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Bonita Springs, FL (June 18, 2021) - Council has accepted the Local Planning Agency’s recommendation to approve an ordinance amending the city’s land development code (LDC) to now include changes to three separate areas of LDC Chapter 4-Zoning. A brief summary and overview of each area is included below:
Downtown Form-Based Code, Sec. 4-868-Uses
The Downtown Form-Based Code represents a shift from focusing mainly on uses, to instead focusing primarily on-site design and site functionality. Modifications to this section of the code were made to keep the city in line with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act(RLUIPA), an act created to protect churches/places of worship from discriminatory zoning codes. The revisions are in line with the provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). At this time, this is the only proposed change to the use table for the Downtown District.
Bonita Beach Road Corridor Overlay, Sec. 4-898-Permitted Uses
The Bonita Beach Road Corridor Overlay District was approved in December of 2019. Since that time, Staff has identified changes based on input from the existing business community and discussions with potential businesses that want to locate here. These changes include adding uses by right and/or special exception, modifying permitted uses and uses by special exception, prohibiting uses, and modifying/including footnotes that further regulate uses. No verbiage changes have been made to the footnotes relative to density or intensity of uses in the Coastal Management Area. See use changes below:
• Animal Clinics, Kennels, and Pet Day Care
• Commercial Broadcast Studios
• Business Services Group II
• Cleaning and Maintenance Services
• Clothing Stores
• Department Store
• Duplex and Two-family Attached
• Hospice
• Lawn and Garden Supply Stores
• Model Homes and Model Units
• Recreational Facilities, Commercial
• Research and Development Laboratories, Groups II and IV
• Noncommercial Schools
• Threatre, Indoors
• Temporary Uses
Division 26- Parking
Staff has included changes to several sections that encourage and support shared parking infrastructure, reduces impervious surfaces, and reduces urban heating. For this section, Staff compared parking regulations from other jurisdictions within the region and has recommended several amendments that support those efforts. Changes also include regulations that support multiple modalities (standard vehicles, compact vehicles, electric vehicles, scooters, etc.) and opportunities for an Applicant to request alternative parking requirements.