THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item relates to activities in the Broward Municipal Services District (BMSD). The 2016 BMSD consists of 11.4 square miles with an estimated population of 14,759. The Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of the BMSD and the provider of its municipal services that include, but are not limited to, business development, building permitting and housing development, libraries and parks facilities, roadway maintenance, street enhancements, and zoning and code enforcement. The Broward County Zoning Code regulates development in the BMSD.
The Board has created an Economic Development Program for the BMSD which includes grants for façade and exterior property improvements. Currently, new development is not subject to minimum design standards. Many communities, that are considered desirable to prospective businesses and residents, have adopted design regulations. These are typically developed through a community involvement process.
Staff sought community input on building and site design through a Visual Preference Survey, at recent meetings of the Broadview Park Civic Association, Central County Community Advisory Board, and, in coordination with the County's Office of Economic and Small Business Development, the Business and Property Owners Group. Staff selected and paired building types that are commonly seen along commercial corridors in the BMSD. The selected building images were then compared and rated by the community. Based on the survey responses, staff recommends that new minimum criteria, providing design standards for commercial development, be included in the Broward County Land Development and Zoning Codes. Staff will continue to work with BMSD communities as commercial development design standards, consistent with community feedback, are developed.
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