Margate, Florida

Zoning Ordinance
   

For the City of Margate, Duncan Associates reformatted and reorganized the community's existing 35 year-old zoning code, and prepared a limited revision of certain substantive regulations. Since its adoption, the code had been amended many times on a piecemeal basis, resulting in a document that: was inefficiently organized with regulations affecting property widely scattered through the code; contained a variety of outdated use categories; did not include new types of uses that reflect technological, business and employment changes; contained outdated and

incomplete definitions; did not fully address First Amendment policies that affect various uses within a community; and lacked a coherent and logical organization format resulting in a document that is extremely difficult for both frequent and infrequent users. The principal task was to reorganize the existing document. As an example, the current code contained 25 separate articles, 16 of which were individual zoning districts. Each of the districts were repetitive, containing long lists of permitted and prohibited uses, and detailed information regarding property development regulations. The also code contained separate articles that addressed only a single subject, such as parking and loading or adult entertainment. Also, numerous zoning standards or regulations were liberally "sprinkled" throughout the text in a random fashion. In contrast, the new code contained only ten separate articles, each addressing a discrete subject matter. The new code also addressed a limited number of substantive issues as part of the zoning code update, issues that are seemingly perennial and continually changing. These issues included permissible limitations on signs; permissible limitations on the location, size and impact of large scale religious institutions; and permissible limitations on the free speech of individuals.

Period:     September 2001 - March 2002               Contact:    Robert V. Meehan
Team:       Duncan Associates                                                 City Planner
                                                                                          954.972.0828