Hello. I'm calling the zoning board of appeals meeting this Thursday, [clears throat] um, the 18th, 2025 at 6 pm. Uh, Meredith, could you call the role? Karen Ber, present. Nicole Hengher, here. Raphael Katz here. Allison Morales here. Linda Thomas. Joe Suzie here. Thank you. Um, I need a motion to approve the minutes for November 20th, 2025. So moved. Second. Second. Thank you. All in favor? I I

18:10 – 19:10•0

Thank you. All right. Good evening. Welcome to the zoning board uh meeting of appeals. In a moment, um, you will be sworn in by Meredith. Um, and everything you say will be recorded in this meeting. When your item is called, please speak clearly into the microphone. state your name and address for the record. After um Scott Rael from development services will read the staff report. Um to my right is Scott Riel with development services. To my left is James Saunders. Um to my to my right um the two to my right which one is actually coming in right now. Um and the three to my left and myself are PMPO Beach citizens. and we're all volunteer our time. At this time, we're going to going to speak uh at the at the stand to be sworn in by Meredith. Whoever is going to speak, my apologies,

19:12 – 19:41•0

Mr. Chair, I I think the gentle misunderstood. Yeah. Whoever's going to whoever's going to speak, if they can be sworn in, it's okay. Are you the only one that's going to speak? The only one? Yes. Please stand. Do you swear or affirm the evidence you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes, I do. Thank you. You may be seated. All right. So, the first item, Scott,

19:38 – 20:23•0

yes. The first item, um, just today we had a request from the applicant to postpone the item to the January 15th meeting. This will be their second postponement um which is uh permitted per the zoning um board of appeals uh rules of procedure uh subject to the the uh board uh making a motion to formally uh postpone it to to that date. So it would be January 15, 2026. It does not need to be renoticed or readvertised. We need a motion. So moved. Second.

20:23 – 21:07•0

Second. And you call the role, Meredith? Okay. This is a motion to defer item number one to the next meeting. Correct, Scott. January 15th. 15th. Karen Burgerer, yes. Raphael Katz, yes. Nicole Hener, yes. Allison Morales, yes. Linda Thomas, yes. Joe Suzie, yes. Thank you. Thank you. And the next one is 17 000013. If you can come up and speak your um name and address please and then Scott will uh say the report. Thank you.

21:10 – 21:53•0

So my name is Amed Kasaji. Uh my my address is uh 64 Palmway 208 Bocaraton 3343. I am the agent who represent the property. James Mackande 3701 Northeast 18th Terrace, PMPO Beach, Florida 33064. I'm the owner, the commander of the PMPO Beach Power Squadron. Mr. Mackey, can you please spell your last name? MC capital E N T E. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Shall I read the report into the record, please?

21:51 – 23:49•0

Okay. Thank you. Um, good evening everyone. Um, this is PNZ case 25-170013. The applicant land owner is requesting special exception approval as required by section 1554211 D1 of the PMPO Beach zoning code in order to utilize the subject property which is zoned RM12 that's multiple family residence 12 for a place of worship. The property is located on the west side of Northeast 18th Terrace in the North Pomp beach section A subdivision which is approximately 140 ft north of East Sample Road. The subject property was originally developed in the late 1960s under Broward County zoning jurisdiction and annexed into the city of Pmpo Beach in 2004 through resolution 2004-323. While original permits could not be found, the most recent certificate of occupancy was issued March for 24th, 1988 and that was through Broward County building permit 87-6862 and it was for a kitchen addition associated with a nonprofit club. The approved site plan established a maximum assembly capacity of 124 occupants. Since 2008, the building has maintained a business tax receipt as a nonprofit fraternal boating club offering boating education and safety courses. The proposed place of worship constitutes a change of use from building code classification B2 to A3, which is assembly uses for worship or recreation. This change may require updates to life safety and occupancy requirements. My staff report initially said there's no landscape plan of record, but I've since learned that there has been one that has

23:46 – 25:44•0

been found. So, disregard that in my staff report. Uh, a change of use will require uh minor landscape improvements and minor site improvements. Um, the applicant's floor plan identifies 2352 square feet of sanctuary area. Applying the Florida Building Code's assembly load factor of 15 square feet per person. The estimated maximum occupancy is 156 persons subject to building department verification. The zoning code requires one parking space per five occupants for places of worship. The applicant reports a congregation size of approximately 80 members. The existing survey reflects approximately 24 parking spaces and the adjacent vacant parcel to the north, which is also included in the special exception request, provides space for future parking expansion if required. City records confirm that this vacant parcel previously contained a place of worship which was demolished in 2009 via building permit 095816. The property is the subject of an active code compliance case. That's 25-09002411 addressing invasive landscaping, fencing deficiencies, garbage accumulation, and parking lot surfacing and striping. These violations must be corrected prior to initiating church operations. And it is my understanding that they are already in the process of working um to remedy those those. and we have our code compliance uh officer here to speak on that matter if you have any questions. Given the property's longstanding institutional function, the transition from a nonprofit in instructional club to a religious assembly use represents a very modest change in land use character. The applicant states that

25:42 – 27:09•0

services will primarily occur on weekends, which may reduce potential impacts to adjacent residential areas. The applicant has submitted responses to all 13 special review uh special exception review standards. Those review standards are outlined in the staff report. And should the board determine that the applicant has provided competent substantial evidence sufficient to satisfy the 13 special exception review standards, staff requests the board include the following conditions as part of the order. One, the applicant shall obtain all necessary governmental permits and approvals, including but not limited to a zoning use certificate, a change of use prior to commencement of operations. Two, the applicant shall record a unity of title or similar instrument applicable acceptable to the city attorney unifying the two parcels so the property functions as a single lot for zoning and development purposes. The third and final recommended staff condition is the applicant shall resolve all violations identified in code case 25-09002411, including submission of a retroactive landscape plan and associated upgrades to non-conforming site features to the maximum extent practicable and as required by the zoning code. And that concludes staff's report and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

27:06•0

Thank you. Please speak into the microphone, sir.

27:12 – 28:14•0

Sorry. Yeah. The property has been used as a church for the last of actually over 20 years. Um, [snorts] and actually the current owner bought it from a church and our intention is to use the property as a church. So there no change actually. We're not going to have any change to the uh exterior uh any an exterior modification, any site layout um amendments. So everything is going to stay the same apart from basically we're changing the ownership so somebody else is going to take over. Um and there's definitely there's no impact. I mean the the properties used as a church for the last 20 years. It never had any negative impact on the neighbors. Um it's not going to affect the um city services such as roads, traffic and and police. And so everything is going to stay exactly the same as it is right now. uh apart from whatever we have to update to make it appeal to the city.

28:11 – 28:37•0

So, is there any question? You're good. Yeah, it's um open to the public. If there's anyone that like to speak for the petition, please come to the podium to speak. Okay. Is there anyone against it? They can come up to speak. All right. It's closed to the public. board discussion.

28:40 – 28:57•0

I I just have a So, it's a It was a church. Yes. And it's going to be a church again, correct? Yes. It's just It's actually the same thing. You know, we have So, what is the special for? Well, uh Well, I just confused at that.

28:53 – 30:03•0

Yeah. So, I actually didn't uh and it's a little bit difficult with with with with places of worship because obviously they don't require a business tax receipt. So, I only looked at the last certificate of occupancy and the use that was uh indicated was was for a fraternal, you know, club where they teach uh marine uh uh and boat safety uh types of things. Um, it could very well have been a church. We just didn't I didn't have any record of that. But I know there was uh it looks like there was a demo for a church on the the part the parcel that is attached to it just to the north of north of it. And that was um uh lawfully a church. But in any event, um it's up to the building department if a if a change of use is required, but um it seems uh fairly uh fairly benign and there will be very minor uh site improvements that that that that go along with it with this formal change of use. So we do need a special exception because we don't have one on record previously for

30:02 – 30:39•0

Okay. Thank you. have a special show. Please please speak into the mic. We do have a special deed here that shows that the current owner bought it from a church which is we do have right but the the city I couldn't find any paperwork that that showed that it was approved as a church and and it's it's again it's not a big deal at this point that's all in hindsight but but we have to formally go through the special exception process to yes not a problem is there any other discussion or if I can get a motion.

30:37 – 31:22•0

I have a motion. Uh, [clears throat] in PNZ case 251700 0013, I move we find there is competent substantial evidence in the record that all the requirements for granting the special exception have been met and that we grant the special exception subject to the three three conditions requested by staff. Second. If there's any no other further discussions, Meredith, can you call the role? Raphael Katz, yes. Karen Burgerer, yes. Cole Henker, yes. Allison Morales, yes. Linda Thomas, yes.

31:21•0

Joe Suzie, yes. Passed. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right.

31:30 – 32:09•0

Do we have any other um items that we'd like to discuss, Scott? Uh just a reminder that in in January uh we typically according to the ZBA rules of procedure that is the time where we have uh uh at the at the uh end of the January meeting um an election to nominate um the chair and vice chair for another year. So just keep that in mind if anyone's interested in uh that position. That's taking names. We don't have to do it today. [laughter]

32:09 – 32:41•0

Thank you. All right. Is there any other uh any other business to discuss? Oh, all good. Okay. Uh happy holidays. Yes. Happy holidays. Uh may I have a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. All Meredith. Uh all in favor or do we call the role? I I. All in favor? I. Perfect. Thank you. I beat my second

This transcript was automatically generated from the official public meeting video and is presented unedited. It reflects remarks made on the public record by elected officials, staff, and public commenters. Transcript accuracy may vary; view the original recording for reference.