The Florida Nature and Culture Center is a religious retreat and conference facility located one mile east of U.S. Highway 27 on S.W. 36th Street in the City of Weston. The entire site contains approximately 118.4 acres of land. The facility is a heavily landscaped, campus style complex comprised of 12 buildings that occupy less than 3% of the total site area. Of the total site area, approximately 60 acres has been preserved in a natural state as wetlands, grasslands and lake area, providing a habitat for numerous egrets, eagles, herons and other forms of native wildlife. The Culture Center recently invested more than one million dollars to further upgrade and enhance this preserve.

The campus is comprised of six primary common buildings, the tallest of which is 39 feet, with a spire or architectural feature that totals 54 feet in height. In addition, the campus features six ancillary structures that include five buildings containing visitor sleeping rooms and a caretaker’s residence, as well as three miscellaneous buildings that include a pump room, guard house and gift shop/storage room. The campus also features an amphitheater that overlooks the lake that is located on the east side of the property. The overall site, outside of the natural preserve area, contains extensive landscaping with a variety of trees and shrubs. The entire complex, including all structures, setbacks, landscaping, parking, signage and any other development feature, as well as uses of structures, were constructed consistent with the applicable regulations in effect at the time of development and are considered legal and conforming. Any future development on the site shall conform with these design guidelines.

As a facility that provides a venue for religious activity, education, cultural exchange and meditation, the Florida Nature and Culture Center has been planned and developed to create harmony with the surrounding natural environment. As a result, the profile of the built environment is subdued, while natural vistas, vegetation, landscaping and pedestrian activities are emphasized to create a serene climate.

The subject site is approved for use as retreat, education and conference facilities, including accessory facilities to support the primary uses. Accessory facilities include, but are not limited to, sanctuary, chapel, reception hall, conference center, dining hall, multi-purpose center, guest sleeping accommodations, caretaker’s residence, guard house, storage area and gift shop.

The campus currently contains approximately 150,000 square feet of primary common, ancillary and miscellaneous building area. The total of all existing and potential future building development on the site shall not exceed 257,928 square feet, which is only 5% of the entire site area.

As open space is a key design feature that promotes the meditation qualities and nature center aspects of the Culture Center, a minimum of 50% of the gross site area shall be maintained in open space. Open space may include pedestrian paths, pedestrian plazas, active recreation areas, lakes and wetlands, but specifically excludes vehicular access areas or drive aisles, parking lots and roofed structures.

The predominant architecture of structures on the campus may be described as a Mediterranean theme. Primary common buildings feature pillared breezeways, façade relief, decorative banding and hip and gable roof styles. Ancillary buildings complement the predominant architectural scheme, and all buildings feature neutral wall colors. Visual variations and aesthetic enhancements include subdued red roofing and a variety of red brick pavers along the central promenade of the campus. Any future development on the site will be consistent and compatible with the existing style of development and current color palette that has been utilized.

The height of the tallest primary common building is 39 feet. The architectural feature totals 54 feet in height. Consistent with the existing development, therefore, future structures will not exceed 39 feet in height, and any future spire or architectural feature will not exceed 54 feet in height. Additionally, the height of any future fence or wall will not exceed the current height of such similar development features, which is a total of ten feet.

All structural setbacks on the site will not be less than 25 feet, with the exception of fences or walls. Fences or walls may be located on the property line, subject to meeting traffic and engineering safety standards.

Parking is dispersed throughout the developed portion of the campus. This not only makes parking more convenient for each of the campus buildings, but also de-emphasizes the visual impact of any parking area. A total of 563 parking spaces have been provided at the facility to serve the various primary common buildings and ancillary buildings. All future uses will conform with applicable parking regulations that may, with the approval of the City Commission , include shared parking per Section 124.54(F) of the Code of Ordinances.

The Florida Nature and Culture Center is a unique development because it features a wetland preserve as well as serving as a nature center. The preserve, which is located along the east, south and a portion of the west side of the property, will remain in its natural state. The Culture Center has recently invested more than one million dollars in this preserve to upgrade and enhance it. This area will remain in its natural state and serves as an expansive and natural buffer and landscape area for other properties abutting it.

The balance of the site that does not abut the preserve, which is the north side and a portion of the west side, features gentle berming and extensive landscaping. Additionally, the interior of the site contains extensive landscaping, including specimen trees and shrubs that are tagged with identification and specie information, in keeping with the nature center aspect of the campus. The preserve and the existing landscaping and berming shall remain, and are considered consistent with and conforming to code requirements.

The hierarchy of signage includes facility identification, directional signs and traffic control signs. The Culture Center identification sign is contained within the entry wall feature located within the property at the entrance to the facility, as approved prior to construction. The directional signs contained within the complex, as approved prior to construction, guide motorists and pedestrians to the various buildings within the complex, while the traffic control signs, such as “stop signs” and “keep right” signs provide direction to motorists for safety purposes. Any additional signs that are proposed for the campus will be consistent and compatible with the general design, style and color scheme of the existing signage program; otherwise conforming to the sign regulations in effect at that time.