UT: Utilities District Zoning in Kissimmee
The UT: Utilities District in the City of Kissimmee is established to facilitate large-scale utility operations and essential infrastructure while ensuring sufficient acreage and buffering to protect adjacent land uses. Development within the UT District is governed by specific dimensional standards, including a maximum structure height of 60 feet, a 100-foot minimum lot width, and a maximum impervious surface ratio of 80% [Section 14-4-4.S; Table 4-5].
Purpose and Intent
The UT: Utilities District is specifically intended to accommodate both public and private large-scale utility operations within the City of Kissimmee. The City recognizes that such facilities are essential for urban functioning but may have significant impacts on surrounding areas. Consequently, development in the UT District is expected to provide sufficient acreage, open space, and access controls. The district implements the "Utility (UT)" future land use designation as defined in the Kissimmee Comprehensive Plan [Section 14-4-4.S].
General Character
The UT District is categorized as a non-residential zoning district [Section 14-4-4]. Its character is defined by functional infrastructure and public service facilities. Because utility operations often involve specialized equipment, the Kissimmee Land Development Code (LDC) requires specific landscape screening for utility facilities to minimize visual impacts, especially when they are visible from the public right-of-way [Section 14-6-46].
Permitted and Conditional Land Uses
The Kissimmee LDC establishes allowed uses for the UT District through the Schedule of Uses for Non-Residential Standard Districts. Uses not explicitly listed as permitted or conditional are prohibited [Section 14-4-5].
Principal Permitted Uses (P)
- Utility Facilities: Minor utility facilities [Table 4-2].
- Institutional/Public: Libraries, museums, and general public uses [Table 4-2].
- Recreation: Passive recreation areas, indoor private recreation, and active/outdoor recreation [Table 4-2].
- Service/Industrial: Warehouses and medical/law enforcement heliports [Table 4-2].
Conditional Uses (C)
Conditional uses in the UT District are subject to additional review and may require specific conditions to mitigate impacts. Several uses (marked with a footnote in the code) are only permitted on parcels of two acres or more [Table 4-2].
- Commercial: Restaurants and retail sales establishments (2-acre minimum) [Table 4-2].
- Utility/Infrastructure: Major utility facilities, communication towers, and recycling collection centers [Table 4-2].
- Institutional: Hospitals, institutional care facilities, and all levels of schools (elementary, middle, and high) (2-acre minimum) [Table 4-2].
- Transportation: Rail stations and taxi stations [Table 4-2].
- Recreation: Golf courses [Table 4-2].
Development Standards
Development within the UT District must adhere to the following site standards to ensure compatibility with the surrounding urban environment of the City of Kissimmee.
Site Dimensional Standards
| Standard | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Width | 100 feet |
| Minimum Front Setback | 25 feet |
| Minimum Side Setback | 10 feet |
| Minimum Street Side Setback | 25 feet |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 10 feet |
| Maximum Impervious Surface Area | 80% |
| Maximum Structure Height | 60 feet |
[Source: Table 4-5]
Supplemental Regulations
- Minor Utility Screening: Any mechanical equipment intended to serve non-residential districts must be screened with landscaping [Section 14-6-46].
- Mobile Medical Units: These are permitted to be located on property in the UT District for more than two consecutive days, provided they are accessory to a medical establishment and do not encroach into required setbacks [Section 14-6-29.C].
- Parking Ratios: While specific utility ratios are often determined by the Director based on demand, specific uses within the UT District (such as warehouses or offices) must follow the standard ratios in the LDC (e.g., 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA for warehouses) [Section 14-7-22; Table 7-2].
Sections Cited
- Section 14-4-4, Standard zoning districts—Intent
- Section 14-4-5, Schedule of uses for standard zoning districts
- Section 14-4-6, Regulations for zoning districts
- Table 4-2, Schedule of Uses for Non-Residential Standard Districts
- Table 4-5, Site Standards - Non-Residential Districts
- Section 14-6-29, Mobile medical units
- Section 14-6-46, Utility facilities, minor
- Section 14-7-22, Automobile parking ratios
- Table 7-2, Minimum Parking Ratios