A small victory! On May 9th, Hollywood's Planning and Development Board voted unanimously for the City Commission to REJECT the 1301 land use amendment (all speakers spoke in opposition to the condo). However, the City Commission can always decide not to follow the P&D Board's recommendation.
Read the Sun Sentinel article about the vote here:
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/05/10/condo-tower-hollywood-no-vote/
The City Commission will likely vote on the land use amendment at the June 7th or June 21st City Commission meeting. Keep an eye on the meeting agendas for confirmation. If the City Commission decides to keep pushing this project forward, then it will be up to Broward County to either approve or deny this land use amendment. First, it would be heard by the Broward Planning Council (possibly in late August), and then the full County Commission.
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, who is the very well respected Chief Resiliency Officer of Broward County, has written that the 1301 project is conflict with the county’s climate and resiliency strategy and goals, in a risky flood and hurricane evacuation zone, and is in conflict with the county’s land use plan, open space, recreational, and environmental policies.
Jennifer Jurado, chief resilience officer for the county, sent a letter to the Broward County Planning Council on April 17 warning that the project will place a dense residential project in an area that’s already at risk of flooding from sea level rise.
“That memo convinced me this was not the right place for the project,” planning board member Dick Blattner said Wednesday, the day after the 8-0 vote. “I voted against it because of sea level rise.”
Plans include widening Surf Road, impacting the dunes, and possibly "relocating" endangered/protected dune vegetation.
The Harry Berry Park acre was NOT part of this land use amendment application because they do not have permission to change that acre. There is no guarantee that the developer will get permission to change any portion of the federally protected acre purchased with Land and Water Conservation Funds, which includes the federally protected parking lot on A1A. If they do not get permission to change that acre, it is unclear how the public would gain access to the parking lot (the only entrances to that parking lot are on Azalea Terrace, and the developer wants to eliminate Azalea Terrace).
You can watch the May 9th P&D meeting here (last item on the agenda at about 2:01): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwJEUicEUIw&list=PLAnooDw8OOHeSbiRNYj9VfZ4LRgv7GjM1&index=2
Residents ask that everyone (including non-Hollywood residents) please continue emailing the Broward Planning Council to ask them to vote NO on the 1301 land use amendment. Keep this property community/open/recreational space! Email PlanningCouncil@broward.org
All documents pertaining to this project can be found here, including all public comments to date: https://www.broward.org/PlanningCouncil/Pages/PendingBCLUPAmendments.aspx
In regards to the financial deal the City is getting, Commissioner Caryl Shuham pointed out that "it's a good deal for the developer, and a bad deal for the City." She said, "It's not that much money." This leaves many residents wondering why the City would continue to push this project. Most residents feel that entering into a 99 year legal relationship with an unknown condo association at 1301 would be risky, and could be a nightmare for the City for 99 years.
Broward County Commission emails:
NRich@broward.org, MBogen@broward.org, MUdine@broward.org, LFisher@broward.org, SGeller@broward.org, BFurr@broward.org, TRyan@broward.org, RMcKinzie@broward.org, dhinkson@broward.org
Broward Planning Council emails:
planningcouncil@broward.org, rgbrowardorg@gmail.com, acastillo@ppines.com, Michelle.Gomez@tamarac.org, drosenof@bigdogcsi.com, rex.hardin@copbfl.com, tdigiorgiojr@gmail.com, dhorland@plantation.org, robert.breslau@stiles.com, fbrunson@cityofwestpark.org, brionb@nova.edu, denise.b.fernandez@gmail.com, mryan@sunrisefl.gov, eastonkh@gmail.com, nrich@broward.org, allen.zeman@browardschools.com, bblakeboy@broward.org, amaurodis@wsh-law.com
or send a letter USPS addressed to 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 307, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Possible legal implications: https://welovehollywoodbeach.com/f/legal-questions-surrounding-project
Another attorney weighs in: https://welovehollywoodbeach.com/f/more-high-profile-groups-coming-out-against-the-project
Read the City's beach master plan here: http://www.hollywoodcra.org/DocumentCenter/View/31/Beach_MasterPlan?bidId=