Submitted By: Emily W. Johnson, AICP
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Presentation By: Aubrey Hale
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Public Hearing to change the code of ordinances by amending the definitions, permitted uses chart, and supplemental regulations pertaining to Congregate Living Facilities and Short Term Rental Residences (COD25-0001).
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Economic Hub, Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
City staff prepared an amendment to the Code of Ordinances in response to questions and concerns raised by the general public pertaining to community residential homes (often referred to as "sober homes" and "halfway houses"), fraternity or sorority houses, rooming/boarding houses, community work release facilities, transitional recovery facilities/recovery residences, transitional treatment facilities/residential treatment facilities, and addictions receiving facilities (therein collectively referred to as "congregate living facilities"), as well as short term rental residences.
The Ordinance proposes changes to the use definitions, permitted uses chart, and supplemental regulations as further outlined below. The Ordinance revises terminology pertaining to recovery residences and residential treatment facilities and incorporates exemptions to be consistent with state statutes. For ease of reference, staff has incorporated color coding to the redlined Ordinance; blue indicates proposed changes, red indicates deletions, while green indicates that the use is remaining unchanged but relocated.
Additionally, recent changes in state law, including the adoption of Senate Bill (SB) 954, are anticipated to take effect on July 1, 2025. SB 954 requires the city council to adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the review and approval of recovery residences which receive voluntary certification from the Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR) pursuant to F.S. 397.4...
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