Washington Park Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement Dist.

The New Amended Ordinance of The Enhancement Plan 9/18/03

Oct 15, 2003

Washington Park Neighborhood
Enhancement Plan


Broward County
Florida



















On September 18, 2003, Ordinance 2002-44
was amended by Adoption of Ordinance 2003-26.




Broward County Board of County Commissioners

Ilene Lieberman
Vice-Mayor, District 1

Kristin D. Jacobs
Commissioner, District 2

Ben Graber
Commissioner, District 3

James A. Scott
Commissioner, District 4

Lori Nance Parrish
Chair, District 5

Sue Gunzburger
Commissioner, District 6

John E. Rodstrom, Jr.
Commissioner, District 7

Diana Wasserman-Rubin
Mayor, District 8

Josephus Eggelletion, Jr.
Commissioner, District 9

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Broward County Administration

Roger J. Desjarlais
County Administrator



The names of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners listed above
are revised by the Broward County Planning Services Division
to familiarize District residents with their elected officials.









Washington Park Neighborhood Council

Eugene Franklin
President

Yvonne Sumlin
Vice President

Julia Porter
Secretary

Sandra Bloodsaw
Public Relations

Idella Wright
Public Relations Assistant


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On May 8, 2003, the Washington Park
Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement District
held its biennial election. The names of the elected Council members listed above
were approved by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners
on June 3, 2003, and are revised by the Broward County Planning Services Division
to familiarize District residents with their elected officials.


Table of Contents

Page

I. Preamble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

II. Boundaries and Size of District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

III. Total Population and Number of Households . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

IV. Land Use, Zoning and Housing in the District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

V. Goals and Objectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

VI. Strategies and Policies to Enhance the District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

VII. Minimum Standards for Property Maintenance,
Building Codes and Community Aesthetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

VIII. Strategies to Implement and Evaluate the Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

IX. Building Design Standards for Construction of New Single Family Houses . . . . . . . . .15

X. Compliance with the Washington Park Neighborhood Enhancement Plan. . . . . . . . . .15













(Amended by Ordinance 2003-26, 9/18/03)

I. Preamble

Pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section 163.524, Florida Statutes, the Board of County Commissioners designated the Washington Park area as a Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement District on March 13, 2001. The Washington Park Homeowners Association organized the election process. The Washington Park Neighborhood Council (Neighborhood Council) was elected by majority vote of the Washington Park residents participating in the noticed election held on May 10, 2001, consistent with Section 163.524(4) Florida Statutes

The Neighborhood Council prepared the Washington Park Neighborhood Enhancement Plan (Neighborhood Enhancement Plan) with input from the community. The Neighborhood Enhancement Plan identifies a goal, objectives and policies to ensure that all people understand the Neighborhood Council?’s vision for the Washington Park neighborhood, now and into the future. Additionally, the Neighborhood Council identified standards it wishes to have enforced within the Enhancement District. These statements, when combined, especially will be helpful in making sure that any annexing municipality understands the values of the neighborhood residents and will endeavor to live up to the residents?’ expectations upon annexation.

In accordance with Section 163.524(10) Florida Statutes, the Neighborhood Council and the Broward County Planning Services Division held a joint advertised public hearing on the Neighborhood Enhancement Plan on June 13, 2002. All of the goals, objectives, policies and standards were read into the record by the Neighborhood Council and discussed by the residents attending the hearing.


II. Boundaries and Size of the District

The Washington Park Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement District (Enhancement District) is located in the east-central portion of the County. It is bordered on the north by Sunrise Boulevard and the unincorporated neighborhood of Roosevelt Gardens; on the east by NW 27 Avenue and the unincorporated neighborhood of Franklin Park; on the south by NW 6 Street (Sistrunk Blvd.) and the unincorporated neighborhood of Boulevard Gardens; and on the west by NW 31 Avenue (Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.) and the unincorporated area of St. George (see Exhibit 1.)

The Enhancement District is 168.12 acres according to the County?’s geographic information systems data base.




III. Total Population and Number of Households in the District

In 2000, the population of the Enhancement District was 1,257 based on data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census for the Washington Park Census Designated Place. Of the total population, black non-Hispanics represent 98 percent, with Hispanics, white non-Hispanics, native Americans and Asians comprising the remainder.

Based on census data, there were 410 households in Washington Park in 2000. This family oriented community has a relatively large young population with 30.8 percent of its residents less than 18 years old. Significantly, 43.7 percent of the households have children under 18 years of age, compared to only 32 percent countywide. This is consistent with an above average household size of 3.07 persons per household as compared to the countywide average of 2.34. Among the 299 families with children, 61 percent were single-parent families. There is a small senior citizen population in the Enhancement District with 7.2 percent of the residents aged 65 years and older, compared to 16.8 percent in this age group countywide.























Exhibit 1
Boundary and Size





































IV. Land Use, Zoning and Housing in the Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement District

The future land use designation for the area is primarily Low-5 Residential with a maximum density of five dwelling units per gross acre. The businesses along Sunrise Boulevard and NW 27 Avenue are designated Commercial (Exhibit 2.)

The predominant zoning category in the Enhancement District is RS-6 One-family Detached Dwelling District. Lot size provisions within RS-6 (6 dwelling units per net acre) requires a minimum lot area of 5,000 square feet. A Community Facilities District CF is located on the western boundary of the district on NW 31 Avenue (Martin Luther King Jr, Blvd.) and is the site of Edgar P. Mills Family Success Center. Zoning along Sunrise Boulevard and NW 27 Avenue is General Commercial District B-3. Centrally located within the community is Open Space District S-2 on the south side of the North Fork New River and the site of Lafayette Hart Park (Exhibit 3.)

The Enhancement District consists of small, single-family homes constructed primarily in the 1950's and 1960's. Based on data from the U.S. Bureau of the Census for the Washington Park Census Designated Place, there were 470 total housing units with 60 housing units vacant in the District in 2000. Of the 410 remaining, 64.4 percent or 264 units were owner-occupied and 35.6 percent or 146 were renter-occupied.

















Exhibit 2
Land Use





































Exhibit 3
Zoning







































V. Goal and Objectives

Goal 1: Enhance the quality of life of all residents of the Washington Park neighborhood.

Objective 1: Improve the health of Washington Park residents.

Objective 2: Improve the safety of Washington Park residents.

Objective 3: Enhance the livability and walkability of the Washington Park neighborhood for all residents.

Objective 4: Increase property values in and environmental aesthetics of Washington Park.

Objective 5: Enhance neighborhood pride and identification of Washington Park residents.


VI. Strategies and Policies to Enhance the District

Policy 1: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall work with Broward County staff to produce and distribute a "Washington Park Neighborhood Enhancement Plan" brochure to all residents to improve awareness of and excitement for the plan?’s goal and objectives.

Policy 2: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall undertake programs to encourage residents?’ participation in neighborhood activities to foster neighborhood pride and commitment.

Policy 3: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall provide the Broward County enforcement agency with a list of addresses of dilapidated or vacant houses for action and follow-up to minimize opportunities for the development of blighting influences.

Policy 4: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall work with Broward County staff to identify and pursue funding for landscape projects within public rights-of-way to enhance the natural environment.

Policy 5: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall work with residents of homes in need of enhancement to identify cost-effective solutions to improve aesthetic and structural conditions, whenever possible.

Policy 6: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall work with the Broward County Traffic Management Team to improve public safety and enhance the quality of life by finding solutions to the traffic-related problems of speeding, noise and ?“cut-through?” commercial traffic.

Policy 7: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall work with the Broward Sheriff's Office deputies to improve public safety, especially of children, by encouraging residents who use bicycles to install appropriate lights and reflectors on their bicycles and utilize safety head gear.

Policy 8: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall work with the Broward Sheriff's Office deputies to minimize the potential for opportunistic crimes by identifying known loitering areas for inclusion of these areas on BSO patrol routes.

Policy 9: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall work with the Broward Sheriff?’s Office deputies to protect people and property by setting up and operating a successful neighborhood crime watch program.

Policy 10: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall continue to work with Broward County staff to enhance property values by finding sponsors for the Adopt-a-Street Program and organizing volunteer neighborhood ?“clean-ups.?”

Policy 11: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall encourage residents to place bulk pick-up items in the swale no more than 24 hours before the scheduled collection date.

Policy 12: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall be advised by Broward County of any Enhancement District resident?’s request for County capital expenditure assistance.

Policy 13: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall serve as the point of contact and advisory board to the County for County funded capital improvement projects and for annexation issues. In this regard, the Neighborhood Council shall be responsible for disseminating information to the residents of the District, as appropriate, through flyers and other means of communication. The County shall provide funding for advertising and preparation of notices related to these projects and annexation issues.

Policy 14: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council may inform residents of building and zoning code as well as Neighborhood Enhancement Plan requirements as delineated in the Washington Park Neighborhood Enhancement Plan and Support Documents and attempt to obtain compliance with these requirements prior to notice of violations being issued by the appropriate enforcement agency.

Policy 15: The Washington Park Neighborhood Council shall maintain records in accordance with Public Records Law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.


VII. Minimum Standards for Property Maintenance, Building Codes and Community Aesthetics

Standard 1. Fences, walls and hedges on commercial or industrially zoned property may be a maximum of eight (8) feet high and must be within the setback requirements. They must meet all other requirements of the Broward County Zoning Code. The use of chicken wire, barbed wire, razor wire or electrified fencing is prohibited.

Standard 2. Commercial uses, including home stores, shall be prohibited on residentially zoned property. Home offices shall be permitted. A home office is an office designed for and operated as a business location in a dwelling unit, and carried on by persons residing in the dwelling unit involving only written correspondence, phones, computers, or other common office equipment, and which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the dwelling for residential purposes. Home offices shall preclude any business operation which requires or permits customers or patrons to visit the dwelling.

Standard 3. All mobile food dispensing vehicles shall be prohibited from operating on public streets. Appropriate information signs shall be posted at all entrances into Washington Park.

Standard 4. (a) No person shall make or continue any noise which causes a noise disturbance to adjacent or surrounding private residential property at any time of the day or night. Noise is any sound which annoys or disturbs humans or causes or tends to cause an adverse psychological or physiological effect on humans. Noise disturbance is any sound that endangers the safety or health of any person, disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities, or endangers personal or real property. Noise disturbances shall constitute a nuisance.

(b) In addition, the following activities are prohibited during the time periods indicated below:

(1) Loudspeakers: Using or operating any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system, or similar device between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(2) Loading and unloading: Loading and unloading, opening, closing or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, refuse cans, or other objects between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(3) Construction and demolition: Operating or causing the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration, or demolition work between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(4) Powered model vehicles: Operating or permitting the operation of powered model vehicles between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(5) Domestic power tools: Operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn, or garden tool, or similar tool between 8:00p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(6) Vehicle motorboat, or aircraft repairs and testing: Repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing any motor vehicle, motorboat or aircraft between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

(7) Explosives, firearms and similar devices: Using or firing explosives, firearms or similar devices at any time of the day or night.

(8) Air-conditioning and air-handling equipment: Operating or permitting the operation of any air-conditioning or air-handling equipment which causes a noise disturbance at any time of the day or night.

(9) Engines, generators, pumps, motors, and other machinery: Operating or permitting the operation of any engines, generators, pumps, motors or other machinery which causes a noise disturbance at any time of the day or night.

(c) The following are not considered to be a noise disturbance:

(1) Motor vehicles operating on a public right-of-way.

(2) The unamplified human voice.

(3) Any noise generated by the movement of aircraft or railroads in accordance with or pursuant to applicable federal laws or regulations.

(4) Routine maintenance of public service utilities.

(5) Noise generated for the purpose of alerting persons to the existence of an emergency or noise generated in the performance of emergency work.

(6) Any noise generated by any noncommercial public speaking and public assembly activities conducted on any public space or public right-of-way pursuant to lawful authority.

(7) Any noise generated by the operation of engines, generators, pumps, construction tools, or other equipment for emergency use.

Standard 5. The number of household pets is limited to four (4). A household pet is an animal kept for pleasure, rather than for utility, by a family, within the family's dwelling unit or on the same plot as the family's dwelling unit. Offspring under the normal weaning age for the species shall not be included in maximum number of household pets.

Standard 6. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 10?½ of Broward County Code of Ordinances, all suspected instances of drug related activity, prostitution and gang related activity shall be reported to the Broward Sheriff's Office. The Broward County Nuisance Abatement Board shall schedule a hearing for each complaint which alleges that a place was used on more than two occasions, within a six-month period, as the site of an unlawful sale, delivery, manufacture, cultivation or felony possession of any controlled substance, or as the site for prostitution or is a place used by street gangs for street gang activity.


VIII. Strategies to Implement and Evaluate the Plan

1. The Neighborhood Council shall utilize the powers delineated in Section 163.526, Florida Statutes and conveyed to the Neighborhood Council by the Board of County Commissioners at the time of adoption of the Neighborhood Enhancement Plan for Washington Park.
2. The neighborhood standards may be amended from time to time by ordinance of the local government with jurisdiction over the area. [Section 163.524(11), Florida Statutes]

3. There shall be no activity within the Enhancement District which is in violation of any applicable federal, state or local government law, rule or regulation.

4. Additions/Modifications to the Exterior of Any existing Single Family within the Enhancement District.

(a) Any exterior modification or addition to an existing single family home site shall comply with all of the standards in Section IX, Policy 1. except for Standard 3. Relating to minimum floor area.

(b) The Neighborhood Council may recommend that additional design standards be established for such additions and modifications. Such additional design standards shall be forwarded to the County for consideration of inclusion of such standards in the Plan. The inclusion of such additional design standards into the Plan shall not affect applications for building permits for improvements or modifications to single family homes if the building permit applications are submitted prior to the adoption date of the ordinance including such additional design standards.
(c) The Neighborhood Council may, at its discretion, delegate its authority to recommend the establishment of additional design standards to a duly authorized committee of the Washington Park Civic Association or Lafayette Hart Park Civic Association.
(Amended by Ordinance 2003-26, 9/18/03)
5. Requirement of Owners when Leasing or Renting Property.

Within fifteen (15) days of entering into an agreement to rent or lease property within the Enhancement District, property owners shall be required to notify the Neighborhood Council in writing. The notice shall include the name and phone number of the lessee. All leases entered into after the effective date of the Neighborhood Enhancement Plan must contain clauses that bind lessee(s) to abide by the bylaws and rules of Washington Park Neighborhood Enhancement Plan. The owner shall provide the lessee(s) with a copy of the bylaws and rules of the Neighborhood Enhancement Plan within seven (7) days of the signing of the lease.

6. Enforcement of Neighborhood Enhancement Plan Rules and Regulations.

(a) If a person believes that a violation of the rules or bylaws of the Neighborhood Enhancement Plan has taken place, complaints concerning the alleged violation must be made in writing to the Street Captains or Neighborhood Council. If the Neighborhood Council determines that the complaint is a violation of the Neighborhood Enhancement Plan and neighborhood standards, it shall notify the complainant in writing as to the action that shall be taken to address the complaint.

(b) When a violation is reported in writing to the Street Captains or Neighborhood Council, the alleged violation shall receive a written warning from the Neighborhood Council setting forth the nature of the violation and required action to correct the violation.
(c) If the violation continues seven (7) days after the first warning has been issued, including weekends and holidays, or recurs within seven (7) days of the warning, including weekends and holidays, a second warning shall be issued.

(d) If within five (5) days of the second warning, including weekends and holidays, the violation does not cease, the Neighborhood Council shall notify the designated code enforcement officer of the violation.
(e) During the warning period, an alleged violator may request a hearing before the next scheduled meeting of the Neighborhood Council. If the Neighborhood Council, determines that no violation exists, it shall take no further action. If the Neighborhood

(Amended by Ordinance 2003-26, 9/18/03)
Council determines that a violation does exist, it shall contact the designated code enforcement officer.

(f) In addition to the penalties provided in Section 8?½ -16 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, a violation of the Neighborhood Enhancement Plan may be prosecuted in the same manner as a violation of County ordinances through the County?’s code enforcement boards or hearing officers. The code enforcement boards and hearing officers may assess penalties of up to $250 per day for a first violation and up to $500 per day for repeat violations, for each day the violation remains beyond the date the board or hearing officer sets for compliance. [Chapter 162, Florida Statutes]

(g) Penalties imposed, as well as costs, shall be incurred by the offending property owner, even if the violation was performed by the owner?’s lessee(s).

7. Exemption.
Any single family house existing at the time of the adoption of this ordinance which is damaged by fire, flood, explosion, collapse, wind, war or other catastrophe to such an extent that the cost of rebuilding, repair and reconstruction will exceed fifty-one percent (51%) of the replacement cost of the same single family house shall not be reconstructed except in conformity with Standards 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 as set forth in Section IX, Policy 1 of this Plan.


IX. Building Design Standards for Construction of New Single Family Houses.

Policy 1. The Washington Park Neighborhood Council wishes to set building design standards for construction of new single family homes.

Standard 1. All new single family houses shall be required to have garages or carports designed as an integral part of the structure. Canopies and nonstructural or detached garages and carports shall not be permitted.

Standard 2. All driveways and walkways, including that portion in the public right-of-way,
shall be concrete or brick pavers. Asphalt shall not be permitted in these areas.

Standard 3. New single family homes shall have a minimum floor area of at least fourteen

(Amended by Ordinance 2003-26, 9/18/03)
hundred (1400) square feet of living space.

Standard 4. Flat roofs over garages, carports, porches, patios and living spaces shall be prohibited.

Standard 5. Irrigation for landscaping shall be required for front, side and rear yards.

Standard 6. Fences, hedges or walls shall not be erected, planted or maintained at a height greater than forty-eight (48) inches in the front yard.

Standard 7. Fences or walls in the front yard shall not be chain link, solid wood (including shadow box fences) or solid concrete/CBS block.


X. Compliance with the Washington Park Neighborhood Enhancement Plan.

Broward County shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Washington Park Neighborhood Enhancement Plan including issuance of building permits consistent with Section IX of this Plan.



















(Amended by Ordinance 2003-26, 9/18/03)