Board of Adjustment Meeting July 14

I received the following E-mail from Bob Prager from the Coral Ridge Preservation Association and pass it along to you as an item of interest.


Dear Fort Lauderdale Homeowners' Associations, Members of Coral Ridge Preservation Association, and All Residents Concerned with Neighborhood Compatibility Issues,

The City of Fort Lauderdale Board of Adjustment is hearing a case at City Hall, 100 N Andrews Avenue, July 14, 2010 at 6:30 PM that will affect every neighborhood throughout the city.

We need one or more representatives from every Homeowners' Association, and every resident concerned with neighborhood compatibility to attend this meeting. The case will be heard in the City Commission chambers on the 1st Floor of City Hall promptly at 6:30 PM. It is the first case to be heard and is expected to take only about a half hour.

A few months ago the Planning and Zoning Board recommended that the City Commission pass a law allowing church and church schools to erect structures to any height they desired on property abutting residences. To protect property owners, the Board recommended that specific criteria be in the law that would guarantee neighborhood compatibility. The City Commission agreed with the Board and passed the new unlimited height law with very strict neighborhood compatibility requirements.

But city staff says that they will not enforce several of these provisions (dealing with setbacks and noise issues). That is a dangerous precedent opening up the possibility that churches and church schools may erect grossly incompatible structures as close as 20 feet from any residential property.

This case IS NOT about any SPECIFIC church or church school; it IS about EVERY church and church school in Fort Lauderdale. All residents should be concerned about the outcome of this case. City staff should not have the power to pick and choose what sections of the code to enforce or not enforce.

On July 14th, the Board of Adjustment is being asked to determine it is improper for a city employee to not enforce these important neighborhood protection regulations. We need your attendance to help support and guarantee this decision.

I look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

Very sincerely,

Robert N. Prager
Director
Coral Ridge Preservation Association

Cc: News media