Alternative Mobility Areas (AMA) became effective August 31, 2009. Roadway concurrency no longer applies to development located in an AMA. Instead, development now has the opportunity to create more user-friendly projects that mutually benefit on-site mobility and mobility in the surrounding area.
Alternative mobility standards allow projects to customize the development site to create a "best fit" that matches the mobility needs of all users to the unique conditions of the site. For instance, if the neighboring development has an abutting sidewalk and crosswalk leading to the entrance, this site can build a sidewalk and crosswalk to it, allowing pedestrians easy access between the developments.
The alternative mobility standards are limited to the areas identified as AMAs in the Orange County Comprehensive Plan. See Alternative Mobility Area Maps link below.
Please see the following for more information on Alternative Mobility Standards:
Effective August 31, 2009, proposed development located in an Alternative Mobility Area, as shown on the maps linked below, shall comply with the Alternative Mobility Standards requirements. Roadway Concurrency no longer applies in the Alternative Mobility Areas.
Applicant's Responsibility:
1. Determine if the parcel is located in an Alternative Mobility Area in one of the following ways:
A. Review the maps on this webpage. B. Use InfoMap, Orange County's interactive mapping feature. C. Ask a County staff member for assistance. D. Contact the Transportation Planning Division at 407-836-8070.
If the parcel is located in an Alternative Mobility Area, the Applicant shall provide:
3. The basic mobility features required of all development located in an Alternative Mobility Area (see Mobility Standards section for more information).
4. The number of Mobility Standards based on the project's trip generation.
Note: Mobility Standards do not apply if the proposed development generates fewer than 10 new average daily trips. County staff from the Transportation Planning Division is available to assist with this determination (407-836-8070).
A Planning Context Assessment Study (PCAS) shall be submitted with proposed projects located in an Alternative Mobility Area. A PCAS is a map and accompanying information that show the proposed development in the context of the surrounding area, depicting existing transportation facilities and the transportation facilities proposed to be provided.
In most cases, much of the information needed for a PCAS has already been gathered for the project and may be simply noted by reference. Other information for the PCAS may often be obtained from public sources, such as Orange County's InfoMap GIS Interactive Mapping feature.
The PCAS will show the development site in relation to transit routes and stops, adjacent parcels, streets, sidewalks, pedestrian paths and bicycle paths, along with the proposed circulation network and connections to transit stops.
You may contact the Transportation Planning Division at 407-836-8070 for assistance.
Mobility Standards are the options that an applicant may use to improve on-site mobility and in the surrounding area when seeking development approval. Where appropriate, all development will provide the following basic mobility features:
• Sidewalk connections from the development to public sidewalks along the development frontage • Closure of excessive or duplicative curb cuts or narrowing of overly wide curb cuts at the site • On-site pedestrian circulation connecting buildings and parking areas at the site • Where appropriate and feasible, cross-access connections/easements or joint driveways • Where appropriate and feasible, land or easements for construction of public sidewalks, bus turn-out facilities and/or bus shelters
The project will also provide the number of Mobility Standards based on the net, new trips the project generates. Projects generating fewer than 10 net, new trips do not need to meet the mobility standards.
It is likely that many proposed developments will already meet some, and possibly all, mobility standards. Orange County staff members will work with applicants, as needed, to meet the mobility standards for a given project.
You may contact the Transportation Planning Division at 407-836-8070 for assistance.
Simply put, what is this Alternative Mobility procedure all about? Orange County now has 4 Alternative Mobility Areas in which transportation concurrency no longer applies; instead, development projects will include features that make it easier and more convenient for people to get around by walking, cycling or taking a bus, in addition to driving.
Why is this being called an Interim procedure? Orange County is a Dense Urban Land Area, according to Senate Bill 360, which took effect June 1, 2009. Within two years, the County must adopt a Mobility Plan which will include mobility procedures that will replace this interim procedure.
Is Interim Mobility a separate process from other land development processes? No. The Interim Mobility procedure fits into existing land development review and approval processes, so it will not lengthen the time it takes for development approval. Applicants will need to provide the Planning Context Assessment Study and include the required number of mobility standards in their project.
What is an Alternative Mobility Area or AMA? An AMA is one of the four areas of Orange County exempt from transportation concurrency that are subject to the Interim Mobility procedure. Maps of the AMAs are available on this webpage.
Is Transportation Concurrency still in effect? Transportation Concurrency still applies to development located outside the four Alternative Mobility Areas.
What is a Mobility Standard? A Mobility Standard is one of several options that an applicant seeking development approval for a project may include to enhance mobility. Mobility Standards are listed in Transportation Element Policy T2.3.7.
What is a Planning Context Assessment Study? It is a map and accompanying information that show the proposed development in the context of the surrounding area, depicting existing transportation facilities and the transportation facilities proposed to be provided.
Do these new requirements apply to my project? Generally speaking, the Alternative Mobility requirements apply to the following types of projects that are located within an AMA:
Future Land Use Map Amendments
Projects that go to the DRC (Development Review Committee). These include:
Land Use Plans (LUP)
LUP Amendments
Development Plans (DP)
Preliminary Subdivision Plans (PSP)
P&Z Rezoning Cases (Planning & Zoning Commission)
BZA Cases (Board of Zoning Adjustment)
Commercial Site Plans
These mobility requirements do not apply if the proposed development generates fewer than 10 new average daily trips. For example, a single family house would not need to meet these requirements.
Are there some requirements that all development must meet? Unless the project generates fewer than 10 new average daily trips, all development in an AMA must provide the items listed in Transportation Element Policy T2.3.6. These are summarized here:
Sidewalk connections from the development to public sidewalks along the development frontage
Closure of excessive or duplicative curb cuts or narrowing of overly wide curb cuts at the site
On-site pedestrian circulation connecting buildings and parking areas at the site
Where appropriate and feasible, cross-access connections/easements or joint driveways
Where appropriate and feasible, land or easements for construction of public sidewalks, bus turn-out facilities and/or bus shelters
How do the new requirements differ from before? Previously, a project would need to show that adequate capacity was available on the roads serving the development to be approved, as per Orange County's Concurrency Management Ordinance. Now, developments in the AMAs no longer need to show adequate road capacity. Instead, improvements proposed by the developer that target any transportation mode are enough to allow the project to move forward.
How many Mobility Standards will my project need to meet? The number of standards to meet is based on the number of new average daily trips the project generates. (Projects generating fewer than 10 new trips do not need to meet the mobility standard requirements.)
New average daily trips Mobility Standards to meet
0 to 9 0
10 to 49 1
50 to 99 3
100 to 399 5
400 to 999 7
1,000 to 4,999 12
5,000 or greater 18 and be on an existing transit route or provide funding for a new transit route
How are the project's new average daily trips determined? County staff from the Transportation Planning Division can calculate trip generation or can verify a calculation provided by an applicant (407-836-8070). Only new trips are counted. If the project is a redevelopment of - or addition to - an existing development, the trips generated by the existing development are subtracted from the new development's trip generation to arrive at an estimate of new trips.
How can I meet Mobility Standards? The best way to meet Mobility Standards is to include features that enhance mobility and note where they are on your site plan. Depending on your site, items in one category may count toward more than one standard.
Additional information about Mobility Standards is available on this webpage.
How will I know if the Mobility Standards I propose for my project are acceptable to the County? The Planning Context Assessment Study will guide applicants in choosing acceptable Mobility Standards. Early consultation with County staff members from the Transportation Planning Division (407-836-8070) or the Growth Management Department Planning Division (407-836-5600) is also recommended.
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