Title
ZV2025-0010, Chabad of Pembroke Pines, 18490 Johnson Street, variance request. (Cole) (District 4)
Summary Explanation and Background
SUMMARY EXPLANATION AND BACKGROUND:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION / BACKGROUND:
Jeremy Shir, agent, is requesting a variance for the Chabad of Pembroke Pines located at 18490 Johnson Street to allow 43 existing parking spaces instead of the required 79 parking spaces. The request is to allow for future construction of the Mikveh building.
The site, previously owned and operated by the city as a daycare facility, was sold to the Chabad in 2021 for use as a religious institution. In 2025, a site plan application (SP2025-0001) was submitted to include the construction of a new freestanding building, designated to serve as a Mikveh. Due to the expansion, a parking variance is required to accommodate the increased number of parking spaces necessitated by the proposed development.
VARIANCE REQUEST DETAILS:
The applicant is requesting a variance to allow the 43 parking spaces provided, instead of the required 79 parking spaces to allow for the proposed Mikveh.
The applicant has provided the attached justification statement to support their request. Minimum off street parking is regulated by Land Development Code section 155.605. For reference, staff has attached Table 155.605: Minimum Parking Requirements from Article 6 of the Land Development Code.
VARIANCE DETERMINATION:
The Planning & Zoning Board shall not grant any non-single-family residential variances, permits, or make any decision, finding, and determination unless it first determines that:
Its decision and action taken is in harmony with the general purposes of the zoning ordinances of the city and is not contrary to the public interest, health, or welfare, taking into account the character and use of adjoining buildings and those in the vicinity, the number of persons residing or working in the buildings, and traffic conditions in the vicinity.
In the granting of non-single-family residential variances, the Board shall follow Section 155.301(O) Variance:
1. Purpose: To allow for the provision of relief from certain development standards of this LDC for one or more of the following reasons:
a) There are special circumstances or conditions applying to the land or building for which the variance is sought, which circumstances are peculiar to the land or building and do not apply generally to land or buildings in the neighborhood, and that the strict application of the provisions of the zoning ordinances would result in an unnecessary hardship and deprive the applicant of the reasonable use of the land or building; or
b) Any alleged hardship is not self-created by any person having an interest in the property nor is the result of a mere disregard for or in ignorance of the provisions of the zoning ordinances of the city; or
c) Granting the variance is not incompatible with public policy, will not adversely affect any adjacent property owners, and that the circumstances which cause the special conditions are peculiar to the subject property.