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PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD
Meeting Date: JANUARY 22, 2025
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TEXT AMENDMENT - Chapter 155.3505. Transportation (T) Amendments
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Request: Text Amendment
P&Z# N/A
Owner: N/A
Project Location: N/A
Folio Number: N/A
Land Use Designation: N/A
Zoning District: N/A
Commission District: N/A
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Project Planner: Jean Dolan (954-786-4045 / jean.dolan@copbfl.com)
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Summary:
Staff is in the process of changing the land use designation on several parcels of land within the Air Park to enable them to be developed in aviation and mixed aviation/industrial uses in accordance with the adopted Air Park Layout Plan. Once the land use plan amendment is adopted, the same parcels will be rezoned to Transportation (T) which is the zoning district that was specifically created for the Air Park Operations Area (AOA).
A close look at the Transportation zoning district requirements resulted in the following proposed changes.
Article 3, Part 5: Special Base Zoning Districts
155.3505. Transportation (T)
Part C. Intensity and Dimensional Standards
The setbacks for the Air Park zoning district were intended to be from the perimeter of the Air Park, not for the interior of individual lease parcels inside the Air Park boundaries (as demonstrated in the “Typical Development Configuration” graphic).
It is preferred that setbacks from the Air Park boundaries along NW 10th Street, NW 5th Avenue and Copans Road be a minimum of 100 feet to provide for an off-airport tree mitigation area. This will enable trees to be planted along the perimeter multipurpose trail as the currently wooded areas inside the AOA are developed and the trees removed are mitigated.
To accomplish this 100-foot setback and ensure that the setbacks are not misconstrued to apply inside aviation lease parcels on the Air Park, the setbacks in Table C are being eliminated and replaced with footnotes specifying the intent. Lease parcel interior setbacks (if needed) will be determined on a parcel-specific basis based on compatibility with adjacent aviation uses as determined by the city’s aviation consulting engineers.
Additional footnotes have been added to clarify that building height limits within Air Park lease parcels will be controlled by the vertical and horizontal restrictions related to the aviation function to be determined by the city’s aviation consulting engineers.
Finally, the issue of landscaping on the Air Park is being clarified to ensure we have “right-tree-right-place” methods applied based on height and wildlife attraction restrictions necessary to ensure aviation safety while providing the community-enhancing benefits of increased tree canopy along the perimeter multipurpose path.
Article 4, Use Standards: Part 2: Principal Uses and Structures
155.4207 Institutional: Education Uses
E. Vocational or Trade School
One of the tenants the city is working to attract to Pompano Air Park is the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS). BITTS provides a comprehensive technical skills program, offering specialized training in aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations. This initiative provides small cohorts of the local workforce with the necessary skills and resources to secure high-demand, well-paying jobs in the aviation industry, focusing on supporting low-income and underserved populations. A review of the Code revealed that vocation or trade school was not specifically permitted in the Transportation (T) zoning district so that permitted use is being added to ensure that BITTS can locate on Air Park property.
Review Standards for Code Amendments:
1. Consistency with the Comprehensive Plan
These proposed zoning text amendments are consistent with the objectives and policies associated with the Air Park in the Transportation Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
Objective 02.06.00 - Pompano Air Park
Protect the aviation viability of the Pompano Air Park and promote it as an economic driver for aviation business development, as an overall economic asset as well as a location for non-aviation recreational and open space uses compatible with the Air Park’s Airport Layout Plan.
Policy 02.06.01
Promote the perpetuation of recreation and community facility uses on all Air Park property as depicted on the Air Park’s Airport Layout Plan.
Policy 02.06.02
During the review of all proposed land use amendments, the City shall determine how the proposed amendments will impact the aviation operations at the Air Park.
Policy 02.06.03
Implement the Air Park Obstruction regulations in the Land Development Code to ensure that any building that constitutes an obstruction to protected airspace is granted an obstruction permit by the City in coordinate with the Air Park Manager, the City’s Aviation Consultants, the FAA and FDOT.
Policy 02.06.04
Provide access to Air Park property uses through internal roadway improvements, where feasible.
Policy 02.06.05
Utilize Air Park Enterprise Funds, as well as FAA and FDOT funding to implement improvements to the Pompano Beach Air Park in a manner consistent with the Air Park Master Plan and the Pompano Beach Capital Improvement Plan.
2. Does not conflict with any other code provisions.
The proposed Transportation (T) Zoning district text amendments directly addresses past conflicts between aviation development and landscape code requirements which are not consistent with aviation operations. These amendments will clarify that trees that are not appropriate in the AOA will be planted within the 100’ perimeter tree mitigation receiving areas along NW 10th Street, NW 5th Avenue and Copans Road.
3. Is required by changed conditions.
The changes to the land use designation proposed for several parcels within the Air Park to be consistent with the Airport Layout Plan required review of the Transportation (T) zoning district and brought the need for these amendments to staff’s attention. These clarifications will make reviewing future aviation related site plans on Air Park property more transparent for both Staff and future Applicants. The addition of the Technical School use as a permitted use at the Air Park will support the location of the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS) which is currently a focus for attraction to the Air Park.
4. Addresses a demonstrated community need.
The 1944 deed restrictions that apply to the 1,035-acre Pompano Air Park require the properties within the original boundaries of the Air Park to be used for aviation purposes unless specifically released from the deed restrictions. To date, 385 acres (37%) of the Air Park has been released and are being used primarily for parks and recreation; education (Pompano High and Pompano Middle Schools) and utility purposes. The city is obligated to maximize the use of the remaining 63% of the Air Park for aviation purposes. This Transportation (T) text amendment is consistent with this long-standing requirement and thus meets the community’s need to meet the Surplus Property Act deed restrictions.
5. Is consistent with the purpose and intent of the zoning districts, or would improve compatibility among uses and would ensure efficient development in the city.
These code amendments are consistent with the purpose and intent of the Transportation (T) zoning district which is exclusively for use on the Air Park. Amending the “setbacks” to clarify they are from the adjacent public rights-of-way not internal to lease parcels will maximize the use of Air Park property for aviation purposes by applying only those restrictions necessary based on technical aviation needs. Ensuring landscaping is not being required within the AOA where it may not be appropriate and transferring that same landscaping to enhance the public domain adjacent to the perimeter walking path is a win-win for the aviation community and the general population that will enjoy the additional shade canopy over that very popular recreational amenity.
Adding technical schools to the Transportation permitted uses will ensure a warm welcome to the Barrington Irving Technical Training School, a use that all community members can embrace as it benefits from being on airport property while not increasing airport operations.
6. Would result in a logical and orderly development pattern.
As noted in the response to #5, the text amendments support the logical development of the Air Park ensuring future site planning, landscaping and permitted uses are based on aviation-specific requirements rather than general standards that were not written to be sensitive to an aviation-related context.
7. Would not result in a significantly adverse impact on the natural environment.
The proposed text amendments support the natural environment by focusing on a “right-tree-right-place” approach to landscaping associated with the Air Park by intentionally planting required trees in the perimeter areas around the very popular and well-used multipurpose trail where they will not become aviation obstructions or wildlife attractors inconsistent with aviation operations.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of this code amendment.