DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Division of Community DevelopmentFINAL ORDER NO. DEO-13-039
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
In re:LAKE COUNTY LAND DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY
CITY OF AUBURNDALE ORDINANCE NO.1406
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FINAL ORDER
The Department of Economic Opportunity (the “Department”) hereby issues its Final Order, pursuant to §§ 380.05(6) and (11), Fla. Stat., approving City of Auburndale Ordinance No. 1406 (the “Ordinance”) as it relates to the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The Green Swamp Area is a statutorily designated area of critical state concern.
§ 380.0551, Fla. Stat. The City of Auburndale is a local government within the Green Swamp Area.
2. The Ordinance was adopted by the City Commission of Auburndale, Florida, on March 4, 2013, and was rendered to the Department on March 18, 2013.
3. The Ordinance amends Chapter 5, Zoning, Chapter 6, Special Provisions, and Chapter 7, Signs, of the City’s land development regulations relating to free-standing signs. On sites less than five acres, free-standing signs shall not exceed 80 square feet in area per side or 160 square feet in combined surface area. On sites five acres or more in size, free-standing signs shall not exceed 200 square feet in surface area per side or 400 square feet in total combined surface area. The Ordinance provides size criteria for free-standing signs in the CG-General Commercial and CH-Highway Commercial zoning districts, and in Planned Development-Commercial Districts.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
4. The Department is required to approve or reject land development regulations that are enacted, amended or rescinded by any local government in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern. §§ 380.05(6) and (11), Fla. Stat.
5. The City of Auburndale is a local government within the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern. § 380.0551, Fla. Stat., and Rule Chapter 28-26, Fla. Admin. Code.
6. “Land development regulations” include local zoning, subdivision, building and other regulations controlling the development of land. § 380.031(8), Fla. Stat. The regulations adopted by the Ordinance are land development regulations.
7. All land development regulations enacted, amended or rescinded within an area of critical state concern must be consistent with the principles for guiding development for that area. § 380.05(6), Fla. Stat.; see Rathkamp v. Department of Community Affairs, 21 F.A.L.R. 1902 (Dec. 4, 1998), aff’d, 740 So. 2d 1209 (Fla. 3d DCA 1999). The principles for guiding development for the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern are set forth in Rule 28-26.003, Fla. Admin. Code. (“Principles”).
8. Ordinance No. 1406 is consistent with the Principles in Rule 28-26.003, Fla. Admin. Code, as a whole and is not inconsistent with any Principle.
9. Ordinance No. 1406 is consistent with the City of Auburndale Comprehensive Plan as a whole and furthers Future Land Use Element Objective 4 and Policy 4.1.
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that City of Auburndale Ordinance No. 1404 is found to be consistent with the Principles for Guiding Development for the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern, and is hereby APPROVED.
This Order becomes effective 21 days after publication in the Florida Administrative Register unless a petition is filed as described below.
DONE AND ORDERED in Tallahassee, Florida.
_/s/______________________________________
William B. Killingsworth, Director
Division of Community Development
Department of Economic Opportunity
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RIGHTS
ANY PERSON WHOSE SUBSTANTIAL INTERESTS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ORDER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.569, FLORIDA STATUTES, REGARDING THE AGENCY’S ACTION. DEPENDING UPON WHETHER YOU ALLEGE ANY DISPUTED ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT IN YOUR PETITION REQUESTING AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO EITHER AN INFORMAL PROCEEDING OR A FORMAL HEARING.
IF YOUR PETITION FOR HEARING DOES NOT ALLEGE ANY DISPUTED ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT CONTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT’S ACTION, THEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING WILL BE AN INFORMAL ONE, CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 120.569 AND 120.57(2) FLORIDA STATUTES, AND CHAPTER 28-106, PARTS I AND III, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. IN AN INFORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING, YOU MAY BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL OR BY A QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVE, AND YOU MAY PRESENT WRITTEN OR ORAL EVIDENCE IN OPPOSITION TO THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTION OR REFUSAL TO ACT; OR YOU MAY EXERCISE THE OPTION TO PRESENT A WRITTEN STATEMENT CHALLENGING THE GROUNDS UPON WHICH THE DEPARTMENT HAS CHOSEN TO JUSTIFY ITS ACTION OR INACTION.
IF YOU DISPUTE ANY ISSUE OF MATERIAL FACT STATED IN THE AGENCY ACTION, THEN YOU MAY FILE A PETITION REQUESTING A FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING BEFORE AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE OF THE DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 120.569 AND 120.57(1), FLORIDA STATUTES, AND CHAPTER 28-106, PARTS I AND II, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. AT A FORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING, YOU MAY BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL OR OTHER QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVE, AND YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT EVIDENCE AND ARGUMENT ON ALL THE ISSUES INVOLVED, CONDUCT CROSS-EXAMINATION AND SUBMIT REBUTTAL EVIDENCE, SUBMIT PROPOSED FINDINGS OF FACT AND ORDERS, AND FILE EXCEPTIONS TO ANY RECOMMENDED ORDER.
IF YOU DESIRE EITHER AN INFORMAL PROCEEDING OR A FORMAL HEARING, YOU MUST FILE WITH THE AGENCY CLERK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY A WRITTEN PLEADING ENTITLED, "PETITION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS" WITHIN 21 CALENDAR DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS FINAL ORDER. A PETITION IS FILED WHEN IT IS RECEIVED BY:
AGENCY CLERK
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL
107 EAST MADISON STREET, MSC 110
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-4128
Fax 850-921-3230
THE PETITION MUST MEET THE FILING REQUIREMENTS IN RULE 28-106.104(2), FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. IF AN INFORMAL PROCEEDING IS REQUESTED, THEN THE PETITION SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 28-106.301, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. IF A FORMAL HEARING IS REQUESTED, THEN THE PETITION SHALL BE SUBMITTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 28-106.201(2), FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE.
A PERSON WHO HAS FILED A PETITION MAY REQUEST MEDIATION. A REQUEST FOR MEDIATION MUST INCLUDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY RULE 28-106.402, FLORIDA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. CHOOSING MEDIATION DOES NOT AFFECT THE RIGHT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.
YOU WAIVE THE RIGHT TO AN INFORMAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING OR A FORMAL HEARING IF YOU DO NOT FILE A PETITION WITH THE AGENCY CLERK WITHIN 21 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS FINAL ORDER.
CERTIFICATE OF FILING AND SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the original of the foregoing Final Order has been filed with the undersigned designated Agency Clerk, and that true and correct copies have been furnished to the persons listed below by the method indicated this 26th day of April, 2013.
_/s/__________________________________
Miriam Snipes, Agency Clerk
By U.S. Mail:
The Honorable Richard Hamann, Mayor
City of Auburndale
1 Bobby Green Plaza
Auburndale, FL 33823
Shirley Lowrance, City Clerk
City of Auburndale
1 Bobby Green Plaza
Auburndale, FL 33823
Amy Palmer, AICP
Community Development Director
P. O. Box 186
Auburndale, FL 33823
By Hand Delivery or Interagency Mail:
Rebecca Jetton, Community Planning Administrator, DEO Tallahassee
Sherry A. Spiers, Assistant General Counsel, DEO Tallahassee
