title
REZONING - GRU EASTSIDE OPERATIONS CENTER (B)
Ordinance No. 0-08-58, Petition No. 55PSZ-08PB
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the Zoning Map Atlas and rezoning certain property, as more specifically described in this Ordinance, from the zoning category of "I-1: Limited industrial district" to the zoning category of "PS: Public services and operations district" to permit the Gainesville Regional Utilities Operations Center; allowing the uses permitted by right as more specifically described in this Ordinance, with the approval of a preliminary development plan; providing conditions; located in the vicinity of the 4500 Block of North Main Street; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date as set forth in this ordinance.
recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.
explanation
STAFF REPORT
Located at the 4500 Block of North Main Street (east side), the approximately 117-acre site was purchased by the City of Gainesville for the establishment of the GRU Eastside Operations Center. This petition will apply PS (Public services and operations district) zoning to the entire site in place of the existing I-1 (Limited industrial district) zoning. The land use designation on the site will remain as 'Industrial', since this land use may be implemented by the PS zoning district under Section 30-46 of the City Land Development Code.
The purpose of this petition is to adopt uniform development regulations that are consistent with the intended use and operation of the proposed operations center. The petition is proposed in a manner that is compatible with the surrounding land use and considers the existing site conditions. The operations center will include facilities related to electric, water, wastewater, natural gas, and telecommunications. Proposed development for the site includes offices, maintenance shops, warehouse buildings, a training facility, and a systems control center. The center will house a maximum of 325 employees.
Submitted for consideration are an associated rezoning report and a preliminary development plan. These documents propose development standards that are tailored specifically to the intended use of the site by GRU. These standards outline the permitted uses for the site, building setbacks and maximum height, and required landscape buffers. These proposed regulations, if approved, will guide the future development of this site by Gainesville Regional Utilities. The City's Land Development Code will remain applicable in all instances that are not specifically addressed by the PS rezoning report and the preliminary development plan. A proposed general layout for the site is also shown on the preliminary development plan.
Public notice for this petition was published in the Gainesville Sun on June 4, 2008
The City Plan Board considered Petition 55PSZ-08PB with the associated rezoning report and preliminary development plan at a public hearing held June 19, 2008. By a vote of 4 - 0, the City Plan Board approved the petition with staff conditions.
CITY ATTORNEY MEMORANDUM
The City Commission, at its meeting of July 28, 2008, approved Petition No. 55PSZ-08PB and authorized the City Attorney to draft and the Clerk of the Commission to advertise the proposed ordinance rezoning the property to "PS: Public services and operations district" with conditions.