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Commission OKs variance to reopen special residential facility at 5940 NW 19th Ct., limits use to special‑needs youth
Summary
After staff opposition and neighborhood concern, the Lauderhill City Commission voted 5‑0 to approve a variance to the city's 1,200‑foot separation rule for special residential facilities, allowing a previously operating facility to reopen under a recorded covenant limiting residents to special‑needs youth ages 3–18 and up to 7–14 beds.
The Lauderhill City Commission on May 12 granted a variance allowing a special residential facility to operate at a property that previously hosted the same use but is within the city's required 1,200‑foot separation distance from another licensed facility.
The quasi‑judicial application (Order No. 25005115) concerned a 0.17‑acre site at or near 5940 Northwest 19th Court. The applicant, represented by attorney Hope Calhoun and owner Clarence Woods (Ambassador Investment and Realty LLC), asked the commission to waive the separation requirement so the property could resume operation as a state‑licensed residential facility providing care for residents.
City staff recommended denial, saying the applicant had not shown that it satisfied the established variance criteria and noting a history in the area of clustered group‑living facilities that the city had previously sought to decentralize. Staff told the commission the separation requirement exists to reduce concentrated impacts on neighborhoods where multiple group…
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