…title
ITEM: ORDINANCE NO. 2025-30 (BUILDING HEIGHT ZTA)
AN ORDINANCE OF WELLINGTON, FLORIDA’S COUNCIL, AMENDING ARTICLE 5, TABLE 5.1.2-1, DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION APPROVALS, RELATED TO BUILDING HEIGHT APPLICATION TYPES; TO ADD SECTION 5.3.11 RELATING TO BUILDING HEIGHT; TO AMEND ARTICLE 6, SECTION 6.3.1.F.5, RELATED TO BUILDING HEIGHT APPLICATIONS IN EXCESS OF 35 FEET; PROVIDING A CONFLICTS CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
REQUEST: Approval of Ordinance No. 2025-30 to amend Table 5.1.2-1, Development Application Approvals, related to Building Height application types; to add Section 5.3.11 relating to Building Height, and to amend Section 6.3.1.F.5 relating to Building Height applications in excess of 35 feet.
…body
EXPLANATION: Staff is seeking approval of a zoning text amendment to various sections within the Land Development Regulations related to approval of building height requests. Various amendments to building height regulations have been made throughout the years including the following:
- Ordinance No. 2016-20: Building height exclusions within the Equestrian Overlay Zoning District
- Ordinance No. 2019-06: Building height limitations for properties within a multi-family residential Future Land Use designation.
The current approval process requires all building height requests over 35 feet to be approved by Council. As part of the application, proposed building elevations and renderings must be submitted for review by Council and included in the agenda packet. Once the building height increase is approved by Council, the applicant is then required to get approval from the Architectural Review Board for all elevations, materials, and colors. The issue that is occurring is that this review may result in modifications to the building that was already approved by Council.
There has been an increase in the number of requests for approval of buildings in excess of 35 feet throughout the Village. Staff is requesting modifications to the review process of building height applications to require ARB review and recommendation of building height applications prior to approval by Council, much like EPC and PZAB make recommendations on various other applications. This will ensure all multi-family and non-residential buildings continue to be reviewed by ARB, but also, no changes will be made to the elevations after Council approves them.
Modifications to the criteria required for additional building height have also been made, including clarification and elimination of additional landscape requirements as they are already provided elsewhere in the code.
On October 15, 2025, Wellington’s Planning, Zoning and Adjustment Board (PZAB) recommended approval of the text amendment with a 7 - 0 vote.
BUDGET AMENDMENT REQUIRED: NO
PUBLIC HEARING: YES QUASI-JUDICIAL: NO (Legislative)
FIRST READING: YES SECOND READING: NO
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: YES
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
WELLINGTON FUNDAMENTAL: Responsive Government
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of Ordinance No. 2025-30 to amend Table 5.1.2-1, Development Application Approvals, related to Building Height application types; to add Section 5.3.11 relating to Building Height, and to amend Section 6.3.1.F.5 relating to Building Height applications in excess of 35 feet.