§ 5-51. Purpose and intent.

The purpose of the special entertainment overlay district regulations is to create the opportunity to and encourage the development of areas which promote the cultural, economic educational and general welfare of the people of Fort Lauderdale in conjunction with the development of areas catering to and promoting tourism and providing entertainment centers for the utilization and enjoyment of the public.

The regulations are intended to promote the goals of the city's comprehensive land use element by creating standards which are unique and specific to the regional activity center (RAC) land use designated areas in order to promote development of regional significance.

The regulations provide incentives for development which foster the implementation of the RAC land use designation by encouraging intense and varied development and uses, discouraging automobile travel and encouraging public pedestrian use.

The incentives are designed to promote redevelopment which will eliminate deteriorating conditions in areas which are found to be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the public.

The regulations are intended to enhance the visibility and public awareness of publicly-funded projects and to create incentives to the public to utilize public improvements by the creation of a special entertainment district.

It has been found that encouraging the location of entertainment, retail and restaurant uses within a limited defined area creates an opportunity to offer a variety of amenities to the public in a convenient physical location which will promote pedestrian use with an attendant decrease in vehicular traffic, provide for more efficient and effective public safety enforcement in a defined area; encourage greater utilization of public projects financed with public funds and encourage private development of entertainment facilities which enhance and compliment the use of the publicly-funded improvements.

The city commission hereby finds that this section benefits the residents and property owners of the city, and declares as a matter of public policy that this article is in the interest of the health, safety, general welfare and economic well-being of its residents.

(Ord. No. C-92-17, § 1, 4-7-92)