Frequently Asked Questions

For the purposes of this Chapter, the following Zoning Districts are hereby established for use within the City of Mascotte's Land Use Categories as follows. Where the Official Zoning Map is unclear as to the zoning district applicable to a parcel of land, or where land is newly annexed, the provisions of this district shall govern pending the determination of an appropriate district through the rezoning procedure. Development criteria within each Zoning District is listed in Table 3-1 of this Land Development Code.

A)

The following are the zoning districts within the Agriculture Land Use designation: (maximum of one (1) dwelling unit per five (5) acres):

1)

G-AG; General Agriculture. This zoning district is intended to provide areas for agricultural uses as well as kennels, farm equipment, storage and equipment sales and maintain those uses away from the denser downtown area. It is the purpose of this district to protect such uses from unplanned urbanization so long as the land therein is devoted primarily to agricultural uses. Residential support will be limited to that of property caretaker (can include a family owning the property).

2)

S-AG; Suburban Agriculture. This zoning district is intended to provide a location for very rural residential development away from the denser downtown area, that may also include agricultural support components. The agricultural uses in this designation are intended to serve the needs of the landowners and are not to provide commercial agricultural activities, although equestrian stables and similar uses would be allowed in this district and similar uses. Property will generally consist of five (5) acres or more. Other uses such as retirement or adult living facilities, may be allowed because of the acreage size and location away from densities in this zoning district.

B)

The following are the zoning districts within the Rural Residential Land Use designation (up to one (1) unit per one (1) gross acre):

1)

RE; Rural Estates. This zoning district is intended to provide a location for the land situated on the fringe of the urban area that is used for single-family residential purposes. This zoning district is not intended to provide commercial agricultural activities, although a small equestrian stable and other limited number of farm animals may be considered on two (2) or more contiguous acres and if there is not negative impact on surrounding properties. This category also provides for conservation of natural resources through clustering of residential development. Non-residential land uses, other than home occupations and certain conditional uses, are prohibited, as specified in Table 3-1.

2)

UE; Urban Estates. This zoning district is intended to provide a location for the land situated on the fringe of the urban area that is used for single-family residential purposes. There would not be agriculture uses in this designation. This category also provides for conservation of natural resources through clustering of residential development. Non-residential land uses, other than home occupations and certain conditional uses, are prohibited, as specified in Table 3-1.

C)

The following are zoning districts within the Low Density Residential Land Use designations (one (1) to four (4) units per gross acre):

1)

LD-SFR; Low Density Single-Family Residential. This zoning district is intended to provide a location for single-family residential units with target sized lots with higher setback requirements. Non-residential land uses, other than home occupations, are prohibited, as specified in Table 3-1. The development or redevelopment of Affordable Housing is encouraged in this zoning district.

2)

LD-MFR; Low Density Multi-Family Residential. This zoning district is intended for multifamily units such as townhomes with larger lots and apartments with higher setback requirements. The number of units will be limited to maintain a low density. Non-residential land uses, other than home occupations, are prohibited, as specified in Table 3-1. The development or redevelopment of Affordable Housing is encouraged in this zoning district.

D)

The following are zoning districts within the Medium Density Residential Land Use designations (four (4) to eight (8) units per gross acre):

1)

MD-SFR; Medium Density Single-Family Residential. This zoning district is intended to provide a location for single-family residential areas, with smaller sized lots with lesser setbacks. Small Subdivisions consisting of single-family homes would fit this district. The development or redevelopment of Affordable Housing is encouraged in this zoning district.

2)

MD-MFR Medium Density Multi-Family Residential. This zoning district is intended for multifamily units such as townhomes or apartments. The number of units will be conducive to maintaining a medium density. The development or redevelopment of Affordable Housing is encouraged in this zoning district.

E)

The following are zoning districts within the High Density Residential Land Use designations (eight to twelve (8 to 12) units per gross acre):

1)

HD-SFR; High Density Single-Family Residential. This zoning district is intended to provide a location for single-family residential areas, such as large subdivisions consisting of single-family homes. This zoning district is primarily intended for areas shown on the Future Land Use Map as High Density Residential. The development or redevelopment of Affordable Housing is encouraged in this zoning district.

2)

HD-MFR; High Density Multi-Family Residential. This zoning district is intended for multifamily units such as apartment complexes and high-density townhome developments. The number of units will be conducive to maintaining a high density. Due to higher than average concentrations of persons and vehicles these districts are situated where they are well serviced by public and commercial services and have convenient access to thoroughfares and collector streets. The development or redevelopment of Affordable Housing is encouraged in this zoning district.

F)

The following are zoning districts within the Rural Neighborhood Mixed Use Land Use designations:

PUD-RM; Planned Unit Development Rural Neighborhood Mixed Use. This district is primarily intended to provide a location for lower density and intensity mixed use developments. PUDs may include a variety of land uses and intensities within a development to encourage walkable communities, discourage sprawl, preserve the environment, and reduce public investment in the provision of services. PUDs also place an importance on flexible and creative site design, public amenities, and building aesthetics. Rural Neighborhood Mixed Use places a stronger emphasis a greater amount of open space and lower residential density. Limited commercial uses that meet the needs of the community are encouraged.

G)

The following are zoning districts within the Community Mixed Use Land Use designations:

PUD-CM; Planned Unit Development Community Mixed Use. This district is primarily intended to provide a location for mixed use developments. PUDs may include a variety of land uses and intensities within a development to encourage walkable communities, discourage sprawl, preserve the environment, and reduce public investment in the provision of services. PUDs also place an importance on flexible and creative site design, public amenities, compatible public facilities, and building aesthetics. Community Mixed Use places a stronger emphasis on residential with limited commercial mixed in to support the residential component. Commercial development mixed in with residential support are encouraged in this zoning. The applicant of property designated and zoned as PUD-CM must demonstrate that any proposed non-residential, limited light industrial, or public/semi-public use or facility is internally compatible with other uses in the development and is compatible with the surrounding area.

The phrase "compatible with" means that the proposed non-residential, limited light industrial, or public/semi-public use or facility is not in conflict with other uses within the proposed development and uses of the surrounding area. Compatibility shall not be deemed to exist if the Council affirmatively determines that the proposed non-residential, limited light industrial, or public/semi-public use or facility adversely affects the other proposed uses in the development or existing uses in the surrounding area.

H)

The following are zoning districts within the Downtown Mixed Use Land Use designations:

1)

PUD-DM; Planned Unit Development Downtown Mixed Use. This district is primarily intended to provide a location for mixed use developments. PUDs may include a variety of land uses and intensities within a development to encourage walkable communities, discourage sprawl, preserve the environment, and reduce public investment in the provision of services. PUDs also place an importance on flexible and creative site design, public amenities, compatible public facilities, and building aesthetics. The Downtown Mixed Use places a stronger emphasis on commercial development that can be supported by residential components. The applicant of property designated and zoned as PUD-DM must demonstrate that any proposed residential uses, light industrial, or public/semi-public use or facility and their locations within the development are internally compatible with other uses on the property and are compatible with the surrounding area. The phrase "compatible with" means that the proposed residential, light industrial, or public/semi-public use or facility is not in conflict with other uses within the proposed development and uses of the surrounding area. Compatibility shall not be deemed to exist if the Council affirmatively determines that the proposed residential, light industrial, or public/semi-public use or facility adversely affects the other proposed uses in the development or existing uses in the surrounding area.

2)

LD-SFR, LD-MFR, MD-SFR, MD-MFR, HD-SFR, HD-MFR, PO, CC, and GC Zoning Districts, as described in this Section, are also zoning districts allowed within the Downtown Mixed Use Land Use Category.

I)

The following are zoning districts within the Commercial Land Use designations:

1)

PO; Professional Offices and Services. This commercial district is intended for professional offices and business service to meet the regular needs and for the convenience of the people of adjacent residential areas. It may be located adjacent to major streets and convenient and complementary to major commercial uses, it may be near residential areas to serve the needs of local residents or it may be located in mixed use areas. Because these businesses may be an integral part of the neighborhood, closely associated with residential, religious, recreational and educational uses, more restrictive requirements for light, air, and open space are made than are provided in other commercial districts.

2)

CC; Community Commercial. This commercial district is intended for the conduct of personal and business services and the general retail business of the community. Persons living in the community and in the surrounding trade territory require direct and frequent access. Traffic generated by the uses will be primarily passenger vehicles and only those trucks and commercial vehicles required for stocking and delivery of retail goods.

3)

GC; General Commercial. This district is used to provide for the retailing of commodities and the furnishing of several major services, selected trade shops and retail automotive type repairs (lube and oil change stores). Small automotive repair may be allowed if they do not negatively impact surrounding properties. Characteristically, this type of district occupies an area larger than that of other commercial districts, is intended to serve a considerably greater population and offers a wider range of services.

J)

The following are zoning districts within the Industrial Land Use designations:

1)

LI; Light Industrial. This district is intended primarily for manufacturing and assembly plants and warehousing that are conducted so the noise, odor, dust and glare of each operation is completely confined within an enclosed building or enclosed and buffered outdoor area. Buildings in this district should be architecturally attractive and surrounded by landscaped yards. Smaller industrial operations would also fit in this district. Businesses with regular and frequent truck or other transportation deliveries will be placed in this district. Heavy commercial uses such as large auto repair shops and auto body repair shops, tire stores and retail stores storing large equipment will be placed in this district.

2)

HI; Heavy Industrial. This district is primarily intended for wholesale, storage, warehousing, manufacturing, assembling, adult entertainment and fabrication. These uses do not depend primarily on frequent personal visits of customers or clients, but usually require good accessibility to major transportation facilities. Larger industrial operations would also fit in this district as would the highest level of truck or other transportation deliveries. Extremely large structures, noise factors, and noxious odors are some of the negative impacts to certain property uses that would move this type of use into the Heavy Industrial district.

K)

The following are zoning districts within the Recreation and Open Space Land Use designations:

1)

PB-REC; Public Recreation. This district is intended to cover Public parks and public recreational facilities that stand alone and are not connected to a mixed use development. Caretaker homes and cabins would be the only dwelling structures allowed in this district.

2)

PR-REC; Private Recreation. This district is intended to cover Private parks and private recreational facilities that stand alone and are not connected to a mixed use development. Development will be addressed through a PUD process.

L)

The following are zoning districts within the Public/Semi-Public Land Use designations:

1)

CT-GOV; City Government Property. This district is intended to designate property owned or leased by the City of Mascotte.

2)

OT-GOV; Other Government Property. This district is intended to designate property owned or leased by government entities other than the City of Mascotte.

3)

PR-NP Private Nonprofit Property. This district is intended to designate property that is private, but is a nonprofit use such as churches, educational facilities, institutions, community residential and foster homes social services, cemeteries, nursing homes, emergency shelters, utilities and other similar uses.

M)

The following are zoning districts within the Conservation Land Use designations:

CON; Conservation. This district would designate conservation areas that protect wetlands, natural resources, floodplains and unique ecological communities as well as other environmentally sensitive lands. These lands are marked Conservation to protect them and will be located through the City's developments.

N)

The following are zoning districts within the Green Swamp Conservation Land Use Designation:

1)

GS-CON; Green Swamp Conservation. This zoning district would designate conservation areas within the Green Swamp that protect wetlands, natural resources, floodplains, and unique ecological communities, as well as other environmentally sensitive lands. These lands are generally characterized as being primarily composed of floodplains, hydric soils, and wetlands that drain toward the Withlacoochee River. Said conservation areas would either be owned by a public agency or under a conservation easement dedicated to a public agency. No building or development is allowed within this zoning district.

2)

GS-CAG Green Swamp Conservation Agricultural. This zoning district is intended to provide areas for agricultural uses that are compatible with the Principles Guiding Development within the Green Swamp while protecting its natural resources. These lands are generally characterized as a mix of uplands and wetlands, with the connected uplands being of sufficient area to support agricultural uses. Residential uses shall be limited to single-family dwellings. Non-agricultural, non-residential uses shall be limited to passive parks, passive recreation, and non-commercial equestrian. Maximum allowable density is one (1) dwelling unit per ten (10) acres; minimum required open space is eighty (80) percent.

O)

The following are zoning districts within the Green Swamp Rural Land Use Designation:

1)

GS-CON; Green Swamp Conservation. This zoning district would designate conservation areas within the Green Swamp that protect wetlands, natural resources, floodplains, and unique ecological communities, as well as other environmentally sensitive lands. These lands are generally characterized as being primarily composed of floodplains, hydric soils, and wetlands that drain toward the Withlacoochee River. Said conservation areas would either be owned by a public agency or under a conservation easement dedicated to a public agency. No building or development is allowed within this zoning district.

2)

GS-RAG; Green Swamp Rural Agricultural. This zoning district is intended to provide areas for agricultural uses that are compatible with the Principles Guiding Development within the Green Swamp while protecting its natural resources. These lands are generally characterized as a mix of uplands and wetlands, with the connected uplands being of sufficient area to support agricultural uses. Residential uses shall be limited to single-family dwellings. Non-agricultural, non-residential uses shall be limited to passive parks, passive recreation, and non-commercial equestrian. Maximum allowable density is one (1) dwelling unit per five (5) acres; minimum required open space is sixty (60) percent.

P)

The following area zoning districts within the Green Swamp Neighborhood Land Use Designation:

GS-RE; Green Swamp Rural Estates. This zoning district is intended to provide a location for rural residential development within the Green Swamp. These lands are generally characterized as uplands outside the floodplain, with little or no wetlands. Any development greater than one (1) dwelling unit per five (5) areas within this zoning district requires municipal water and municipal sanitary sewer utilities. Any agricultural uses in this designation are intended to serve the needs of the landowners and are not to provide commercial agricultural activities, although equestrian stables and similar uses would be allowed in this district. Maximum allowable density is two (2) dwelling units per one (1) acre; minimum required open space is forty (40) percent.

Q)

The following are zoning districts within the Green Swamp Site Specific Future Land Use Designation:

GS-SSLC; Green Swamp Site Specific Limited Commercial. This district is intended to permit and regulate non-residential land uses on specific parcels identified as follows:

Parcel Number 17-22-24-0001-0000-3400, Parcel Number 17-22-24-0001-0000-0300, and Parcel Number 17-22-24-0001-0000-0600, as defined by the Lake County Property Appraiser (commonly known as "Boykin Parcels")

Any land use and land development within this zoning district must specifically comply with Future Land Use Element Policy A4-2.7 of the Future Land Use Element of the City's Comprehensive Plan, as well as any other applicable Policy within the Comprehensive Plan and any applicable regulations within this Code. No person shall undertake any development within this zoning district except in accordance with chapter 380, Florida Statutes. In addition to the notice requirements required in this Code, the state land planning agency shall receive notice of any application for a development permit within this zoning district. Any development order issued pursuant to this Code for property in this zoning district shall be rendered to the state land planning agency and shall not become effective until a review has been conducted pursuant to F.S. § 380.07(2), and Rule 73C-44.003, Florida Administrative Code, all as amended from time to time.