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Board approves beer-and-wine special exception for North Beach restaurant at 3313 Northeast 30 Third Street
Summary
The Fort Lauderdale Board of Adjustment approved a special exception allowing beer-and-wine sales at a small North Beach restaurant, finding the application met the code's special-exception criteria; the vote was 5-2.
The Fort Lauderdale Board of Adjustment approved a special exception to allow beer-and-wine sales at 3313 Northeast 30 Third Street, a small North Beach restaurant, after a public hearing and a 5-2 vote.
The applicant’s representative said the location is part of the city’s North Beach restaurants-and-shops neighborhood and that neighboring businesses had submitted letters of support. Board members who voted in favor said the request met the code’s special-exception criteria; two members opposed.
Lawrence Black, representing the applicant, told the board the application "is connected to 3313 Northeast 30 Third Street, which is a North Beach, restaurants and shops neighborhood," and said the petition was intended "to provide our neighborhood with food and alcoholic beverages." He said two establishments within the 300-foot proximity had provided letters of support and specifically named Fish Tales as one of the nearby businesses that did not object.
Black said the proposal is for a "very small" breakfast-and-lunch restaurant that would add a beer-and-wine option in the afternoon and possibly extend hours into the evening. Owner Celine Ansel was present during the hearing.
A staff member explained the special-exception standard to the board, saying the board must find an application "is not contrary to the public interest" and "not incompatible with adjoining properties or the surrounding neighborhood." After discussion the board voted on a motion to approve the request for alcohol sales within the 300-foot limit; Jamie (clerical staff) recorded the roll call: Wolf — yes; Mead — no; Mergler — yes; Ratburn — yes; Jones — yes; Hagopian — yes; Chair Hoffman — no. The motion passed, 5–2.
The board did not attach additional conditions on the record during the hearing. The applicant provided letters of support for the file.
Votes at a glance: Motion to approve request for beer-and-wine special exception for 3313 Northeast 30 Third Street — Passed 5–2 (Wolf, Mergler, Ratburn, Jones, Hagopian yes; Mead, Chair Hoffman no).
The decision allows the small restaurant to serve beer and wine subject to any licensing and permitting steps outside the BOA process.
