7/12/1988 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DESCRIPTION & CONDITIONS Indian River County has initiated a request to amend Section 25, General Provisions, of Appendix A of the Zoning Code. Specifically, this request is to delete monuments from that portion dealing with permitted exceptions from zoning district height regulations. This request was initiated at the request of the Board of County Commissioners as a result of public discussion occuring during the May 10, 1988, County Commission meeting. The Board directed staff to examine the issue of monuments and exception of monuments from height regulations. On June 9, 1988, the.Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-2 to recommend approval of this amendment. ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS In reviewing this request, staff examined the purpose of excluding certain uses and associated structures from the zoning district height requirements. Further, staff examined the apparent purposes for erecting, designating, and designing monuments. Purpose for Exceptions There are two -purposes for permitting certain uses to exceed the established 35 foot maximum height limit. The first reason would be for functional purposes. The second reason would be for traditionally accepted aesthetic value. functional purpose Certain uses and associated structures such as elevated water storage facilities or radio transmission towers must exceed a certain height in order to function. Such uses are regulated through setbacks, and, occasionally, location. The majority of the uses exempted from the height restrictions fit this catagory. °accepted aesthetic purposes. The second catagory of accepted exceptions involves architectural ammenities considered traditional additions .to specific structures. The major example of this traditionally accepted aesthetic exception is the category of church steeples and spires. This example is one which is not only an accepted traditional addition, but in many cases has also become an expected addition. Currently, the ordinance specifically lists only one aesthetic type exception to the maximum height restrictions, that being church and monument sites. Purpose of Monuments Certain definitions describe monuments as memorials, markers placed on a site for rememberance such as tombstones, structures venerated for their. enduring significance such as historical landmarks, or as a place specifically designated as having special significance which was preserved by a government. There are, however, no definitions which staff has located which establish dimensional criteria for monuments. Analysis The County Code exempts only a few specific structures from .the maximum height limit of 35 feet. This reflects the county's desire to maintain a low profile growth pattern. Those uses 12 J U L 1 2 1988 BOOK - 73