BOARD AGENDA ITEM
SUBJECT:
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AR-2025-0077: Presentation and Discussion of Development occurring in the City of Edgewater and an update regarding the moratoriums.
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DEPARTMENT:
Economic Development
SUMMARY:
The City Council held a workshop on November 7, 2024 to discuss a possible moratorium for the City of Edgewater. Council members came to a consensus regarding two moratoriums that could run concurrently for a period of up to one year. Two draft moratorium ordinances were drafted and reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board at their November 13, 2024 meeting. First readings of both ordinances were approved at the December 2, 2024 City Council meeting. The second readings of both the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium and the City Wide Moratorium were approved at the January 6, 2025 City Council meeting.
One of the ordinances is the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium. While the proposed one-year moratorium is in effect, the city will not accept, process, or approve any building permit which would increase impervious surface within the Florida Shores Drainage Basin. Example of impervious surfaces include:
" New single-family homes
" Additions
" Detached garages
" Sheds
" Pools
" Driveways
" Patios
Building permits that are related to storm damage or those that have already been submitted prior to the effective date of the Ordinance will not be included in this moratorium.
This Florida Shores Drainage Basin Moratorium will provide time for the city to review the impacts of Hurricane Ian and the storm event on September 14, 2024. During the temporary moratorium the city will repair, maintain, and improve ditches, canals, and other stormwater systems while the city awaits the completion of the master stormwater plan to make new improvements. The report is anticipated to be completed by December of 2025.
The City Council has requested to amend the Florida Shores Drainage Basin Building Permit Moratorium from no new impervious surface to no fill. Any applicant, within the Florida Shores Drainage Basin, that requires fill for a project would not be permitted.
City Staff believe that new single family homes, retaining walls, and additions will be impacted. The building permits affected by the current moratorium including sheds, fences, pools, driveways, and patios will most likely not be impacted by the requested amendment.
The pertinent portion of the Ordinance is below:
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1st Reading - Ordinance No. 2025-O-05: Request for approval for amendments to Article III, Article VI and Article XX of the Land Development Code.
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REQUESTED ACTION:
1. Amend Article III, Section 21-37.05(g), to allow City Staff to determine if the sale of alcohol is acceptable in lieu of City Council for the special event.
2. Amend Article VI of the Land Development Code to allow for one feather flag and one freestanding banner sign per business tax receipt within the approved zoning districts.
3. Amend Article XX of the Land Development Code to eliminate the text regarding payment for the mural application.
LOCATION:
City Wide
BACKGROUND:
On Monday, January 22nd, 2024, the City Council held a workshop regarding backyard chickens, food trucks, pawn shops/tattoo parlors, and feather flags. The Council compromised on a new sign regulation for feather flags. City staff developed a program that would allow one third of business tax receipt holders to have a feather flag displayed for one month per quarter. The fee for the feather flag per quarter is $100. During this pilot feather flag program, only three members of the public inquired about the feather flag permit. No feather flag permits were utilized. City Council on Monday, January 27th, 2025 held a workshop to discuss feather flags and sign regulations. At this workshop, the City Council gave staff the directive to rewrite the land development code to reflect the above changes.
City staff will note the changes to the land development code will make it much easier to advertise in the City of Edgewater. The requested changes could cause substantial visual congestion along Ridgewood Avenue. Article XX of the land development code was implemented to “ensure high quality private development including signage”.
City staff are proposing a text amendment change to Article III, Section 21-37.05(g) to allow City staff to determine the appropriateness of the sale of alcohol in lieu of City Council. The applicant applying for a special activity permit must be heard before City Council if the applicant is proposing the sale of alcohol. Recent applicants over the last year and a half are applying to the Development Services Department a few weeks prior to their event. The land development code requires a minimum of sixty (60) days. Putting a special activity permit onto the agenda for City Council is a cumbersome task and unnecessary. City staff believes the Technical Review Committee should have the authority to permit or deny the sale of alcohol at a special event. The Technical Review Committee is composed of the Fire Chief, Police Chief, City Manager, Development Services Director, Economic Development Director, and the Environmental Services Director.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
None.