Land Development Studio
The
Land Development Studio focuses on three related urban planning
functions: land development review, urban design/architectural
review, and historic preservation.
The
Land Development team is responsible for short-range
planning. The team
reviews all applications that require a public hearing or
administrative review as part of the land development approval
process. The Land
Development team supports both the
Municipal
Planning Board (MPB) and
Board
of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) by coordinating the development
review process, compiling comments submitted by other City
departments and presenting final recommendations to the
appropriate Advisory Boards. The
team reviews variances, master plans, planned developments,
conditional use permits, rezonings, annexations, subdivisions,
abandonments of rights-of-way and Developments of Regional Impact. A Pre-Application meeting is required prior to the
submittal of any application that requires MPB or BZA review;
therefore, application forms are not available online.
The
Architecture/Urban Design team reviews the form,
landscaping and design of proposed development. The team promotes
strong design for the City’s built environment, ensuring that
development projects are well-suited to surrounding neighborhoods
and landscapes, and that the result is safe, attractive, and
sustainable, and stimulates a vibrant social and economic life.
The
Historic Preservation team
coordinates citizen involvement in the evaluation of historical
significance and neighborhood contributions to Orlando's cultural
heritage. Orlando has six Historic Preservation overlay districts
that contain a variety of architectural styles. Preservation of
historic sites, buildings and neighborhoods is a proven way of
protecting the tangible aspects of Orlando’s history. In
addition, historic preservation can assure that the old and new
will blend into a pleasing, meaningful urban fabric--one that
will be enjoyed and appreciated by long-time residents and, at the
same time, show newcomers Orlando’s history and provide them
with an immediate sense of place. Such preservation, sensitively
blending past and present, also makes Orlando truly unique as a
venerable, high-quality urban environment for people and families
of all ages.
Planners
also provide assistance to walk-in customers and respond to phone
inquiries. The Land Development Studio interprets the Land
Development Code (LDC) and administers code amendments. The LDC,
the set of development regulations which implement the Growth
Management Plan, represents Chapters 58 through 68 of
City
Code.
Descriptions
of the functions of the Studio, including highlights of
code sections relevant to development review, may be found
in the
Planning
and Zoning Reference Guide.
As
a part of Land Development, Orlando’s
approach to Urban Design is to view the city as a picture of many
shapes, textures and colors. Architectural materials and forms,
public art, lakes, parks, views and roadways are just a few of the
components that compose this picture.
Within
this context, the city's goal is to encourage sustainable development, protect existing neighborhoods
and support the economic health of our community. This mission is
balanced with preserving and enhancing the physical form of the
city by assessing the context of the built environment to the
natural environment, the organization and appearance of buildings,
and the use of public places.
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