Off-Street Parking and Design Standards for the MXD-1 Mixed Residential Office District
In the MXD-1 Mixed Residential Office District, the City of Orlando strictly prohibits the provision of off-street parking that exceeds the minimum required number of spaces for office uses to prevent excessive paving. Mixed-use developments within this district must locate parking facilities and building entrances away from adjacent residential areas to preserve neighborhood character [Section 62.305]. Additionally, the City of Orlando requires all driveway approaches and curbcuts for projects in the MXD-1: Mixed Residential Office District to comply with the specific multifamily residential standards set forth in the municipal code [Section 62.305].
General Parking Limitations in the MXD-1 District
The City of Orlando designates the MXD-1: Mixed Residential Office District as a transitional zone where pedestrian orientation is prioritized over vehicular infrastructure. Under the Appearance Review Standards, the following specific regulations apply to parking and paving:
- Prohibition of Excessive Parking: The City of Orlando code mandates that excessive parking or paving surfaces must be avoided. Specifically, developers are forbidden from providing more than the minimum required number of parking spaces for office components in mixed-use projects [Section 62.305].
- Driveway Design: All driveway approaches and curbcuts must be designed in accordance with the City of Orlando's multifamily residential driveway standards [Section 62.305].
- Entrance Orientation: To minimize the impact of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on neighboring homes, the principal entrances to offices must be oriented away from adjacent residential areas [Section 62.305].
- Visibility Restrictions: No parking spaces may be located within the "Street Corner Visibility Area" to ensure safe sightlines at intersections [Section 60.143].
Parking Removal for Landscaping Compliance
If a building site in the MXD-1: Mixed Residential Office District requires the addition of bufferyards or landscaping to meet City of Orlando code requirements, the Zoning Official is authorized to approve the removal of a limited number of existing parking spaces. The following table dictates the maximum number of spaces that may be removed for this purpose:
| Number of Required Spaces on Building Site | Maximum Spaces Permitted for Removal |
|---|---|
| 1—6 spaces | None |
| 7—15 spaces | 1 space |
| 16—35 spaces | 2 spaces |
| 36—70 spaces | 3 spaces |
| 71+ spaces | 5% of total required spaces |
Source: [Section 58.1182]
Standards for Specific Mixed-Use Scenarios
The City of Orlando provides certain exemptions or additional requirements based on the specific type of land use within the MXD-1: Mixed Residential Office District:
Personal Storage Facilities
When a personal storage facility is proposed as part of a mixed-use development in the MXD-1: Mixed Residential Office District, the first 1,500 square feet of the "additional principal use" (such as a retail or service component) is exempt from both minimum and maximum parking space requirements [Section 58.774].
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
For residential projects in the MXD-1: Mixed Residential Office District that include an Accessory Dwelling Unit, the City of Orlando requires specific parking provisions:
- Principal Structure: The site must maintain at least one parking space and a driveway that complied with the code at the time of original construction [Section 58.501].
- ADU Parking: If the ADU is 500 square feet or smaller, no additional parking space is required. If the ADU exceeds 500 square feet, one additional parking space must be provided, which must be independently accessible and located at least 20 feet from the street side lot line [Section 58.501].
Home Occupations
For residents operating a home occupation within the MXD-1: Mixed Residential Office District, all vehicles used for the business must be parked in legal off-street parking spaces. These vehicles are prohibited from parking on unimproved surfaces or within the public right-of-way [Section 58.938].
Sections Cited
- Section 58.501, Design Standards for Accessory Dwelling Units.
- Section 58.774, Conditional Use Standards.
- Section 58.938, Performance and Design Requirements.
- Section 58.1182, Removal of Parking Spaces to Achieve Compliance.
- Section 60.143, Development Restrictions.
- Section 62.305, General Standards (MXD-1).