§ 23.2-18. Annexations and initial zoning.

a)

Authority for annexations. The boundaries and corporate limits of the City of Lake Worth now existing may be amended from time to time, as provided by law, to extend to the ultimate municipal boundaries as shown on the future land use map.

b)

Rule. The owner of land may seek the annexation of contiguous property under his ownership. The city may initiate an annexation of private property if said right has been delegated via provisions of a water service agreement or other agreement to that end. Further, the city may initiate annexation of property pursuant to Florida Statutes.

c)

Required information. A request for voluntary annexation shall be in the form of a petition to the development review official in which a request for annexation is made. The petition must identify the property to be annexed by legal description and must state the desired zoning. A voluntary annexation petition must be accompanied by a zoning or future land use application. In addition to information required for the zoning or future land use action, an exhibit, prepared by a licensed surveyor, which shows the points of contiguity, shall be provided. Requirements for non-voluntary annexations are found in the applicable sections of F.S. Ch. 171.

d)

Procedure. The voluntary annexation petition shall be considered with the application and shall be subject to these LDR procedures. For voluntary annexations, prior to second reading of the enacting ordinance by the city commission, notice of the annexation shall be published pursuant to Florida Statutes. All annexations require a recommendation of the planning and zoning board, and shall be processed pursuant to applicable requirements of F.S. Ch. 171.

e)

Findings. The planning and zoning board and city commission must make findings that the annexation is consistent with the comprehensive plan, including any proposed future land use map designation, and complies with F.S. Ch. 171.

f)

Public notice. Public notice shall be provided as required by these LDRs for the zoning or future land use map application and as provided for in F.S. Ch. 171.

g)

Zoning. At the time of a voluntary annexation, a zoning district shall be applied to the property in a manner consistent with the proposed future land use map designation and the comprehensive plan. To this end, a petition for voluntary annexation shall be processed concurrently with a zoning petition. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under unique circumstances as determined by the city commission a parcel of land may be annexed with county zoning and then be rezoned, at a later date for a zoning district more appropriate to the future land use map. The current county future land use map designation and zoning district shall remain in effect until adoption of city future land use map designation and zoning district for the property. The application for assignment of city future land use map designation or zoning district may be initiated by the city or the property owner.