Hollywood approves taller buildings on beach despite pushback
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Taller buildings will be allowed in parts of Hollywood Beach going forward.
Why it matters: Residents worry they are losing the charm and character that separates Hollywood Beach from other coastal beach towns.
- Most of Hollywood Beach is restricted by a 65-foot height cap.
Driving the news: On Wednesday, the City Commission passed a new ordinance in a 5-2 vote that permits taller buildings on portions of the beach.
- The ordinance creates a beach overlay district, which lasts up to five years, made up of six districts with relaxed height limits.
- Following first reading, the city lowered the maximum building height in the Central Beach Commercial Precinct, between Carolina and Tyler streets, from 200 to 180 feet.
- Commissioners Idelma Quintana and Caryl Shuham voted against the proposal.
What they're saying: Dozens of residents packed City Hall into the evening to speak out against the proposal.
- They say they are concerned that the barrier island and its infrastructure won't be able to handle more people, pointing to sea-level rise, flooding and traffic.
- "This is a takeover of Hollywood Beach for wealthy people," resident Stephanie Burns said. "Access for the middle class will be gone and the high-rises will be on steroids."
- Developer Gordon Deckelbaum warned the temporary window could spur a development rush: "The city of Hollywood will never recover from overbuilding and loss of character that we will experience."
The other side: Commissioner Kevin Biederman said the overlay district provides an alternative to Live Local, the state law that allows developers to bypass local zoning restrictions if the project includes affordable housing.
- "I think what we're doing today is not just creating something," he said. "It's controlling our destiny."
- Commissioner Adam Gruber said the beach won't turn into Sunny Isles Beach, where he said buildings are 600 feet tall: "I don't see Sunny Isles here."
Zoom in: The Commission also passed two resolutions that create new density incentive programs for eligible properties within the overlay district to add hotel rooms and residential units.
- Shuham and Quintana also voted no.
The intrigue: All eyes are now on the historic Hollywood Beach Resort site, which could be replaced by a 340-foot tower with additional height available through historic preservation incentives.