Boca seeking ‘uniform treatment’ for all places of assembly

Published June 29th, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

Boca Raton is in the process of revisiting an ordinance aimed at what Development Services Director Jorge Camejo calls “uniform treatment for places of assembly and places of worship.”

The new ordinance was originally introduced at a hearing before the City Council Nov. 14, 2007. Residents expressed concerns in several areas – and were not afraid to admit they feared “houses of worship” might end up in the backyard.

So the ordinance went back to the Planning & Zoning Board for a public hearing and recommendation.  It came back to the council for another hearing Jan. 8. Questions still remained.

So the council referred it to city staff, with an order to examine how other jurisdictions handle the problem.

On the surface, it appears there are concerns about parking.  Some houses of worship fit snugly and unobtrusively into neighborhoods.  But others with large congregations are beset with overflowing parking lots on the worship day.

The ordinance returned to the Planning & Zoning Board last week – and the board moved it forward to the City Council with a recommendation for approval – with some conditions, according to Assistant City Manager Mike Woika.

Changes were suggested by P&Z in parking provisions and buffered areas, said Woika.  “They also suggested making the requirements clearer.”

In a memo to the P&Z, Camejo said the staff’s review of the ordinance shows the zoning code “was inconsistent in the definition and treatment of places of public assembly.” It’s been suggested that places or workshop and places of secular assembly should be treated more as equal.

Because the zoning code refers to houses of worship with a variety of names, there is “a need to address this matter and amend the zoning code to provide internal consistency and consistent treatment of places of public assembly.”

“In terms of the parking requirements for places of public assembly and places or worship,” Camejo said, “in instances where existing facilities are non-conforming, any expansion will require parking to be provided at the new proposed parking standard for the expanded portion of the facility only.”

The matter will have to be settled by the City Council at a future hearing.  No date has been set.