Allowed and Prohibited Uses in the VC: Village Center District of Orlando

The VC: Village Center District in Orlando is established as a core commercial and residential destination hub within the Southeast Orlando Sector Plan (SEOSP) area. The Orlando Code of Ordinances permits a diverse mix of shops, services, restaurants, and civic facilities within the district, provided they are accompanied by significant medium to high-intensity residential development.

Purpose and Character of the VC District

The VC: Village Center District is intended to serve as a primary destination for the surrounding residential neighborhoods in the City of Orlando [Section 58.491]. While it supports a similar mix of uses to the VC/UTC (Urban Transit Center) designation, the VC: Village Center District is characterized by the Orlando Code of Ordinances as being more auto-oriented in its design and implementation [Section 58.491]. Development within the VC: Village Center District must adhere to the specific land use and traditional design standards set forth in the Southeast Orlando Sector Plan [Section 58.493].

Land Use Allowances

The following table outlines the general and specific categories of land uses permitted within the VC: Village Center District of Orlando according to the provided text.

Use Category	Permission Status	Reference Section
Retail Shops	Allowed	Section 58.491
Personal and Business Services	Allowed	Section 58.491
Restaurants and Dining	Allowed	Section 58.491
Civic and Community Facilities	Allowed	Section 58.491
Medium Intensity Residential	Allowed (Required)	Section 58.491
High Intensity Residential	Allowed (Required)	Section 58.491
Light Retailing	Allowed	Section 58.873
Medical Marijuana Dispensaries	Allowed (Subject to separation)	Section 58.873

Specific Use Standards for Medical Marijuana

Within the Southeast Orlando Sector Plan, the City of Orlando categorizes medical marijuana dispensaries as a "light retailing" use, making them an allowable use in the VC: Village Center District [Section 58.873]. However, these facilities are subject to strict locational prohibitions and operational restrictions.

Prohibitions and Distance Restrictions

The Orlando Code of Ordinances mandates that such uses must maintain specific distances from sensitive areas to remain in compliance within the VC: Village Center District.

Action or Feature	Restriction / Prohibition	Reference Section
Distance from Residential	Prohibited within 200 feet of a residential land use within the SEOSP	Section 58.874
Distance from Schools/Parks	Prohibited within 1,000 feet of a school, park, or religious institution	Section 58.874
Drive-Through Facilities	Prohibited for use with any medical marijuana dispensary	Section 58.875
Proximity to Competitors	Prohibited within 5,280 feet of another dispensary	Section 58.874
General Public Welfare	Prohibited within 1,000 feet of a treatment or recovery facility	Section 58.874

Additional Development Standards

Land use in the VC: Village Center District is unique because it must follow the "Traditional Design" standards of the Southeast Orlando Sector Plan [Section 58.493]. The Orlando Code of Ordinances requires that development applications in this district include a "significant amount" of residential units, emphasizing a high-density, mixed-use environment rather than isolated commercial centers [Section 58.491].

Sections Cited