Alex Dambach, AICP

Planning Supervisor

Peter Schwarz, AICP

Director of Community and Economic Development

Case #CD21-03RZ “North Andrews Gardens Recreation Center – Conditional Use”

A public hearing to consider the City of Oakland Park’s application for Conditional Use for construction of the replacement of the North Andrews Gardens Recreation Center at 250 NE 56 Court.

Issue Statement:

The City of Oakland Park proposes construction of the replacement North Andrews Gardens Recreation Center at 250 NE 56 Court, which requires conditional use approval from the City Commission per the requirements of the CF, Community Facilities District for a 'civic or community center which is government-owned and operated.’

Recommended Action:

Staff recommends that the City Commission conduct a public hearing and approve conditional use for a civic or community center which is government-owned and operated at 250 NE 56 Court.

Neighborhood Participation Meeting:

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

Other Reviews:

Rezoning: The rezoning of this property from RD-10, Duplex and Attached One-Family Dwelling District to CF, Community Facilities District was passed on first reading on August 4, 2021.  Second Reading of the rezoning is presented as a 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 conditional use for 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 criteria for conditional use per the City’s Code of Ordinances. No members of the public spoke or provided written comments.  No further discussion related to the item occurred.

Board Member King made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Board Member Van de Bogart. The Planning and Zoning Board took an action by a unanimous vote of 5-0, to recommend approval of the conditional use.

Proposed is a recreation building with 5,991 square feet which will contain multi-purpose rooms, computer lab, a kitchen, an open-air dining porch, and offices. The grounds will include a basketball court, playground areas, and a 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’ 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.

Conditional use is required to construct a new recreation center in the Community Facility Zoning District.  A conditional use is only permitted in a zone if specific standards are met to show that it would not adversely affect the public health, safety, comfort, good order, appearance, convenience, morals, and the general welfare.

CF: Community Facilities Zoning District Regulations:

Findings:

Proposed is the demolition and complete replacement of the existing recreation center. 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 would be specifically designed for its purpose. In the CF, Community Facilities zoning district, the recreation center must meet the standards required for conditional use to be established.  

Applicable Codes:

City of Oakland Park, Land Development Code

Sec. 24-165. - Conditional uses.

(A) Procedure. Conditional uses shall be subject to approval of the city commission after recommendation by the planning and zoning board, and no conditional use shall be approved until after a public hearing by the city commission, at which time all interested parties shall have an opportunity to be heard.

(B) Site plan. Except for community residences and recovery communities that are subject to the requirements of section 24-71, a site plan in accordance with section 24-164 above shall be submitted. In addition, if not required for article XIII, traffic generation data shall be included.

(C) Review criteria. Except for community residences and recovery communities that are subject to the requirements of section 24-71, the commission shall not approve a conditional use, unless and until it finds that:

(1) The proposed use is essential to the proper functioning of a utility system or is specifically listed as a permitted conditional use in the district in which it is to be located;

(2) The use is deemed desirable for the public convenience or welfare, and the use is in harmony with the purpose and intent of this chapter and will not be detrimental or injurious to the surrounding area.

(3) When granting approval for conditional use, the board may attach conditions and safeguards, in addition to those prescribed in the district regulations, as they determine are necessary for the protection of the surrounding area and to preserve the spirit and intent of the ordinance.

(4) The application must also meet all of the following criteria, where appropriate:

(a) Conformance with comprehensive plan.

(b) Harmony with adjacent uses (existing or zoned).

(c) Facility levels of service maintained.

(d) Use not hazardous to nearby housing, particularly traffic; see (B) above.

(e) The architectural and site design are compatible with the character of the surrounding area.

(D) Conditional use approval amendments. A conditional use approval is specific to the density, intensity, site plan and any supplemental conditions approved. Modifications to any of the specifics or conditions of the approval is a zoning violation and subject to code enforcement action and/or revocation of the conditional use approved. Any proposed modification to the use which affects density, intensity or minimum code requirements of the site development plan will require review and approval of a minor or major amendment by either the development review committee or city commission.

(1) Revisions to approved site plan:

(a) Minor amendment: The development review committee, after receiving staff recommendations, may approve "minor" changes and deviations from the approved site plan which are in compliance with the provisions and intent of this article, and which do not depart from the principal concept of the approved site plan. All other requested changes and deviations shall be referred to the city commission.

(b) Major amendment: The city commission may determine that requested changes and deviations from an approved site plan constitute a substantial alteration to the character of the development and thus require that the requested changes be subject to the same procedure as required for new application. Substantial changes would include alteration of the intensities, density or modifications to minimum code requirements and approved conditions.

Staff recommends that the City Commission conduct a public hearing and approve conditional use for a civic or community center which is government-owned and operated at 250 NE 56 Court.