LOCATION: 14020 Lunar Dr. REAL ESTATE NUMBER: 107618-1180; 107618-1175 DEVIATION SOUGHT: 1. Reduce the perimeter landscape buffer area between vehicle use area and abutting property from 5 feet minimum width required along North boundary to 0 feet. PRESENT ZONING: PUD CURRENT LAND USE: RC PLANNING DISTRICT: 6 COUNCIL DISTRICT: 7 SIGNS POSTED: 6 OWNER: Susannah Frost Chick-Fil-A INC. 5200 Buffington Rd. Atlanta, GA 30349 AGENT: Eileen Graf Interplan LLC. 604 Courtland Street, Suite 100 Orlando, FL 32804 OWNER: Jonathan Steinburg S and J of Northeast of Florida, LLC. P.O. Box 814 Charleston, SC 29402 STANDARDS, CRITERIA AND FINDINGS 1. Is this situation unique or similar to other properties in the neighborhood? Unique. The subject property is an existing Chick- Fil-A fast food restaurant that is seeking to redevelop the site to accommodate two drive through lanes. The applicant is seeking to reduce the required landscape buffer along the North property line from 5 feet to 0 feet, adjacent to neighboring property Verizon. The subject property was constructed in 2006 and was developed in accordance with the landscaping regulations in the PUD: 2003-1494. To accommodate the additional drive through lane, parking along the north property line will be moved farther north into the required landscape area. There will be no changes made to the building or any other landscape area on site. Reason for the additional drive through land is to combat traffic issues during peak hours of operation. The dual approach multi-lane order point will pull traffic off of the surrounding streets and stack on site. The site will not lose parking spaces currently on the site but rather will simply shift the existing parking spaces along the Northern property line North. 1
2. There are practical and economic difficulties in carrying out the strict letter of the regulation in that Yes. There are practical or economic difficulties in carrying out the strict letter of the regulation in that in order to reconfigure the layout of parking and drive through lanes the North Property line parking is the only location with enough space to place a second drive through lane without losing any parking spaces. 3. The request is not based exclusively upon a desire to reduce the cost of developing the site, but would accomplish a result that is in the public interest. 4. The proposed deviation will not substantially diminish property values in, nor alter the essential character of the area surrounding the site and will not substantially interfere with or injure the rights of others whose property would be affected by the deviation, in that No. The request is not based exclusively upon a desire to reduce the cost of developing the site but rather is based upon the need for more drive through lanes in order to route customers off of surrounding roads and onto the property which ultimately is in the public s best interest. Yes. The proposed deviation will not diminish surrounding property values nor will it alter the essential character of the surrounding River City Marketplace. 5. The proposed deviation will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare, result in additional public expense, the creation of nuisances, or conflict with any other applicable law, in that Yes. The requested deviations will not be detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare but rather it will resolve a current safety issue of back-up of traffic onto the subject property from surrounding streets. During peak traffic hour s one drive through lane is not adequate amount of space to hold the traffic coming onto the site. By reconfiguring the subject property to add an additional drive through lane will resolve the issues of overflow of customers by creating the ability to stack cars onto the property. 6. The effect of the proposed deviation is in harmony with the spirit and intent of the Zoning Code. Yes. The intent of the Zoning Code is to promote the health and safety of the public, while allowing for deviations that are within the public s best interest. 2
The proposed deviation allows for improvements to the site which is within the public s best interest. 7. The City landscape architect (has/has not) recommended the proposed deviation. 8. The existing violation was not created by the applicant with an intent to violate the Zoning Code. The City Landscape Architect has reviewed and recommended approval with conditions for the proposed deviation. Please see the attached memo. There are no existing Zoning Code violations associated with the subject property. PLANNER RECOMMENDATION: Approve with Condition 1. The landscaping removed along the north property line shall be replaced on parcel RE#107618-1180. Parcel RE# 107618-1175 shall comply with the landscaping requirements in the PUD. DATE OF REPORT: December 07, 2018 ZONING ADMINISTRATORS DECISION: DATE: Aerial View Source: JaxGIS 3
The Required Notice of Public Hearing Signs Were Posted Source: Planning and Development Department, COJ (Date: November 8, 2018) Property View Source: Google Maps 4
View of perimeter landscape buffer looking West Source: Planning and Development Department, COJ (Date: November 8, 2018) Location of expansion of drive thru lane Source: Planning and Development Department, COJ (Date: November 8, 2018) 5
View of perimeter landscape buffer looking East Source: Google Maps 6
Legal Map Source: JaxGIS 7