In an effort to enhance our resiliency, Fort Lauderdale is exploring integrating principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ into the Landscape and Tree Preservation Requirements of the City's Unified Land Development Regulations (Section 47-21).  We invite neighbors to attend a public workshop to learn more and provide input. 

Open-House Meeting

City staff will provide an overview of the proposed language revisions that will further support the City’s sustainability practices and goals. Landscape architects, designers, developers, engineers, and neighbors are invited to attend.

Open-House Meeting
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
5:00 - 6:30 pm • City Hall, First Floor Commission Chambers
100 North Andrews Avenue • Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Summary of Proposed Ordinance Amendments to Incorporate FFL Principles

Proposed Amendments re: FFL to ULDR 47-21 

For more details, contact Adrienne Ehle at aehle@fortlauderdale.gov or (954) 828-5798.

Summary of Proposed Ordinance Amendments to Incorporate Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Principles

The proposed Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ ordinance includes revisions and criteria which encourages nationally-recognized Florida-Friendly landscape (FFL) principles as language to be incorporated into the City of Fort Lauderdale Code of Ordinances, Chapter 47 Unified Land Development Regulations (ULDR), ARTICLE III. - DEVELOPMENT REQUIREMENTS Section 47-21. LANDSCAPE AND TREE PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS.

By increasing the amount of trees and plants which are adapted to the local climate, the resilience of landscaping citywide will be improved and the amount of irrigation water required to maintain healthy landscapes will be reduced.

Included within this proposed language are revisions that reflect the following main points:

Updated terminology to be current with Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles and landscape industry standards, and improved irrigation practices.

• Deleted outdated references which were replaced with more current, industry terminology commonly used in practice today.
• Replaced the outdated term "xeriscaping" with "Florida-Friendly Landscaping™."
• Replaced where applicable, the measurement term "diameter" with "caliper."
• Deleted the term "at breast height" and replaced with "caliper." Landscape industry professionals, such as suppliers and designers, refer to "caliper" which is typically measured at purchase.
• Created an irrigation section to provide guidance on planning and installation of more efficient systems.

Improved alignment with existing Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Broward County criteria.

• Referenced Broward County ordinance as the basis for revisions (Volume II, Chapter 39 Zoning, Article VIII. Landscaping for Protection of Water Quality and Quantity).
• Referenced species and terms identified within the Florida-friendly Plant Database2 as developed by the Florida Springs Initiative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
• Allowed for more consistency for property owners and developers to understand ordinances used throughout cities within Broward County.

Upgraded criteria to reflect standards that further support sustainability principles and preservation of the tree canopy.

• Clarified statement of intent and definitions to be purposeful and focused toward sustainability.
• Increased the total amount of FFL required per property from 40% FFL of total landscape required to 50% FFL.
• Reduced the tree size threshold for requiring a City permit for tree removal. Revised from a caliper of equal to or greater than twelve (12) inches, to be equal to or greater than eight (8) inches at true caliper.

Next Steps and Tentative Timeline Revised Ordinance Amendments Review and Approval

Public review and comment on proposed Ordinance Revisions to Incorporate Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles into the
ULDR Section 47-21. LANDSCAPE AND TREE PRESERVATION REQUIREMENTS.

• Open House: Tuesday, October 14, 2014, 5:00 PM
• Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations, Tuesday, October 14, 2014, 7:00 PM
• Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB), Wednesday, October 27, 2014, 6:30 PM
• Planning and Zoning Board Meeting Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 6:30 PM (Planning Zoning Board review and recommendation to the City Commission.)
• City Commission Regular Meeting: Public Hearing (Reading 1)
• City Commission Regular Meeting: Final Adoption Hearing (Reading 2)