Rewriting Our Code: Looking To The Future of Hallandale Beach

Cities, just like corporations, run under specific rules and regulations. We have our city charter as our governing document and a code of ordinances that regulate everything from right of ways, services, businesses, construction, building maintenance and development. The charter can only be amended by a direct vote of the people. Our code can be changed by the commission through a majority vote. Some development regulations can only be changed by the commission and then must be authorized by the county and in some cases the state.

As a commission, we have adopted changes to various codes over the years. These changes come in the form of ordinances that are brought to a vote twice at our commission meetings for direct public input. These changes have been adopted to enhance operations, clarify rules and modernize various code to modern realities. Ordinances are the laws of the city.

It has been many years since we have performed a full code rewrite. We directed the City Manager to begin the process last year. We went out to bid and approved a contract with Calvon Giordano to perform the rewrite. This is not simply reading the code and reorganizing and redrafting, it is a full rewrite. The process entails the analysis of every code side by side with our residents and businesses. It will become a blueprint for our future. The rewriting will take at least a year.

Last Thursday, we hosted the first public workshop at the Cultural Center. There were two sessions open to the public. At 4 pm business owners and developers attended and at 6 pm the public came. C&G set up stations around the room and asked participants to either place green dots for yes or red for no on items.

Displays included different signs, types of houses, types of building, street layouts and parking. There were other stations that showed land uses around the city. These are a pattern of where to put use including commercial, residential, multi family, low density to high density and various building heights.

Florida law is very strict when it comes to property rights. If I own a property that I can build commercially it is “by right” to build. The codes regulate the how. Some areas you can build “by right” single family and other multifamily “by right”. We cannot take those rights as we can be sued under The Burt Harris Act. We can again regulate how they are built.

There are various viewpoints and ideas of what changes we need to address future growth. Some of us believe that we can stop all development and redevelopment. That is not realistic. Property owners have rights and buildings often become obsolete. Some of us want more development to address housing but not in our backyard.

 Land development and zoning laws have been around for decades. Some may be surprised that the patterns are now changing back to what I call “Back to The Future”. As dense urban communities, we are mixing uses along our corridors. The New Urbanism, which I call the Old Urbanism provides that commercial and residential, can and should be mixed.

I remember going to my grandmothers in Trenton, New Jersey. There were single family homes and multi-family units right next door to the market. You could walk another two blocks and go to the movies. There were restaurants on the main street in store fronts and others in converted houses. The beauty was you did not even need a car. My grandmom did not drive. She walked pretty much everywhere except where you could catch the shuttle to work.  

How do you feel about our future? What do you envision tomorrow? We want to know. If you missed the meeting, there is an online survey at www.visionHallandaleBeach.org. We will also be scheduling another follow-up meeting.

Please feel free to contact me anytime with your questions, concerns and ideas to make our city a better place. I’m reachable at the office: 954-457-1318, mobile/text: 954-632-5700 or visit my website at www.MayorJoyCooper.com.  Working for you! Always have! Always will!