The Broward County Planning Council on Oct. 23 voted to approve a county land-use amendment that would change a 39-acre Broadview Park property in unincorporated Broward County from “community use” to a medium‑density residential designation, advancing plans by the Fort Lauderdale Housing Authority to build multifamily and single-family housing there.

The council’s action, made on a motion by Mayor Josh Levy and seconded by Commissioner Lamar P. Fisher, passed by voice vote; the item will be forwarded to the Broward County Commission for consideration together with the related Broward Municipal Services District amendment.

Planning council staff and the applicant said the proposal would include two parts: a single‑family neighborhood along the west side of the site and multifamily development on the east. The applicant has described a development scenario that would include up to 474 multifamily units held as affordable at up to 120% of area median income for at least 30 years, plus 34 single‑family homes to serve as a neighborhood buffer. The applicant’s attorney said the deed restricting affordability in perpetuity will be recorded in favor of the county and also included in the city’s deed restrictions.

Planning council Director Barbara Blake Boy told the council the amendment is subject to Broward County Land Use Plan policy 2.16.0.2 on affordable housing and that the site is shown on county natural‑resource/environmental maps, triggering additional permitting and environmental review. Robert Lockrey, attorney for the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale and agent for the applicant, said the project team has completed a tree survey, is designing preserves for native trees while removing invasive species, and will pursue required environmental resource licensing and drainage designs.

Residents who spoke opposed the amendment and raised concerns about density, traffic, flooding and a historic mound of soil they said contains lead from an old gun range. David Nilsen told the council, “It’s a big project, and it’s way too big,” and said he was concerned the site’s soils could spread contaminants into the aquifer. Angela Clem, speaking for the Broadview Park Civic Association, said the proposal “threatens our neighborhood character, safety and sustainability,” and urged the council to decline the R‑16 amendment or require stronger mitigation.

Lockrey responded that any contamination or environmental hazards would need to be remediated before construction: “If it was used for that purpose, we absolutely have to clean it up. That has to get taken up before we could ever put a shovel in the ground for residential use.” He also said traffic evaluations have been completed and that the development’s density is consistent with surrounding medium‑16 land uses to the east.

Council members acknowledged the public concerns and noted the amendment is only the first step. Blake Boy and others said approval of the land‑use change does not authorize construction; the project will still require site design review, environmental resource licensing and other county permitting steps. Council members emphasized those subsequent reviews will include additional scrutiny because the site is located within a county‑designated area of particular concern.

The measure moves to the Broward County Commission for further consideration, where county staff said both the Broward County Land Use Plan amendment and the Broward Municipal Services District amendment will be considered together.