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Commission holds first reading of ordinance requiring site plans, maintenance standards for golf courses
Summary
The City Commission conducted the first reading on an ordinance that would require existing and future golf courses to submit city‑approved site plans and meet property‑maintenance standards; the measure sets a July 1, 2026 compliance date for existing courses and prompted questions about cost and neighbor notice.
The City Commission of the City of Weston held a public hearing Feb. 18 for a proposed ordinance that would require existing and future golf courses within the city to have an approved site plan and to meet minimum property‑maintenance standards.
City Manager Don Decker told commissioners the code change would establish when the commission must approve a major site‑plan amendment for changes to golf courses and would require notification to adjacent property owners for major changes. “This ordinance is amending the city code to ensure that golf courses meet minimum standards for property maintenance and further establishes regulations for modifications to golf courses,” Decker said.
The draft ordinance would take effect on second reading except for a compliance deadline for existing golf courses: owners would have until July 1, 2026, to submit the required site plan unless a proposed modification triggers an earlier submittal. Decker said the city lacks site plans for the two golf courses in Weston because those facilities were built when Broward County oversaw land‑use approvals and the county no longer has those plans on file.
Commissioners asked about parity with other commercial properties and potential costs to private operators. Vice Mayor Mead and Commissioner Jaffe stressed the intent to treat golf courses similarly to other commercial sites: a significant change that affects neighbors would trigger notice and an opportunity for the public to be heard. Jaffe said a baseline site plan also helps staff after storm damage, allowing the city to know what existed before an event.
An attorney for Arsys Golf, which operates Weston Hills Country Club, said the company recently learned of the ordinance and asked for more time to evaluate it. “We think that the cost of this just to comply with the site plan requirements would be significant upfront,” Nick Noto of the law firm Bills and Sonberg told the commission, and he cited a staff estimate that a tree survey and site survey could cost roughly $65,000 for an 18‑hole course; Weston Hills was described in the public record as roughly 400 acres consisting of two 18‑hole courses.
Commissioners acknowledged the expense and said the July 1, 2026 deadline was chosen to give owners budget time; Decker said staff had offered to meet with course representatives and would consider feedback from a scheduled meeting. No second‑reading vote occurred; the item is on the commission calendar for a future second reading. During the hearing the commission also confirmed that normal property‑maintenance standards in the code would be enforceable immediately upon adoption, while the site‑plan submission requirement for existing courses would be delayed to the July 2026 date.
Public comment included a representative for Westin Hills who asked the commission to postpone the second reading for at least 45 days to allow time to work with staff and membership on compliance implications. Commissioners also expressed concern about long‑standing maintenance complaints at certain courses and said the city wants to balance business impact with neighbor protections.
