Summary
The commission voted to defer action on the FDOT memorandum of agreement for the Pembroke Road widening to Sept. 17 after Honeywoods/Cinnamon Ridge homeowners raised title, notification and design concerns; DOT representatives briefed the commission on right-of-way acquisition and a proposed noise wall.
The Pembroke Pines City Commission voted to defer action to Sept. 17 on a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for part of the Pembroke Road widening project after homeowners from the Honeywoods/Cinnamon Ridge area raised concerns about property ownership, notice and mitigation.
FDOT seeks an MOA that would permit it to represent the city in right-of-way acquisition for the northside widening. DOT project staff said the MOA is a standard document that allows FDOT to pursue acquisition — including condemnation if necessary — and to receive, and ultimately convey, right-of-way as part of the state-led project. Claudia Vinitsky Calvo (DOT project manager) and Christina Brown (DOT deputy right of way manager) attended and explained the agency’s process, which includes public meetings and an option for an eight-foot noise wall if affected receptors vote in favor.
Residents and homeowner association representatives asked for a short deferral so they could attempt to resolve outstanding title and mitigation issues. Steven Card, representing the Honeywoods HOA, said the HOA was told in July that the developer’s title had not been perfected and that DOT informed them it would pursue right-of-way without additional negotiation; residents disputed whether they had received certain notices and asked for time to verify title and negotiate potential compensation or design changes (for example, the location of the noise wall to avoid creating an inaccessible tract between wall and homeowner fences).
City staff and the city attorney explained that a section of the park abutting the project was dedicated to the city by plat in prior years and that the city’s interest in that limited parcel is established. But title for other adjacent swale/strip areas appears in FDOT’s title report as belonging to Levitt Homes LLC, an inactive entity, leading to uncertainty the parties said should be resolved before the city signs a representation MOA. FDOT said it will seek title through condemnation if needed and that the MOA is required for the agency to proceed with acquisition.
Commissioners said they supported moving the project forward but wanted the city and affected residents to try to settle ownership and mitigation concerns before the city signs an MOA that authorizes DOT to act on the city’s behalf. Vice Mayor Hernandez offered the motion to defer; the commission voted unanimously to defer action to a time-certain meeting Sept. 17 and asked staff, DOT and homeowner representatives to confer and report progress to the city.
DOT representatives said construction is not scheduled to begin until 2028 and that FDOT has budgeted acquisition dollars in FY2026–2027. DOT also described a proposed eight-foot noise wall option for adjacent homeowners; those eligible to benefit from the wall would be polled and a simple majority of benefited receptors would determine whether the wall is built. DOT said some mitigation options might be possible depending on confirmed ownership of the parcels in question.
Commissioners directed staff to work with the HOA and DOT to clarify title and mitigation options and to report back to the commission prior to the Sept. 17 meeting.
