Planning and Zoning Board - Regular Meeting

I'm now at 06:30PM. The city of Pembroke Pines Board of Adjustments would now call the call to order. We'll now have roll call by our madam clerk, Ms. Borestrom.

Member Abendantalo? Member Brito? Here. Chair Crowell?

Here.

Member Pitts? Here. Member Almira? You have a quorum.

Thank you. I'd like to detain a motion for excused absences for Victor Abandandolo and Ace Amira.

I'd like to make a motion for excused absences for our members.

I second. All in favor for the excused absence. Aye. Aye. Okay. Thank you. General Counsel will now administer the instructions to tonight's city's residents.

Alright. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The conclusion I'm of sorry. What happened? Minutes. Oh, you could do it now or you could do it after I finish. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the conclusion of my remarks, I'm going to ask you all to please rise so you can be sworn in for tonight's hearings. These hearings are conducted by these gentlemen up here tonight. They are the members of or a portion of the members of the Board of Adjustments for the City of Pembroke Pines. Their obligation is to hear the applications presented before them and to decide based on the testimony and evidence presented here tonight.

They're not allowed or have the responsibility to change the city's codes, but they do have the ability to offer some level of a variance from those codes. You see there's three members up here tonight. You will need all three of these members to approve your application that are on the agenda tonight if you are to receive approval. Short of those three votes, the application will be deemed denied. You will have the opportunity to come up to the podium and when you do, I want you to write your name in on the sign in sheet and state your name and address clearly into the microphone.

There's a button and that microphone lights up. I believe the color is green when it's live so that you can be heard and recorded into the microphone. The board will and may ask you questions about your property and your application, and the city may also ask you certain questions. And at the conclusion of that, the chairman will open it up to the public. If there's anyone from the public that will be here to speak on your behalf or against your case, he'll allow them to speak.

And at that conclusion, he'll close the public comment, and he and the rest of the board members will decide the case tonight. With that being said, if you have a case or plan on speaking on any application, please stand and raise your right hand. And if you may speak, please stand and raise your right hand. You swear affirm the testimony of good will

be the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. You may be seated, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Councilor. At this time, I entertain a motion for the acceptance of the 10/02/2025 meetings. Mr. Chairman, I'd

like to make a motion to approve the Board of Adjustment minutes for 10/02/2025.

I second. Thank you. All in favor? Aye. Ayes have it.

The minutes stands approved. Coming before us the first is Elizabeth and John Rodriguez residing at 16404 Northwest 12th Street, Pembroke Pines, area code 33028. And as the counselor said, please sign your name in and cut the microphone on. Thank you. Good evening.

Good evening. The project description, Elizabeth Rodriguez, owner submitted a residential zoning variance request to propose the construction of a new driveway at the single family resident located 16404 Northwest 12th Street in the Spring Valley neighborhood, which is zoned single family resident r 1 B. The owner submitted a plan to propose the construction of a circular driveway at the property. However, the plan would not be able to be approved as proposed circular driveway would exceed the limitations of the city's land development code LDC. The petitioner submitted a plan proposing and requesting ZBR twenty twenty five dash zero zero three two to allow 50% front lot coverage total instead of the allowed 40% front lot coverage total for proposed circular drive on a residential single family property lot.

The applicant is aware that board consideration of residential variances request does not preclude the property owner from obtaining all necessary development related approvals or permits. Going over to section six, project description. We respectfully request a zoning verbiage to permit a circular drive at the front of their property, which would exceed the following standards set forth in the city of Pembroke Pines land development code, table one five five point six two zero. Maximum front lot coverage for a driveway, 40% on a total lot. However, the client proposed coverage exceeds this that it better serves functional and safety needs.

Justification, unique hardship, practical difficulty. The property owner's 90 year old mother lives with him. She uses a wheelchair, is profoundly deaf, and suffers from vertigo. These conditions make mobility exceptionally challenging, particularly when navigating from the driveway to the front entrance. The circular layout index the drive directly toward the front entrance, greatly reducing walking distance, eliminating steps or unstable surfaces, and minimizing exposure to wind induced balance issues, all crucial for a person with vertical and limited mobility.

Given these circumstances, strict adherence to the impervious surface and width restrictions constitute a practical hardship rather than a mere inconvenience. On the back, limited impact on public interest. The proposed driveway would not obstruct sight lines, alter storm water flow patterns significantly, or harm neighborhood scale or character. Given the homeowner's mother's age and health, this modification supports improved accessibility and safety without causing undue impact on adjacent properties or public infrastructure. And I see that you have letters here from Miami management giving approval, which this committee is not impacted by any HOA approvals.

Have my synopsis of your report been accurate? Is there anything you'd like to add to at this time?

Please state your name for the record.

My name is John Rodriguez, Jr, 16404 Northwest 12th Street. Again, I just want to say thank you for this opportunity. And I want to emphasize the main reason for all this cost and all this effort that we're doing is for the safety and convenience of my mother. We had to do the same thing in our existing home. And this is why we were questioning primarily requesting this.

That's about it. You were pretty accurate at everything you were reading there.

Okay. And that's why I wanted to read it myself so the artist could hear it directly and capture all your concerns. Ms. Rodriguez, any comments?

No. Everything he said is fine.

Okay. Are there any comments from anyone in the audience? Any concerns? Staff, any concerns? Any comments? None for me. Chair. Okay. Member Pitts.

No questions, Mr.

Chair. Okay.

At this time, I'll entertain a motion for ZVR 28 master bedroom addition in a single family residential typical lot. Also, ZVR twenty twenty five dash zero zero three four to allow 5.74 feet side setback along a segment of the western side property line instead of the required 7.5 side setback for the new 17 by 18 kitchen relocation in the same typical lot. After reviewing the property's documents, it was noticed that the finished floor elevation, FF and E, of the existing home does not conform with the minimum requirement floor elevations for residential buildings. The plan, however, indicates the FF and E of the new proposed habit habitable area will match existing. The petition would like to include the following request in the part in the project.

ZVR twenty twenty five dash 35 to allow the top surface of the floor of 17 inches instead of requiring 18 inches above the highest point of the crown of the street adjacent to the lot for proposed carport conversion and home addition in a single family residential typical lot. As part of these requests, the owners included a new 17 foot 16 foot wide driveway and the correction of an existing walkway along the western side to be 36 inches wide located two feet inside the property line. And there's a survey showing the diagram. The property is in the Boulevard Heights neighborhood where there's no HOA association. Section six, description of property.

The project consists of an addition to an existing house. The side setbacks proposed for the new addition are the same that these that was set in 1974 when the house was built. The lot is 61 feet wide, and the current zoning code states that for lots wider than 60 feet, the side setback shall be 7.5 feet. And for lots narrower than 60 feet wide, the side setback can be five feet. There's a 2.5 delta right there between sixty and sixty one.

In order to keep the aesthetic and functionality of the submitted design, we respectfully ask the board of adjustments to put in consideration the original conditions to allow us to build the addition in line with the existing house. On the other hand, we request a variance to match the finished floor elevation of the new addition to the existing FF and E, considering that the addition is going to be attached to the existing house. Currently, FF and E is not complying with the city ordinance in effort. Okay. Mister Fuentes, have I read your petition correctly? Yeah. Correct. Is there anything I'd to add at this time? Correct. Do you have any further comments?

I'm fine.

Okay. Does anyone in the audience have any comments for this petitioner? Staff? Vice chair Brito?

Was there a major change from the original survey that was on the screen versus the because it looks like it's aligned or parallel to the property line.

100%. This is a technicality. If you see the code, it would allow a five feet setback to be kept if the lot would be exceeding 60 feet wide. So we'll visit the property. The property is well kept. He's going to be providing a new driveway to meet the requirement of the code. And he's going to be possibly working with our landscape division as well as part of the permitting process. We saw the family. I think what they're looking to do is reasonable, if you ask my opinion. But there's a request before you.

Okay. No further questions, Mr. Chair.

At this time, I'll entertain a motion for ZVR 2020Five-thirty3 for required 7.5 side setback with the request of five foot side setback along a segment of the eastern side property line so it requires 7.5 side setback for the proposed bedroom addition.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZVR 20 20 five-thirty three to allow 5.42 side setback along a segment of the eastern side of the property line instead of the required 7.5 side setback for a proposed 17 by 11.8 master bedroom addition in a single family residential typical lot under Section 155.301 Subsection C.

I second that the motion is second for ZVR2025Dash33. Madam Clerk, roll call, please.

Member Pitts?

Yes.

Vice Chairman Burrito?

Yes.

Chair Crawl? Yes. Motion passes.

Thank you, sir. And please see the staff for any additional oh, sorry, sorry. ZVR2020Five-thirty4 for a required 7.5 side setback and a request of five foot side setback along the western side of the property line. It's a required 7.5.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZBR 2020Five-thirty4 to allow a 5.74 site setback along the segment of the western side property line instead of the required 7.5 site setback for proposed 17 by 11.8 kitchen relocation in a single family residential typical lot under section 155.301 subsection C.

I second. Motion has seconded.

Deborah Pitts? Yes. Vice Chair Brady? Yes. Chair Crawl?

Yes.

Motion passes.

To obtain a motion for ZVR twenty twenty five-thirty five with the required top surface of all floors of residential building shall be not less than 18 inches above the highest crown of the road, and the request to allow a top surface of 17 inches instead of required 18 inches above the highest point, the crown of the road adjacent to the lot for proposed garage conversion and addition.

Mister chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZVR twenty twenty five dash zero zero three five to align top surface of the floor of 17 inches instead of the required 18 inches above the highest point of the crown of the street adjacent to the lot for proposed carport conversion and home addition in a single family residential typical lot under section 155.301 variant subsection C.

I second. The motion has been approved and second. Roll call, please. Member Pitts? Yes. Vice Chair Brito?

Yes. Chair Crawl?

Yes.

Motion passes.

Now finally, you have all three approved.

Thank you.

Please see the clerk in conduction and make sure that you follow all required permitting and so forth in accordance with the building's department. Thank you. Ms. Maria Theresa Mejia and Duany Laureate.

Hello. DANIELLE Hi. D.

Residing at 17024 Northwest 20th Street, Pembroke Pines, 33028.

Excuse me. You want me to add my name under?

Yes, please.

Oh. Oh, next to her name.

Next to her name.

Next to to her name. Okay.

The owner submitted two residential zoning various requests.

Before. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Before you you proceed with the item, we did receive some notices from the neighbors, letters supporting Supporting the requests. So I don't know. Would you like me to read that

to Yes, please.

Yes. Pablo Ateruerta from 170110 Northwest 20th Street. He is in favor of petition. We also have Christopher Raymond and Janet Raymond from 1997 Northwest 170th Avenue in favor of the petition. Cornelio Tyrone and Rosina Tyrone out of 170, One-one Northwest 20th Street in favor of the petition.

Maria Teresa. Okay, this is the owner. And we do have Felix and Maria Hernandez out of 1969 Northwest 171st Avenue in favor of the petition.

Thank you. The owner submitted two residential zoning variance requests to legalize an existing driveway for the property located at 17024 Northwest 20th Street. The property is part of the Pembroke Isles Planned Unit Development and follows the guidelines for single family homes. Zero lot line. The plan unit development does not address front lot coverage and driveway width.

Therefore, the provisions of the city lands development code are applicable. On 05/05/2025, the city code compliance cited the property for work done without building permit. Case number 250501624. No problem. In 05/30/2025, the owner submitted driveway permit application number RX25Dash05216 to construct a driveway at the property.

However, the permit application cannot be approved by the HOA, and we were told that we did not need city permits since it's also Seminole except. You now know that's not true.

It has

been holding strong since then, and we actually decided for a tiki hut and not a pergola since this tiki hut is made organically with first first matter material. Also, tiki huts are five or more degrees cooler than surrounding air causing the ambient good weather conditions. Therefore, I'm willing to remove concrete sidewalk since I know that can be a drainage issue. And I do not want to cause any damage overall. I know I'm asking the aberrance of Tiki Hut because of its site, and it was an extremely large investment we have made for it.

We will be enormously devastated if we remove if we need to remove it against the lack of knowledge, and misguidance was truly our mistake back in 2022 by not pulling permit first. Please allow us our ticket hut, floor below, and extension of pavers. Is there anything else that you'd like to add to your synopsis here?

Actually, on the plans that I submitted, the architect Can

you just state your name, please? Maria

Mejia. And the address, too? No. He had placed that it was 500 square feet, but it's 400. It's 20 by 20, the Tiki Hut. So he has to correct that.

Okay. Thank you. That helps.

A little less.

Is that artificial turf or grass there?

It's artificial.

Okay. It was pretty long lot. Do you have any drainage issues with the property?

So there's a lot of accumulation of water. I think it's overall in our area, the Pembroke Pines. And that's kind of why we added that sidewalk concrete because it was just like it was this deep of water. And then the turf, the regular turf, was damaged in front of our house. And we've spoken to the association before. All the grass is green. Like, not green anymore. It's burnt from how much water. It just sits there. So that was the purpose of the sidewalk concrete. But I know that it's very close to the other house, so it could cause issues.

You mentioned about removing the concrete slab.

Yeah.

What would you replace it with?

Hopefully, if it could be the turf. If not, whatever needs to be placed there.

You have quite a bit of artificial turf there, something that will be impervious. It's a flat area, I see it has a little slope to it, maybe something that will allow drainage, like pavers.

Can it be pavers?

It can be.

The turf also drains.

It also holds water, too.

It does?

Yes. Okay. Tend to want to have you have a large area there, a sealed slope. At least it's going to drain down to your landscaping area. You want something where you have a zero lot line. So you want something where the water can stay on your property and drain as fast as possible. DELL: Can you show me the site again, Mrs. Zomora? What's in back of her?

It's a house.

Pardon? Can you have a

Yes. That's the vicinity map.

There's another property in the back of

the Yeah. Yeah, I'm looking at it. Okay. You have good air in the back for it to drain off. Any questions, Mr. Burrito? None. Mr. Chair. Mr. Pitts?

Yeah, just one. I think as we're talking about pavers for the side section, I think we're I don't know if we're talking about pavers like you have in the front, maybe more like a made walkway of some sort that's in that area. But if you do change it or make alterations to it, just make sure that you check with staff about those alterations. Make sure you get the proper notifications and approval for that. My only question was, can you clarify what you said about the tiki hut? I'm sorry, I missed the size is incorrect.

It's 20 by 20. So it's 400 square footage total.

And one more question. Who constructed the Tiki Hut? Seminole tribe itself?

So it was a company that had the Seminole exempt. I have the letter from them, but obviously that doesn't work.

It's not Well, someone who's it works, but they know that they have to pull permits.

We didn't know. We weren't told.

Well, they still have to secure their permit and everything else tied to it. They still have to provide the details to the bill department. This is only in terms of sizing.

And circular driveways, any addition modifications has to be permitted with the city.

We learned.

Yes, sir. State your name,

Yes, Duany Allente. The reason why we did that with our permit because we went to our association. Have the approval letter. And they say, you say, we don't have to go to the city. That's the reason we did it like that. So I guess even if the association will approve, we got to ask the city. Because at this point, yeah,

that was Yeah.

The association is going to approve it for aesthetics to your property. But they do not over or supersede the city of Pembroke Pines with the zoning At

that time.

Okay.

No worry.

GREGORY Anyone

in the audience with any comments? Could you sign in and state your name, please? And could you state your name,

please? Carmelo Tyrone. I live at 17011 Northwest 20th Street, across the street from Anyway, the place really looks good. They keep up the property. I mean, very nice people. And we have no problem. I think they did a nice job. I'm sorry they didn't know they were going to pull the permits, but I'm in favor.

And you have no issues with drainage onto your property? No. Thank you.

None whatsoever.

Thank you. You're welcome. Anyone else? Sir, come in. Please sign in and state your name.

Good evening. My name is Christopher Raymond. And I live on the East Side Of Gohani and Maria. With regards to the tiki hut, I sit in my garage regularly and I can see the tiki hut. And when my grandchildren come by and visit, they can see it. And when it was built, it was the most beautiful thing in the neighborhood. And we have no problems whatsoever with Maria and her husband, Duany. They are excellent citizens of Pembroke Pines, and I support their petition 100%.

D. Q. Grant, you will love the trampoline I see right there, too, commuter to property. Anyone else? All right. Staff, any questions, concerns?

None, really. I have nothing to say. Okay. Thank you. Obviously, I've just clarified artificial turf. There are provisions in our code related to installation of that material. Obviously, I was notified and told secure that that's within the required setbacks just for the record.

Okay. Thank you. I'll now entertain a motion for ZVR2025Dash0036 with required 40% front lot coverage and request of 50% front lot coverage for an existing driveway zero lot. Mr. Chair, I'd like

to make a motion to approve ZBR twenty twenty five thirty six to allow 50% front lot coverage instead of the allow 40% front lot coverage for an existing driveway in a single family residential zero lot under section 155.301 variant subsection C.

I second. You've heard the motion and a second. Roll call, Madam Clerk.

Member Pitts? Yes. Vice Chair Brito?

Yes.

Chair Kroll?

Yes.

Motion passes.

Thank you. Motion for ZVR twenty twenty five dash zero zero three seven with the required 40% width of lot and request of 52 lot width for an existing driveway zero lot. Mister

chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZVR twenty twenty five dash zero zero three seven to allow 52% width of lot instead of allow 40% width of lot for an existing driveway in a single family residential zero lot under section 155.301 variant subsection C.

I second. You've heard the motion and a second. Roll call, please.

Member Pitts?

Yes.

Vice Chair Burrito?

Yes.

Chair Crawl?

Yes.

Motion passes.

Motion for ZVR twenty twenty five-thirty eight with the required 200 square foot for an existing open side structure, Cheeky Hut, and request of 400 square foot for an existing open side freestanding Cheeky Hut.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a motion to approve ZBR twenty twenty five-thirty eight to allow 500 square feet of 400. 400 square feet instead of the allowed 200 square feet for an existing open sided structure freestanding in a single family residential zero lot under section 155 dot three zero one variant subsection C.

I second. I pray the motion is second. Roll call, please.

Mayor Pipps? Yes. Vice chair Burrito? Yes. Chair Kroll? Yes. Motion passes.

Congratulations. Please see staff for

Thank you. Thank you.

And thank you, neighbors, for coming out. Thank you, yes. Okay. Staff, are there any other instruction or any other items for tonight? Okay. If there's no other concerns, I'll put a motion for the adjournment of the Board of Adjustments at 07:09PM.

Make a motion to adjourn.

I second. All in favor? Aye.

Aye. We adjourn.