Hollywood Planning and Development Board Meeting – September 8, 2026

The Hollywood Planning and Development Board met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM in City Hall. The meeting lasted until the early morning of September 9, 2026, due to lengthy public comment and deliberation. The board considered six major agenda items, including a 30-unit multifamily project, a 394-unit development with a variance, the comprehensive Hollywood Beach Overlay District (HBOD) with companion items, and a recommendation for the controversial 1301 South Ocean Drive project. Over 150 public speakers registered across the items, with overwhelming opposition to the overlay and the 1301 project.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes – Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Items 1 & 2 (Development Projects) – Minimal public comment; no opposition recorded.
• Items 3, 4, 5 (Hollywood Beach Overlay District, TIDE hotel rooms, Flex units) – 97 speakers registered; nearly all opposed the overlay. Key themes: fear of overdevelopment, loss of beach character, inadequate infrastructure (flooding, evacuation, sewer capacity), insufficient public engagement, and concerns about height (especially 20 stories along A1A and 34 stories at Hollywood Beach Resort). Many speakers urged a workshop or referendum. Only one speaker (representing a hotel owner) spoke in favor, citing the need for redevelopment.
• Item 6 (1301 S Ocean Drive) – 91 speakers registered; all opposed the project. Speakers cited deed restrictions (public land for open space), safety risks from construction on a narrow barrier island, lack of independent studies, and the rushed use of the Live Local Act. Several referenced the existing litigation and the Broward County Planning Council’s 13-2 rejection.

Discussion Items

• Item 1: 25-DP-26 (2455 Polk Street) – A 4-story, 30-unit multifamily development (45 ft tall, 29,568 sq ft) in the MC-1 district. Staff found full compliance with zoning. Board approved design and site plan unanimously.
• Item 2: 25-DPV-91a (2200 Jackson Street) – A 394-unit multifamily development with a variance to reduce a corner setback from 15 ft to 2 ft 10 inches to accommodate city/county right-of-way dedications. The project includes 50% moderate-income affordable units (197 units). Board approved the variance, design, and site plan with an additional condition: give Hollywood residents a leasing preference to the extent allowed by law. Vote: unanimous.
• Items 3, 4, 5 (Hollywood Beach Overlay District – 26-TZ-18, 26-F-70c, 26-F-70a) – Staff presented a comprehensive voluntary bonus program allowing extra height, hotel rooms (TIDE), transferable development rights, and flex units in exchange for public benefits (resiliency fund, public open space, design guidelines). The board heard hours of public opposition. Board members debated the framework’s merits; some supported it as a proactive response to state preemption (Live Local, SB 180), while others wanted more time for study. After motions and amendments, the board voted to approve the overlay with conditions:
  • Reduce maximum height along A1A from 20 stories to 15 stories (20 stories only for landmark properties).
  • For the Hollywood Beach Resort (Precinct 4), reduce maximum height under the unified master plan from 34 stories to 30 stories.
  • Public art shall not be used as a bonus for additional height.
  • The companion items (2,300 TIDE hotel rooms and 500 flex units) were also approved. Vote on overlay: 4-2 (Christine Corbo, Joseph Stadlin, Richard Blatner, Stephen Morales in favor; Bob Glickman and Massimo Gramanzini opposed).
• Item 6: 25-RESO-73a (1301 S Ocean Drive) – A quasi-judicial recommendation on height, setbacks, and lot coverage for a proposed Live Local development on city-owned land (formerly a community center). The applicant did not waive quasi-judicial formalities. A party intervener (Keep Public Lands Public Inc. and Kathy DeBona) was granted limited participation. Staff recommended approval of 375 ft height, zero setbacks, and 96% lot coverage. The intervenor argued the project violates deed restrictions and is inconsistent with the comprehensive plan. After public comment, the board voted unanimously to recommend to the City Commission a height of 15 ft, a 100 ft setback from Ocean Drive, 15 ft side setbacks, and a 230 ft setback from Surf Road (effectively preserving the existing park and community center). This recommendation is non-binding but will be forwarded to the City Commission.

Key Outcomes

• Item 1 (25-DP-26): Approved (design and site plan) – unanimous.
• Item 2 (25-DPV-91a): Approved (variance, design, site plan) with condition for Hollywood resident preference – unanimous.
• Items 3, 4, 5 (26-TZ-18, 26-F-70c, 26-F-70a): Approved with conditions reducing A1A height to 15 stories and Hollywood Beach Resort height to 30 stories, and prohibiting public art as a bonus. Vote: 4-2. The companion items (TIDE hotel rooms and flex units) also passed 4-2.
• Item 6 (25-RESO-73a): Recommended denial of the requested height, setbacks, and lot coverage; instead recommended 15 ft height, 100 ft ocean setback, 15 ft side setbacks, 230 ft surf road setback – unanimous.
• Other: The board noted the need for a future workshop on the overlay but did not set one due to statutory deadlines. The City Commission will consider the overlay on September 16, 2026, and the 1301 recommendation likely at its October 7, 2026 meeting.