Melbourne Ordinance 2026-34: City Council Second Reading on Outdoor Entertainment Venue Zoning, October 27

Summary

The Melbourne City Council held the first reading and public hearing on Ordinance No. 2026-34 on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The city's summary of action says the ordinance was approved and that the second reading and public hearing will be advertised for the October 27 meeting. The ordinance would amend City Code Appendix B, Articles II, III, and V. It would create a new zoning district called OEV, Outdoor Entertainment Venue District. The case number is TEXT2026-0011.

When and Where

The first reading was item 14 under New Business on the October 13, 2026 City Council agenda. That meeting started at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber at 900 E. Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901. The city's summary of action states that the second reading and public hearing will be advertised for the October 27 meeting.

What an Outdoor Entertainment Venue Is

The draft ordinance defines an outdoor entertainment venue as a permanent open-air facility or development whose principal use is programmed public entertainment or spectator events. It defines an outdoor entertainment venue development as land developed as a single entity, or in approved stages under a development plan, to provide a variety of outdoor entertainment facilities, venues, compatible complimentary uses, and common open space.

Why the City Proposed It

The City Manager's item report and the draft ordinance state that on July 22, 2025, City Council directed staff to bring forward land development regulations related to permitting "fairground" type uses. Staff engaged Inspire Placemaking Collective, Inc. The report says the work covered large-scale public and semi-public gathering facilities, such as fairgrounds, music venues, arenas, and similar uses.

The Community Development memorandum dated October 1, 2026, says many outdoor events now take place in Melbourne's parks and can create parking, traffic, and noise effects for nearby neighborhoods. It also says the zoning code does not readily address where outdoor entertainment venues would be permitted.

What Ordinance 2026-34 Would Change

Based on the draft ordinance and staff materials in the October 13 agenda packet, the main changes are these.

• Article II would add definitions for outdoor entertainment venue and outdoor entertainment venue development.

• Article III would add the OEV district and allow OEV zoning under General Commercial, Heavy Commercial, Recreation, Public/Institutional, and Industrial future land use categories.

• Article V would create district regulations for OEV developments, including uses, base standards, required studies, and the rezoning and site plan process.

Base Development Standards

The ordinance sets base standards for any OEV development.

• Minimum site size of 20 acres.

• Minimum lot frontage of 100 feet on an arterial or collector roadway.

• A 25-foot-wide perimeter vegetative buffer. Allowed improvements in the buffer are limited to driveway crossings, pedestrian connections, fences and walls, stormwater, utilities, signage, or entrance ornamentation.

• Building setbacks of 50 feet for principal structures and 25 feet for accessory structures on the front, side, and rear.

• A minimum distance of 1,500 feet from single-family residential zoning or use, and 1,000 feet from multifamily residential zoning or use, measured from the principal permanent outdoor entertainment venue.

The ordinance also requires at least two full access points from an arterial or collector roadway. Direct access from a local residential street is prohibited.

Required Studies and Plans

The draft standards require these items with the submittal.

• A traffic impact study prepared by a certified traffic engineer.

• A preliminary lighting photometric plan.

• A preliminary noise study prepared by a professional acoustic consultant, covering adjacent properties and residential uses or zoning within 1,500 feet of the site.

• A preliminary operation, management, and security plan covering hours of operation, noise, crowd and traffic control, life safety, parking, maintenance, and security.

Final versions of those studies and plans would be required at engineering construction plan submittal.

Permitted and Prohibited Uses

Permanent principal facilities listed in the draft include bandshells, arenas, stadiums, fairgrounds, outdoor theaters, rodeo grounds, hotels, restaurants and brewpubs, and retail. Permanent unimproved facilities may include a grass event lawn and open flex space. Permitted services include live performances, concerts, fairs, festivals, exhibitions, cultural events, carnivals, circuses, sporting events, and antique or vintage road shows.

Accessory uses listed in the draft include administrative and security offices, on-site alcohol sales under Chapter 6, expo halls, grandstands, maintenance and medical facilities, event-related merchandise sales, mobile food vehicles only during events, pavilions, dining areas, restrooms, ticket booths, tot lots, and training facilities.

Prohibited uses include animal or livestock markets, flea markets, auction facilities, barn facilities, horse tracks, overnight camping or RV sites, and racetracks.

How a Project Would Be Approved

Use of the OEV district requires a rezoning to OEV together with a formal site plan. Staff would review the site plan. The Planning and Zoning Board would hear it. City Council would decide it with the second reading of the zoning map amendment. Title to all land in the proposed site must be owned or controlled by the developer. Abandonment would require a written request to the city and would revert the OEV zoning to the previous zoning.

Planning and Zoning Board Recommendation

According to the Community Development memorandum and a Planning and Zoning Board memorandum dated September 18, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Board on September 17, 2026, voted unanimously to recommend approval of TEXT2026-0011. The findings cite consistency with the City's Comprehensive Plan, including Future Land Use Element Objective 1.22 and Policy 1.22.2.

Business Impact Estimate

The city's Business Impact Estimate, dated October 2, 2026, is provided under Section 166.041(4), Florida Statutes. It says the ordinance expands a use that is not wholly recognized in Melbourne City Code today. Costs would fall on entities seeking a large-scale gathering facility and would include rezoning at least 20 acres to OEV, a possible Future Land Use amendment, required studies, engineering plans, and building permits. The estimate says it is unlikely that more than one or two such projects will occur in the immediate future.

What Happens Next

The ordinance states that it becomes effective immediately upon adoption in accordance with the City Charter. The City Manager's item report asked Council to approve Ordinance No. 2026-34 based on the Planning and Zoning Board findings. The October 13 summary of action states that first reading was approved and that the second reading and public hearing will be advertised for the October 27 meeting.

How to Take Part

Anyone who wants to be heard can follow the city's published notice for the October 27 second reading and public hearing. The October 13 first reading was held at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber at 900 E. Strawbridge Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901.

Official Sources

City Council Agenda, October 13, 2026

City Council Agenda Packet, October 13, 2026 (item C.14 staff report, Planning and Zoning Board memorandum, draft Ordinance No. 2026-34, and Business Impact Estimate)

Summary of Action, October 13, 2026

Meeting page on the city's CivicClerk portal

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice.