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LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AMENDMENT - AMENDING USES IN PUBLIC SERVICES AND OPERATIONS DISTRICT (PS) (B)
Ordinance No. 0-07-04; Petition 160TCH-06 PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the City of Gainesville Land Development Code, amending Section 30-75 by adding Major Group 41. - Local and Suburban Transit and Interurban Highway Passenger Transportation as uses by right in the Public Services and Operations District (PS); providing directions to the codifier; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
Recently, the City of Gainesville has reviewed a development plan for a rescue station facility located in an I-1 (limited industrial district) zone. The I-1 zone allows Industry Number 4119, Local Passenger Transportation, Not Elsewhere Classified, from the Standard Industrial Classification Manual (SIC), 1987. This industry number includes the use, "Ambulance service, road." It was determined that emergency medical services (EMS) vehicles would be the only emergency vehicles allowed to operate from the property, thus, excluding the use of fire trucks from the site.
It was noted that an adjacent PS (public services and operations district) zoned property did not allow IN-4199 as a use. Although combined fire protection and ambulance or rescue services are allowed uses on PS-zoned property, ambulance services not associated with a fire department are not. In some communities local governments contract with private ambulance companies to provide service to the public. To allow for this possibility in Gainesville, this petition to add road ambulance service as a use to the PS zoning district was proposed.
After reviewing the uses allowed in the PS zone and the uses that are included within Major Group 41, Local and Suburban Transit and Interurban Highway Passenger Transportation, it was noted that bus service, including maintenance and terminal operation was classified in this major group. The City's Regional Transit System (RTS) headquarters is located just to the west of the proposed rescue station facility mentioned above. The zoning category for the RTS facility is PS, which presently does not allow MG-41 uses other than Group Number 415, School Buses. The other uses included under MG-41 (see attached) are generally compatible with the PS district. Consequently, the staff recommendation has been expanded to include not only "Ambulance service" as initially planned, but also the other uses listed under MG-41. Because
"Ambulance service" is listed under MG-41, no definition needs to be added to the Land Development Code.
Public notice was published in the Gainesville Sun on November 29, 2006. On December 14, 2006, the Plan Board approved the petition by a 6-0 vote and recommended the City Commission approve the petition, as revised.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
This ordinance requires two public hearings. If adopted on first reading, the second and final reading will be held on Monday, June 25, 2007.
fiscal note
None