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Gate Gas Station CommentsComments Regarding Atlantic Beach Retail Center Preliminary Site Plan Concept #1 Without full calculations, there are concerns about the 70% maximum impervious surface. The dumpster needs to be screened from view by landscaping or a fence. Designated bicycle parking is required. Information on lighting is needed. There is an excess of parking, unless an agreement is in place causing that, which we need to be made aware. A 6 foot wide landscape area is required along the front of the building. A Full landscape plan is required. Information on signage is needed Below are excerpts from the City of Atlantic Beach’s Land Development Code that are relevant to this site and project relating to site planning and use. The list below is not a comprehensive list of all relevant regulations. Green text is areas of the code that appear to be met. Orange text is areas of concern. The above comments are in order of when they appear as orange text. Blue text is things to be aware of as site planning and use plans go forward. Sec. 24-111. Commercial general districts (CG). (f) Minimum yard requirements. The minimum yard requirements within the commercial general zoning district shall be: (1) Front yard: Twenty (20) feet, except that the front yard may be reduced to ten (10) feet where required off-street parking is located at the rear or side of the building site, and the primary business entrance is designed to face the street. (2) Rear yard: Ten (10) feet. (3) Side yard: Ten (10) feet where adjacent to existing residential use. Otherwise, a combined fifteen (15) total feet with a five (5) feet minimum on either side. g) Building restrictions. The building restrictions in the commercial general zoning district shall be as follows: (1) Maximum impervious surface: Seventy (70) percent. Where existing impervious surface area exceeds seventy (70) percent on previously developed sites, new development shall not exceed the pre-construction impervious surface area, and required landscaping shall be provided in accordance with division 8 of this chapter. Stormwater management requirements shall apply to infill development and to redevelopment projects involving exterior site changes. (2) Maximum building height: Thirty-five (35) feet. Sec. 24-154. Outdoor display, sale and storage of furniture, household items, merchandise and business activities outside of enclosed buildings. (b) Within the commercial general (CG) zoning district only, outside display of merchandise shall be permitted only in accordance with the following conditions: (1) Display areas must be fully located on private property, shall not be located in any drive aisle, parking or landscaping areas and shall not in any manner interfere with use of a sidewalk, walkway or entrance to a business with a minimum three-foot wide clear area maintained for walkways in front of any such display. All items and any display rack or table must be brought inside at the close of each business day. (2) Outside display racks or tables are limited to a maximum size of three (3) feet in height, two (2) feet in depth and five (5) feet in width, and only one (1) outside display rack shall be permitted per business or per lot, as applicable. Display racks or tables must be professionally constructed or manufactured and of a type customarily used for such purposes. Temporary tables constructed of plywood, blocks or other similar materials shall not be used. (3) Only merchandise that is sold inside the adjoining business, which holds the valid business license as the owner or lease holder to operate such business, shall be displayed outside. (4) No temporary signs, lights, banners, balloons, posters and the like shall be permitted on such displays, except that pricing information attached to individual items for sale is permissible, and such displays shall be maintained in a neat, orderly and uncluttered manner. (5) Failure to consistently observe all above conditions shall result in an order from the city to remove all such merchandise and revocation of rights for such future outside displays may follow. (e) Any signage used for any outside merchandise or activity shall be in accordance with the sign regulations. Sec. 24-160. Dumpsters, garbage containers and refuse collection areas and above-ground tanks. (b) Within commercial zoning districts, dumpsters, trash receptacles, above-ground tanks and similar structures and containers shall be screened from view by fencing or landscaping, or shall be located so that these are not visible from adjacent properties or streets. Above-ground tanks used to store hazardous, chemical or explosive materials may remain unscreened upon determination by the director of public safety that a threat to security and public safety may result from screening such tank(s) from view. Sec. 24-161. Off-street parking and loading. (a) Purpose and intent. Off-street vehicular parking spaces required by this section shall be provided at the time of the construction or expansion of any building for the uses listed in this section. Parking areas shall be arranged for convenient access and the safety of pedestrians and vehicles; shall provide barriers when located at the perimeter of a lot to prevent encroachment on to adjacent properties; and when lighted, lights shall be directed away from adjacent properties. Parking areas and driveways shall not obstruct stormwater facilities, drainage swales or clear vehicular sight distance. Excess surface parking is discouraged, and in no case shall the number of extra surface parking spaces exceed ten (10) spaces or ten (10) percent, whichever is greater. Parking calculations demonstrating provision of required parking shall be provided with all building permit applications submitted for review. Required parking shall be maintained for the duration of the use it serves. (b) (2) All parking areas shall be paved unless an alternative surface is approved by the director of public works. Any such alternative surface shall be maintained as installed, and shall be converted to a paved surface if a failure to maintain results in adverse drainage or aesthetic impacts. (4) There shall be no sales, service or business activity of any kind within any parking area. (c) Plans required. A composite site plan depicting the arrangement and dimensions of required parking and loading spaces, access aisles and driveways in relationship to the buildings or uses to be served shall be included on all plans submitted for review. (f) (3) Off-street parking for all uses other than single and two-family residential shall be designed and constructed such that vehicles are not required to back into public rights-of-way. Parking spaces shall not extend across rights-of-way including any public or private sidewalk or other pedestrian thoroughfare. (g) Design requirements. (1) Parking space dimensions shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet by eighteen (18) feet, except that smaller dimensions may be provided for single-family residential lots, provided that adequate onsite parking is provided to accommodate two (2) vehicles. (2) Accessible parking spaces shall comply with the accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities (ADAAG), and shall have a minimum width of twelve (12) feet. (3) Within parking lots, the minimum width for a one-way drive aisle shall be twelve (12) feet, and the minimum width for a two-way drive aisle shall be twenty-two (22) feet. (h) (3) Business, commercial, retail, or service uses not otherwise specified: One (1) space for each four hundred (400) square feet of gross floor area. (15) Restaurants, bars, nightclubs: One (1) space for each four (4) seats. Any outdoor seating where service occurs shall be included. (i) Off-street loading spaces. Off-street loading and delivery spaces shall be provided that are adequate to serve the use such that interference with routine parking, pedestrian activity and daily business operations is avoided. Where possible, loading and delivery areas should be located at the rear of a site and shall not be required to back into a public right-of-way. (k) Bicycle parking. All new development including any redevelopment or expansion that requires any change or reconfiguration of parking areas, except for single- and two-family residential uses, shall provide bicycle parking facilities on the same site, and such facilities shall be located as close to the building entrance as possible, in accordance with the following: (1) Bicycle parking facilities shall be separated from vehicular parking areas by the use of a fence, curb or other such barrier so to protect parked bicycles from damage by cars. (2) Provision to lock or secure bicycles in a stable position without damage to wheels, frames or components shall be provided. Bicycle parking shall be located in areas of high visibility that are well-lighted. Sec. 24-165. Service stations. The following provisions shall apply to the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of service stations: (a) Lot dimensions. A lot containing a service station shall be of adequate width and depth to meet all setback requirements, but in no case shall a corner lot have less than two (2) street frontages of at least one hundred fifty (150) feet each and an area of at least twenty-two thousand five hundred (22,500) square feet, and an interior lot shall have a street frontage of at least one hundred (100) feet and a minimum area of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet. (b) Access to site. Vehicular entrances or exits for service stations shall: (1) Not be provided with more than two (2) curb cuts for the first one hundred (100) feet of street frontage or fraction thereof; (2) Contain an access width along the curb line of the Street of not more than forty (40) feet as measured parallel to the street at its narrowest point, and not be located closer than one hundred (100) feet from a street intersection along any arterial or collector street and/or closer than fifty (50) feet from a street intersection on a local street or closer than ten (10) feet from adjoining property; (3) Not have any two (2) driveways or curb cuts any closer than twenty (20) feet at both the right-of-way line and the curb or edge of the pavement along a single street. (c) Location of pumps and structures. No principal or accessory building, no sign of any type, and no gasoline pump shall be located within fifteen (15) feet of the lot line of any property that is residentially zoned. No gasoline pump shall be located within twenty (20) feet of any street right-of-way line. (d) Lighting. All lights and lighting on a service station shall be so designed and arranged so that no source of light shall be directly visible from any residential zoning district; this provision shall not be construed to prohibit interior lighted signs. Sec. 24-168. Land clearing, tree removal or damage to existing trees and vegetation. The removal or damage of a trees and vegetation shall be governed by chapter 23, article II. No lands shall be cleared or grubbed, and no vegetation on any development site disturbed, prior to issuance of all required approvals and development permits authorizing such clearing. Prior to the commencement of any clearing operations, erosion and sediment control best management practices shall be installed and inspected by a public works erosion and sediment control inspector. (Ord. No. 90-10-212, § 2(Exh. A), 3-8-10) Sec. 24-171. Commercial corridor development standards. (a) Intent. The following additional standards and requirements shall apply to those lands within all commercial zoning districts that are located along arterial street corridors within the City of Atlantic Beach. The intent of these additional requirements is to: Enhance the aesthetic and physical appearance of these gateways into the city; enhance and retain property values; promote appropriate redevelopment of blighted areas; and to create an environment that is visually appealing and safe for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicular traffic. (b) Delineation of commercial corridors. Within the City of Atlantic Beach, commercial corridors shall be defined as the lands extending a depth of one hundred (100) feet from the outer edges of the rights-of-way along Mayport Road and Atlantic Boulevard, in those zoning districts designated as commercial general (CG), commercial limited (CL) and commercial, professional office (CPO). (c) Building form and finish materials. The following general provisions shall apply to all development in the commercial corridors. (1) Roofs, which give the appearance of a flat roof from any street side of the building, are prohibited. Roofs may be gabled, hipped, mansard or otherwise designed so as to avoid the appearance of a flat roof from the adjoining street. (2) Open bay doors and other similar large doors providing access to work areas and storage areas shall not open towards or face the commercial corridors. (3) The exterior finish of new Buildings, and also exterior finish alterations and additions to the front and any street side, or any side visible from adjoining residential properties, of existing buildings shall be of brick, wood, stucco, decorative masonry, exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS), architectural or split-faced type block, or other finish materials with similar appearance and texture. Metal clad, corrugated metal, plywood or oriented strand board (OSB), and exposed plain concrete block shall not be permitted as exterior finish materials on the front and any street side of a building. (4) Blank exterior walls facing the commercial corridors, which are unrelieved by doors, windows and architectural detail, shall not be permitted. (5) Burglar bars, steel gates, metal awnings and steel-roll down curtains are prohibited on the exterior and interior of a structure when visible from any public street. Existing structures which already have burglar bars, etc., shall be brought into compliance with these provisions within a reasonable time after any change of ownership of the property, which shall not be more than ninety (90) days. (d) Signs. Signs shall be regulated as set forth within chapter 17 of this Code, except that externally illuminated monument signs are encouraged. (e) Lighting. Exterior lighting shall be the minimum necessary to provide security and safety. Direct lighting sources shall be shielded or recessed so that excessive light does not illuminate adjacent properties or the sky. (f) Fences. The use of chain link, barbed wire, razor or concertina wire, and like fencing shall be prohibited in any required front yard and in any required yard adjoining a street. (g) Landscaping and required buffers. The requirements of division 8 of this chapter shall apply, except that the following additional requirements shall also apply to new development and to redevelopment that is subject to the requirements of division 8. Required buffers and landscape materials shall be depicted on all plans submitted for review. (1) A ten-foot wide buffer shall be required along the entire parcel frontage of the commercial corridors, except for driveways. This buffer shall consist of trees as required by division 8 and shall also contain a continuous curvilinear row of evergreen shrubs not less than two (2) feet in height at installation. Buffers shall be kept free of debris and litter and shall be maintained in a healthy condition. (2) Along the front of the principal building, a six-foot wide area shall be maintained between the building and the parking area or any walkway. This area shall be use for landscaping. (3) Sod or ground cover shall be installed and maintained in a healthy condition. Only organic mulch shall be used, and the excessive use of mulch is discouraged. (4) Because of the harsh environment of the commercial corridors, the use of landscape materials that are drought and heat resistant is strongly encouraged. Unhealthy or dead landscape materials, including sod and ground covers shall be replaced within thirty (30) days of written notification from the city to the property owner. (5) Stormwater retention or detention facilities may be placed within required buffers, provided that required landscape materials are provided. Sec. 24-177. Applicability; requirements; buffer design standards; maintenance; protection and visibility. (a) Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to all new nonresidential development and multi-family development, including property in government use. The provisions of this section shall also apply when the total cost of alteration, expansion or renovation of existing such development is equal to or exceeds twenty-five (25) percent of the current assessed value of the parcel improvements, or when the total square footage of a structure is expanded by more than twenty-five (25) percent as well as when any cumulative expansions total more than twenty-five (25) percent. Construction costs shall be determined in accordance with the building evaluation data sheet as established by the Standard Building Code Council International. (b) Landscape plan required. (1) Prior to the issuance of any development permit for nonresidential development and multi-family development, a landscape plan shall be approved by the community development director. For development sites greater than two (2) acres in size, a landscape plan shall be submitted with preliminary site plans as required by subsection 24-167(c). The landscape plan shall be prepared by either the owner or a licensed, registered Landscape architect, bearing his seal, or shall be otherwise prepared by persons authorized to prepare landscape plans or drawings pursuant to Chapter 481, Part II, Florida Statutes (landscape architecture). (2) The required landscape plan shall be drawn to scale, including dimensions and distances, and shall: a. Delineate the vehicular use areas, access aisles, driveways, and similar features; b. Indicate the location of sprinklers or water outlets and back flow prevention devices; c. Designate by name and location the plant material to be installed or preserved in accordance with the requirements of this part. The use of xeriscape landscape materials and methods is strongly encouraged; d. Identify and describe the location and characteristics of all other landscape materials to be used; e. Show all landscape features, including areas of vegetation required to be preserved by law, in context with the location and outline of existing and proposed buildings and other improvements upon the site, if any; f. Include a tabulation clearly displaying the relevant statistical information necessary for the director to evaluate compliance with the provisions of this part. This includes gross acreage, square footage of preservation areas, number of trees to be planted or preserved, square footage of paved areas, and such other information as the director may require; and g. Indicate all overhead and underground utilities located on the property and in the right-of-way adjacent to the property to which the landscape plan applies. This shall include overhead and underground electric service lines to all proposed buildings. (c) Vehicular use area interior landscaping requirements. (1) Vehicular use areas open to the public. Ten (10) percent of vehicular use areas (VUAs) used for off-street parking, employee parking, auto service stations, service drives, and access drives within property located within commercial and industrial zoning districts shall be landscaped. (2) Specialized vehicular use areas closed to the public. Five (5) percent of VUAs used for storage areas for new, used or rental vehicles and boats; motor vehicle service facilities; motor freight terminals; and other transportation, warehousing and truck operations not generally open to the public shall be landscaped. (3) Criteria for distribution. Landscape areas shall be distributed throughout the VUA in such a manner as to provide visual relief from broad expanses of pavement and at strategic points to channel and define vehicular and pedestrian circulation. Landscape areas shall contain the following: a. At least twenty-five (25) percent of the Landscape areas shall be covered with shrubs; the remainder in shrubs, groundcover, mulch or grass. Shrubs shall be spaced on three-foot spacing. b. Not less than one (1) tree for every four thousand (4,000) square feet of the VUA. (4) Each row of parking spaces shall be terminated by a landscape island with inside dimensions of not less than five (5) feet wide and seventeen (17) feet long, or thirty-five (35) feet long if a double row of parking. Each terminal island shall contain one (1) tree. Each side of the terminal island adjacent to a travel lane shall have a continuous six-inch high curb of concrete or other appropriate permanent material. The use of depressed rain gardens or bioswales in parking lot landscaping is strongly encouraged. Curb stops, rather than continuous curb, may be used to allow runoff to flow to the landscaped area. (5) If it can be shown to the satisfaction of the community development director that the strict application of this section will seriously limit the use of the property, the community development director may approve the location of the required interior landscape area near the perimeter of the VUA or adjacent to the building on the property, so long as the landscape area is within twenty (20) feet of the perimeter of the VUA. (d) Perimeter landscaping requirements. (1) Street frontage landscaping. All VUA that are not entirely screened by an intervening building from any abutting dedicated public street or approved private street, to the extent such areas are not so screened, shall contain the following: a. A landscape area of not less than ten (10) square feet for each linear foot of VUA street frontage, fifty (50) percent of which shall be at least a five-foot-wide strip abutting the street right-of-way except for driveways. The remaining required landscape area shall be located within twenty-five (25) feet of the street right-of-way. b. A durable opaque landscape screen along at least seventy-five (75) percent of the street frontage, excluding driveways. Shrubs, walls, fences, earth mounds and preserved existing under-story vegetation, or combination thereof, may be used so long as the screen is no less than three (3) feet high measured from the property line grade. Walls or fences shall be no more than four (4) feet in height and of wood or masonry at least eighty-five (85) percent opaque. Earth mounds shall not exceed a slope of three (3) to one (1). No less than twenty-five (25) percent of street side frontage of walls or fences shall be landscaped with shrubs or vines. c. No less than one (1) tree, located within twenty-five (25) feet of the street right-of-way, for each fifty (50) linear feet, or fraction thereof, of VUA street frontage. The trees may be clustered, but shall be no more than seventy-five (75) feet apart. If an overhead power line abuts the street frontage, then the required trees reaching a mature height greater than twenty-five (25) feet shall be located at least fifteen (15) [feet] away from the power line. d. The remainder of the landscape area shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs, ground covers, grass, or mulch. e. Landscape areas required by this section shall not be used to satisfy the interior landscape requirements; however, the gross area of the perimeter landscaping which exceeds the minimum requirements may be used to satisfy the interior landscape requirements. f. If a utility right-of-way separates the VUA from the public street or approved private street, the perimeter landscaping requirements of this section shall still apply. (2) Perimeter landscaping adjacent to lot lines. All vehicular use areas that are not entirely screened by an intervening building from an abutting property, to the extent such areas are not screened, shall contain the following: a. A continuous landscape area at least five (5) feet wide between the VUAs and the abutting property, landscaped with shrubs, ground covers, preserved existing vegetation, mulch and grass. b. No less than one (1) tree, located within twenty-five (25) feet of the outside edge of the VUA, for every fifty (50) linear feet, or fraction thereof, of the distance the VUA abuts the adjacent property. Trees may be clustered, but shall be no more than seventy-five (75) feet apart. c. A buffer wall between incompatible land uses as required by subsection (g), if applicable. d. If an alley separates the VUA from the abutting property, the perimeter landscaping requirements shall still apply. (4) Driveways to streets. The maximum width of any driveway not containing a landscaped island through the perimeter landscape area shall be thirty-six (36) feet. The maximum width of any driveway containing a landscaped island through the perimeter landscape area shall be forty-eight (48) feet and the driveway shall contain a landscaped island which measures not less than eight (8) feet in width (from back of curb to back of curb), surrounded by a six-inch continuous raised curb, or other alternative approved by the director. In no event shall more than fifty (50) percent of any street frontage be paved, nor shall the provisions of this section be applied to reduce the permitted driveway width to less than twenty-four (24) feet. (5) Driveways to adjoining lots. Driveways may be permitted by the community development director to adjoining lots of compatible use. (6) If a joint driveway easement is provided between adjacent property, then the required perimeter landscaping for each property shall be provided between the drive and any other vehicular use areas. (7) If it can be shown to the satisfaction of the community development director that the strict application of this section will seriously limit the use of the property, the community development director may approve the location of the required interior landscape area. (f) Landscape design standards. (1) Minimum tree requirements shall comply with subsection 23-17(c). (2) A minimum of fifty (50) percent of all required trees shall be shade trees. (3) Trees required for vehicular use area landscaping may be used to fulfill the tree requirements of this section. (4) Standards for landscape materials. a. Plants and trees shall meet the criteria of chapter 23, subsection 23-17(e)(2)a. b. Fifty (50) percent of the trees may be nonshade trees or trees with a mature canopy of fifteen (15) feet, a minimum of two-inch caliper and a minimum of ten (10) feet overall height. Trees shall not be planted closer than two (2) feet from any pavement edge or right-of-way line, as measured from center of trunk. Shade trees shall not be planted closer than four (4) feet from any pavement edge or right-of-way line, as measured from center of trunk. c. Palms may be substituted for the required trees at the ratio of two (2) palms for each required tree or four (4) palms for each required shade tree. Palms shall be a minimum clear trunk height of eight (8) feet, measured from the ground level to the base of the palm. d. Criteria for shrubs, vines and ground covers. Hedges and shrubs used to form an opaque screen shall be no less than a three-gallon container [of] grown material or equivalent balled and burlap material. e. Lawns. Lawn grass may be sodded, plugged, sprigged or seeded, except that solid sod shall be used on grass areas within street rights-of-way disturbed by construction, in swales, on slopes of four (4) to one (1) or greater, and on other areas subject to erosion. When permanent seed is sown during its dormant season, an annual winter grass shall also be sown for immediate effect and protection until permanent coverage is achieved. f. Mulch. A minimum two-inch layer of organic mulch, such as wood bark, dead leaves and pine straw, shall be applied and maintained in all tree, shrub, and ground cover planting areas and bare preserved natural areas. g. General cleanup. At the completion of work, construction trash and debris shall be removed and disturbed areas shall be fine-graded and landscaped with shrubs, ground cover, grass or two (2) inches of mulch. (g) Maintenance and protection of landscaping. (1) Maintenance. The property owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of all landscaped areas, which shall be maintained in good condition so as to present a healthy, neat and orderly appearance, free of refuse, debris and weeds. Failure to maintain required landscape areas or to replace within thirty (30) days all required landscaping which is dead, irreparably damaged, or fails to meet the standards of this section, shall be deemed a violation of these land development regulations and subject to code enforcement procedures. (2) Irrigation. Landscaped areas shall be provided with an automatic irrigation system. Irrigation systems shall include moisture or rain sensors. (3) Tree pruning. Required trees shall be allowed to develop into their natural habit of growth. Trees may be pruned to maintain health and vigor by removal of dead, weak, damaged or crowded limbs, diseased and insect-infested limbs, and branches which rub other branches. Sec. 24-181. [General provisions.] (a) Applicability. Where an automatic irrigation system is required by this Code or installed at the option of the property owner, the provisions of this section shall apply to the following. (the term lot(s) and parcel(s) may be used interchangeably.) (1) Previously undeveloped lots and the common landscaped areas of new subdivisions; or (2) Where new irrigation systems are installed on previously developed lots; or (3) When more than fifty (50) percent of the irrigation system on a lot is replaced. Fifty (50) percent shall be construed to mean more than half the length of lateral irrigation lines or more than half of the emitters. Except as set forth above, these provisions shall not be construed to require changes to permitted or properly installed existing irrigation systems or to landscaping existing as of the effective date of this division. These provisions shall also not apply to bonafide agricultural, greenhouse or nursery activities or to golf courses or athletic fields. (b) Appropriate plant selection, location and arrangement. (1) Plant selection. Plants used for Florida-friendly lawns and landscaping should be based upon the plant's compatibility with existing conditions of the site including soil type, moisture and light conditions and size at maturity. Consideration should be given to drought and freeze tolerance plants, and where site conditions are suitable, preference in trees should be given to native vegetation and hardwoods that create shade. Appropriate plants are described within the Florida-friendly Plant List published by the University of Florida, Extension Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) or as may be found in other qualified sources of horticultural information. (2) Location and arrangement. A key component to saving water and promoting plant health is to group plants in hydrozones according to their water needs. Factors such as soil, climate, sunlight and salt tolerance should also guide the grouping and selection of plants. Low, moderate and high water use hydrozones are described by the following characteristics: a. Low water use hydrozones contain plants that rarely require supplemental watering and that are drought tolerant during extreme dry periods such as native shrubs and vegetation, established trees and ground covers and wooded areas. b. Moderate water use hydrozones contain plants that once established require irrigation every two to three weeks in the absence of rainfall or when they show visible stress such as wilted foliage or pale color. These are typically perennials, seasonal plants and flower beds. c. High water use hydrozones contain plants that require supplemental watering on a regular basis throughout the year. These areas include turf and lawn grasses and are typically characterized as high visibility focal points of a landscaping design where high volume irrigation is used. (3) Turf and lawn grasses. Irrigated grass and turf areas shall be considered as high water use hydrozones, and shall be located so that they can be watered using separate irrigation zones. These areas should be consolidated to locations where the functional need calls for lawn and where site conditions are conducive to the health and maintenance of grasses rather than considered as just a fill-in area. For example, despite all efforts, lawn grasses will rarely grow to be healthy and lush under the heavy shade of a dense tree canopy which is emblematic of Atlantic Beach, while ferns, certain ground covers and low-growing native plants flourish with little attention. (4) Irrigation system design. Automatic irrigation systems shall be designed to meet the requirements of Appendix F of the Florida Plumbing Code, as adopted by chapter 6, article IV of City Code and also the requirements of section 22-39 of City Code. The following shall also be incorporated into the automatic irrigation system design: a. High water use hydrozones shall be located on a separate irrigation zone. b. High volume irrigation is limited to sixty (60) percent of the total landscaped area of the lot. For lawns and turf areas that exceed sixty (60) percent of the total landscaped area of the lot, low volume irrigation may be used as needed. c. At least one (1) moisture sensor shall be located in each irrigation zone. d. Emitters shall be sized and spaced to avoid excessive overspray on to impervious surfaces. (c) Hydrozone plans. Where an automatic irrigation system is installed and an irrigation system permit is required, a hydrozone plan shall be submitted in accordance with the following. Hydrozone plans can be prepared by a properly licensed and qualified contractor or by the property owner. (1) For new single-family or two-family dwellings, or for previously developed lots installing a new or modified irrigation system per preceding paragraph (a)(3), the hyrdozone plan may be depicted on a survey or on a site plan prepared by the owner or the owner's agent indicating area(s) to be irrigated, location and specifications of particular low, moderate and high water use areas on the plan with the percentage of the landscaped area using high volume irrigation indicated. Recognizing that homeowners often install their own irrigation systems, a survey accurate hydrozone plan shall not be required in such cases, but the hydrozone plan should generally depict all hydrozones, as described in preceding paragraph (b)(2). At a minimum, high water use areas using high volume irrigation must be on a separate irrigation zone. (2) All other development, except as described by the preceding paragraph, shall provide a landscape plan as required by section 24-177. Hydrozone details may be shown on the landscape plan or on a separate sheet drawn at the same scale as the landscape plan. In addition to the landscape plan requirements of section 24-177, the hydozone plan shall delineate landscape areas, major landscape features, and plant selections and low, medium and high water Hydrozones consistent with preceding paragraph (b). (3) Prior to receiving final landscape plan approval, final inspection or certificate of occupancy as may be applicable, written verification must be provided by a properly licensed qualified contractor, or the property owner, verifying that all irrigated areas are consistent with this division. Sec. 17-26. Exempt signs. (a) Within all non-residential zoning districts, the following signs shall be considered as permitted signs and shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain a sign permit as set forth within article V of this chapter: (1) Decals, limited to those as required by law, which are affixed to or painted upon store windows, store equipment, fuel pumps or other types of vending equipment used for dispensing retail products. (2) Lettering only, for the purpose of providing ownership, licensing and emergency contact information, when placed upon doors and windows of lawfully licensed businesses, with letters not exceeding three (3) inches in height and limited to a maximum area of two (2) square feet. (3) Signs within a building that are not visible from the exterior of the building. This shall not include window signs affixed to the interior of windows, which are visible from the exterior. (4) Building signs, historical markers, memorial signs, tablets or plaques, or the name of a building and the date of erection, when the same are cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other similar noncombustible material. (7) Signs depicting only time and temperature. (b) Within all zoning districts, the following signs shall be considered as permitted signs and shall be exempt from the requirement to obtain a sign permit as set forth within article V of this chapter: (2) Signs noting the architect, engineer or contractor for a development project when placed upon work under construction, provided the sign shall be removed within fifteen (15) days of completion of construction. Such signs shall not exceed six (6) square feet in size or eight (8) feet in height. (3) Signs as required by law to display building permits or other similar required public notices. (4) Public signs, banner signs, traffic signs, street name signs, legal notices, danger signs and temporary emergency, informational or non-advertising signs, when erected by city, county, state or federal authorities. (5) No trespassing and private property signs not exceeding two (2) square feet in area. Such signs shall not be displayed from or attached to trees, utility poles or any type of utility structure or equipment, including lift stations, fire hydrants and the like. (13) Holiday and seasonal decorations shall not be construed as signs, providing that these contain no commercial advertising message. (14) Not more than two (2) flags per development parcel, but if there are two (2) flags, then one (1) must be the flag of the United States of America. A development parcel with more than one (1) principal structure may have two (2) flags for each principal structure with more than five thousand (5,000) square feet of fully enclosed floor area. Each flag shall not exceed twenty-four (24) square feet in area; however, this size limitation shall not apply to United States of America flags at public buildings and parks. Sec. 17-27. General provisions applying to all permitted signs. All signs shall be subject to the following general provisions. (1) No sign shall be installed, erected or placed prior to issuance of a sign permit as required by article VI of this chapter, except for exempt signs as set forth in section 17-26. Signs shall be located only on property where the sign serves to provide an advertising message for that property. (2) All signs shall be engineered and constructed as required by these regulations and the Florida Building Code. Signs shall be professionally designed, lettered and constructed. (3) Signs constructed for the purpose of displaying an advertising message shall be constructed of materials suitable to withstand weather related deterioration and shall not be constructed of plywood, cardboard, paper or other such materials, which deteriorate quickly when exposed to normal weather conditions. (4) No sign shall create a traffic or fire hazard, or be dangerous to the general welfare or interfere with the free use of public streets or sidewalks. (5) No sign shall be attached to or placed against a building in any manner which impedes or blocks ingress or egress through any door or window of any building, nor shall any sign obstruct or be attached to a fire escape. (6) No sign shall be erected near the intersection of any street in such a manner so as to obstruct free and clear vision, or at any location where, by reason of position, shape or color, it may interfere with, obstruct the view of, or be confused with any authorized traffic sign, signal or device, or which makes use of any word or words commonly used on traffic-control signs or signals. (7) Where the rear of any sign structure is visible from any street or from any adjoining residential zoning district, all exposed structural and electrical components of any such sign shall be concealed in a manner as approved by the city manager. (8) Fascia or wall signs, shall be mounted directly upon the surface of the building, and shall not be mounted upon exposed raceways, or other type of protrusions from the surface of the building. Sec. 17-29. Signs permitted within commercial and industrial zoning districts. Subject to the provisions as set forth within this section, the following signs shall be permitted within commercial professional office (CPO), commercial limited (CL), commercial general (CG), central business district (CBD), and industrial, light and warehousing (ILW) zoning districts. Except as specifically exempted in section 17-26, and further subject to issuance of a sign permit, no other signs or advertising device shall be displayed or erected within the city. (a) Fascia signs. (1) Fascia signs for buildings with a single business or occupant. a. Size permitted: One (1) square foot of sign face area for each linear foot of the building width that faces the street frontage, provided that the total signage shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet of sign face area, including buildings on corner lots. (For example, if the width of the building facing the front of the lot is fifty (50) feet, the maximum total sign face area for all fascia signs is fifty (50) square feet.) If the building is on a corner lot, then the widths of the building facades facing multiple street frontages can be added together to determine the total signage area, but in no cases shall the total fascia signage exceed two hundred (200) square feet, nor shall an individual sign exceed the square footage corresponding to the linear width of the building side on which that sign is posted. In no case, shall any individual sign as described above, exceed one hundred (100) square feet in sign display area except for buildings that face the front lot line, as defined in this Code, by a distance of more than one hundred (100) linear feet, which may have an individual sign display area up to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet depending on the amount of building frontage. (2) Number of fascia signs permitted: Not more than three (3) fascia signs shall be allowed on any one (1) side of the building. Where fascia signs are placed upon more than one (1) side of the building, the combined sign face area shall not exceed the amount permitted by subsection (a)(1)a. above. [(3)] Fascia signs for buildings with multiple businesses or occupants. a. Size permitted: One (1) square foot of sign face area for each linear foot of the unit(s) occupied by one (1) business or occupant, provided that the total signage shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet for any one (1) business. If the business or occupant is on the corner, then the widths of the unit(s) occupied by the business or occupant that are facing multiple street frontages can be added together to determine the total signage area, but in no case shall the total signage for particular business or occupant exceed two hundred (200) square feet, nor shall any individual sign exceed the square footage corresponding to the linear building footage. (For example, if the width of a unit or several units, occupied by one (1) business is twenty-four (24) feet, then one (1) sign, a maximum of twenty-four (24) square feet of sign face area is permitted.) In no case, shall any individual sign as described above, exceed one hundred (100) square feet in sign area except for buildings that face the front lot line, as defined in this Code, by a distance of more than one hundred (100) linear feet, which may have an individual sign display area up to a maximum of two hundred (200) square feet depending on the amount of building frontage. b. Required spacing between signs on buildings: Fascia signs shall be separated by a minimum distance of seventy-two (72) inches. (b) Bracket or marquee signs. In lieu of the above described fascia signs, a business or permitted use may install a single bracket sign or marquee sign in accordance with the following provisions: (1) Size permitted: The maximum size of a bracket sign or a marquee sign shall be determined in the same manner as a fascia sign, provided that no such sign shall have more than sixty (60) square feet of projected sign face area. a. There shall be no more than twelve (12) inches of clear space adjacent to the building wall, and such signs shall not extend or project from the face of the building more than ten (10) feet. b. No portion of such sign shall extend above the height of the roof. c. No portion of such sign shall be closer than eight (8) feet to any sidewalk or pedestrian walkway, and no closer than five (5) feet from any street side property line. All such signs shall be securely anchored to a wall and shall in no manner be connected to or suspended from the roof of any building. (2) Within the central business district only. In addition to other permitted signs, uses limited only to retail establishments, restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, may install a single bracket sign extending above a public sidewalk or pedestrian walkway. The purpose of this provision is to provide appropriate and consistent signage for the unique pedestrian environment of the town center area. Such signs shall be located only in accordance with the following provisions and upon issuance of a sign permit: a. May be located only above first floor entryways or first floor windows with no portion of the sign display area exceeding ten (10) feet above the established grade of the adjoining sidewalk or walkway; b. Shall provide minimum vertical clearance of eight (8) feet above the sidewalk or walkway; c. Shall provide minimum clearance of six (6) inches from the building facade; d. Shall be separated from any other such sign by a minimum of twenty (20) feet; e. Shall not exceed three (3) feet in horizontal width and two (2) feet in vertical depth; f. Shall give the appearance of traditional wood routed or sandblasted signs. Materials such as high density urethane (HDU) and recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastics, which give a similar appearance, shall be acceptable substitutes; g. Shall be externally illuminated only and shall contain no electrical components; and h. Shall create no safety hazard or obstruction to the public's use of the sidewalk or walkway as determined by the director of public safety. (c) Freestanding signs. In addition to the above signs, freestanding signs may be permitted as set forth below: (1) Size permitted: One (1) square foot of sign display area for each linear foot of frontages of the development parcel on which the sign(s) are placed, provided no such sign shall exceed ninety-six (96) square feet of sign display area, or eight (8) feet in height and twelve (12) feet in width, except as provided in subsection (c)(2)b. below. (2) Number of freestanding signs permitted: a. Development parcels with street frontage shall be permitted one (1) freestanding sign for each one hundred (100) feet of linear street frontage, up to a maximum of three (3) freestanding signs. b. Development parcels with street frontage upon more than one (1) street, shall be permitted one (1) additional freestanding sign on each street side of the development parcel. c. Required distance from property lines: No portion of any freestanding sign shall be located closer to the property line than five (5) feet. Additional distance from property lines may be required if determined necessary by the director of public works, to maintain clear vehicular and pedestrian sight distance. Freestanding signs shall not be located so as to interfere with clear vehicular or pedestrian sight distance. Further, signs determined by the director of public safety to interfere with safe sight distance for pedestrians or vehicles shall be immediately removed. (3) Within commercial general (CG) and commercial limited (CL) zoning districts only. Alternatively, on development parcels with street frontage of three hundred (300) linear feet or more shall be permitted one (1) freestanding sign not to exceed ten (10) feet in height and one hundred twenty (120) feet in sign display area. The required distance from any property lines for such freestanding sign shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet. Additional distance from property lines may be required if determined necessary by the director of public safety, to maintain clear vehicular and pedestrian sight distance. (d) Requirement for a unified sign plan. After the initial effective date of these regulations, all new nonresidential development, which shall contain space or units for more than one (1) business or occupant, shall provide a unified sign plan with the application for building permits. All subsequent applications for sign permits shall comply with the approved unified sign plan. The unified sign plan shall comply with respect to the following: (1) Manner and type of construction, including materials to be used, installation method and mounting details. (2) Means of illumination, if any, and hours of illumination. (3) Size, color, lettering, and graphics style. (e) Pre-development signs. Signs for the purpose of announcing a coming development project may be placed within commercial and industrial zoning districts subject to the following provisions: (1) Issuance of a sign permit shall be required, and no such sign shall remain on any development parcel for a period of time exceeding one (1) year from the issuance date of the sign permit. (2) Complete and proper applications for building permits for the related development project must be submitted within sixty (60) days of the placement of any such sign, or the sign shall be removed. In the case that the sign is not removed, the sign shall be considered an abandoned sign, subject to the provisions of subsection 17-41(c). (3) Such sign shall be removed within thirty (30) days of the issuance of any certificate of occupancy, or at any time when construction ceases for a period of time longer than thirty (30) days. In the case that the sign is not removed within these periods of time, the sign shall be considered as abandoned, subject to the provisions of subsection 17-41(c). (4) Only one (1) such sign shall be placed upon the development parcel and shall not exceed the height or size permitted by preceding paragraph (a). (f) Requirement to display street number. All business and activities regulated by the requirements of section 17-29 shall display the street number in a manner that is prominent and clearly readable to vehicular and pedestrian traffic, as appropriate. Street numbers shall be displayed on all freestanding signs and over front doors or primary entryways. Sec. 17-42. Prohibited signs and devices. The following signs and devices shall be prohibited within the City of Atlantic Beach. In the case of any conflict with other provisions of this Code, the prohibitions set forth below shall supersede such other conflicting provisions. (1) Animated signs. (2) Automatic changeable message device signs, except for signs depicting time and temperature. (3) Flashing signs. (4) Signs containing beacon or tracker lights or similar lighting components. (5) Signs containing fluorescent colors or materials designed to be mirror-like or reflective. (6) Obscene signs. (7) Roof signs. (8) Snipe signs. (9) Portable and mobile signs. (10) Temporary signs, except as otherwise authorized herein. (11) Pennants, ribbons, balloons, streamers, wind-operated devices and similar elements that are intended to draw attention to a business or activity, either when used alone or incorporated into a sign. (12) Vehicle signs. (Bumper stickers, decorative decals and the like, customary and registered logos, trademarks or service marks that are attached to a motorized vehicle shall not be considered as vehicle signs; however, such vehicles shall not be parked off of the property from where a business is located or in the required front yard of any property for the sole purpose of advertising.) (13) Private signs on any public property, other than as specifically approved by the city commission. (14) All signs prohibited by Chapter 479.11, Florida Statutes. (15) Signs not in compliance with all applicable provisions of this chapter and this Code. Sec. 17-63. Calculation of permitted sign size. Sign face area, sign display area, width of sign and height of sign shall be calculated as defined within article I of this chapter. In the case of freestanding, fascia and projecting signs, the sign face area shall be used in calculating the permitted size of sign. In the case of marquee, canopy or awning signs, the sign display area shall be used in calculating the permitted size of the sign. When computing sign face area and sign display area, only one (1) side of a sign containing two (2) sides shall be included in the calculation of the permitted sign size. Sec. 3-2. Hours of sale. (a) It shall be unlawful for any licensee to sell, offer for sale, serve, give away, dispense or dispose of alcoholic beverages, or permit the same to be consumed upon any licensed premises between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. all days of the week. (b) The licensed premises where any alcoholic beverages are kept, except for restaurants, grocery stores and markets where the primary business is the sale or serving of food, shall be closed for business between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. all days of the week. No person shall be permitted on the premises of such business during such hours, except to clean up the premises, to perform necessary functions for closing the establishment, or to perform necessary maintenance. Sec. 3-4. Premises where retail sales for off-premise consumption are permitted. (a) Retail sale, limited to beer as defined by section 563.01, Florida Statutes, and wine as defined by section 564.01, Florida Statutes, shall be permitted only upon the following licensed premises. (1) Business within the commercial general zoning district abutting Atlantic Boulevard or Mayport Road or businesses located within the central business district; and (2) Establishments in locations presently open for business and where a current valid alcoholic beverage license exists as of the effective date of this amended ordinance. (b) Retail sale of alcoholic beverages, which includes liquor as defined by section 565.01, Florida Statutes, in addition to beer and wine, shall be permitted only under the following conditions and upon the following licensed premises. (1) Business properly licensed by the City of Atlantic Beach for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, and (2) Business located within the commercial general zoning district only and subject to approval of a use-by-exception in accordance with section 24-63 of the city code.