Gainesville › Unified Land Development Code
Article 7 — Overlay Districts, Chapter 7-3 — MIDLAND OVERLAY DISTRICT
§ 7-3-1
Purpose and Intent
(a)The purpose of the Midland Overlay District is to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public and promote economic prosperity in Gainesville Midland in a manner consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
(b)The intent of the overlay is to set higher standards for the appearance and functionality of the land uses, as applied via the site and architectural design review processes established in Article 8 of this Unified Land Development Code. It is also intended to encourage mixed use development and the creation of more housing, employment, and recreational opportunities in Midland.
§ 7-3-2
Boundaries and Map
The Midland Overlay District is hereby designated and shall consist of the land areas further delineated and defined on the Official Zoning Map, and which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the procedures of this Unified Land Development Code. Also included is a 200-foot buffer surrounding the Midland boundaries where the requirements of this Overlay apply. Properties located partially within the 200-buffer are considered entirely within the overlay and are subject to the Midtown Overlay District standards.
§ 7-3-3
Applicability of Overlay Provisions
(a)The Midland Overlay District is supplemental to the underlying zoning district classifications and any locally designated historic landmark or district established in this ULDC. The provisions of this overlay apply to all applications for zoning matters, land disturbance permits, plat approval, and building permits for all property and rights-of-way within the boundaries of the Midland Overlay, except for locally designated historic landmarks and districts which must comply with Design Guidelines for that historic landmark or district. All plan reviews, plat approval, and permits for parcels located within this overlay shall meet all the requirements of the base zoning district in which it is located as well as the requirements of the overlay district applicable to the parcel.
(b)In any case where the standards and requirements of the overlay conflict with those of the base zoning district, the standards and requirements of the overlay govern.
§ 7-3-4
Administrative Variances
Administrative variances are governed by Chapter 20-3 of this ULDC.
§ 7-3-5
Uses
(a)All uses permitted by right or as Special Uses within the underlying zoning district, including any use standards of Article 9, shall be similarly permitted within the Midland Overlay, except the following uses shall not be permitted on any property within the Midland overlay zone:
(1)Adult entertainment establishments.
(2)Alternative financial services.
(3)Animal care, indoor or outdoor.
(4)Car washes.
(5)Dollar-type stores or thrift stores.
(6)Community donation boxes.
(7)Fuel sales, when located on lots less than 2 acres in total area.
(8)Group homes, homeless shelters, rooming house or crisis centers.
(9)Hookah, E-cigarette, and/or Vapor lounge/bars.
(10)Ice vending machines, commercial.
(11)Impound lots.
(12)Industrial uses causing the emission of noise, vibration, smoke, dust, gas, fumes and odors perceptible to normal human senses.
(13)Industrial uses with outdoor storage.
(14)Jail/correctional facility.
(15)Junk or salvage yards.
(16)Laundry and dry-cleaning facilities.
(17)Liquor stores.
(18)Marine, boat or dock sales, service or repair stores.
(19)Massage parlors.
(20)Mini-warehouses including climate-controlled self-service storage facilities.
(21)Motels or extended stay lodging.
(22)Motor vehicle sales or service.
(23)Pawn shops.
(24)Psychics, fortune tellers.
(25)Retail sales of alternative nicotine products.
(26)Sanitation uses, including the storage of trash cans, dumpsters and porta potties.
(27)Sawmills.
(28)Tattoo parlors or body art studios.
(29)Taxi-cab or limousine services.
(30)Tobacco or vaping stores.
(31)Truck stops.
(32)Truck or trailer yards
(33)Truck or trailer rental
(34)Vehicle emission testing facility.
(35)Vehicle sales or rental.
(36)Vehicle service and repair, minor or major.
(37)Wireless telecommunication facility or cell towers excluding co-location.
(38)Wrecked motor vehicle compound.
(b)Single-family dwellings (detached and attached) and two-family dwellings and loft dwellings are permitted by right in any nonresidential district in the overlay zone provided that such uses may not exceed a density of 18 dwelling units per acre, unless otherwise approved as part of a Planned Unit Development.
§ 7-3-6
Dimensional Requirements
The following standards apply to all properties within the Midland Overlay:
(a)Minimum Open Space: 15% of gross acreage of any tract that is 2 acres or larger before subdivision. Buffers may be included in the open space at the discretion of the Director.
(b)Maximum Impervious Cover: 75% of parcel; not including portions of the parcel that are in floodplain or wetlands.
(c)Maximum Building Height: 85 feet.
(d)Maximum Front Yard Setback: 30 feet.
(e)Minimum Front Yard Setback: 5 feet from the back of the required sidewalk.
§ 7-3-7
Site and Architectural Design Standards
The following standards apply to all properties within the Midland Overlay.
(a)Site Design Standards.
(1)Parking areas shall be located to the side or rear of the primary structure.
(2)On-site detention or retention areas shall not be located adjacent to a public street unless this is unreasonable due to the topography of the site. All above ground stormwater detention ponds shall have the appearance of a landscape feature.
(b)Architectural Design Standards.
(1)Any facade facing a public or private street shall be constructed of brick, stone, textured concrete masonry units, or glass.
(2)Metal siding shall be limited to no more than 20% of the total area on facades not facing a public or private street.
(3)Building facades of greater than 100 feet in length shall include modulation to break up facades in accordance with Section 8-4-9.
§ 7-3-8
Streetscape Standards
(a)Streetscapes shall consist of a landscape strip and a sidewalk and shall be required along all public rights of way as specified below:
(1)A landscape strip at least 5 feet in width must be installed at the back of sidewalk.
i.Landscapes strips must be planted with trees spaced every 30 feet on center and not within site triangles. Trees shall be of a species as specified in Section 13-3-19 for street trees.
ii.Bio-retention areas within sidewalk landscape strips are permitted subject to approval of the Director.
(2)A sidewalk at least 5 feet in width must be installed adjacent to the landscape strip.
(3)When on-street parking is provided, landscape strips and sidewalks may be reduced, subject to the approval of the Director.
§ 7-3-9
Greenway Connections
(a)All requests to connect to the Midland Greenway must be approved by the Director.
(b)When provided, such connection shall meet the standards indicated below.
PROTECTION OVERLAY