[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6513032,"mediaKeyId","5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca","parentId",5080590,"title","Council opens door to new Midtown 'TOD' rules, parking changes and Central Midtown overlay after wide public comment","audioSeconds",3708,"startMs",7196000,"endMs",10904000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca&start=7196&end=10904","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca/thumbnail_7196000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6513032/Plantation/Broward-County/Florida/Council-opens-door-to-new-Midtown-TOD-rules-parking-changes-and-Central-Midtown-overlay-after-wide-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513032-969f52d45fb6299612c1c4e749822898/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497117&Signature=E-WKOHZrbZTHlJKcaNidQInz5TdFjQiJGQBZSQcZ7WtWz0xjPMFQwhV32j4~d91X5p7q9xh2ERzHkPSGcRAyhMQvzQiW~CQx-JbFYDiAIQjSQ-kNE37r-kOcYCxBAFNUQwdErIoikajKh-rn3817JBczqdmITvK2H0qYw0s7lwONyV~wS3gRYV189SMLceiP4f9khsaBDEUACG~ZgMtU8Ink9KFOZC8V5bBJdJiESRQlFinFeTr~IbNcoeQ2a-0TvYj-HhQ~Qpjq8u1s9WlibDPyh9zjp-9EwbW~3gcPbq9XUd4z0kZa1rCFeOFInqyGnThO4Qn9booYkcJRulga1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Plantation","date","2025-06-25T18:00:00Z","article","The City Council voted on first reading to move forward with a sweeping set of revisions to Plantation's land-development code intended to guide redevelopment in Midtown, the Broward Mall area and other priority corridors.

The package includes: a proposed Central Midtown Village overlay with pedestrian-oriented rules and limits on stand-alone outparcels; a proposed new Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zoning approach (including no minimum parking in TOD areas subject to parking studies); incentives for affordable and workforce housing (reduced setbacks and reduced minimum parking for committed affordable units); changes to permitted and conditional uses in certain districts; and updated parking and loading tables for redevelopment areas. Some gateway districts were proposed for height increases (measured in feet) as part of an effort to encourage compact, mixed use development in identified redevelopment areas.

Council and staff emphasized the intent to promote walkable streets, shared parking, plazas and a mix of uses near current and future transit corridors. City staff noted the amendments are tailored to a set of priority redevelopment areas (Midtown, Gateway and several transit corridors) and that the remainder of the city's single- and multi-family neighborhoods would be largely unaffected.

Developers and property owners at the hearing urged several clarifications and changes. Macy's Holdings representative Dolores St. George asked for more time to reconcile how some existing permitted uses would become conditional or prohibited in the new overlay; she warned that department-store-scale buildings and large surface parking now existing at Broward Mall could become nonconforming. A representative for the Sears/Midtown parcel and other developers urged the council to preserve optionality for drive-throughs and allow conditional use review rather than an outright prohibition in all Midtown locations. Community members asked for clarity on building heights adjacent to single-family neighborhoods, and asked how notices were distributed to affected property owners.

Council members discussed removing some items from the draft or tailoring the geographic extent of the TOD overlay; council voiced support for preserving small-format, boutique fitness uses as permitted where appropriate and for not making the code unnecessarily punitive to existing tenants. Several members asked staff to return with more precise maps and to consider excluding some areas (Council Member Horland specifically suggested excluding \"Area 2\" from TOD). Staff committed to refine the map and to return with further edits and clarifications before second reading.

Ending: Council voted to advance the ordinance for further refinement and to return for second reading; staff will collect written comments from property owners who raised issues and will return with revised language and maps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Plantation - City Council - Jun 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Plantation's City Council on Tuesday advanced a major rewrite of land-development regulations governing Midtown and the Broward Mall area, endorsing a transit-oriented and pedestrian-focused direction while asking staff to refine maps and permit language after objections from property owners and developers.","taxTitle","Plantation, Broward County, Florida","taxId",4265,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513036,"Council backs modest stormwater fee increase to fund maintenance, master plan and capital needs",1907,4839000,6746000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca&start=4839&end=6746","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca/thumbnail_4839000.jpg","/articles/6513036/Plantation/Broward-County/Florida/Council-backs-modest-stormwater-fee-increase-to-fund-maintenance-master-plan-and-capital-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513036-272e913d10b2fe214759abc8e4f8da04/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497117&Signature=dYKq87OwqKkeDvtti8JUtmcGd3APSU~Qry28pg1BJ4dyRDV1b5WVyWnCIp2IKnHyMswXUqH3THnhcu4aWDPEOdp0jISgsE2DboYOCbku36uzaeF7wuNpGEfbCOxILIQZigLr-DnnmkjXdbrLLCjoW0XbTix-nSJnyK5N84pW4ZXDx7Ler1ALn6DrEm5~O2GCBUF3pzNpcqxKTjsAW3e8vs-rMOfrIZCHfqj-lx-gpR90TF2Xaj0-kv4l7iJTyKkUPd~f-N-R1maydw2G9-xqX4SRyVdVcufLGQ8Tv~zehrae0EW68ThHtcj0a8ncqVdURMnWgUnGXRmZwP6vUZ~ixA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted to set a preliminary stormwater utility fee increase so the amount can be included on trim notices: an automatic Consumer Price Index adjustment of 2.2 percent that would raise the fee to $54.75 per ERU. The fee setting was the administrative step required prior to the public hearing and final vote later in the summer.

Engineering staff summarized the city's recent stormwater investments and operational work. City Engineer Sameera Shalem and Stormwater Manager Bill Mulder reported that the department now has a full staff after recent hires and has deployed nearly $1.35 million in new equipment, including a new jet-vac, street sweeper, mechanical aquatic harvester, backhoe and pumps. Mulder said crews completed a citywide inspection of the municipality's 104 acres of water bodies over the past 12 months, cleared more than 8,240 linear feet of canals and cleaned more than 1,400 of the city's roughly 3,680 catch basins.

Shalem told council the master plan will present recommended capital projects to address modeled deficiencies in places such as the Jacaranda Country Club and Country Club Estates; she said staff expects to return with a workshop and presentations on the master plan in October. Staff also asked for funding to advance Country Club Estates Phase 1 engineering, and to conduct a citywide waterway survey and maintenance/boat-ramp planning for dredging and access.

Finance Director Anna Oceanno clarified that this vote sets the preliminary fee to be published on trim notices; the council will hold a separate final hearing (planned for Sept. 12) before adopting any final rate. Staff also said they will include a comprehensive rate study to align recommended fees with the master-plan capital needs. Shalem said staff will pursue grant funding and appropriations to supplement utility funds for capital projects.

Ending: Council approved the preliminary CPI adjustment and directed staff to continue the master-plan work, rate study and follow-up public hearings. Staff said the utility's operational budget would still require some fund-balance use this fiscal year but that additional grant funding and rate study recommendations should clarify a long-term funding path.","Plantation council approved a preliminary adjustment to the stormwater utility fee (CPI increase to $54.75 per ERU) and heard staff's update on staffing, equipment purchases, a stormwater master plan and capital projects including Country Club Estates and waterway dredging.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513040,"City council approves $91,095 branding contract after debate over scope and cost",1327,3286000,4613000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca&start=3286&end=4613","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca/thumbnail_3286000.jpg","/articles/6513040/Plantation/Broward-County/Florida/City-council-approves-91095-branding-contract-after-debate-over-scope-and-cost","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513040-a3f51b44adf4c920bc645755d38630e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497117&Signature=FxH3Op5zgUX3W8H111nNBRM54rFrkBl8Tm-rdVyw9ba1NSo5hAuH8vfqjrDe2nhejwIh8iXaSxXhYIJYS2nsDrfmiJWm2N3~81Rb3xhbdCbCPAGEN8Qq4gC8SUqkCNz3rsgh7fDUfAC53nHEB7Zl9FgTAjMoodmeE0aqwsMqt7I3fAh155wDY3in5ljZOZFMoV0NrLOSL~OD3xTetvAp1ajGN17qCN52JDPMZTatDzgJUk7ph8aniTFZjFGc8m9YnJbOe-4OiYFdOpE-EHkPBzzyrPNTmrAV2-suHOfBErbeULU4QMtGXQSa0GdPTbV4AaZmXlRnS-0Y74ofh4ur6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Plantation's City Council on Tuesday approved a professional services contract to revise the city's branding, templates and public-facing communications in a plan intended to unify message and improve resident engagement.

The council approved the contract for Conceptual Communications after discussion about the not-to-exceed amount and optional design work. Council members expressed concern that the $91,095 pricetag was higher than expected for a branding refresh; one council member moved an amendment to reduce the not-to-exceed cap to $80,000 but the amendment failed on roll call. The final motion to approve the contract as advertised passed on second motion.

Assistant City Administrator Laura Curpovichuda told the council the budget line is a \"not to exceed\" figure and that actual billing would reflect hours worked. She said the consultant's scope goes beyond a logo change and includes stakeholder engagement, a brand assessment, templates, and a brand activation plan intended to help the city tell a consistent story across departments. Curpovichuda said a portion of the fee is optional (logo redesign) and contingency was included to cover additional engagement if the council requested it.

Conceptual Communications principal Laurie Earnest Jones said the firm has municipal experience across Broward County and that the vendor's process centers on stakeholder interviews, testing messages with residents and producing a unified voice and materials that fit the city's quality-of-life goals. City Council members said they preferred to keep the optional logo redesign available but pressed staff to reduce estimated hours in some phases; one council member asked staff to ensure the agreement be amended if necessary to cap the vendor cost at a lower figure.

Ending: The final contract will move forward with the vendor. Council asked for tighter contract language and staff authority to limit optional tasks; staff and the vendor said they would seek ways to keep work within the not-to-exceed range and report back as the project progresses.","After lengthy debate about scope, optional logo work and hours, Plantation Council approved a not-to-exceed municipal branding and communications contract with Conceptual Communications; council members pressed staff for tighter cost controls and greater internal involvement.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513045,"Plantation residents urge city to ease $2 million insurance rule for vacation rentals",715,2416000,3131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca&start=2416&end=3131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca/thumbnail_2416000.jpg","/articles/6513045/Plantation/Broward-County/Florida/Plantation-residents-urge-city-to-ease-2-million-insurance-rule-for-vacation-rentals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513045-a681d4efef2edb763f4b1ea8ddc48daa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497117&Signature=iX7trnek~U~8dJvjlK80FYGsDSU~~8H4cHPqFqv2zk5p0Cpc~HpG9ZcLmiGpkqH1EvEHNap16lGMN3shyfk6v1BGCgSrNVysVI5FdGP3C~LKB90foMswKqjQ-l~UBWXv7ieuPRvg12xNp4ZwIatHIQxtpBl-Bk5Qu6vgALHKIetUPBLkFkY7rZuvWUdwxSpyvY9A3k93f-34R6EART6GBELcdf7Jb9itVIq~rcNSvfEE6tNeSY82Yhbi-KnyaDg4p3ZH~R2Oj318SfrRrp4pLtmgg4IzPNEOWa8zoesV3deNDRJYMeIkUqxYqcRDcXhLCqmUGl4RVHHqusovr3QRAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Plantation homeowners asked the City Council on Tuesday to review the city's vacation-rental insurance requirement after their permit applications stalled while they tried to obtain the required certificate of liability insurance.

At a public comment segment, resident Aaron John told the council that his family's vacation-rental application (VR25055) is complete except for the city's insurance certificate and that agents he contacted said the $2,000,000 aggregate requirement is costly or unavailable for many small operators. \"The only thing that's pending right now on the vacation rental application is the certificate of liability insurance,\" John said.

John and his mother, Angela John, said they tried multiple insurers and found $1,000,000 policies readily available but had difficulty finding the $2,000,000 aggregate the city requires. Angela John told council members that several insurers said the $2,000,000 aggregate premium was \"extraordinarily priced\" and in one case quoted about $575 (presumably a monthly or other periodic cost) for some coverages but no final placement. Neighbor Stanley Calliert said his family faces the same delay and has submitted written correspondence to staff.

City staff said the requirement originated from concerns about high-risk events and experience with severe incidents at some licensed short-term rentals. Assistant Director of Planning and Economic Development Michael Alpert and Planning staff said the requirement is intended to be \"rigorous\" and that other cities and property owners have been able to provide the form and substance of the coverage. At one point Mr. Alpert said the city would not recommend deviating from its insurance requirement \"on the fly.\"

Several speakers asked the council to accept insurers provided by short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, which they said include some liability protections, or to allow lower limits (for example, $1,000,000). John asked the council to \"consider accepting that insurance instead of having the Plantation residents deal with the burden of trying to get that. Since it's already there, we would rather not pay for something that's already there.\" The speakers also noted delays in the city's review of online application documents and asked staff to streamline portal processing.

City staff replied that the city could bring options back to the council for consideration and said staff would prepare comparisons of other jurisdictions' requirements and examples of whether $2,000,000 aggregate coverage is necessary to protect the city's interests. Staff also said they would return with an analysis that separates hosted versus non-hosted rentals, and the differences between corporate-backed short-term rental operators and owner-occupied or small-scale hosts.

Ending: Council members did not take an immediate vote. Staff agreed to review the concerns, gather comparisons and insurance-market information, and report back to the council. Residents were advised to leave contact information with the city clerk; speakers said they would submit documentation of their attempts to purchase required coverage.","Homeowners seeking short-term rental permits told the City Council they cannot find or afford the city's required $2 million aggregate liability certificate and asked staff to accept platform-provided policies or a lower aggregate limit.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6513027,"Council allows asphalt shingles at The Waves complex after residents and owner cite cost and maintenance",2788,7931000,10719000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca&start=7931&end=10719","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5080590-d4dbf60da70b292d9eeac494a1e1f1ca/thumbnail_7931000.jpg","/articles/6513027/Plantation/Broward-County/Florida/Council-allows-asphalt-shingles-at-The-Waves-complex-after-residents-and-owner-cite-cost-and-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6513027-79177a36e96c17d785f2ee09757e0371/orig.mp4?Expires=1775497117&Signature=lvfUn-9gNTmbsJI4yZ~0C8wSKj7WgOYvGCCmNfjPk8eypZbmCQfVeD002afJtjaQHZC3TNbZgRzMv0dc~FLZI6VyEId8b4cHsmbhlLJnta2o--w~6vKmdARY7KrSEqBjKJmCxqy59ddYlyQJ4aX3viKV5A0hgCwL-w2NAOsi6O5fSXcKPsdl0P3iRwi4lVho8~Ni7SZmTSWz9Ivb5Zt7WrZ1zP6s28BSe36PGa1C2DpMFua49~s~RNRJMYqiGDJ0GkAGEMtv5tPhKZ3U5NwCeDKY-9-dMmi0n9EIwPylfS7hRWXNKUWr~DYxXxua5R9k1J7SnrZXDKeLE10cCbxEsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council granted a waiver allowing The Waves multifamily complex to replace its existing clay-tile roofing with asphalt shingles, after hearing testimony from the owner's asset manager and contractor about costs, maintenance and longevity.

City engineering staff had recommended denial on the basis that the city's land-development standards generally favor tile or higher-end roofing materials for aesthetic consistency in neighborhoods that have tile roofs. Staff noted Camden (a previously approved change) and other properties where shingle materials exist but expressed concern about the visual impact. Council members weighed those aesthetic concerns against the applicant's maintenance and cost arguments.

Nuveen Real Estate's senior director of asset management Laurie Flom and contractor representative Bobby Zimmerman said tile roofs on the 1980s-era complex are near the end of their service life and that tile replacement and long-term tile maintenance impose higher recurring costs, operational disruption and component-replacement expense. Zimmerman told the council that modern asphalt systems can be specified with adequate wind and longevity warranties and that attic-level insulation and standard construction practices will mitigate thermal impacts.

Councilmember O'Hayland said the city should ask the applicant to work with staff on a color selection and a higher-quality shingle product to preserve the neighborhood character; the applicant agreed to work with staff on color and material choice. After the public hearing and brief resident comment, the council voted to approve the waiver.

Ending: The council's affirmative vote permits the Waves property owner to proceed with shingle roofing under conditions to be worked out with staff on color and installation details; staff will confirm wind-rating and warranty compliance before permitting.","Plantation Council approved a request from the Waves multifamily complex to replace existing tile roofs with asphalt shingles, citing maintenance costs and recent equipment-level options; staff recommended denial on aesthetics but council granted the waiver after receiving operational and vendor assurances.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council opens door to new Midtown 'TOD' rules, parking changes and Central Midtown overlay after wide public comment

Council backs modest stormwater fee increase to fund maintenance, master plan and capital needs

City council approves $91,095 branding contract after debate over scope and cost

Plantation residents urge city to ease $2 million insurance rule for vacation rentals

Council allows asphalt shingles at The Waves complex after residents and owner cite cost and maintenance