Lauderhill approves special exception for 4 AM Lounge to add indoor hookah under conditions

The Lauderhill City Commission on Jan. 27 approved a special exception allowing 4 AM Lounge to operate an accessory hookah lounge and live entertainment at 3974 NW 19th St., in the city’s commercial warehouse zoning and arts-and-entertainment district.

The commission voted 5-0 to grant Resolution 25R-01-16, which allows the existing restaurant/bar to add live entertainment, a hookah lounge and related uses in a roughly 4,200-square-foot commercial space. The roll-call vote was: Commissioner Campbell, yes; Commissioner Dunn, yes; Commissioner Hodgson, yes; Vice Mayor Martin, yes; Mayor Denise Grant, yes.

Staff said the application was for an existing lounge seeking to add hookah as an accessory use rather than open a new business. Planning staff identified a single written objection from a nearby property owner who said the area already experienced “an excess of noise day and night” and worried hookah would worsen conditions. Molly (city staff, planning) told the commission the applicant signed the recommended conditions and that the proposed hours are Sunday noon–2 a.m.,…