The Land Development Code of Mount Dora is intended to define procedures and standards for the development of land within the City of Mount Dora in order to promote and protect the community's health, safety and welfare, to preserve and strengthen the quality of the downtown area, to allow for high quality, well-designed new development in appropriate areas and to protect important natural and historic resources. Zoning is the single most powerful legal mechanism of an overall urban concept, but it does not fully plan building locations, traffic movement or parklands; it does not create beauty, aesthetic order or amenity. It is the task of the city, therefore, to preserve various elements of urban beauty and require that new projects enhance the existing appearance. The plan for achieving beauty must grow out of our special local characteristics of site, aesthetic tradition, and developmental potential. Some local areas of natural beauty are Lake Dora, Lake Gertrude, the scenic overlook Old Highway 441 creates along Lake Dora, our large oak trees, our parks and the uniqueness of our hilly terrain. The vistas and visual delight of these should be allowed only to be enhanced. It is the intent of the city through this code to achieve a pleasant and comprehensible cohesiveness in our community development. The general steps for development to follow are described below. They are described in general in this chapter. Additional details are provided in other documents and other chapters of this code as referenced.

This code applies to lands within the city limits of Mount Dora.

Owners of land outside the city who desire to be incorporated within the city may petition for annexation subject to Florida law and the requirements of the city. The following steps should first be taken:

1.

The existing city limits should be referenced.

2.

The future land use map of the comprehensive plan should be referenced to determine if the parcel is within the city's planning area; annexations outside the planning area may also be considered.

3.

City staff should be consulted to determine service capabilities, permitted land uses and the role of the county and other cities.

4.

Petition. The petition for annexation must include:

a.

Proof of ownership.

b.

Name, address and signature of owner.

c.

Survey, including legal description of property and street/road address.

d.

Requested land use designation and zoning. Upon annexation the existing county future land use (FLU) designation shall remain until such time the city's future land use map is amended. Upon annexation the existing county zoning classification shall remain until such time a city zoning district is assigned, which maybe concurrent with annexation.

e.

Method of providing services including water, sewer, roads, drainage, schools and police protection.

f.

Processing fee established and amended from time to time by resolution.

(Ord. No. 2020-20, § 2, 5-4-21)

All development must be consistent with the city's comprehensive plan which establishes the basis and general guidelines for guiding and regulating land uses. The future land use map of the comprehensive plan should be reviewed to determine if the land use shown would allow the type of development contemplated. The land use categories and zoning districts permitted in each are as follows:

(Ord. No. 2007-934, § 2, 2-20-07; Ord. No. 2013-13, § 2(Exh. A), 10-1-13; Ord. No. 2020-20, § 2, 5-4-21; Ord. No. 2023-11, § 2, 9-21-23; Ord. No. 2024-14, § 2, 7-16-24)

All development must be consistent with the zoning district shown on the city's official zoning map and with the requirements of the zoning chapter of this code. The intent of each zoning district, the uses permitted, conditional uses and site development standards are listed for each district in chapter III. If the proposed development is allowed in the district only as a conditional use, application for approval may be made as described in section 2.5. If the proposed development is not allowed in the district, application may be made under section 3.3 for rezoning to another district permitted within the comprehensive plan land use category.

Any person proposing to divide existing parcels of land may do so consistent with the standards of the applicable zoning district and according to the standards and procedures set forth in chapter IV.

Developments proposed on properly zoned parcels of record must obtain site plan approval prior to obtaining building permits. Specific requirements are contained in chapter V.

Also applicable, but not contained in this code, are building codes, fire codes and other regulations as may be adopted from time to time by the city. The "City of Mount Dora Standard Details" Construction Manual shall be incorporated herein by reference established on October 25, 2004, or as amended from time to time by the public works director.

(Ord. No. 2013-13, § 2(Exh. A), 10-1-13; Ord. No. 2017-12, § 3, 1-16-18)

It is the city's intent that all reviews be coordinated with other agencies and jurisdictions. However, it is the applicant's responsibility to secure all permits required by other agencies and jurisdictions. Applicants are advised to check with all appropriate agencies prior to submitting an application.

Anyone interested in undertaking development in the city is encouraged to first confer with the city's staff to determine the most current procedures, submittals, standards, deadlines and fees as well as the identities of other agencies possibly having jurisdiction. However, any information received from staff during this conference is subject to any limitations set forth herein.

The general processes for various types of development/application approvals are as follows:

1.

Rezoning (see chapter III):

a.

Development review committee.

b.

Planning and zoning commission.

c.

City council.

2.

Subdivisions (see chapter IV):

a.

Development plan (optional).

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

b.

Preliminary plat.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

3.

City council.

c.

Final construction plan

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Site development permit.

d.

Final plat.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning chairman plat signature.

3.

Mayor plat signature.

4.

City clerk seal and signature.

5.

City surveyor and certification.

e.

Minor subdivision.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

City council.

f.

Replat.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

City council.

3.

Mayor plat signature.

4.

City clerk seal and signature.

5.

City surveyor and certification.

Note: Depending on the nature of the replat, planning and zoning commission signature may be required.

g.

Revisions (minor deviations) to approved set of plan or plat:

1.

Development review committee.

3.

Site plans (see chapter V):

a.

Development review committee.

b.

Planning and zoning commission.

c.

Site development permit.

d.

Revisions (minor deviations) to approved site plan:

1.

Development review committee.

4.

Planned unit developments (see subsection 3.4.5):

a.

Preliminary PUD master plan.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

3.

City council.

b.

Final master plan.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

3.

City council.

c.

Subdivision plat or site plan for each section of the PUD (See: Subdivision site plan regulations).

Note: PUD steps may be combined and/or concurrent reviews may be conducted at the applicant's request and based on the nature of the request and the quality of submittals.

5.

Mixed Use (MU-1 and MU-2) (see subsections 3.4.5 and 3.4.16):

a.

Preliminary master plan.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

3.

City council.

b.

Final master plan.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

3.

City council.

c.

Subdivision plat or site plan for each section of the Mixed Use Master Plan (See: Subdivision site plan regulations).

Note: Mixed Use steps may be combined and/or concurrent reviews may be conducted at the applicant's request and based on the nature of the request and the quality of submittals.

6.

Wolf Branch Innovation Employment and Gateway (WBI-E and WBI-G):

a.

Preliminary master plan.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

3.

City council.

b.

Final master plan.

1.

Development review committee.

2.

Planning and zoning commission.

3.

City council.

c.

Subdivision plat or site plan for each section of the WBI-E or WBI-G final master plan (See: Subdivision site plan regulations).

Note: Preliminary and final master plan steps may be combined and/or concurrent reviews may be conducted at the applicant's request and based on the nature of the request and the quality of submittals.

7.

Conditional uses permits (CUP) (see subsection 2.5.1.5):

a.

Development review committee.

b.

Planning and zoning commission.

8.

Variances (see section 2.5.1.6):

a.

Development review committee.

b.

Planning and zoning commission.

9.

Appeals see section 2.6.

(Ord. No. 2011-02, § 2, 2-15-11; Ord. No. 2013-13, § 2(Exh. A), 10-1-13; Ord. No. 2020-20, § 2, 5-4-21)