Planning and Development Board Meeting Summary – September 9, 2025
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Planning and Development Board Meeting Summary – September 9, 2025
The Hollywood Planning and Development Board met on September 9, 2025, at 6:00 PM in City Hall Room 219. The board considered six agenda items, including variances, site plans, and a land use amendment. The meeting featured extensive public testimony on the Sea Air land use change and culminated in several approvals and a recommendation to the City Commission.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The August 12, 2025 meeting minutes were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 6 – Sea Air Land Use Amendment (25-L-15): Numerous residents spoke in opposition. Carol Pierre Delermy (3800 S Ocean Drive) read a statement on behalf of Hallmark residents opposing the change, citing traffic, noise, view blockage, and construction impacts. Bobby Hammer (Hallmark board president) argued the barrier island is already overburdened and that traffic would increase tenfold, endangering emergency access. Anna Reed (Sierra Towers board president) noted the site is a parking lot for 362 families and that the change would allow excessive density without a variance. Joanne Taylor (Hallmark) raised safety concerns about pedestrian accidents and structural integrity. Zina Rothman (Sierra Towers) accused the developer of misrepresenting the boardwalk extension and traffic impacts. Craig Applebaum (representing both Hallmark and Sierra Towers) provided detailed legal arguments against the change, asserting lack of substantial evidence, spot zoning, and disruption of coastal management goals. The developer, Pedro (Sea Air Owner, LLC), rebutted, arguing the land use decision is about vision, not building specifics, and that traffic studies will be done at later stages. He also noted the site is already zoned commercial and could be developed under live local provisions.
Discussion Items
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Items 1 & 2 – Oakwood Plaza Variance and Site Plan (24-DPV-31b & 24-DP-31b): Staff presented a combined request for a variance to reduce setbacks for internal/external rights-of-way in the PD district and a design and site plan for a 280-unit multifamily building (8 stories, approx. 92 feet) with parking. The variance was needed to align zoning with previously approved design guidelines. The board approved the variance recommendation (unanimous) and then the site plan recommendation with conditions (2-7), after correcting an initial motion to include staff conditions. The vote was 7-0 to recommend approval to City Commission.
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Item 3 – Senior Housing at 826 S Dixie Highway (25-DP-02): Staff presented an 8-story, 96-unit age-restricted (62+) senior affordable housing project (60% AMI). The applicant noted 7 units reserved for persons with disabilities. The board approved the design (7-0) and site plan (7-0) unanimously.
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Item 4 – Las Villas Mixed-Use at 1807-1809 Madison Street (23-DP-52): An 8-story, 44-unit mixed-use building with 1,500 sq ft of commercial space. The board discussed design improvements, including corner emphasis, symmetry, color palette, and a missing element at the top. The board approved the design with conditions (addressing corner, symmetry, color exploration, and connecting elements) and the site plan with staff conditions (unanimous votes).
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Item 5 – Alta Hollywood Facade Modifications (21-D-54a): A request to modify the facades of a previously approved 466-unit mixed-use development (two 190-foot towers) to reflect a condominium market. Changes included extended balconies, more glazing, and enhanced amenities. The board approved the design modification unanimously (7-0).
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Item 6 – Sea Air Land Use Amendment (25-L-15): A request to change 2.03 acres from Medium High Residential (25) to Diplomat Activity Center designation to allow a potential 300-room hotel. The board debated the level of analysis needed, with staff recommending approval subject to obtaining a hurricane evacuation analysis from Broward County. The applicant argued the analysis should be addressed at later stages. After public comments and board discussion, the board voted 4-3 to recommend approval of the land use amendment to City Commission, with the condition that the hurricane evacuation analysis be obtained prior to second reading. Voting yes: Corbo, Stadlin, Morales, Vargas? (The transcript shows: Christine Corbo Yes, Joseph Stadlin Yes, Richard Blatner No, Steven Morales Yes, Tara Jafarmadar No, Bob Glickman No. So 4 yes, 3 no. The chair is not listed, but the motion carried.)
Key Outcomes
- Items 1 & 2: Recommended approval of variance and site plan for Oakwood Plaza (8-story, 280 units) to City Commission. Unanimous votes.
- Item 3: Approved design and site plan for 96-unit senior affordable housing at 826 S Dixie Highway. Unanimous.
- Item 4: Approved design (with conditions on corner, symmetry, color palette) and site plan for 44-unit mixed-use at 1807-1809 Madison Street. Unanimous.
- Item 5: Approved facade modifications for Alta Hollywood (466 units). Unanimous.
- Item 6: Recommended approval of land use amendment (2.03 acres) to Diplomat Activity Center, subject to hurricane evacuation analysis prior to second reading. Vote: 4-3.
- Staff Updates: The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has been replaced by the Development Review Committee (DRC), effective immediately. Four projects were reviewed at the first DRC meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. Roll call, please. Delgado. Here. Christine Corbo. Here. Joseph Stadlin. Here. Richard Blatner. Here. Stephen Morales. Here. Tara Jafarmadar. Robert Vargas. Mena Morgan. Bob Glickman. Here. Thank you much. Uh looking for approval of the previous minutes. Make a motion. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed. Seeing none motion carries. Are there any additions to lesions, withdrawals, or continuances to the agenda? None. Thank you. City attorney, do you have any announcements? Yes. Microphone. Apologies. It hope if I turn the mic on. I will uh read the quasi-judicial proceedings. Florida courts have determined that there are certain types of matters, including items one through five on today's agenda, which are to be treated differently than other issues considered by the board. Many decisions by the board are legislative in nature, which is item number six, which means that the board is acting as a policy making body. In contrast, in quasi-judicial matters, the board is applying existing rules and policies to a particular factual situation and is therefore acting like a judge or jury in a courtroom. Therefore, in quasi-judicial matters, all witnesses are sworn in and subject to cross-examination by the parties. In addition, the decision of the board must be supported by competent and substantial evidence presented at the hearing. However, here in Hollywood, we have adopted a rule allowing for waiver of the quasi-judicial formalities. Waiver can only occur if agreed to by staff, the applicant, and any member of the public who is present. So if you would uh request that when the item is called or each item is called. Okay. And from the chair, I appreciate everybody's patience. Uh the previous meeting ran long. We have a lot of citizens here that always uh have the right and are encouraged to express their views.
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