Commission approves 110-unit Hillcrest Village PUD amendment over residents' objections

Hollywood — The City Commission on Sept. 17 approved on first reading a planned-unit-development (PUD) amendment that clears the way for an eight-story, 110-unit multifamily complex, Hillcrest Village, in the Hillcrest community. The applicant, Housing Trust Group (HTG), said the project will provide mixed-income rental housing aimed at residents earning roughly 30%–80% of area median income (AMI). The vote was unanimous on first reading.

The project site is about 2.45 acres at 1101 Hillcrest Drive and is proposed as an eight-story building with 157 surface parking spaces and a 744-square-foot office, according to the applicant. “This project really provides a direct response to the affordable housing crisis in our community,” Liz Summerstein, attorney for the applicant, said during the hearing. Traffic consultant Natalia Ocari told commissioners the project is expected to generate roughly 50 additional morning peak-hour trips and 49 additional afternoon peak-hour trips, a level the city’s review found would not change existing level-of-service ratings on nearby streets.

Why it matters: The Hillcrest PUD already contains thousands of residential units and limited capacity to add new units. Broward County rules and a county planning-council review govern how remaining development capacity in the PUD is calculated. City staff and the applicant said enough capacity exists — a small set of units remain under the…