The land development code workshop, led by Deputy Service Director Whitfield, was a focal point of the meeting. The proposal suggested maintaining the minimum living area for traditional neighborhoods at 1,000 square feet, aligning with Florida’s building codes and distinguishing them from tiny homes. For duplexes, the minimum living area would remain at 650 square feet per unit, totaling 1,300 square feet for the building. The workshop also introduced a new correlations table, aligning future land use categories with compatible zoning districts, such as mixed-use zoning for mixed-use future land designations. A significant aspect of the discussion involved re-evaluating zoning nomenclature to better reflect the intended use and character of areas like “arterial commercial.”

Urban agriculture regulations proposed a minimum acreage of two acres for new farming operations, while existing smaller farms would retain their rights. The allowance for chickens in urban settings would continue without additional restrictions. Special exceptions for traditional neighborhoods would include diverse facilities such as duplexes, schools, and childcare facilities. The proposal aimed to protect larger lots in traditional neighborhoods while promoting a diverse range of housing in urban neighborhoods and villages.

Commercial zoning discussions proposed a maximum building footprint of 10,000 square feet in neighborhood commercial zones to ensure compatibility with residential areas. A tiered approach would allow slightly larger footprints in subsequent categories. The workshop emphasized grouping uses by categories to streamline regulations, with considerations for integrating dining establishments, especially those with drive-thrus, based on their road locations.

Another topic was the proposed zoning changes for downtown Ocoee. The proposal defined personal services, such as laundromats and dry cleaners, to ensure accessibility for residents. The introduction of bicycle service locations was discussed to accommodate the growing use of electric bikes and scooters. Community residential uses and senior housing standards were also reviewed, focusing on creating future-proof urban forms and designs.

The meeting addressed zoning for car washes, concluding that new standalone car washes should be located in C1 or I1 zones. However, the limited availability of I1 zones in the city prompted concerns about the feasibility of new developments. There was also a focus on mixed-use zoning to encourage varied uses downtown while ensuring residential compatibility. Existing single-family homes within mixed-use areas should not be rendered nonconforming due to zoning changes.

The proposal also included restrictions on public lodging to ensure facilities like bed and breakfasts are controlled and do not overwhelm the area. Specialty commercial uses, including services with age restrictions like tattoo parlors and tobacco sales, were considered for flexible definitions. Discussions on religious institutions and childcare facilities emphasized managing their size to avoid vehicular issues in neighborhoods.

Zoning regulations for educational institutions were also debated, particularly whether schools and daycare facilities should require special exceptions in residential areas. The existing definitions only cover certain educational establishments, excluding universities and trade schools. The conversation considered allowing private and public schools as special exceptions, potentially opening office spaces for vocational and trade schools.

A notable point of debate was the threshold for classifying developments as large or small scale. The proposal to lower the threshold for non-residential projects from 25,000 to 10,000 square feet was discussed, acknowledging that smaller projects could impact surrounding areas. This led to questions about assessing transportation infrastructure impacts using a concurrency management system.