be provided which are suitable for recreational uses and which are adequately equipped and restricted to recreational uses. At least ten percent of the total recreational vehicle park shall be included in one or more such general uses recreation areas. These areas shall be protected from streets, drives and parking areas by curbs, guardrails, plantings or other suitable devices. b. The city council may require that the recreational vehicle park have a centralized storage area for boats and other vehicles. c. Locations of utility facilities such as sewer, water, natural gas, electricity, telephone and cable television lines may be determined by the city council. d. Suitable sight-obscuring fences, walls, evergreen hedges and/or berms shall surround the recreational vehicle park in order to visually separate the park from adjoining property, except at entrance and exit points and where such buffering techniques are unnecessary due to topographical features. e. Before a recreational vehicle park is approved, evidence shall be required that demonstrates compliance with standards of the state department of health and rehabilitative services, division of health. |
| § 5.05.05. Junkyards |
|
Latest version.
|
|
A. Restrictions as to location. No junkyard, junk or automobile graveyard shall be kept, operated or maintained in the incorporated or unincorporated areas of the City of Chattahoochee within 300 feet of the right-of-way of any public street or highway, except the following: 1. Junkyards which are entirely enclosed by a solid wall or wooden fence at least six feet in height, but in no case lower than the material contained in the junkyard. The fence [or] wall enclosing the junkyard shall not be used for postings or other advertising purposes, except that a space not larger than six feet by 12 feet may be used for advertisement of the business of the owner thereof. The fence or wall shall have no more than one opening for each 300 feet of street frontage. The opening shall not exceed 20 feet in width and shall be provided with a solid gate or door which must be kept closed except for the passage of vehicles. |
| § 5.05.06. Access to Apalachicola River |
|
Latest version.
|
|
No development activities shall be undertaken which impede or obstruct access to the shoreline of the Apalachicola River. |
| § 5.05.07. Protection of scenic vistas |
|
Latest version.
|
|
No development activities shall be authorized which will block or obstruct the view of scenic vistas to the west of the City of Chattahoochee. |
| § 5.05.08. Mobile [or manufactured] home parks |
|
Latest version.
|
|
Mobile home parks are allowed in R-IMH districts, as a special exception, as well as within R-3 and B-1 districts, provided the following requirements are met: Requirements for mobile home parks. (1) Minimum park site: Four acres. Minimum lot size: Forty feet by 85 feet. Minimum setback: (a) From public street: Twenty-five feet. From interior property lines: Fifteen feet. 1. Mobile home spaces shall be spaced so that mobile homes would have at least 20 feet spacing between mobile homes. (2) Site plan. A site plan shall be submitted along with an application for a permit. The site plan shall show, but shall not be limited to, the following: (a) Proposed standards for development, including restrictions on the use of the property, density standards and park regulations. (b) Location of buildings and mobile homes in relation to property lines and lot lines. (c) Location of off-street parking spaces and bays, internal circulation ways, ingress and egress points of the site. (d) Public and semi-public open spaces, community facilities and landscaped areas, walls, patio and service areas (including garbage disposal areas), driveways. Walkways as well as provision for maintenance of all common areas. (e) Plans for the provision of utilities, including water, sewer and drainage facilities, and also including any provision for connection with public utilities. (f) Plan for protection of abutting property. |
| § 5.05.09. Setback and yard requirements by district | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Latest version.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
[The following table establishes the setback and yard requirements for each district:]
(a) If not served by public sewer, then 13,000 square feet is required for one or two dwelling units. (b) This requirement applies except for apartment-type uses containing more than three dwelling units, section 6 [5.05.00] shall govern. (c) All requirements relative to front, side and rear yards shall be the same as required in the residential district to which the front, side or rear property in an R-1, R-2 or R-3 district adjoins or from which it lies directly across a street or alley; no front, side or rear yards shall be required on a side of such property adjacent to a nonresidential district. (d) There shall be no height limitations in these districts except that all buildings in excess of 45 feet shall receive the written approval of the chief of the Chattahoochee Fire Department and within 150 feet of any residential district no building shall exceed the maximum height requirements of that residential district. (e) Seven and one-half feet each side; or any combination of setbacks on each side that equals at least 15 feet, provided that no such setback shall be less than five feet. (f) Does not apply to mobile homes. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(Ord. No. 288, § 20, 12-1-70; Ord. No. 347, § 4, 9-2-80) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||