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While the referenced policies are particularly applicable to this request, other Comprehensive Plan <br />policies and objectives also have relevance. For that reason, staff evaluated the subject request for <br />consistency with all applicable plan policies and objectives. Based upon that analysis, staff <br />determined that the request is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. <br />Consistency with the County Land Development Regulations (LDRs) <br />Rezoning requests must be consistent with all applicable sections of the County LDRs, including <br />Section 902.12(3) standards of review. A copy of those standards are included as Attachment 8 to <br />this report. With this rezoning request, staff determined that the request is consistent with the LDR <br />review standards listed in Section 902.12(3). <br />Compatibility with the Surrounding Area <br />There are a variety of uses adjacent to the subject site, with the subject site serving as a transitional <br />area from the commercial uses to the south to the lower density residential uses, the church, and <br />the electrical substation, to the north and east. Therefore, it is staff's position that the requested <br />zoning district is appropriate for the site and that development under this zoning district will be <br />compatible with surrounding land uses. <br />Generally, multi -family residential development is compatible with commercial uses. There are <br />two reasons for this, 1) multi -family development can buffer single-family uses from more intense <br />commercial uses. 2) multi -family development provides more housing choices for residents who <br />want to live near employment opportunities. <br />Because the subject site is situated between an,L-2, Low -Density Residential -2 neighborhood to <br />the north and, the County's only RC, Regional Commercial designated land to the south, the most <br />appropriate use of the subject property is multi -family residential. Multi -family residential on the <br />subject site will serve the community as a transitional area between the regional commercial use <br />(the Indian River Mall) and nearby single-family residences. <br />A small segment of the subject site's southeast perimeter directly abuts single-family homes <br />(Rivera Estates). The County's LDRs requires that buffers be constructed when multi -family <br />development abuts single-family development. <br />Due to the large size of the subject site and presence of Native Upland habitat, 10-15% of the site <br />will be required to be set aside as Native Upland habitat. While a fee may be paid in lieu of the set <br />aside, land used as set aside can provide additional buffering to adjacent single-family homes. <br />All in all, this request is not anticipated to have adverse impacts on surrounding areas. For this <br />reason, staff can confirm that the requested RM -8 zoning is compatible with development in the <br />surrounding area. <br />Potential Impact on Environmental Quality <br />The subject site proposed to be rezoned from PDTND to RM -8 currently contains vacant, partially <br />vegetated lands. Since this site contains no land designated as environmentally sensitive or <br />protected, such as wetlands or sensitive uplands, development of the site is anticipated to have <br />minor adverse impacts on environmental quality. Additionally, the most intense use of the site <br />126 <br />