LPA recommends approval of Property Maintenance Code, mobility fees, and reduced townhome rear setbacks; Land Development Code sign and event clarifications provided

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Article 20.06.00 of the Land Development Code (LDC) – Unsafe Building Abatement was adopted in 2015 and was modeled from the 1985 Standard Unsafe Building Abatement Code . Staff have found that these regulations do not fully capture all elements of public health, safety, welfare and the preservation of neighborhoods, as they apply only to structures and do not address a property's general site conditions. Due to the limits of these regulations, the City's Code Compliance efforts are limited. Therefore, staff is seeking to expand the regulations to include the property as a whole, including all exterior elements (yard). As part of the current rewrite of the Land Development Code (LDC), staff have identified a need for structural adjustment in the City of Destin regulations regarding the dated Unsafe Building Abatement Code in the LDC and recommend creating a similar type of code, known as the Property Maintenance Code, and moving such code into the Code of Ordinances. | attachments=1 | reports=1

At the March 1, 2021, City Council meeting, Council passed a motion to replace transportation concurrency (MMTD) with a Mobility Fee-Based Plan . Staff worked with 3TP Ventures to create the Mobility Plan, which was adopted by the Council on September 16, 2024. The Mobility Plan is a comprehensive blueprint for addressing the City's current and future transportation needs. Mobility fees are an important tool for cities like Destin to fund transportation projects to address impacts from future growth, while also tackling service gaps such as multimodal infrastructure and traffic congestion. The attached Mobility Fee Study examines the feasibility and potential impacts of increasing mobility fees in Destin, with the goal of enhancing the City's transportation network and promoting sustainable solutions for all modes of travel. Once adopted, the mobility fee will replace the existing transportation impact fee in Destin’s current fee structure. At the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting on November 18, 2024, The Fee Study was presented to City Council for their consideration. There was discussion at that meeting concerning how this affects single-family or single dwelling developments among other development the city would like to incentivize as per the Comprehensive Plan. This item and presentation is to address how to incorporate those concerns into the new fee structure. Further, because the demonstrated need study provides for increases in excess of the phase in limitations set forth in state law due to extraordinary circumstances in the City of Destin, City Council conducted two Public Workshops as required by Florida State Statues. One on February 18, 2025 and the second on March 3, 2025. City Council approved Ordinance 25-08-LC on First Reading on May 5, 2025, during their regularly scheduled meeting. Staff will update the City Council on the LPA's recommendation during their May 19, 2025, meeting. | attachments=4 | reports=1

Currently, per the City’s Land Development Code (LDC) Section 7.12.08 , Table 7-3: Schedule of Dimensional Requirements in Zoning Districts, townhomes (multi-family development) are required to provide a rear setback of 10’ for any portion of a building having a height of 35 feet or less if the property does not front the harbor, bay, or gulf. The language reads as follows – For lots fronting the harbor: Zero feet. For lots fronting the Choctawhatchee Bay: rear setback must meet the requirements set forth in section 11.01.10 Bay shoreline protection zone. For lots fronting the gulf the rear setback will be established by DEP. For all lots that do not front the harbor, bay or the gulf, but instead have a rear property line, ten feet for any portion of a building having a height of 35 feet or less. Fifteen feet for any portion of a building having a height above 35 feet but below 50 feet. For each ten feet or fraction thereof exceeding 50 feet in height, the rear setback shall be increased by two feet on each side. | attachments=1 | reports=1

On December 3, 2024, Planning Staff brought the LPA’s recommended Draft of Article 8 - Sign Regulations to the City Council for their review and feedback at a Public Workshop. Council had some discussion on the recommended regulations and now Staff is seeking LPAs guidance, feedback, or response to those discussion, and recommended changes. | attachments=2 | reports=1