Kissimmee Business Park (BP) District Development Guide
The Business Park (BP) District in the City of Kissimmee requires a minimum tract size of five acres and a minimum lot area of 80,000 square feet to foster high-quality, park-like industrial environments. Development in this district is characterized by extensive 40-foot front and rear setbacks and a 45-foot height limit to ensure a professional setting with limited external impacts on the community.
Purpose and Intent
The BP: Business Park District is established by the City of Kissimmee to provide a protective zone specifically designed for the development of industrial and related uses that maintain high aesthetic standards. The Kissimmee Land Development Code (LDC) emphasizes that these areas must have limited objectionable external effects and provide a high-quality setting for commerce [Section 14-4-4.M].
Key objectives for the Business Park District include:
- Unified Planning: Ensuring that large-scale developments are coordinated and cohesive.
- Controlled Access: Regulating ingress and egress to major streets to maintain traffic efficiency.
- Aesthetic Quality: Utilizing extensive setbacks and rigorous screening/landscaping to create a "park-like" atmosphere.
- Environmental Compatibility: Differentiating this zone from more intensive industrial areas by requiring a layout that minimizes the impact on surrounding properties.
Permitted and Conditional Land Uses
The City of Kissimmee allows a variety of professional, industrial, and support uses within the Business Park District, provided they meet the performance standards for noise, vibration, and air pollution.
Principal Permitted Uses
Uses categorized as "Permitted" (P) are allowed by right, subject to site plan review and building permits. Notable permitted uses in the Business Park District include:
- Industrial/Trade: Light and medium manufacturing, wholesale trade establishments, and warehouses [Table 4-2].
- Professional/Commercial: Office establishments, financial institutions, and hotels or motels [Table 4-2].
- Services: Business and personal service establishments, veterinary clinics, and self-storage facilities [Table 4-2].
- Institutional: Churches, educational service establishments, libraries, and museums [Table 4-2].
- Infrastructure: Minor utility facilities and bus depots [Table 4-2].
Conditional Uses
Uses categorized as "Conditional" (C) require additional review by the City of Kissimmee to ensure they do not generate adverse impacts on adjacent properties. Common conditional uses in the Business Park District include:
- Heavy manufacturing.
- Gas stations and drive-through facilities.
- Auto repair facilities (light and heavy).
- Active and passive outdoor recreation.
- Heliports and communication towers.
- Research and development establishments.
Dimensional and Site Standards
The Business Park District features the most substantial lot size and setback requirements among the non-residential districts in Kissimmee to preserve its professional character.
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Tract Size | 5 acres |
| Minimum Lot Area | 80,000 square feet |
| Minimum Lot Width | 200 feet |
| Minimum Lot Depth | 300 feet |
| Maximum Structure Height | 45 feet |
| Maximum Impervious Surface Ratio (ISR) | 85% |
| Minimum Front Setback | 40 feet |
| Minimum Side Setback | 25 feet |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 40 feet |
| Minimum Street Side Setback | 25 feet |
[Table 4-5]
General Character and Performance Requirements
Development within the BP: Business Park District must adhere to specific performance standards to maintain its "protective zone" status.
Manufacturing and Repair Enclosure
All manufacturing and repair activities conducted within 300 feet of a residential district in Kissimmee must be housed within completely enclosed buildings. If a process is located more than 300 feet from a residential district, it may be located outdoors only if granted conditional use approval and is screened by a solid wall or fence at least six feet in height [Table 4-2, Footnote 6].
Landscaping and Buffers
The Business Park District requires a 25-foot wide landscaped strip along every public and private street or right-of-way, which is the most intensive requirement for any non-residential district in Kissimmee [Section 14-8-17]. Additionally, if the district is located along limited-access highways or railroads, a continuous decorative masonry wall (or berm/wall combination) at least six feet in height must be provided [Section 14-8-17.B.1].
Prohibited External Impacts
The Kissimmee LDC mandates that Business Park developments meet strict performance standards regarding:
- Vibration: Maximum ground-transmitted vibration is restricted to a particle velocity of 0.20 inches per second at the property line [Section 14-6-52].
- Glare: Site lighting must be designed to avoid impairing the vision of motorists or causing glare into residential neighborhoods [Section 14-6-51].
- Storage: Outdoor storage area shall not exceed ten percent of the total lot area and must be completely screened from view [Section 14-6-12].
Sections Cited
- Section 14-4-4.M: Standard zoning districts—Intent (Business Park District)
- Section 14-4-5: Schedule of uses for standard zoning districts
- Table 4-2: Schedule of Uses for Non-Residential Standard Districts
- Table 4-5: Site Standards - Non-Residential Districts
- Section 14-6-12: Outdoor storage
- Section 14-6-51: Glare
- Section 14-6-52: Vibration
- Section 14-8-17: Landscaping and buffers along rights-of-way