Alex Dambach, AICP

Planning Supervisor

Peter Schwarz, AICP

Director of Community and Economic Development

Case #CD21-03RZ “North Andrews Gardens Recreation Center - Rezoning”

Legislative Action: The City Commission approved the item by a vote of 5-0 at their August 4, 2021, Public Hearing.

Issue Statement:  The City of Oakland Park seeks to rezone the property at 250 NE 56 Court from RD-10, Duplex and Attached One-Family Dwelling District to CF, Community Facilities District to enable construction of the replacement of the North Andrews Gardens Recreation Center. It would be permitted by conditional use in the proposed zoning district as 'a civic or community center which is government-owned and operated.' 

Recommended Action:  The City Commission adopt an ordinance to rezone this site from RD-10, Duplex and Attached One-Family Dwelling District to CF, Community Facilities District.

The Planning and Zoning Board voted 5 to 0 to recommend approval of this rezoning at its July 12, 2021, public hearing. 

Neighborhood Participation Meeting:

The Neighborhood Participation Meeting was held 3/15/21.

Other Reviews:

Conditional Use Approval: Required to allow a civic or community center which is government-owned and operated in the CF, Community Facilities Zone. The request for conditional use will be presented as a future separate agenda item.

Vacation of Utility Easement: An existing utility easement that runs through the center of the subject site from east to west is proposed to be vacated and the power lines are to be relocated as part of the site plan. This will require review by the Planning and Zoning Board and approval by the City Commission. The request for the easement vacation will be presented at a future hearing.

The Development Review Committee reviewed the site plan and found that it meets applicable standards pending approval of the rezoning and conditional use.

Property Description:

The subject site is a 47,797 square foot lot with frontage on NE 56 Street, NE 2 Terrace, and NE 56 Court. The subject site contains the buildings and grounds of the existing North Andrews Gardens Recreation Center and is surrounded by single-family and duplex dwellings. Existing utility lines and a utility easement run through the middle of the property, from east to west.   

Planning and Zoning Board Summary:

At the Planning and Zoning Board’s meeting of July 12, 2021, the proposed rezoning of the North Andrews Gardens Community Center site, located at 250 NE 56 Court was considered at a public hearing. Staff made a presentation to the Planning and Zoning Board, describing the project and need for the rezoning per the City’s Code of Ordinances. The item was presented as a Public Hearing.  No members of the public spoke or provided written comments. The Board discussed the item, with Board Member Van De Bogart asking staff if programming at the site would continue. No further discussion related to the item occurred.

Board Member King made a motion to approve the rezoning, which was seconded by Alternate Board Member Lawrence. The Planning and Zoning Board took an action by a unanimous vote of 5-0, to recommend approval of the rezoning.

The City proposes to replace the existing recreation center with a new facility as a project of the City’s 2018 General Obligation Bond issue. To prepare the site for new construction, the current buildings, landscaping, and equipment will be removed, and the power lines will be repositioned and placed underground.

Proposed is a recreation building with 5,991 square feet positioned 32.1 feet north of NE 56 Street. It will contain multi-purpose rooms, computer labs, a kitchen, an open-air dining porch, and offices. The grounds will include a basketball court, playground areas, and 27 parking spaces along the western portion of the site with access from both NE 56 Street and NE 56 Court. Open space areas will be along all street frontages, and 6-foot high aluminum picket fencing is proposed around the playground and the open areas. Air conditioning equipment will face NE 56 Street but will be screened by high shrubbery. The proposed exterior will have a modern façade with stucco and metal wall finishes.

Through this request, the 47,797 square foot site will be rezoned to the CF, Community Facilities Zone.  In the current RD-10 zone, a civic or community center which is government-owned and operated is not permitted. The existing center is pre-existing and non-conforming, having been established before it was designated to this zoning district. The CF zoning district is the appropriate district for the proposed use, and will permit the use with conditional use approval.

CF: Community Facilities Zoning District Regulations:

Findings:

The Community Facilities zoning designation is appropriate for this site that has contained a neighborhood-serving community facility for several years. The proposed demolition and complete replacement of the existing recreation center is necessary and creates the need for this rezoning to occur at this time. The site includes an existing building that was originally built as a church and has reached the end of its useful life necessitating replacement with a new building and recreation complex that will be specifically designed for its purpose. This site is part of an area the City annexed from Broward County in 2004, and the North Andrews Gardens Recreation Center’s location had been a zone that permitted this use when it was originally established. Under Oakland Park zoning regulations, public facilities and institutions are intended for the CF, Community Facilities District. Rezoning this site will place the recreation center in the appropriate zoning district.

Applicable Codes:

City of Oakland Park, Land Development Code

§ 24-51.4. - RD-10: Duplex and Attached One-Family Dwelling District. {existing Zoning District}

(A) Purpose. RD-10 zoning is established for duplex and attached single-family dwelling units only in the areas that were annexed into the City of Oakland Park from unincorporated Broward County in 2005 and related accessory uses at a density not to exceed nine (9) units per gross acre for one-family detached and ten (10) for all others.

§ 24-44. - CF: Community Facilities District. {Proposed Zoning District}

(A) Purpose. There is hereby established a CF: Community Facilities District, which is intended to apply to government-owned and certain privately-owned community service uses designated community facilities on the City of Oakland Park Future Land Use Map, and certain other areas in the city which are in the best interests of the public to be utilized for community facilities. A site plan shall be required in accordance with article XII.

Comprehensive Plan Policies (Future Land Use Element) relating to rezoning applications:

Policy 1.7.2 The City shall reject rezoning, variance, and conditional use applications that would be detrimental to residential neighborhood quality by virtue of incompatibility of land use or excessive density. The City shall protect whenever possible existing and planned residential areas, including single family neighborhoods, from disruptive land uses and nuisances. When reviewing these types of applications the City shall consider compatibility of uses; intensity of uses; hours and types of operations; impacts (such as noise, lighting, and odors) that may negatively affect nearby residences, businesses, or community facilities; building mass and placement; and transportation access and connectivity.

The City Commission adopt an ordinance to rezone this site from RD-10, Duplex and Attached One-Family Dwelling District to CF, Community Facilities District.