title
P.H. 2026-15: (PUBLIC HEARING 2ND READING)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF POMPANO BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING CHAPTER 155, “ZONING CODE,” OF THE POMPANO BEACH CODE OF ORDINANCES, BY AMENDING SECTION 155.3203., “SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 2 (RS-2),” SECTION 155.3208., “MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 7 (RM-7),” SECTION 155.3209., “MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 12 (RM-12),” SECTION 155.3210., “MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 20 (RM-20),” SECTION 155.3211., “MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 30 (RM-30),” SECTION 155.3212., MULTIPLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE 45 (RM-45),” SECTION 155.3302., “LIMITED BUSINESS (B-1),” SECTION 155.3303., “COMMUNITY BUSINESS (B-2),” SECTION 155.3304., “GENERAL BUSINESS (B-3),” SECTION 155.3305., “HEAVY BUSINESS (B-4),” SECTION 155.3306., “MARINE BUSINESS (M-1),” AND SECTION 155.3501., “TRANSIT ORIENTED (TO)” TO MODIFY BUILDING HEIGHT AND SETBACK MEASUREMENTS;” BY AMENDING SECTION 155.9401, “MEASUREMENT,” AND PART 5., “TERMS AND USES DEFINED” TO FURTHER CLARIFY MEASUREMENT REFERENCES FOR BUILDING HEIGHT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Fiscal Impact: N/A)
FIRST READING: NOVEMBER 13, 2025
staffcontact
(Staff Contact: Max Wemyss/David Recor)
summary
Summary Explanation/Background:
This is a repeat of the second reading to satisfy advertisement requirements.
This item has been amended prior to second reading to remove those sections related to the measuring the height of fences and walls. All other sections remain unmodified.
Staff is recommending text amendments to the Zoning Code regarding the measurement of the height of structures. The amendments occur in Article 3 (Zoning Districts), Article 5 (Development Standards), and Article 9 (Definitions and Interpretations).
Measurement and Definition of Height (main amendment):
Staff proposes to modify the way that the height of a structure is measured by differentiating between habitable structures and uninhabitable structures. Habitable structures are to be measured from the required finished floor elevation rather than the finished grade. Measuring from the finished grade resulted in a loss of permitted building height due to the difference between the grade of a property and the elevated (generally for FEMA compliance) finished floor of a property. This also put us in conflict with our Comprehensive Plan policies to accommodate development adaptations to sea level rise and the resulting floodproofing regulations. Additionally, some standards in our zoning code encourage taller ground floors (to promote viable retail spaces) in multistory and mixed-use buildings while also requiring a limitation in building height in feet rather than stories. This hard number for building height maximum, inclusive of the taller ground floor and the difference between the finished floor elevation and the grade, collectively restricts building height in an unintended way.
Processing this amendment resulted in a review of height standards throughout the zoning code. Several minor changes are proposed either as corrections/clarifications or as a result of the proposed change rendering another regulation redundant.
This item was presented to the Planning and Zoning Board where it received a unanimous recommendation of approval. The backup includes the staff report and presentation provided to the Planning and Zoning Board.
Origin of request for this action: Development Services
Fiscal impact and source of funding: N/A
pagebreak1
strategicplan_emblem_field
pagebr
strategicplan_description_field