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Planning Commission recommends multiple zoning ordinance amendments, revises accessory-dwelling and RV rules
Summary
The Commission recommended updates to floodplain references, telecommunication tower rules, added Small Rural Home Businesses as a by‑right use, revised accessory‑dwelling size limits, broadened agricultural exclusions to include forestry, and shortened the required removal period for Extended Stay RV Parks to two days.
The Charlotte County Planning Commission on Jan. 15 advanced a package of zoning‑ordinance amendments and recommended several targeted revisions intended to clarify permitted uses and siting standards.
Staff presented proposed changes to multiple ordinance sections: updating §1‑13 (floodplains) to reference the county’s new Floodplain Ordinance; adding Small Rural Home Businesses as a by‑right use in Article 9; adding exceptions for accessory structures on vacant lots and for agricultural accessories (§10‑3‑3); increasing accessory‑dwelling size thresholds in §10‑3‑11 (General Agricultural) and §10‑3‑12 (Village Center & General Residential); removing certain telecommunication tower submission requirements (§10‑9‑5; §10‑9‑10); adding Extended Stay RV Parks as a conditional use with operational and screening standards; and revising Article 12 definitions to support these changes.
Public comment raised viewshed concerns for a proposed telecommunication tower and requested including forestry in accessory‑structure exclusions. Commissioners agreed to several staff‑recommended corrections and to specific revisions: approving updates to floodplain references and telecommunication tower sections as written; increasing the accessory‑dwelling size in Village Center & General Residential to 1,500 square feet (and aligning related limits in General Agricultural); revising §10‑3‑3 wording to reference "agricultural/forestry operations," changing the size cap in §10‑3‑3.b to 1,200 square feet, and changing discretionary language "may" to "shall."
On Extended Stay RV Parks (§10‑17), commissioners reduced the proposed continuous‑removal period from 14 days to two days, clarified that screening applies to the campground area rather than the entire parcel, and revised submission language so required materials are submitted with the conditional use permit application rather than filed after approval. Commissioners also approved definitions changes in Article 12, including renaming Agricultural Operation to Agricultural/Forestry Operation and setting Extended Stay RV Park stay length to 12 months in definitions. All motions on these items passed with the members present voting yes.
The Commission’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for public hearings and any subsequent ordinance adoption steps.
