Title
ORDINANCE NO. 26o-04-107: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LAUDERHILL, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CITY’S LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS BY AMENDING ARTICLE III, ENTITLED “ZONING DISTRICTS,” SECTION 5.1 ENTITLED “ACCESSORY STRUCTURES AND USES,” AND CREATING A NEW SECTION 5.1.9 ENTITLED “FOOD PANTRY STANDARDS”; AMENDING SCHEDULE A - LAND USE CLASSIFICATIONS BY CREATING A DEFINITION FOR “FOOD PANTRY”; AMENDING SCHEDULE B - ALLOWABLE USES, B-1-USES ALLOWED IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS” BY ADDING “FOOD PANTRY” TO THE TABLE IDENTIFYING THE ZONING DISTRICTS WHERE PERMITTED; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY, AND CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Body
Request Action:
Requesting consideration of a text amendment to the Land Development Regulations (LDR) prepared by Staff.
Need Summary Explanation/ Background:
Staff has prepared an amendment to the Land Development Regulations creating a new use, definition and standards for a "Food Pantry," as an accessory use. The proposed amendment establishes standards and certain criteria specific to this use. The City amortized a use defined as a “Food Distribution Center,” in 2020 (Ordinance 20O-11-148), which allowed any operators to continue for 5 years from the date of adoption (12/14/2020). A Food Distribution Center is defined in the City’s Land Development Regulations (LDR’s) as “[a]ny building or structure, or a portion thereof, of which the interior, or portion of the interior, is used to furnish meals to members of the public without cost or at a very low cost as a social service as defined herein, a food distribution center shall not be considered a restaurant.” The City is seeking to add a new use of food pantry, which may be accessory to a principal use, in order to expand avenues for addressing food insecurity.
Food insecurity remains a significant and ongoing challenge across the United States, driven by economic instability, rising housing and utility costs, and persistent inflation affecting basic household expenses. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-the federal agency responsible for food and nutrition policy-approximately 14.3 percent of U.S. households, representing nearly 47.4 million people, experienced food insecurity in 2023, meaning they lacked consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active life (USDA, Household Food Security in the United States). Food insecurity disproportionately affects households with children, with federal data showing higher rates among families managing competing costs such as housing, childcare, health care, and food (USDA, Economic Research Service).
The Development Review Report (DRR) prepared by staff outlines the in greater detail the purpose and intent of the changes. The item was considered by the Planning & Zoning Board at the Meeting held on February 24, 2026. The Board unanimously recommended approval to the City Commission with a vote of 4-0.
Staff is recommending approval of the amendment to the Land Development Regulations.
Cost Summary/ Fiscal Impact:
N/A - there is no direct cost or fiscal impact associated with this ordinance
Attachments:
Attachment A - Development Review Report (DRR)
Attachment B - Excerpt of the February P&ZB Minutes (2-24-2026)
Budget Code Number(s): __________________________________
Procurement Information: [check all that apply]
[ ] RFP/Bid [ ] Emergency Purchase [ ] SBE
[ ] Proposal/Quote [ ] State Grant Funds [ ] Local Preference
[ ] Piggyback Contract [ ] Federal Grant Funds
[ ] Sole Source [ ] Matching Required