1175 Atlantic Boulevard 15-UBEX-1037 Staff Report 05.21.2015 (2) CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BOARD
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM 4.C
CASE NO 15-UBEX-1037
Request for an expansion of an existing use-by-exception as permitted by Section
24-111(c)(5), to allow limited wholesale operations at 1175 Atlantic Blvd.
LOCATION 1175 ATLANTIC BLVD
APPLICANT ATLANTIC BEACH URBAN FARMS
DATE MAY 21, 2015
STAFF JEREMY HUBSCH, BUILDING AND ZONING DIRECTOR
STAFF COMMENTS
The applicant is Atlantic Beach Urban Farms. They were originally approved for a use-by-exception to allow
wholesale operations in the Commercial General (CG) Zoning District on August 11, 2014. This is a new company
utilizing innovative techniques to grow produce inside a greenhouse for retail and wholesale sales. The applicants
were originally required to obtain a Use-By-Exception per Section 24-111 (c) (5), which says one is needed by,
“Limited wholesale operations, not involving industrial products or processes or the manufacturing of products of
any kind.”
The applicants are now seeking to expand their originally approved use-by-exception to include a “grow container
research facility and market”. Section 24-63 (g) states, “Any use-by-exception granted by the city commission shall
permit only the specific use or uses described in the application as may be limited or restricted by the terms and
provisions of the approval. Any expansion or extension of the use of such premises, beyond the scope of the terms
of the approved use-by-exception, shall be unlawful and in violation of this chapter and shall render the use-by-
exception subject to suspension or revocation by the city commission.” Based on that code provision, the
applicants are required to seek approval for the expansion of their use.
The site was previously a carpet business located on three separate, partially wooded lots. All existing structures
have been demolished and the site has been cleared and prepped for new construction. The applicants originally
proposed a 7,000 square foot greenhouse and a smaller packing and distribution building. They are now planning
a 5,166 square foot greenhouse and 2,520 sf. “farmhouse growing distribution building”, as well as a 2,520 sf.
“grow container research facility and market”. The applicants intend to use decommissioned shipping containers
for this use. They plan to use them as a “research facility to explore the future of in-door growing environments for
education and commercial growing”. The new research facility constitutes an expansion of the originally approved
use-by-exception and therefore needs to be approved through the use-by-exception process.
The site is located on Atlantic Boulevard making it subject to the Commercial Corridor Development Standards in
Section 24-171. The applicants are working through some design options for the structures at the site and plan to
show the Community Development Board renderings at the June 2nd meeting to ensure they meet the standards
The applicants will also be required to submit commercial plans to the city that are required to meet all city, state,
and federal codes shall the project be approved.
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SUGGESTED ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL
The Community Development Board may consider a motion to recommend approval to the City
Commission of a requested Use-by-Exception (File No. 15-UBEX-1037) to permit an expansion of
an existing use-by-exception for limited wholesale operations within the Commercial General
(CG) Zoning District and located at 1175 Atlantic Boulevard provided:
1. Approval of this Use-by-Exception is consistent with the intent of the Comprehensive Plan.
2. Approval of this Use-by-Exception is in compliance with the requirements of Section 24-63,
Zoning, Subdivision and Land Development Regulations.
3. The requested use is consistent with Section 24-111(c) in that the proposed use is found to be
consistent with the uses permitted in the CG zoning districts with respect to intensity of use,
traffic impacts and compatibility with existing commercial uses and any nearby residential uses.
SUGGESTED ACTION TO RECOMMEND DENIAL
The Community Development Board may consider a motion to recommend denial to the City
Commission of a requested Use-by-Exception (File No. 15-UBEX-1037) to permit an expansion of
an existing use-by-exception for limited wholesale operations within the Commercial General
(CG) Zoning District and located at 1175 Atlantic Boulevard provided
1. Approval of this Use-by-Exception is not consistent with the intent of the Comprehensive Plan.
2. Approval of this Use-by-Exception is not in compliance with the requirements of Section 24-63,
Zoning, Subdivision and Land Development Regulations.
3. The requested use is not consistent with Section 24-111(c) in that the proposed use is found to
be inconsistent with the uses permitted in the CG zoning districts with respect to intensity of
use, traffic impacts and compatibility with existing commercial uses and any nearby residential
uses.