§ 38-1085. Intent, purpose, area, standards, and consistency.

(1)

Intent and purpose. The transit oriented development (TOD) overlay zone is hereby established with the purpose of establishing an area located within one-half (½) mile of commuter rail stations in unincorporated Orange County within which mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development is encouraged. The intent of the TOD overlay zone is to reduce reliance on the automobile and to promote lively, pedestrian-friendly development that will serve as an attractive place to live, work, shop and recreate. These TOD overlay zone regulations shall be administered by the county zoning division, except that any non-zoning aspects of these regulations shall be administered by the appropriate county department or division.

(2)

Area. The TOD overlay zone is comprised of that area located within a half-mile radius of each commuter rail station within unincorporated Orange County. This area is generally identified on Maps A and B which are attached to Ord. No. 2008-02 and incorporated herein by reference.

(3)

Standards. The following standards, described in more detail below, are encouraged to be applied to development within the TOD overlay zone:

(a)

Development will achieve greater density and intensity in the TOD.

1.

Greater density and intensity than the community norm is encouraged in the TOD with density and intensity greatest at the core (transit station) and lessening towards the edge of the TOD when said development promotes a pedestrian-friendly environment and provides convenient access to the transit facility;

2.

Surface lots are discouraged when developed in conjunction with the higher density/intensity areas referenced in paragraph 1., above; structured parking is preferred.

(b)

Promoting a mix of uses in the TOD.

1.

Active and pedestrian-friendly uses on the first floor of development are encouraged;

2.

Multiple compatible uses and/or a mix of uses designed to generate and facilitate pedestrian traffic is encouraged;

3.

Auto-oriented uses, such as automobile service stations and drive through facilities, are discouraged.

(c)

Promoting a quality pedestrian environment in the TOD.

1.

The primary facade of each building, including entranceways, are ideally sited and oriented for accessibility to and from the street with buildings placed adjacent to the streets to the maximum extent possible;

2.

Buildings should incorporate architectural features to convey a sense of place and development should provide varied and detailed building facades, which focus pedestrian attention on the environmental setting;

3.

Amenities, including but not limited to architectural features, windows, and landscaping, are encouraged to create a pedestrian-friendly environment;

4.

Site layout and building design should allow for direct pedestrian movement between transit, mixed uses and surrounding areas;

5.

Sidewalks are preferred along street frontage to provide connectivity and should be wide enough to accommodate the volume and type of pedestrian traffic expected in the area;

6.

Street patterns should be developed to simplify access for all modes of transportation and should be designed to serve vehicular traffic as well as pedestrians, bicyclists and transit customers;

7.

Design of the project should focus on the creation of a pleasant environment for the pedestrian so that pedestrian routes, such as sidewalks, are buffered from streets and parking facilities by locating buildings close to the sidewalks, by lining trees along the street, and by buffering the sidewalk with landscaping;

8.

Pedestrian scale lighting for pedestrian routes, such as sidewalks, is encouraged;

9.

Secure and convenient bicycle parking spaces are encouraged;

10.

Side or rear parking for all development is encouraged unless implementation would prohibit a pedestrian, transit friendly environment;

11.

Development design measures should be implemented to allow transit to be convenient to community centers, to provide for direct transit routes, to locate stops on streets, to allow for convenient extensions of existing transit routes, and to design routes to be functionally adequate for transit vehicle use.

(4)

All development shall be consistent with the underlying land use on the property and/or any development order issued pursuant to F.S. ch. 380, with station objectives, and with the elements stated in the county's comprehensive plan and this Code.

(5)

For those properties located within the TOD overlay zone and the South Orange Avenue Corridor Overlay District, as described in division 12 of this chapter, the provisions of both overlay districts shall apply.

(Ord. No. 2008-02 , § 1, 2-5-08; Ord. No. 2016-19 , § 24, 9-13-16)