Margate CRA approves spring fair with revised site plan, conditions payment and animal-display approval

The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 24 approved a temporary-use agreement with Hildebrand Amusement Rights Inc. for the Margate Spring Fling, including a revised site plan that would add a circus component, by a 3-2 vote. Approval was conditioned on the applicant paying outstanding balances to the city no later than March 4 and on the City Commission granting any required approval for live-animal displays.

The resolution before the CRA covered the temporary-use agreement and a late-submitted, alternate site plan. Joshua Wright, attorney for Hildebrand Amusement, said the applicant, Harlan Bass, “has always, always, always, always paid his bill with the city of Margate” and that Bass was prepared to pay a large portion of the outstanding invoiced amount “this week.” Wright told the board the invoiced total was about $157,000 and that Bass planned to pay roughly $120,000 while staff reconciled remaining charges.

Several board members and residents pressed staff…