June 17, 2026 Planning & Zoning Commission Agenda Packet

Planning and Zoning Commission · 2026-06-17 · agenda_packet

[4900 Lake Park Court; case SP24-09] The Planning and Zoning Commission met on May 20, 2026, to consider a request for a Site Plan for Create Conservatory School at 4900 Lake Park Court. The applicant, JamesCo Builders, LLC, proposed to increase student attendance. The commission discussed traffic impacts, road markings, staggered drop-off/pick-up times, and the potential for a school resource officer. The board questioned if they could limit student numbers, but staff confirmed an existing Conditional Use Permit allows for a maximum of 169 students. The commission approved the application with a 4-5 vote, with one opposed. The commission also tabled the discussion on the Landscaping Ordinance until June 17, 2026, requesting staff to include revisions for new development and to consider retroactivity to existing properties separately. [1303 Limit Avenue; case CUP25-01] The Planning and Zoning Commission agenda for June 17, 2026, includes a Request for Conditional Use Permit for Waterman Early Learning Center / Waterman Christian Academy at 1303 Limit Avenue. The applicant is Waterman Early Learning Academy/Waterman Christian Academy, and the owner is Florida Building Material Alliance, Inc. The project number is CUP25-01. The property is zoned Office Professional (OP) and is currently an office building. The proposal is to convert the existing 5,884-sf office building into a child care facility and private school for a maximum of sixty (60) students and eleven (11) employees. Staff recommends approval subject to conditions, including site plan approval and upgrading the existing 4” sewer line to a new 6” line. Public comment is not detailed in the provided text, but the process involves public hearings. The property is 3.36 +/- acres. The commission will also discuss a Transportation Update and the Landscaping Ordinance. St. Petersburg, Florida: Development and redevelopment of non-residential and multi-family properties are subject to specific landscaping requirements. Redevelopment is defined as construction requiring DRC, Community Planning and Preservation Commission, or CRA review, additional parking, a gross floor area expansion of over 15%, or work valued at a percentage of appraised value (ranging from 25% for values $250,000+ to 50% for values under $50,000). Existing properties without approved landscape plans performing exterior work requiring a permit, but not meeting redevelopment criteria, must provide landscaping equal to at least 10% of the work's value. Winter Park, Florida: All properties undergoing new construction, renovation, or expansion require compliance with landscape requirements prior to certificate of occupancy if the work value exceeds 50% of the property's improvement value (per Orange County Property Appraiser records). Interior alterations for one- and two-family dwellings are exempt. Existing commercial or multifamily properties with nonconforming landscaped buffers may continue using them in lieu of new requirements, especially if meeting new standards would cause a parking deficit. Commercial and multifamily properties must meet requirements with any expansion. Specific rules apply to understory and shade trees, including substitution ratios, placement near power lines, species diversity, and spacing. Prohibited plant species must be removed before construction. All landscape material must meet Florida Grades and Standards. Ground-mounted utilities should be painted green or flat black. Visible equipment (AC units, pool equipment, generators, etc.) must be screened. Deviations may be granted for topography or layout. Stormwater requirements are in Chapter 58, Article V, Division 1. Only bamboo species under 20 feet are permitted near overhead electric utility lines. Winter Garden, Florida: Existing single-family residential developments and residences are exempt from article requirements unless redeveloped requiring a building permit. Redevelopment excludes accessory structures or de minimis modifications. Existing nonresidential property with paved ground surfaces is exempt unless reconstruction or expansion requiring a building permit is undertaken. No structure needs alteration or moving solely to meet article requirements, and parking areas do not need to be reduced below minimum standards. Florida-friendly landscaping is encouraged for existing developed areas. Apopka, Florida: Standards apply to all new development, expansions or alterations of existing buildings (if increasing floor area by 50% or more, or involving 50% or more of floor area, including interior alterations) if existing prior to March 6, 2019, and any change in use. Exemptions include single-family detached dwellings and two-family (duplex) dwellings. Exempt developments must plant three canopy trees (or two on lots less than 55 feet wide), with understory trees substitutable for canopy trees at a 2:1 ratio. No Certificate of Occupancy will be issued until landscaping is installed per an approved plan. Clermont, Florida: Buffer requirements apply to all uses within the city, except for individual lots with one single-family residence or one two-family unit. Where a nonresidential use abuts another nonresidential use, only required tree installation provisions apply. Residential developments requiring city development plan approval must comply. Subdivision development must comply with specific provisions. Leesburg, Florida: It is unlawful to clear, develop, or increase the developed area of any lot unless in compliance with section 25-322 or exempted. Additions to existing structures and/or parking areas that exceed a 25% change in size require compliance with section 25-322 as a condition of approval. Section 25-326 outlines landscaping standards for the purpose of promoting native species, aesthetic complements, and Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Exemptions include agriculture/silviculture (under specific conditions), emergency maintenance, maintenance of existing approved landscaped areas, and parks/conservation lands with approved management plans. Lake County, Florida: It is unlawful to clear, develop, or increase the developed area of any site or lot unless in compliance with Section 9.01 or exempted. Exemptions include agriculture and silviculture (under specific conditions including bona fide farm operations and forestry management plans), activities regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or EPA, emergency maintenance, maintenance of existing approved landscaped areas, and parks/conservation lands with approved management plans. Trees on single-family residential lots of 2 acres or less with a dwelling are exempt from removal permits if tree requirements in Section 9.01.08(A) are met. [Gulf Boulevard and Blind Pass Road (for CRD encouragement)] St. Pete Beach, Florida: Minimum requirements apply to tree protection, landscaping of setback areas, and on-site landscaping for vehicular use areas in each zoning district. Landscape design should be integrated into overall design. Additional landscaping may be required for buffering or screening. New multifamily and all nonresidential developments must be landscaped per applicable provisions. For additions/renovations to existing multifamily or nonresidential buildings considered a 'substantial improvement,' landscaping is required before occupancy. If not a substantial improvement but the property doesn't comply, one square foot of landscaping is required for each square foot of additional building area. If no buildings are constructed, landscaping is required based on renovation cost: 25% for $1,001-$10,000, 20% for $10,001-$25,000, 15% for $25,001-$100,000, and 10% for over $100,001. Landscaping may be placed in the public right-of-way with city approval, or a payment made to the city. Changes in use require bringing the property into full compliance with all standards. Minneola, Florida: Parcels or developments that are nonconforming must be brought into full compliance when the gross floor area of any building is expanded by more than 20% or 4,000 square feet (whichever is less), or when a structure is destroyed by fire or calamity. Parking areas expanded by less than 25% only require the new area to comply; expansions of 25% or more require the entire parking area to comply. Combined expansions are considered. Existing buildings are not required to be altered or moved to comply with the chapter. Tavares, Florida: Non-residential developments require conformance with landscaping and buffering standards for new development on undeveloped property, and for changes/expansions of use proposing additional impervious surface area. Additions of 50% or greater impervious surface area (or 4,000 sq ft, whichever is less) require 100% of standard landscaping/buffers. Additions of 49% or less (or less than 4,000 sq ft) require 75%. Changes/expansions with no additional impervious surface area require 75% of standard landscaping/buffers. New residential developments (single-family subdivisions, duplexes, multifamily) must comply with standard requirements. Single-family and duplex lots require a minimum of one canopy tree per 2,000 sq ft of lot area (max 5 trees), with at least one in the front yard, and a minimum of 5 shrubs per 2,000 sq ft (max 25 shrubs). Existing multifamily developments expanding by 500 sq ft or more require compliance. Existing vegetation may satisfy requirements with staff approval.