§ 47-13.2.1. Intent and purpose of each district.

A.

Downtown Regional Activity Center (RAC). This land use designation applies to the geographic area containing a mixture of large scale business, cultural, educational, governmental and residential uses which are in close proximity to mass transit resources (airport, port, rail and bus terminal). The purpose is to foster an active downtown within which one can work, live, entertain and shop without commuting to other districts in the city. The various RAC districts are described below.

1.

RAC-CC City Center District is the city's high-intensity downtown zoning district, and is intended to be applied to the central downtown core area as a means of accommodating a wide range of employment, shopping, service, cultural, higher density residential and other more intense land uses. The RAC-CC zoning district will permit mixed use development including high intensity commercial uses, as well as downtown residential housing. Commercial retail uses will be required on the ground floor of buildings on those streets where pedestrian activity is encouraged. In order to ensure that development along the boundaries of the RAC-CC district will be compatible with adjacent zoning districts, properties abutting the edges of the RAC-CC district will be subject to regulations that provide a transition from the very intense and dense uses found within the central urban core.

2.

RAC-AS Arts and Sciences District is the city's downtown arts and sciences cultural district. It is located in those areas where cultural, civic entertainment, institutional and other complementary high-activity land uses draw patrons from the surrounding region.

3.

RAC-UV Urban Village District is intended to support the RAC-CC district by providing a mix of uses including institutional, office, commercial and residential. This area will encourage housing for the Downtown RAC. The RAC-UV regulations require ground floor retail, service and arts activity on the main street where pedestrians are encouraged. Also, residential uses will be permitted above business uses and encouraged to be located abutting the public street/sidewalk to promote an urban character.

4.

RAC-RPO Residential and Professional Office District is intended to promote the preservation and enhancement of existing low-density residential neighborhoods south of the downtown area while providing for the continued development of neighborhood-serving commercial land uses, and professional and office uses similar to those which typically complement nearby governmental, judicial and medical centers.

5.

RAC-TMU Transitional Mixed-Use District is intended to provide three transition areas between the high intensity RAC-CC, district and the lower intensity residential neighborhoods which abut the RAC. The area is intended to support the city center by allowing a wide range of employment, shopping, service, cultural and higher density residential neighborhoods. This area includes the expansion area where the downtown's urban core was expanded so as to provide a transition area surrounding the central urban core in order to protect the adjacent areas. There are three TMU areas identified along the perimeter of the higher intensity RAC districts.

a.

The East Mixed Use (EMU) is located east of the RAC-CC district, and includes residential areas on either side of Las Olas Boulevard and commercial business uses along Federal Highway and Las Olas Boulevard. Regulations within the EMU are designed to provide for a transition from intense uses permitted within the RAC-CC district to those established neighborhoods east of the EMU.

b.

The West Mixed Use (WMU) is located north of the RAC-AS district and encompasses portions of the Sailboat Bend neighborhood fronting on NW 7 Avenue. Regulations within the WMU are designed to blend with adjacent neighborhoods such as City View, Dorsey Riverbend and Regal Trace and promote mixed use development to support the RAC-CC district, as well as create a "gateway" to the RAC-CC district.

c.

The Southwest Mixed Use (SMU) is located south of the RAC-AS district, along the New River to S.W. 7th Street. Development in this area is intended to preserve marine related uses, as well as promote mixed use development to support the RAC-CC district while blending with the Tarpon River community.

B.

South Regional Activity Center (SRAC).

1.

South Regional Activity Center (SRAC). This land use designation applies to the geographical area containing a mixture of professional office, small to medium scale businesses, cultural and residential uses. The purpose is to foster an active pedestrian friendly environment while maintaining the established eclectic atmosphere of the area.

a.

SRAC-SA is intended to promote an active urban environment with a mix of uses characteristic of the traditional character of the South Andrews neighborhood. To this end, the district will allow residential and mixed-use development to create a true urban area complete with both daytime and evening activity. This will be accomplished by requiring the following: high quality buildings with minimal setbacks and oriented to provide light and air at the street level, active occupied spaces at the ground floor and enhanced streetscape consisting of tree-lined streets encouraging an active and comfortable pedestrian environment. Landscaping should be consolidated into useable park-like areas consisting of plazas and open space. On-site parking will be designed in such a way that the vehicle will be as imperceptible as possible and interference with pedestrian pathways minimized. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles shall be incorporated in the design of the streets, parking areas and public areas in a manner that makes the area less attractive to criminal activities. SRAC-SA has been further refined to distinguish between SRAC-SA east (SRAC-SAe) and SRAC-SA west (SRAC-SAw) zoning district.

i.

The SRAC-SAw zoning district is intended to be an area of more intensive uses consisting of heavy non-residential business uses, wholesale, warehousing, storage operations and establishments conducting activities of the same general character as well as those uses intended to meet the shopping and service needs of the community. Residential uses are permitted and encouraged to promote a diverse character. The SRAC-SAw zoning district is located west of those properties abutting SW 1st Avenue and follows the zoning line of the previous Heavy Commercial/Light Industrial Business District (B-3) zoning district of the area to the east portion of the FEC corridor.

ii.

The SRAC-SAe zoning district is intended to meet the shopping and service needs of the community as well as limited wholesale uses. Residential uses are permitted and encouraged to promote a diverse character. The SRAC-SAe zoning district is generally located within the same zoning boundaries of the previous Community Business District (CB) zoning district of the area.

C.

Northwest Regional Activity Center (NWRAC). This land use designation applies to the geographical area containing a mixture of small to medium scale businesses, cultural and residential uses. The purpose is to foster an active pedestrian friendly environment while maintaining the established historic and eclectic atmosphere and cultural diversity of the area through long-term sustainable redevelopment and adaptive reuse.

1.

NWRAC-MU Northwest Regional Activity Center Mixed Use is intended to promote and enhance the existing commercial and residential character of the main corridors of the NWRAC by providing a wide range of employment, shopping, services, cultural and residential opportunities through allowing a mix of residential and non-residential uses. These areas include higher densities along the corridors transitioning to the lower densities and intensities of the surrounding zoning districts subject to adopted regulations.

(Ord. No. C-97-19, § 1(47-13.2), 6-18-97; Ord. No. C-10-50, § 1, 1-4-11 ; Ord. No. C-14-51, § 1, 1-21-15 )

Note— Formerly § 47-13.2.