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Commission asks staff to enforce portable-classroom limits, delays action on water connection to Davie parcel
Summary
Commissioners raised safety and capacity concerns about portable classrooms at Nurul Islam (a parcel in Davie) and directed staff to issue code enforcement notices. The commission also discussed but did not decide to extend Cooper City water to parcels in Davie and asked for strict contract terms if service outside the city is considered.
Commissioners directed staff to pursue enforcement steps regarding portable classrooms on a property used by Nurul Islam that lies in the Town of Davie, citing traffic and capacity concerns and noting that the temporary classrooms were to have been removed after the new building was completed.
Commissioner Mallozzi said residents have complained about traffic congestion and expressed concern that portable units "have portables, and their capacity is double," which she said raises safety concerns. Staff said the portables were supposed to be removed when the new on-site building and drainage improvements went live; the applicant sought COVID-era extensions and later amended plats that increased authorized student capacity before all infrastructure was completed.
Carlos Vega, the city's community development director, told the commission the city has repeatedly requested removal of the portables and that the site is still awaiting Central Broward Water Control District review regarding drainage. "We can cite them and bring them to magistrate for the portables," Vega said, and staff said they would issue a notice of violation and use the code enforcement and magistrate procedures previously adopted by the commission to enforce site-plan and land-development conditions.
Commissioners also discussed a separate question: whether Cooper City should extend potable water service to properties located in Davie. The city attorney explained three legal paths under Florida law through which a municipality can be compelled to serve property in another jurisdiction: (1) by ordinance establishing a service area, (2) by contract, or (3) if a court finds the city has manifested an intent to serve the area (a fact-specific inquiry). The commission emphasized that any agreement to provide water outside Cooper City should be narrowly tailored and nontransferable, with specific conditions in writing.
No final decision was made on extending water; commissioners asked staff to prepare documentation of prior approvals and COVID-era extensions and to proceed with enforcement on the portable classrooms as appropriate.
