Levy County planners recommend replacing one‑size parking rule with use‑specific table; commission backs recommendation

Levy County staff presented a proposed rewrite of off‑street parking and loading requirements on May 18 that would replace a single, across‑the‑board formula with a use‑specific table.

Planner Kelly Caudell told commissioners the current code requires “1 parking space per 200 square feet of gross floor area” for all uses, which produces inappropriate requirements for some building types. The proposed table assigns parking standards by use (for example, separate ratios for sales floor area and stockroom area in retail) and establishes a minimum standard space size. Caudell illustrated the change with an example: under current rules a hypothetical 11,800‑square‑foot store would require 59 spaces, while the proposed breakdown would reduce that requirement to 44 spaces.

Commission discussion centered on consistency with surrounding counties and whether the change would require more or less parking overall. Staff said the proposal draws on parking tables used by several neighboring jurisdictions and adds handicap/accessible standards. A commissioner moved to recommend approval of the amendment to Section 50‑382 to the Board of County Commissioners; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The commission recorded a recommendation to the Board; staff said the change is intended to make parking requirements more tailored and to reduce variance requests from applicants who currently find the code infeasible.