Pompano Beach zoning board approves special exception for outdoor vehicle storage at Automania

The Pompano Beach Zoning Board of Appeals voted Feb. 20 to grant a special exception allowing accessory outdoor vehicle storage behind a warehouse operated as Automania Corp. at 344 Southeast 11th Avenue, subject to three staff-recommended conditions.

City planning staff told the board the request — P&Z case 2417000011, filed by Bailey Warehouse Inc. with operator Fabrizio Pimentel — seeks permission under section 150-54303(W)(1) of the Pompano Beach zoning code to use the rear portion of a B-4–zoned property for outdoor storage as an accessory use. "This is P and Z case 20Four-seventeen11," Scott Riali of Development Services said when introducing the staff report. Staff said the building measures about 5,040 square feet and that the code limits outdoor storage to 35% of a building's gross floor area (a maximum of 1,764 square feet); the applicant's plan proposes about 1,728 square feet of outdoor storage.

The staff report noted an active code-enforcement case (20438) for abandoned and improperly stored vehicles at the property and recommended approval only if the applicant obtains required permits, limits outdoor storage to the area shown on the submitted conceptual plan, and resolves the open violations. "If approved, the outdoor storage will be restricted to the area behind the principal building and will not be allowed between the building and the South Dixie Highway lot line," Riali said.

Applicant Fabrizio Pimentel told the board he did not realize the move to the current building about three years earlier required an outdoor-storage license and apologized for the late application. "I just want to say sorry because I'm too late with request for the outdoor storage," Pimentel said, and described using the fenced rear area to hold vehicles awaiting parts for days to weeks.

Board members questioned how many cars typically were stored and whether the rear fencing concealed the vehicles from public view. Pimentel said his average was about five cars on a typical visit and at times seven to 10 cars. Board member Rafael Katz asked whether vehicles could remain for long periods; code compliance responded such vehicles (including those with flat tires or missing plates) were the subject of the open violations.

"The violations that are open... are all related to the vehicles — the unregistered and inoperable vehicles that have been around the property," Director AJ Prosser of Code Compliance told the board. Prosser said that confining vehicles to the approved storage area would address those three open violations.

After discussion the board moved to find there was "competent and substantial evidence" that the 13 special-exception review standards were met and to grant the special exception subject to the three staff conditions. The motion passed on a roll-call vote: Linda Thomas — yes; James Bunn — yes; Karen Berger — yes; Joe Zarcuzzi — yes; Charlotte Burry — yes.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (Jan. 16, 2025): motion made and approved (vote details not specified in record). - Postponement of Item 1 to March: motion carried (vote details not specified). - Item 3 (LN 84) removed from agenda by motion: motion carried (vote details not specified). - Item 4: formally withdrawn as of Feb. 15 (no vote recorded). - P&Z Case 2417000011 (Bailey Warehouse Inc./Automania Corp.): special exception granted, conditions require permits, limit storage area, and resolution of code case 20438 (roll-call recorded above).

The board closed the meeting after brief administrative announcements, including notice that elections for chair and vice chair will be held at the March 20 meeting and that the ZBA rules of procedure will be circulated to members for review.