boardname
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Meeting Date: JULY 17, 2025
title
SPECIAL EXCEPTION - BAHAMA BEACH CLUB POMPANO LLC
projectinfo
Request: Special Exception
P&Z# 25-17000005
Owner: Bahama Beach Club Pompano LLC
Project Location: 3211 SE 6 ST
Folio Number: 494306110300
Land Use Designation: MH (Medium High 16-25 DU/AC)
Zoning District: RM-20 (Multiple-Family Residence 20)
Commission District: Audrey Fesik (1)
Agent: Mirko Raatz
Project Planner: Scott Reale
otherinfo
Summary:
The Applicant Landowner is requesting SPECIAL EXCEPTION approval as required by Section 155.4225(C)(1) [Districts Where Permitted] of the Pompano Beach Zoning Code in order to utilize the subject property (Zoning District: RM-20) for a hotel or motel.
The property is located on the barrier island along the north side of SE 6th Street and the west side of Hibiscus Avenue.
ZONING REGULATIONS
§155.4225. COMMERCIAL: VISITOR ACCOMMODATION USES
…
C. Hotel or Motel
1. Districts Where Permitted
|
RS-1 |
RS-2 |
RS-3 |
RS-4 |
RS-L |
RD-1 |
RM-7 |
RM-12 |
RM-20 |
RM-30 |
RM-45 |
MH-12 |
B-1 |
B-2 |
B-3 |
B-4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
S |
S |
|
|
S |
P |
P |
|
M-1 |
CR |
I-1 |
I-IX |
OIP |
M-2 |
TO |
PR |
CF |
PU |
T |
BP |
RPUD |
PCD |
PD-TO |
LAC |
PD-1 |
|
S |
P |
P |
|
P |
|
P |
|
|
|
|
|
|
P |
P |
P |
P |
2. Definition
A hotel or motel is a state-licensed building or a group of buildings in which sleeping accommodations are offered to the public and intended primarily for rental for temporary occupancy by persons on an overnight basis. Such uses may include kitchenettes, microwaves, and refrigerators for each lodging unit. Each room which is accessible by a lock-out key is considered a separate lodging unit for purposes of Zoning and Land Use. Accessory uses may include, but are not limited to, restaurants, bars or lounges, nightclubs, conference and meeting rooms, business centers, newsstands, gift shops, sale of tanning products, rental of beach chairs and umbrellas, exercise and fitness facilities, swimming pools, etc., subject to any applicable use-specific standards. This use type does not include condo hotels, bed and breakfast inns, or rooming or boarding houses. Hotels and motels are considered synonymous uses. On any parcel designated residential on the Future Land Use Map, for density purposes two lodging units shall be equal to one dwelling unit and the maximum number of dwelling units permitted for the parcel of land will be calculated based on the gross area of the property.
3. Standards
A hotel or motel shall comply with the following standards:
a. In the I-1 District, Hotels are permitted only if located directly abutting a principal arterial street.
b. Up to 15 percent of the gross floor area of a hotel or motel may be devoted to business-related accessory uses other than eating or drinking establishments-including conference and meeting rooms, business centers, retail services such as newsstands and gift shops, and similar uses. Such uses may have a patron entrance from outside the principal building.
PROPERTY INFORMATION AND STAFF ANALYSIS
1. The subject property has no open building permits and no active Business Tax Receipts (BTRs) on file.
2. The subject property was developed with six (6) units originally constructed in the late 1950s.
3. Historically, the property has operated with a mix of long- and short-term rentals. However, a Business Tax Receipt for short-term (hotel/motel) use was not maintained by the previous owner. Since the property is zoned Multi-Family Residential 20 (RM-20), a hotel/motel use may only be reestablished through the approval of a Special Exception.
4. Hotel density is calculated differently from permanent multi-family dwellings. The applicable land use designation, Medium-High Residential (MH), allows a base density of 25 dwelling units per acre. Given the site’s gross lot size of 14,875 square feet (approximately 0.34 acres), the maximum permitted hotel density equates to 13 lodging units. The applicant is proposing to operate six (6) lodging units-equal to the existing number of dwelling units-which is consistent with the current development pattern. No new construction or increase in density is proposed; the request is solely to reestablish a hotel use that lapsed due to non-renewal of the BTR.
5. The parking requirement for hotels of this size is one (1) space per lodging unit. Aerial and street-level imagery suggest that the property can accommodate the required parking. It is noted that some of the existing parking spaces slightly encroach into the Hibiscus Avenue and SE 6th Street rights-of-way. However, such encroachments are a common legal nonconformity for older properties located on the barrier island.
6. The surrounding barrier island includes a mix of visitor accommodations such as condo-hotels, bed & breakfasts, motels, hotels, and licensed short-term rentals-many of which are located within multi-family residential zoning districts. In recent years, the ZBA has approved multiple Special Exceptions for hotel/motel uses within the RM-20 zoning district, reflecting an established precedent.
7. Applicable Comprehensive Plan policy:
• Policy 01.03.10: Support and promote hotels, motels and other tourist accommodations in designated residential, commercial and commercial recreational land use designations.
8. Zoning Code: The Multiple-Family Residence 20 (RM-20) district is established and intended to accommodate primarily multifamily dwellings (including townhouse development) including community residences and recovery communities at moderate densities. The district also accommodates single-family and two-family dwellings, zero-lot-line development, and continuing care retirement communities. Limited neighborhood-serving nonresidential uses, as well as office buildings, financial institutions, hotels/motels, and condo hotels, are allowed as Special Exceptions.
LAND USE PATTERNS
Subject property (Zoning District | Existing Use):
• RM-20 | 6-unit multi-family dwelling (no active BTR)
Surrounding Properties (Zoning District | Existing Use):
• North: RM-20 | 8-unit multi-family dwelling (Sun Terrace Condo)
• South: RM-20 | triplex and single-family dwelling
• West: RS-2 | single-family dwelling
• East: RM-20/AOD | triplex
SPECIAL EXCEPTION REVIEW STANDARDS
A Special Exception shall be approved only on a finding that there is competent substantial evidence in the record that the Special Exception, as proposed:
1. Is consistent with the comprehensive plan;
2. Complies with all applicable zoning district standards;
3. Complies with all applicable use-specific standards in Article 4: Use Standards;
4. Avoids overburdening the available capacity of existing public facilities and services, including, but not limited to, streets and other transportation facilities, schools, potable water facilities, sewage disposal, stormwater management, and police and fire protection;
5. Is appropriate for its location and is compatible with the general character of neighboring lands and the uses permitted in the zoning district(s) of neighboring lands. Evidence for this standard shall include, but not be limited to, population density, intensity, character of activity, traffic and parking conditions and the number of similar uses or special exception uses in the neighborhood;
6. Avoids significant adverse odor, noise, glare, and vibration impacts on surrounding lands regarding refuse collection, service delivery, parking and loading, signs, lighting, and other site elements;
7. Adequately screens, buffers, or otherwise minimizes adverse visual impacts on neighboring lands;
8. Avoids significant deterioration of water and air resources, scenic resources, and other natural resources;
9. Maintains safe and convenient ingress and egress and traffic flow onto and through the site by vehicles and pedestrians, and safe road conditions around the site and neighborhood;
10. Allows for the protection of property values and the ability of neighboring lands to develop uses permitted in the zoning district;
11. Fulfills a demonstrated need for the public convenience and service of the population of the neighborhood for the special exception use with consideration given to the present availability of such uses;
12. Complies with all other relevant city, state and federal laws and regulations; and
13. For purposes of determining impacts on neighboring properties and/or the neighborhood, the terms neighboring properties and neighborhood shall include the area affected by the requested special exception, which is typically an area of 500 feet to a one-half mile radius from the subject site.
Staff Conditions:
Should the Board determine the applicant has provided competent substantial evidence sufficient to satisfy the thirteen Special Exception review standards, staff requests the Board include the following conditions as part of the Order:
1. Obtain all necessary governmental permits and approvals, including a Change of Certificate of Occupancy, and a Zoning Use Certificate and Business Tax Receipt for the hotel/motel use with a maximum of six (6) lodging units.