[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6282803,"mediaKeyId","2592211-00ad5be68f7cbbacd82d901ba15b9e6c","parentId",2592211,"title","Board weighs changes to downtown parking rules and stormwater thresholds to help small businesses","audioSeconds",1370,"startMs",1989000,"endMs",3359000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2592211-00ad5be68f7cbbacd82d901ba15b9e6c&start=1989&end=3359","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2592211-00ad5be68f7cbbacd82d901ba15b9e6c/thumbnail_1989000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6282803/Milton/Santa-Rosa-County/Florida/Board-weighs-changes-to-downtown-parking-rules-and-stormwater-thresholds-to-help-small-businesses","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6282803-514e457cd883235180f5b3045f1cf49d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170188&Signature=GW8DLlNWt6Dbn7DO7WePfCwoeLLhmTLZAa9AdTlay9YvoOs3yg-NA3GPv4vExVWyDlE1WtBl6pDYM0XlS36w4XQAevmNJVHwubBgk-A~wlVrw1OyNXLn5Ux~iC5L0i~teCbXAHihQ~jmhns7ELpdytb7HYSXX0S4KDqbvnIOJh9s5OJhYxC06~JyJKXgVVqOISJKL7HgGH01HYmQvVrsqz-Jvs0JhM0-PiSB4t7m5N~g7nPoiFxla9wcVePYvLiLO2bxstBLIwsmCAsGhKmj-aNgYsuWwyzxbe~xKuORIfvpqR4Uthfki5fh2fA3w0QD66EHOEVbHOOY7aTg-rIhaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Milton, FL ","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Planning staff told the Milton Planning Board that parking and city stormwater rules in the downtown RC1 zoning district can make it difficult and costly for small commercial expansions, and the board asked staff to study targeted changes and return with recommendations.

The issue matters because downtown lots are smaller and more constrained than general commercial parcels, and current thresholds for stormwater waivers and management plans can force small projects to hire engineers and build costly retention measures.

Tim Milstead, Planning Director, reviewed the relevant code and said the city's stormwater-waiver language limits waivers \"to those developments which limit the increase in impervious surfaces to 500 square feet or less, and those that limit increases to 1,000 square feet or less of approved pervious pavement service surfaces.\" Milstead emphasized that the regulation triggers a stormwater management plan prepared by a professional engineer: \"the stormwater management plan shall be prepared by a professional engineer registered in the state practicing within their area of expertise.\" He said those engineering requirements can impose a \"tremendous cost\" on small downtown projects.

Board members raised several possible avenues: increase the administrative authority to approve very small parking additions (one board member cited an example from another jurisdiction allowing the zoning administrator to approve up to five parking spaces), expand or better document shared-parking and on-street parking crediting, permit additional pervious materials, or pursue an off-site, city-managed stormwater retention solution (for example, a shared retention parcel). Several members noted the downtown's higher water table and existing utilities make some underground stormwater options expensive or infeasible.

Milstead said the city already offers some flexibility in the BCM (downtown commercial/mixed-use) district where on-street and public parking reduces some site-level requirements, but the RC1 district west of the river \"is much more restricted\" and the current chart in Article 14 still drives parking requirements. He recommended the board consult the city's contracted engineer before proposing changes to Article 13.

No code change was approved. The board asked staff to research options (including administrative minor approvals, shared-parking agreements, identified pervious surface types, and potential city-owned retention sites) and coordinate with the city engineer, and return with draft proposals. The board agreed to continue work on Articles 13 and 14 and to discuss solutions that balance business-friendliness with stormwater protections.

Ending: Staff said it will consult the city engineer and return with options at a future meeting so the board can consider specific draft language and any engineering constraints.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Milton Planning Board - Feb 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Planning staff told the Milton Planning Board that parking and city stormwater rules in the downtown RC1 zoning district can make it difficult and costly for small commercial expansions, and the board asked staff to study targeted changes and return with recommendations.","taxTitle","Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida","taxId",56207,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6282808,"Milton planning board considers easing ban on front-yard fences for commercial properties",1569,406000,1975000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2592211-00ad5be68f7cbbacd82d901ba15b9e6c&start=406&end=1975","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2592211-00ad5be68f7cbbacd82d901ba15b9e6c/thumbnail_406000.jpg","/articles/6282808/Milton/Santa-Rosa-County/Florida/Milton-planning-board-considers-easing-ban-on-front-yard-fences-for-commercial-properties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6282808-c8d49e6fd8708ec33dbebd456e5fcde9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170188&Signature=DeLiWnnrBVBj-nOlbpIwj68Q6iIu8SqhyoFjBZHxmHU~8lcBqnqbQZv9tkbzq0mPfBS~yH7RHTQO0TYUwtgN-klLADRgVZRX75i3H3hvEqMwlc8l4KYFbFbZx19obyjj0GRpB7VetdcM8iP4ajJZt8T9AOSHOe3YDMIm5KMr6BlYtROWbxMQ01ZC40s6y3we7lxBd0SOoPW-66I3G~c4-ZccvXLyCAXW9I2hjLn7LyOpWeSxvCzGFRDKo1-Vi6gZzckXReyB948f~Lklpuh6BMuAnaKbQARCpP42ArCDZHEBFhl9bw4~V-mMMGjjSOHWso0iBtvclb58Ke0WocjG9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Milton Planning Board on a recent meeting heard staff present options to change the city's Unified Development Code to allow certain fences in the front yards of commercial properties where the UDC currently prohibits them.

The proposal matters because the downtown and other commercial corridors contain businesses with tight lot lines where a front-yard fence could provide separation, safety or screening without harming public sightlines, planning staff said.

Tim Milstead, Planning Director, told the board that the current code contains a complete prohibition for nonresidential front yards: \"fences, walls, and hedges are prohibited in the front or side yards unless otherwise required by the landscape and screening regulations of article 12.\" He said that the prohibition leaves no path to obtain a variance and that the city already has many nonconforming fences.

Board members and staff discussed a range of options. Milstead said any allowed front-yard fences should be limited in height and material: residential yards in Milton generally limit fences to 6 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front yards, and staff proposed similar or more stringent limits for commercial fronts. Milstead also said he would \"not want to see any sort of chain link fences\" in front yards and suggested design standards such as masonry, picket-style or other decorative materials and a degree of visibility (he cited about \"upwards of 50 [percent] transparency\") so motorists and police retain sight lines.

Several board members favored a two-tiered approach: allow staff to approve routine, low-height, decorative front-yard fencing where it meets specified material and transparency standards, and require a formal variance to the Board of Adjustment for taller or opaque fencing. A board member noted life-safety constraints and asked staff to consult the fire chief before finalizing language for cases near high-speed roadways or zero-lot-line buildings.

No formal ordinance change was adopted at the meeting. Instead Milstead said he would draft proposed UDC language reflecting the board's discussion and bring it to the board for review at the next meeting. The board also asked staff to include clear permit and material standards to avoid long-term blight if a property later changes ownership.

What happens next: Milstead will prepare draft code language that (per the board's direction) would allow limited front-yard fencing in specified commercial districts, define what staff may approve administratively, set material and transparency limits, and identify circumstances requiring a variance. The draft will be provided to the board for review and then forwarded to city council if the board recommends it.

Ending: The board set no formal deadline; Milstead said he would present draft language at the board's next meeting.","Planning staff presented a proposed change to the Unified Development Code (UDC) that would allow limited fencing in front yards of commercial properties; board members discussed staff approval thresholds, variance routes and safety and aesthetic limits and asked staff to draft ordinance language for council review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6282798,"Planning staff reports multiple retail and service projects underway in Milton",270,3430000,3700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2592211-00ad5be68f7cbbacd82d901ba15b9e6c&start=3430&end=3700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2592211-00ad5be68f7cbbacd82d901ba15b9e6c/thumbnail_3430000.jpg","/articles/6282798/Milton/Santa-Rosa-County/Florida/Planning-staff-reports-multiple-retail-and-service-projects-underway-in-Milton","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6282798-1f0d6e126e32b0c2e91039bc33bb476a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170188&Signature=kp64jHoWu3SXZFfWXF9qT6EdTJe9HLOyQO~HCtcENootY9dd0AcKxiRe~ameazq0Jw7bPwM4anWIsmPdjYM~Na-o-ct3BEKtHi2eF~mGzPuoN6VpChsKCrqj-rbScfeqnxaLcZkgXv4SdV568YWoeZLKjtwknpDhDh~o9EPpQkwbEiIM9Dkeop8215joZJq8kfBCtjHLcTzSikQfAkl8DqtvhNXpYnaljk5A8sC7B3dqoQrHwVqc4zMkvxkpncfEnzw1fmAHlG5uhIwiJIFhLSwsH7YckqQ1fvss277LVGeEyJJnuXqMljYUYXsKwE4bRHlaEbqwB705aejDA~39YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff gave the board a brief update on active development projects across the city, noting several commercial and service businesses in early or late stages of construction or permitting.

The update matters because the projects affect traffic, utilities and downtown and corridor activity and inform the board's pending UDC discussions about parking and stormwater.

Staff reported that construction continues at the shopping center anchored by the new Walmart (site work and corrosion-control measures in place) and that site activity suggests phased progress. A Starbucks final inspection was reported as complete and the location is close to opening. Roberts on Stewart Street was said to be a few months from opening after construction delays. Staff noted that Jersey Mike's has opened in the public shopping center and that Heartland Dental and other tenants are nearing completion; McDonald's remains planned but delayed. A staff speaker said the city's remaining wastewater treatment plant capacity is dedicated to projects within the city limits.

Staff also said the downtown 'old courthouse' site and other municipal assets will influence longer-term parking and infrastructure decisions; no immediate city-led expansion of downtown parking was announced.

Ending: Staff reminded the board the next meeting is Feb. 18 and invited members to submit follow-up questions as they continue work on UDC updates.","Staff updated the board on recent and ongoing development projects: a new Walmart, Starbucks inspection completed, Roberts on Stewart nearing opening, Jersey Mike's opened, Heartland Dental and others close to opening; wastewater capacity for in-city projects remains dedicated.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board weighs changes to downtown parking rules and stormwater thresholds to help small businesses

Milton planning board considers easing ban on front-yard fences for commercial properties

Planning staff reports multiple retail and service projects underway in Milton