With the passage of the General Obligation Bond by the voters of the City in 2018, the City has undertaken a comprehensive review of its parks, library, fire stations and community facilities. As the master planning efforts have evolved, the need for flexibility in locating the new facilities and buildings has become evident.
Specifically, the development of the City Park site, which will house a new library/cultural center and various park amenities at the current site of Collins Community Center, Fire Station 9 and the City’s Public Works facility necessitates the relocation of Fire Station 9 to the northwest corner of Park Lane East and NE 6 Avenue, on a portion of the Stevens Field site which is currently occupied by a pavilion and parking spaces. Stevens Field is currently designated as Parks & Recreation on the city’s Future Land Use Plan.
This proposed text amendment to the permitted use language in the Comprehensive Plan is necessary in order to allow Community Facility uses under the Park & Recreation land use designation category of the city plan. Presently, the Park & Recreation land use designation category does not contain such language.
The text amendment language proposed is consistent with and is in compliance with both the goals, objectives and policies of BrowardNext and the City’s Comprehensive Plan. The proposed language is same language found in the “Permitted Uses” section of BrowardNext. The text amendment language would add Civic and Cultural Buildings as a permitted use and add Community Facilities that are publicly owned and promote health, safety, and welfare provided minimum open space requirements of 3 acres per 1,000 existing or future residents is maintained, no more than 5 acres are used for the facility, and sufficient and functional open space serving area residents would be retained.
Applicable Codes (additions shown as underlined):
Section 10. Land Use Implementation
Section 3. Zoning as to Permitted Uses and Densities
E. Each parcel of land within an area designated in a Park and Recreation Land Use category by the city’s Land Use Plan Map must be zoned in an open space or park and recreation zoning district which permits one or more of the following uses, but no other uses:
1. Passive recreational uses, including, but not limited to nature centers and trails, scenic areas, wildlife sanctuaries and feeding stations, aquatic preserves, and picnic areas.
2. Golf courses which are intended to remain permanent open space.
3. Camping ground and facilities.
4. Cemeteries.
5. Active recreational uses, including, but not limited to tennis courts, playgrounds, swimming pools, athletic fields and courts, beaches and bikeways.
6. Boat ramps and docks.
7. Outdoor cultural, educational and civic facilities, including, but not limited to animal exhibits, habitats, bandshells and outdoor classrooms.
8. Concessions only when accessory to the above uses. Examples of such concessions are refreshment stands, pro shops, souvenir shops and rental facilities.
9. Civic and cultural buildings may be permitted if they are ancillary to the primary recreation use of the site.
10. Community facilities and utility uses, up to five (5) acres, provided that the:
a. Community facility and/or utility uses are publicly owned and intended to serve a public purpose to promote health, safety and welfare;
b. The City of Oakland Park meets the minimum open space requirement of 3 acres per 1,000 existing and projected permanent residents;
c. The proposed community facility or utility use is limited to no more than 5 acres and The City of Oakland Park demonstrates that sufficient and functional open space serving the area residents will be retained.