Broward County Planning Council Regular Meeting and Public Hearing - February 26, 2026

The Broward County Planning Council held its monthly meeting on February 26, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in Room 422 of the Governmental Center, Fort Lauderdale. The meeting included a consent agenda, regular agenda items, and a public hearing. The central item was a formal interpretation request from the City of Hollywood regarding the land use designation of 1 acre at 1301 South Ocean Drive. After extensive presentations, public comment, and debate, the council voted to support staff's interpretation that the property is designated as community use, rejecting the city's request to maintain the medium-high 25 residential designation.

Consent Calendar

• C1: Final agenda approved.
• C2: February 2026 plat reviews for trafficways plan compliance – staff recommendation of approval.
• C3: Summary minutes of January 29, 2026, approved.
• C4: Attendance record and excused absence requests approved, including correspondence from Ms. Jessica Abramson and Dr. Mireidy Fernandez.
• The consent agenda was moved by Mayor Castillo, seconded by Dr. Zeman, and passed unanimously.

Regular Agenda

• R1 – Formal Interpretation Request (City of Hollywood): See detailed section below.
• R2 – Counsel’s Report: None.
• R3 – Executive Director’s Report: Provided an update on BrowardNext text amendments. Draft documents have been released for public input (about 2.5 weeks). No written comments received to date. Staff will send a reminder to municipal planning directors, particularly highlighting incentive-based policies. The first public hearing before the Planning Council is anticipated at the April 2026 meeting.
• R4 – Correspondence: Acknowledged.

Public Hearing Agenda

• PH1 – Recertification PCR 26-3 (City of Fort Lauderdale Future Land Use Element – Text Amendment): Staff recommended recertification. Moved and seconded, approved by voice vote without discussion.
• PH2 – Amendment PC 25-6 (City of Oakland Park – Small Scale Amendment): Approximately 1.1 acres at the southwest corner of NE 17 Avenue and NE 38 Street, changing from Community to Low (5) Residential. Staff recommended approval with no second public hearing required. Moved and seconded, approved by voice vote without discussion.

Detailed Discussion: R1 – Formal Interpretation of Broward County Land Use Plan (1301 South Ocean Drive, Hollywood)

Background: The Council considered whether to confirm or revise a 2023 staff interpretation that reclassified a 1-acre parcel at 1301 South Ocean Drive from medium-high 25 residential (RM-25) to community use (CF). The site is currently occupied by the Hollywood Beach Culture and Community Center. The City of Hollywood requested that the original 2021 interpretation (RM-25) be reinstated.

Staff Presentation (Barbara Blake Boyd, Executive Director):

• Staff reviewed historical maps from 1977, 1989, and the 2017 Broward Next adoption. The configuration of land use designations (medium-high 25, recreation/open space, community use, medium-high 25) appeared similar on both the county and city maps, but further investigation—including condominium documents, plats, surveys, and street alignments—suggested that the RM-25 designation in the 2021 letter was likely an error. The parcel aligns with the community use designation on the generalized county map.
• Staff revised the interpretation in January 2023, concluding the property is designated community use.

City of Hollywood Presentation (Dennis Mealy, attorney):

• Argued that the county land use plan controls and the city map must be substantially consistent. The 2017 Broward Next map (adopted by ordinance) shows the parcel as RM-25 (brown). Historical maps (1977, 1989) are consistent when counting street blocks: nine blocks south of the CF (Harry Berry Park) are RM-25, and the subject property is the ninth block.
• No scrivener's error exists; the county map has consistently shown RM-25 for this block. The city's own map showing community use is more restrictive and does not alter the county designation.
• The developer's current proposal (reduced footprint) does not require a county land use amendment if the RM-25 designation stands.

Public Comments (15 speakers, all supporting staff’s interpretation):

• Beam Fur (Broward County Commissioner) expressed strong trust in Planning Council staff, urging the council to follow their recommendation.
• Terry Cantrell (President, Hollywood Lakes Civic Association) supported staff’s interpretation.
• Dennis DiMartino (resident) argued that the deed restricts the property to open space/recreational and municipal uses, referencing historical stipulations.
• Maureen Villaverde (Summit resident) stressed safety concerns on the barrier island and density limits from the 1970s settlement.
• Lynn Smith (President, Downtown Parkside Royal Pointe Civic Association) urged adherence to staff’s research.
• Richard Grosso (Sierra Club, Broward Chapter) called staff competent and their determination correct.
• Other residents (Donna Green, Ann Ralston, Stephen Naron, Catherine Uden, Douglas Eney, Stephen Welsh, Stephanie Burns) echoed support, often citing deed restrictions and the property’s intended open-space use.

Council Deliberation:

• Mayor Levy (City of Hollywood) made a motion to direct staff to issue a revised interpretation consistent with the 2017 Broward County Land Use Plan (RM-25), arguing that the adopted map is controlling and no scrivener’s error exists when counting blocks. He emphasized that the county map has not been amended and staff’s administrative change lacked proper process.
• Several members (Mayor Castillo, Mayor Ryan, Councilmember Horland, and others) praised the professionalism of both sides but leaned toward upholding staff’s determination, noting the thorough research and the option for appeal to the County Commission.
• Mayor Gomez expressed discomfort with using the council to fix a scrivener’s error without clear proof and favored the 2017 adopted map.
• Councilmember Fisher noted that legal counsel supported staff’s interpretation.
• Chair DeGiorgio stated that the Hollywood maps are irrelevant; the 2017 map consistently shows RM-25, and he did not see a scrivener’s error. He supported Mayor Levy’s motion.

Votes:

• Motion (Mayor Levy) to adopt the City of Hollywood’s interpretation: Failed 6-9 (Yes: Fisher, Gomez, Harden, Levy, Rosinoff, DeGiorgio; No: Brunson, Castillo, Geller, Greenberg, Horland, Newbold, Rayleigh, Ryan, Zeman).
• Motion (Dr. Zeman) to confirm staff’s interpretation: Passed 13-2 (two dissenting votes, likely Mayor Levy and one other; exact roll call not fully transcribed but final tally confirmed).

Key Outcomes

• R1: The Planning Council confirmed staff’s interpretation that the 1301 South Ocean Drive parcel is designated community use on the Broward County Land Use Plan. The City of Hollywood may appeal this decision to the Broward County Commission.
• BrowardNext Update: Draft text amendments are available for public comment; first Council public hearing scheduled for April 2026.
• Next Meeting: The previously scheduled March 26, 2026 meeting is cancelled. The next regular meeting is April 23, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 422, Broward County Governmental Center.