Tamarac staff preview zoning change, ambulance remounts, lobbying contract and parks alcohol proposal ahead of June 11 meeting

TAMARAC, Fla. — City staff on June 9 reviewed a range of items for the June 11 commission meeting, including a proposed text amendment to the Land Development Code that would limit where funeral homes can operate, a proposed termination trigger for the Woodlands Overlay District tied to developer funding, plans to remount two fire-rescue units that staff said would save about $154,000 compared with buying new chassis, a proposed federal lobbying contract not to exceed $78,000, and a request to allow sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages at certain city events in parks.

Staff said the funeral-home text amendment responds to an “uptick” in inquiries and would remove funeral homes as an allowed use in the city’s mixed-use and public-facility zoning districts while leaving them allowed in business-park zones. Planning staff said the city identified 17 funeral homes within a five-mile radius and three located inside the city. “Given the fact that you have that many with 3 in the city, there’s no need to have them in all the zoning district,” Planning staff said.

The change is presented as a text amendment to the Land Development Code and, according to staff, is consistent with the review standards for text amendments and with the city’s comprehensive…