Dear neighbors and supporters,
I wanted to give you a quick update and share my impressions from yesterday’s rezoning hearing regarding the golf course at 3840 & 4031 Inverrary Blvd.

I attended the meeting and listened carefully to the presentation. I also took photos of the slides, which I’m happy to share with anyone who’s interested.

My opinion shifted a little after hearing more about the proposal, especially when safety and revitalization were mentioned. These are two things we really lack in our area, and the idea of bringing new life and investment to our neighborhood sounds promising.

But as one of the commissioners wisely pointed out, we can’t “put the carriage before the horse.” The developers are asking us to approve a major zoning change based on promises, without concrete guarantees. That’s a big leap of faith, especially when the long-term consequences will fall on us, not them.

Most of the residents who opposed the project raised the same concerns we’ve all had: traffic, flooding, loss of green space, and wildlife. The only consistent answer we got was that the area is zoned for 1,142 homes, but they’re only planning to build 888. That sounds like a compromise, but is it really?

We were also told that the units “would not be rentals,” but how can they guarantee that if they’re just the builders and not the owners? Once the zoning is approved and construction is done, they walk away with the profits. Meanwhile, we’re left to deal with the consequences.

Ultimately, the rezoning did not pass; the vote was tied 3 to 3. Interestingly, our board president and another resident spoke in favor of the rezoning. As for me, I can see some benefits to the project, but only if it's done in the right order and with real protections in place. Approving the zoning now with nothing more than good intentions feels risky.

One of the biggest concerns voiced was about increased property taxes,  something we already struggle with in this community. As you may know, Lauderhill pays higher taxes than much of the county.

The developer’s attorney repeatedly emphasized that a “yes” vote would just be the beginning and that nothing would happen without further approvals. But that didn’t ease the concerns in the room. People still had serious unanswered questions about traffic, sewage systems, flood zones, and deteriorating road conditions.

We all want to see Inverrary revitalized. But at what cost?

It was also clear that the board seemed to support the project and the rezoning, which made the hearing feel more like a formality than a true space for resident input. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case this time.

The fear many of us share is that this “small yes” will open a door that can’t be closed, and when problems arise, they’ll be dumped on the city (and us), not the developers.

In recent years, residents in multiple parts of Broward County have filed lawsuits after similar rezonings led to flooding, sewer backups, collapsed road infrastructure, and safety issues. Notably:
In Pembroke Pines, residents sued the city after rapid development around Sheridan Street and Palm Avenue caused water retention failures and increased flood risk in their neighborhoods.
In Tamarac, residents filed complaints after high-density projects were approved without sewer upgrades, which led to repeated raw sewage overflows and property damage.
In Hollywood, overdevelopment caused residents to sue over traffic gridlock, claiming the city failed to conduct proper impact studies before approving a condo tower.

These examples show that once zoning changes are approved, cities rarely reverse course, and residents end up paying the price, both financially and in quality of life.

Let’s stay involved, keep asking questions, and protect our community’s future before it’s too late.

Alessandra