Planning board recommends M1 text amendment to allow Home Depot‑linked retail on Hallandale Beach Boulevard

At a meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board, members voted 3-0 to recommend that the town commission approve a text amendment to the town code’s M1 industrial district to allow a limited amount of retail associated with a large-format retailer on Hallandale Beach Boulevard.

The change is intended to allow redevelopment tied to a proposed big-box retailer while ensuring existing buildings — including an unoccupied bank and a self-storage building behind it — would not become nonconforming if the redevelopment does not proceed.

Mike VONER MUELLEN, a consultant for the town, told the board the amendment is a town‑initiated text change to the M1 zoning district. He said staff drafted the amendment so ‘‘the existing buildings to remain and if the project moves forward, they’ll be purchased, they’ll be demolished, the new retailer will come into the project.’’ The staff report concluded the amendment is consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the comprehensive plan, and staff recommended approval.

Tracy Lautenschlager, an attorney with the law firm Greenberg Traore, said she represents the potential developer and identified the proposed tenant: ‘‘I represent the potential developer developer of the site, the Home Depot.’’ She told the board the developer will submit applications shortly and thanked staff for their assistance.

Town management emphasized the amendment is only the first step. The town manager said the board was not being asked to approve a development plan or resolve traffic and drainage issues at this stage and that those matters will be addressed later in the site plan and development‑plan review. ‘‘We haven’t had, as of yet, the opportunity to approve and participate in the design of the development plan,’’ the town manager said. He added that moving the project forward will create opportunities to address local flooding along nearby streets and to coordinate traffic controls with the developer’s engineers.

Board members and a resident raised traffic concerns along Hallandale Beach Boulevard. The town manager and staff responded that traffic patterns, driveway locations and other mitigation measures will be reviewed during the site plan and development plan process and that the county’s commercial‑flex process will also apply where industrial and commercial uses overlap.

Action taken: a motion to recommend approval of agenda item 6.1 (the M1 text amendment) carried with the following recorded votes: Board member Walker — yes; Board member Cunningham — yes; Vice Chair Schroeder — yes. The board’s recommendation goes to the town commission; it does not enact the zoning change itself. The board also approved the meeting minutes from Jan. 16, 2025, by the same 3‑0 vote.

Next steps: the developer indicated formal applications (plat, site plan, and any waiver requests) will be submitted. Staff said subsequent reviews will cover parking, driveway locations, drainage, and any county commercial‑flex approvals required before a final development permit or zoning action.

Details from the meeting: staff described the affected site as the bank property (the former Wells Fargo cited by participants) and a self‑storage building behind it, located on Hallandale Beach Boulevard roughly two blocks west of I‑95 near Goodwill; the bank site has been unoccupied for more than a year, according to comments at the meeting. Speakers repeatedly noted the change is a ‘‘minor text change’’ to the M1 district intended to preserve existing uses until redevelopment occurs.

No legal adoption of the ordinance occurred at the meeting; the board’s vote was a recommendation to the town commission, and the town manager and staff said multiple approvals remain required before any construction or occupancy by a new retailer.