Board grants parking variance to Chabad at Pembroke Pines site for small mikvah project

The Planning and Zoning Board granted a variance to a Chabad congregation seeking to add a small mikvah (ritual bath) at its Pembroke Pines property, noting the congregation’s assertions about existing parking usage and the mikvah’s limited operating pattern.

Robert Mordechai, representing Chabad, described the proposed mikvah as a single pool with two changing rooms within a building of about 1,300 square feet and said the mikvah’s use is limited to women and occurs only after sundown. “The mikvah project ... is a maximum of 3 people,” Mordechai told the board, adding that weekday use of the site is light and that many congregants walk from nearby neighborhoods.

Mordechai said the property has 43 parking spaces and that even on a typical Sabbath morning the synagogue might have 40–50 people attending but only about 10 cars because many congregants walk from adjacent neighborhoods; high‑holiday services are the exception and draw larger attendance. He argued the hardship was not self‑created because the property was purchased from the city in its current configuration.

A motion to grant the variance under Category A was made by Member Goldich, seconded by Member Beloyed, and carried unanimously. Staff noted the applicant has a pending site‑plan review and will return with construction plans; the variance applies to the parking requirement discussed at the hearing and does not waive any building, health or other permitting requirements.