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Eustis adopts land‑development amendments to require street trees, new lot type and 25% open space
Summary
The commission adopted Ordinance 25‑01 to add a single‑family detached lot type, require street trees, discourage cul‑de‑sacs, set a 25% open‑space requirement for subdivisions and allow stormwater facilities to function as amenities under conditions; the ordinance passed on roll call.
The Eustis City Commission voted June 18 to adopt ordinance 25‑01, a broad update to the city’s land development regulations that adds a new single‑family detached lot type, requires street trees, establishes a 25% open‑space requirement for subdivisions and allows stormwater facilities to serve as amenities when developers provide specific landscaping and programmed uses.
Planning staff described a set of changes developed after workshops with consultants, including a new single‑family detached lot type defined around a 100‑by‑100 foot (10,000‑square‑foot) parcel typical for suburban development. Under the revisions, a baseline density for that building lot type equates to roughly 4 dwelling units per acre for developments that follow the new standard; developers seeking alternative lot patterns or different densities would use a waiver or PUD process and present design features for commission approval.
Key changes the ordinance put into code include: - A new single‑family detached lot type (illustrative 100 ft × 100 ft / ~10,000 sq ft), and an expectation that large subdivisions can expect 4 units per acre under the default standard unless they seek waivers or alternative approval. - A requirement for street trees at roughly one tree per 40 feet of frontage, with a waiver process for unusual driveway or site‑specific constraints. - A firm 25% open‑space requirement for subdivisions; staff said the intent is to make open space centrally located and usable, not merely leftover areas, and that stormwater ponds counted as open space must be improved as active amenities (walking paths, landscaping, programmed areas). - Standards to discourage double‑frontage lots and cul‑de‑sacs (private cul‑de‑sacs are a possibility where needed), and stronger design requirements for multifamily, mixed‑use and townhome projects.
Staff said the 25% open‑space figure is the current code requirement and was retained; the code changes emphasize the quality and location of open space and require developers to show how stormwater detention or retention areas will function as usable, landscaped amenities if they are counted toward open‑space totals.
Members of the public raised questions in the hearing. Cindy Newton urged the commission to reconsider open‑space and recharge protections for Wekiva study areas and referenced earlier recommendations that had higher open‑space targets; Jane Hepting, a city resident, questioned annexing very large parcels and asked whether retention ponds should be counted as open space.
Planning staff responded that stormwater areas could count only if they include active amenities and landscaping and that the 25% requirement is currently codified. Commissioner votes were recorded by roll call; the ordinance passed with all commissioners voting aye.
Next steps: staff will publish the ordinance and update development review checklists to reflect the new lot types, tree requirements and open‑space standards; developers will use the waiver/PUD process when seeking alternative lot configurations.
