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Boa 95 mcE 599 <br />Compatibility with the Surrounding Area <br />Staff's position is that granting the request to rezone the subject <br />property to RS -3 will result in development which will be <br />compatible with surrounding areas. Since land to the east is <br />currently zoned RS -3, the request is for an expansion of the <br />existing zoning pattern. <br />Based on population projections and current development patterns, <br />residential development in this area of the county is expected to <br />increase, and eventually become the dominant land use. This <br />development pattern would be consistent with the comprehensive <br />plan, since the area is located within the Urban Service Area'and <br />is designated for residential development with densities of up to <br />3 units/acre. <br />Any potential incompatibilities associated with residential <br />development on the subject property would be with the adjacent <br />areas that are currently used for agricultural purposes. These <br />incompatibilities, however, will be somewhat mitigated since the <br />subject site is large enough to buffer itself from adjacent <br />agricultural uses as required in section 911.04(3)(c)5b of the <br />county LDRs. That section states that where residential projects <br />in areas zoned for more than one unit/acre are adjacent to active <br />agricultural operations, the residential project must provide one <br />of the following: <br />• A 50 foot building (residence) setback; or <br />• A 25 foot buffer yard with a type "B" buffer and a six-foot <br />opaque feature. <br />For these reasons, staff feels that the requested RS -3 zoning would <br />be compatible with the surrounding area. <br />Potential Impact on Environmental Quality <br />Environmental impacts of residential development on the subject <br />property would be essentially the same under either the existing or <br />the proposed zoning district. In fact, changing the zoning of the <br />subject property from A-1 to RS -3 may enhance environmental quality <br />by encouraging residential development of the site which is <br />currently a grove. <br />The environmental quality of the site may be enhanced by <br />residential development, because site development would result in <br />construction of a stormwater management system, and protection of <br />jurisdictional wetlands which may be on site. Due to the county's- <br />stormwater retention requirements for residential development, <br />residential development on the subject property would reduce the <br />amount of stormwater runoff from the site. The requirements for <br />residential development contrast with the present agricultural <br />design that allows runoff to occur without any stormwater <br />retention. <br />Prior to residential development of the site, the applicant would <br />be required to complete an environmental survey to determine the <br />extent of any jurisdictional wetlands on site. That survey would <br />have to be approved by the county's environmental planning staff. <br />Any jurisdictional wetlands determined to <br />are protected by federal, state, and county <br />native upland plant communities exist on <br />10/15% set aside requirement would not <br />33 <br />JUNE 279 1995 <br />be located on the parcel <br />regulations. Since no <br />the site, the county's <br />apply to the subject <br />M M M <br />