Lee County staff presents UDO text amendment to ease hotel parking setback in limited circumstances

Lee County planning staff presented a proposed text amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that would modify Section 5.17 (hotel development standards) to allow hotel parking areas to be located as close as 20 feet from an adjoining residential property if that adjoining parcel is vacant and at least 20 acres in size. The existing rule would continue to require hotel and motel buildings to remain at least 50 feet from a residential property line.

Thomas Mears, planning staff, said the amendment was prompted by a specific development issue in the City of Sanford and that Sanford City Council and the Broadway town commissioners had already approved the language; the UDO is shared among Sanford, Broadway and Lee County and each jurisdiction must adopt the change for it to take effect. Mears described the 20-acre caveat as a limit intended to reduce the amendment's geographic effect.

No members of the public spoke at the UDO hearing and the public hearing was closed. Staff and the chair discussed waiving policy and having the planning board negotiate any outstanding details and return the item to the board at a future meeting.

Key quote

"Currently, our hotel standards require hotel buildings and parking lots to be located at least 50 feet away from any property lines shared with residentially zoned property. The applicant has submitted language that would change ... to allow for hotel parking areas to be as close as 20 feet to adjoining residential property if that adjoining property is at least 20 acres in size and currently vacant." ' Thomas Mears, planning staff.

Ending

The board closed the public hearing and staff will follow the planning-board negotiation process; no ordinance was adopted at this meeting.