☐ Consent Agenda ☒Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing
☐ Regular Business 6:30 pm
☐ Public Hearing Resolution
DEPARTMENT: Planning & Zoning
SUBMITTED BY: Laura McClelland
PRESENTED BY: Misty Servia
TITLE & DESCRIPTION:
title
Resolution / Osceola Organics / USE-0192-2024
body
REQUESTED MOTION:
A motion to adopt/deny the proposed Resolution for a special exception and enter into the record this Development Review Report and the findings and conclusions and all other competent substantial evidence presented at the hearing.
SUMMARY:
The matter before the Board of County Commissioners is a Special Exception use application (USE-0192-2024) to allow a biosolids composting facility in the Agricultural -10 District (A-10) zoning district on a +413.94 acre lease area within the subject property of +757.88 acres, for land located on NW Highway 70. As indicated above, the use is proposed within a +413.94 acre lease area located within the overall subject property. There are no existing biosolids composting facilities or operations on the subject property. Specifically, the project area is a +32.03-acre area within the aforementioned leased area.
BACKGROUND:
The subject parcel is located on NW Highway 70, Arcadia, FL. (See Exhibit A) and is owned by IMC-Agrico Company and VCH Holdings, LLC with portions of these parcels to be leased by Osceola Organics. The applicant is requesting a Special Exception to allow a biosolids composting facility to be constructed on property zoned Agricultural-10. The facility proposes to produce organic fertilizer utilizing solar sludge drying and composting to produce Class AA registered soil amendment, pursuant to the requirements of the FDEP. LDR Section 20-1042 provides for the regulation of the land spreading and hauling of biosolids. However, to the extent that Class AA biosolids are spread and otherwise used in compliance with the Florida Administrative Code and statutory regulations set forth in LDR Section 20-1042(4)(c), they are exempt from the requirements of the County’s biosolids ordinance. Therefore, conditions are recommended to confirm the product is a Class AA Fertilizer.
The 2040 Future Land Use Map shows the property is located within the Rural/Agricultural Future Land Use category, and Conservation Overlay District (See Exhibit B) and the Official Zoning District Atlas shows the property is situated within the Agricultural 10 District (A-10) zoning district (See Exhibit C).
Land Development Regulations (LDR) Section 20-126(1)(c)(16) provides a list of “Special exception uses and structures”, specifically “Other similar uses which are comparable in nature with the foregoing”. Biosolid composting facilities are an industrial like operation and may produce negative impacts such as noise, dust, odors, glare and heavy truck traffic. Currently, “organic fertilizer manufacture” is permitted in the Industrial Light zoning district only by special exception. The Development Director has determined that biosolids composting facilities may be found to be compatible in the district when evaluated as a special exception use accompanied by the imposition of recommended conditions.
An application for a Special Exception was received in the Development Department on August 21, 2024.