Thursday, May 24, 2018

Starting a Brick and Mortar Business in The City of Live Oak, Florida

I am posting some info here that I compiled for brick and mortar biz starts in Live Oak.  Please check their website for updates.

This is City info on commercial site review:


Commercial Site and Development Plan Review

Requirements and Procedures for the City of Live Oak, Florida


Introduction

Thank you for your interest in Live Oak and helping it to be a better place to live, work, shop, recreate or worship.

As The City Development Manager, I welcome the opportunity to serve the local citizens, as well as anyone who has a business, land or development interest in the City of Live Oak.

Please take a few moments to review this brochure. Commercial Plan Review (including site) is required for any and all construction/development/re-development, expansions, renovations, additions, site work, accessory
buildings, canopies, signage, etc. – except single-family and duplex residential (see Roy Rogers for those). This includes expanding your establishment with additional buildings, structures or parking, or if you will be occupying a building which had a different business type in it before, or one vacant for 6 or more months.

As part of your development, and before we can give you approval or permits for construction or to open to the public, we will need to make sure that all the current requirements and standards of the Land
Development Regulations have been met.

This can include the requirement for: certain numbers of paved or rocked parking, handicapped accessibility, that your driveways and curb breaks are sufficient, that you have the required landscaping installed, that all the signage on the property is in conformance, that the zoning will allow for what you want to do, that any buffering with neighboring properties is installed, that all fencing is according to code and regulations, that dumpsters and other storage areas are properly screened, as well as other criteria as needed (see George Curtis, Roy Rogers, Chad Croft and Brent Whitman).

This brochure is made available for informational purposes, and nothing contained or listed herein shall supersede or replace any language or requirements that have been adopted through Ordinance or Resolution by
the City of Live Oak.

Zoning Atlas and Future Land Use Plan Map:

Before any new business, development, re-development, expansions or modifications are proposed, it is vital that you consult the City Zoning and City Future Land Use Maps to determine what districts your parcel of land is located in. Having the right Zoning is a key aspect to enabling your business or development to exist or to be expanded. Just because a business or development may exist or existed in the past at your or another location in the City, does not mean it is permitted by today’s standards. If you determine that your Zoning does not support
your ambitions, there is a process that may enable the Zoning and/or Land Use to be amended to a district which would allow for your project. More information about this option can be obtained from the Development
Manager’s office.

Land Development Regulations (LDR):

The LDR is a set of regulations that governs the many aspects of how development and land use are accomplished within the City. Once you know the districts that apply to your location, you will be better
prepared to start reviewing the LDR to learn what can and cannot be done within those districts and what other requirements will need to be met. All uses which you may want to conduct, or development which you may
want to initiate on your property, must be in compliance with the LDR. Also, the LDR gives specific instructions on how development is to be reviewed, permitted and allowed for in the City. As the City deems
necessary and appropriate, amendments to the LDR language will be completed. Your development must meet all the criteria required by the LDR and Comprehensive Plan.

You can purchase a bound copy of our current LDR from the Development Manager for $50.00 You can also access the LDR online at www.cityofliveoak.org, under City Departments - Planning, Zoning & Development – Ordinances and Land Development Regulations.

The role of the Development Manager:

The Development Manager’s (DM) office is your source for one-stop-shopping with the City of Live Oak. All development related questions, documents and tracking is to be conducted through this office. The DM will communicate requests to and from: other city departments, property and business owners, developers, construction companies, engineers, architects, attorneys, the public, and all other interested or associated
parties. The DM will also refer appropriate calls and requests directly to other responsible City Staff, as deemed necessary.

The DM also can assist you in setting up a “First-Step/Pre-development” meeting. These meetings provide developers the opportunity to meet with all City departments including Fire, Public Works, Building and
Planning and Zoning. Individuals are encouraged to bring any conceptual site plans, development plans, or general information regarding their proposed project.

Projects Deemed Commercial:

Any use, structure or site development, pertaining to a use, structure or development more intense than one single-family residence on a single lot, and/or one duplex on a single lot, is deemed to be commercial in nature. All such uses, structures or site developments, whether principle, by special exception or accessory in nature, when such is proposed to be established, re-established, expanded or altered, shall require commercial site and development Plan review and approval. Non-commercial construction will require review and plans through the Building Official – Roy Rogers, with certain zoning standards as applicable for residential development.

In-House Plan Approval vs. Board Review:

In addition to City Department in-house plan review and approval, such uses, structures and site developments, as defined below, shall also go before the Planning and Zoning Board, in a public hearing setting, for comment, consideration, review and possible: denial, approval as proposed, or approval with conditions as appropriate.

According to LDR Section 3.12., in Article 3, P&Z Board review is triggered for- On an unimproved vacant lot – New proposed construction resulting in 20,000 or more square feet of total building; or structure footprint, or, any site development proposed on a parcel two (2) or more acres in size. On redevelopment of a previously improved lot, proposed demolition and/or new additions or construction resulting in 20,000 or more square feet of new building or structure footprint; or, any site development which will alter two (2) or more acres of land. P&Z Board hearings can take 30-60 days to complete. Fees for review vary according to the zoning, type of development, and if it requires only in-house review, or if Board review is also required.

Certain uses may also require additional application, by method of a hearing before the Board of Adjustment, to consider a request for a Special Exception. This usually adds 60-90 days to the approval process, with additional fees for the required public hearing.

In-house reviews are usually completed within 15 business days of submittal, depending on whether additional information is requested. Departments which are required to review and approve the plans are: Building, Fire, Public Works, and Planning and Zoning (DM). Approvals may also be reliant on satisfying requirements of the Code Enforcement Officer, Health Department, School Board, F-DEP, F-DOT, Suwannee River Water Management District, or other Local, State or Federal Agencies.

We are here to assist you in any way possible. If you have any specific questions or want to meet with me, George Curtis, to discuss a development or amendment proposal, please call 386-362-2276, or come by the City Hall Annex at 416 Howard Street East, Live Oak, Florida.

Zoning Districts are divided into TYPES: ‘I, II, & III’

The Zoning Type of your parcel and other related factors is what decides the fee amount.

·        LDR Type I: CSV; A-1; RSF-1, 2; RSF/MH – 1, 2; RMH-1, 2; C-CBD aka C-D
·        LDR Type II: RSF-3; RSF/MH-3; RMH-3; RMF-1; RO; O; CN
·        LDR Type III: RMH-P; RMF-2; C-G; C-I; CSC; ILW; I; PRD

Fees for Site and Development Commercial Plan Review (
Other application based fees are listed on the Land Use Brochure, or by contacting the office of the City Development Manager and City Building Official)




Important Points and the Process Flow for Commercial Plan Review
1.  Is your parcel in the City Limits or would you be seeking Annexation? Is the land use and zoning currently a ‘city’ district? Parcels zoned ‘county’ must first be changed to ‘city’.
2.  Does the Zoning and Future Land Use category support or allow for the proposed development?
3.  Will your proposed use require a Special Exception?
4.  Are City Utilities available at your location? (Required for Commercial Development)
5.  Have you conducted a Concurrency Review? Will your development increase the Residential Density? If yes, School Concurrency requires the School Board to evaluate their capacity to serve additional students and approve your development. Will other Level of Service standards be maintained for Traffic, Sewer, Water, Drainage, Solid Waste, and Recreation?
6.  Are you developing multiple, adjacent parcels for one development? If yes, the parcels must be replatted in accordance with Sec. 5.18 to combine and record the parcels. This City Council will consider the final plat for approval and you will need to submit it to the clerk of the circuit court for recording.
7.  Is your property being subdivided into lots? If yes, the subdivision will need to be approved by the City Council and recorded before any plan review or development permitting can commence.
8.  Are there any special City implemented conditions on the lot that might affect your development?
9.  Do the standards require a buffer between your development and adjacent properties or uses?
10.Have you reviewed the Sign Regulations to be sure you place footers or electrical service at allowable locations? All proposed signage is reviewed and approved through a separate application process.
11.Have you determined that you will meet the minimum parking required, including handicapped / ADA, for your development?
12.Payment of the non-refundable plan review fee is required at the time of submission. The Building Official may also charge a separate review fee along with the permit, according to the permit fee schedule.
13.All plans not permitted within one (1) year following approval must be resubmitted for re-approval.
14.Please name one contact person for your plan review, with an e-mail address, that the Development Manager can contact if issues arise.
15.Plans will not be released for permitting until all the departments have signed off.
16.No C/O will be issued until inspection and approval is given by all departments.
Landscaping must have been installed and inspected in order for C/O. Any
infrastructure/roads to be dedicated to the City must have been inspected, approved and accepted by the City Council by Resolution prior to C/O being granted.

You can always contact the Development Manager to determine the status of the review and estimated time of competition for the review.
We are here to assist you in any way possible. If you have any specific questions or want to meet with me, George Curtis, to discuss a development or amendment proposal, please call 386-362-2276, or come by the City Hall Annex at 416 Howard Street East, Live Oak, Florida.

Or email to gcurtis@cityofliveoak.org

This is the follow-up e-mail with Mr. Curtis:

The above brochure is primarily for new construction on a vacant lot, or alterations with additional construction plan submittal, or conversion of a residence to a commercial property if the zoning is changed.


There are times when an existing commercial property with an existing building has been vacant for 6 or more months and if we have no existing plans on file, a set of plans would need to be submitted in order to show bringing the property up to current standards.

Also a change of use from one type of business to another can trigger the requirement for alterations and renovations which may or may not require plan submittal.

If the location is existing and already improved, and is not non-conforming, the business would submit a Certificate of Use Application to the Building Official and that would trigger inspections by myself, the Fire Chief and Building Official to determine what needs to be done to the building or property in conjunction with the proposed business.

The Business Tax Receipt website section has the COU application link on it:


Each proposed business must first be evaluated as to the proposed type of business and the specific location on a case by case basis.

We already recommend the interested party come in to discuss to proposed location as well as the proposed business so that we can guide and direct them as needed prior to them signing a lease or purchase contract.

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