title
TEXT CHANGE - SCOOTER SALES - UMU-2 ZONING (B)
Ordinance No.120789; Petition No. PB-12-169 TCH
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida, amending the Land Development Code related to scooter sales; by adding a new definition to Section 30-23 Definitions and by adding scooter sales to the list of permitted uses by right in Section 30-65.2 Urban mixed-use district 2 (UMU-2); 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
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT
On November 15, 2012, the City Commission asked staff to initiate a change to the Land Development Code to allow retail motorized scooter sales in the UMU-2 zoning district and other districts as staff and/or the City Plan Board may recommend. This petition/ordinance proposes to allow scooter sales as a use by right in the UMU-2 zoning district on the condition that the use is contained within an enclosed building and any space devoted to scooter servicing as an accessory use may not exceed 45% of the gross floor area of the building. Staff also developed a definition for "scooter" to distinguish scooter sales from motorcycle sales based on engine displacement, primarily because of the different impacts they could have on an area (mainly noise). Staff views this petition as an interim solution because this issue will be more fully addressed in the ongoing Form Based Code update.
The sale of scooters within the City of Gainesville is primarily marketed towards students. The number of motorcycle and scooter decals on the University of Florida campus increased from 700 in the year 2000 to a peak of 4000 in 2009, with a current average of approximately 3600 decals per year. Therefore, it is reasonable to allow scooter sales and services closer to where the end users are located. The Land Devel...
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