Sec. 30.104. - Functions.

The Department shall: (a) Conduct research studies, collect, compile and analyze socioeconomic data and prepare maps, charts and tables necessary for the accomplishment of its other functions and for use by governmental and private entities. (b) Assist the Planning Commission in the exercise of its responsibilities as the designated local planning agency on behalf of the City under the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act in the preparation, evaluation, review and amendment of the Comprehensive Plan. (c) Review proposed site locations for public facilities and other matters related to land use and area planning which are referred to the Department by the Mayor, other executive departments and agencies, the Council or an independent agency and submit to the referring agency an opinion on the referred matter within a reasonable time or as otherwise specified in the Code. (d) Review and approve proposed site plans for subdivisions, mobile home parks, multi-family residential structures, more than one principal structure on a lot and structures of 40,000 square feet gross floor area or larger. (e) Assist the Planning Commission in the exercise of its responsibilities under Part 6, Chapter 122 , Section 126.105 and other laws. (f) Administer, interpret and enforce the comprehensive plan, and assist and make recommendations to the Planning Commission in the preparation, evaluation and review of the comprehensive plan for the City, and amendments and modifications thereto, as required by Chapter 650 . (g) Administer, interpret and enforce the Zoning Code and receive, review and make recommendations upon requests for exceptions, variances and waivers to the Zoning Code, grant administrative deviations to the Zoning Code and provide technical staff assistance to the Planning Commission, the Council and its committees with respect to the rezoning of land and, through the Director, make recommendations to the Council and its committees on matters related to zoning. (h) Prepare capital improvement programs and assist the Planning Commission in the preparation of the Capital Improvements Element of the Comprehensive Plan. (i) Coordinate comprehensive plans for the generation and transmission of electricity and water and sewer services to assure consistency with comprehensive planning. (j) Prepare, monitor and update all short-, medium- and long-range plans for the following: (1) The use of land and water areas and air space for residential, commercial, industrial and other purposes. (2) The general location and development of educational, recreational and other public facilities. (3) Housing, neighborhood conservation and urban renewal. (4) Growth concepts and management, plan implementation and intragovernmental coordination. (k) Coordinate the extension and expansion of water and sewer lines and facilities with JEA. (l) Coordinate and, except as would be accomplished by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Jacksonville Seaport Authority or the Jacksonville Airport Authority, prepare, maintain or coordinate plans for all modes of transportation, including: (1) The general location and character of streets, viaducts, bridges, parkways and public parking areas. (2) The development of a comprehensive system of arterial highways. (3) The development of public mass transit systems. (4) The location of bus, truck and railroad terminals and facilities. (5) The development of air fields, air terminals and related facilities necessary for the accommodation of private and commercial air traffic. (m) Develop plans for bikeways, walkways, scenic routes and trails, access management and transportation studies. (n) Prepare comprehensive plans for the development of port facilities, the improvement of natural waterways and artificial channels and the identification of dredge spoil areas. (o) Provide administrative and planning staff services to the Planning Commission and, pursuant to staff services agreements, to regional planning bodies affecting the City and to other governmental units. (p) Provide planning services to the Office of Economic Development and the Jacksonville Housing and Community Development Commission. (q) Review all project planning proposals of executive departments and independent agencies prior to the commencement of any work. (r) Prepare planning assessments pursuant to Section 122.609. (s) Maintain past and current data relating to population, employment, the economy, land use and other statistical areas for use by public agencies and private individuals, firms and organizations. (t) Be responsible for administration and implementation with respect to all agreements for which the Department has accepted responsibility, including consultants' agreements, interlocal agreements to which the City is a party, interagency agreements to provide administrative, technical or professional staff services for other governmental agencies and grant agreements. (u) As requested by the Council, advise the Council with regard to the decennial reapportionment plan for Council districts. (v) Prepare, print and distribute reports, studies and other documents in connection with its planning and review functions. (w) Advise governmental units and the public on planning matters within the scope of its duties. (x) Provide administrative and planning staff services to the Historic Preservation Commission. (y) Perform such other functions as may from time to time be assigned or delegated to it by law or the Mayor. (z) Coordinate with the Downtown Investment Authority Chief Executive Officer regarding planning, permitting and development Downtown. Such areas shall include, but not be limited to, the Historic Preservation Section, Development of Regional Impact Coordinator, and the Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator. (aa) Coordinate, develop, refine, and integrate the resilience policies and practices for the City. (bb) Develop and coordinate the City's Resiliency Strategy across all departments. (cc) Coordinate high-priority resilience projects, including securing funding for resiliency initiatives, monitoring, and reporting progress on those projects. (Ord. 80-431-388, § 1; Ord. 83-591-400, § 1; Ord. 90-765-354, § 5; Ord. 98-678-E, § 1; Ord. 2002-714-E, § 1; Ord. 2003-1058-E, § 13; Ord. 2007-398-E, § 1; Ord. 2011-732-E, § 19; Ord. 2014-560-E , § 7; Ord. 2016-140-E , § 16; Ord. 2020-672-E , § 1; Ord. 2025-30-E , § 5) Editor's note— See Ord. 80-431-388, § 16 for provisions relating to succession to duties, powers and functions of the Jacksonville Area Planning Board by the Department, the Planning Commission, the Director of Planning or other officer, employee or component of the Department. See §§ 19, 20 of said ordinance for provisions relating to review of planning functions in other agencies and to a sunset review of the Department by a special committee of the Council. Note— Ord. 78-256-271 (AICUZ) was invalidated by Fountain v. City of Jacksonville , 447 So2d 353 (D.C.A. 1, 1984). Editor's note— Ordinance 2007-839-E, § 18, authorized updated department/division names pursuant to reorganization. Note— Former § 21.104 .