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Levy County |
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Code of Ordinances |
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Chapter 50. LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE |
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Article XIII. ZONING |
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Division 2. ZONING DISTRICTS ESTABLISHED; ZONING MAP |
§ 50-667. Intent of the various districts.
(a)
In establishing the various districts, and in addition to the statement of purpose as adopted in section 50-661, it is the express intent of the board of county commissioners to:
(1)
Implement the county comprehensive plan by adopting zoning districts which are consistent with that plan and which constitute an integral part of the Code.
(2)
Comply with the state mandate that each local government shall, pursuant to F.S. § 163.3202, adopt land development regulations and to exercise land development regulatory authority pursuant to F.S. § 163.3201.
(3)
Discourage the proliferation of urban sprawl.
(b)
In addition:
(1)
F/RR forestry/rural residential district.
a.
The county existing land use map and the future land use map designate certain lands as now being used for forestry purposes, with such uses continuing in the future. The production of forest products is one of the most important segments of the county economic base, and as such it requires protection from incompatible uses. The management of forest land requires the use of prescribed fire, herbicides and pesticides, and heavy equipment which generate smoke chemicals and dust, respectively. These characteristics render forestry land uses generally incompatible with residential, commercial and most public uses, and the forest lands must therefore be protected from encroachment by such uses. Conversely, the county recognizes the need to protect new residents to the county from the hazards associated with constructing homes in areas subject to wildfires, dust and exposure to chemicals.
b.
The F/RR, forestry/rural residential district, is intended to allow very low-density residential development, spatially separated from the predominant land use in the district, commercial forests.
(2)
A/RR agricultural/rural residential district. The conservation element of the county comprehensive plan, and the land use element of the same document, have established objectives and policies to protect agriculturally productive lands. As with forestry lands, farming operations use chemicals for a wide variety of essential purposes. In addition, these activities generate noise, dust and waste products which, along with chemical emissions, are generally incompatible with residential development. Conversely, domestic pets such as dogs and cats are generally incompatible with adjoining livestock operations. The A/RR district is intended to provide for the continued viability of agribusiness in the county while permitting low-density residential land uses that are compatible with the predominant land use in the district, commercial farming.
(3)
Residential districts.
a.
The county comprehensive plan has identified various areas which, by virtue of their physical constraints or their suitability for development, have either limitations or potentials for residential land use, respectively.
b.
The RR, rural residential districts are intended to provide locations for either conventional dwelling units or mobile homes on relatively large, rural residential lots, usually without central water or sewer systems. The resultant net densities are intended to be less than one unit per acre, with the RR districts serving as transition areas between agricultural uses and higher-density residential districts.
c.
The RR-2, rural residential districts are intended to provide for conventional and mobile homes at net densities in excess of one unit per acre and up to two units per acre, but never more than one unit per lot or tract of record. The smaller lot sizes will, of necessity, eliminate some accessory uses, such as livestock, which are permitted as a matter of right in the RR districts. The higher densities of population, however, justify the consideration of some uses, such as shopping centers, which would not be considered in the RR districts, as special exceptions. The RR-2 districts are intended to provide a transition between RR and R zoning.
d.
The RR-3C district is intended to continue the exclusive nature of existing subdivisions with lot sizes below one acre. Only conventional dwelling units are permitted, inclusive of modular housing and RDMH but excluding mobile homes. Because of the small lot sizes, general farming is to be prohibited.
e.
The RR-3M district is intended to allow both mobile homes and conventional homes in existing subdivisions with lot sizes below one acre. Because of the small lot sizes, general farming is to be prohibited.
f.
The R, urban residential districts are intended to provide relatively high intensities of development for residential use. Multifamily dwellings or more than two units per tract of record, and both central water and sewer are to be encouraged in these districts, limited to locations where municipal services are available.
(4)
Commercial districts. The county comprehensive plan has, since the 1970s, contained within the land use element the basis for adopting zoning criteria which relate directly to the functional classification of the highway network.
a.
The C-1 districts are intended to accommodate commercial offices for professional business purposes. Retail sales are intended to be excluded from C-2 districts, which as a result will be limited to "services" types of businesses.
b.
The C-2 districts are intended to allow an intensity of use and types of uses directed primarily at serving a surrounding neighborhood. The principal uses should be retail sales, mostly of a "convenience" nature. All commercial uses not permitted as a matter of right, or subject to consideration as a special exception, are intended to be prohibited.
c.
The C-3 districts are intended to provide locations for intensive commercial uses. The uses typically require more off-street parking and more space than neighborhood and office uses, and room for outdoor storage.
d.
The C-4 districts are intended to accommodate commercial uses that service highway traffic or which require a location on a major highway for access purposes. Only those land uses that are functionally related to the arterial road system are intended to be allowed, according to stringent locational and access criteria, to maintain the integrity of the arterial road network.
(5)
Other districts.
a.
The RMU, rural mixed use district is intended to provide for mixed use development in rural commercial nodes, including limited neighborhood commercial, residential and agriculturally-related commercial and industrial uses to support established communities in rural areas of the county. Lot, yard and height regulations and lot coverage regulations for the RMU district shall be the same as for the C-2, neighborhood commercial district. Dwellings used as accessory to businesses in the RMU district shall only be permitted on the second story above business, as an attached dwelling unit located in the rear behind the business, or as a detached dwelling unit located a minimum of 30 feet behind the business.
(1991 LDR ch. 79, § 3.07; Ord. No. 2007-03, § 20, 7-17-2007; Ord. No. 2009-02, § 21, 7-7-2009)