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Board opens policy review of nonconforming uses after staff explains code categories
Summary
Staff summarized the four nonconformity categories in city code and said lawful nonconforming uses must maintain an active city business license; board members urged a study of whether the current rules unintentionally encourage blight and asked for examples and vesting practices.
Lauren Press and other planners described how the Lake Worth Beach code treats nonconforming properties: nonconforming uses of land (for example, outdoor storage), nonconforming lots of record, nonconforming buildings/structures (size, setbacks) and nonconforming uses of buildings where a previous industrial or other use no longer matches current zoning. Staff said the code allows these lawful nonconforming uses to continue under limited conditions but imposes strict rules on abandonment and discontinuation.
A board member with prior county experience said, "my professional opinion is that nonconformity language can encourage blight," and urged a thorough review. Staff replied that the city will study the nonconformity section as part of a broader business‑friendly initiative and will bring more detailed analysis and examples to a future meeting, and recommended including the building official and case‑law review when the topic returns.
