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Commission approves Woodland Pod B townhouse site plan; developer increases public-purpose payment to $125,000
Summary
The commission approved a 50-unit townhouse site plan at the southeast corner of Pine Island Road and Southgate Boulevard, adding conditions including an increased public-purpose payment of $2,500 per unit ($125,000) and direction to pursue additional parking where feasible; the vote was 4-1.
The Tamarac City Commission approved a site-plan application Sept. 24 for “Woodland Pod B,” a proposed 50-unit, two-story townhouse development on a 4.3-acre parcel at the southeast corner of Pine Island Road and Southgate Boulevard. The vote was 4-1 following conditions negotiated on the dais, including an increase in the project’s public-purpose contribution to $2,500 per unit (a total of $125,000) and a new condition directing the applicant to pursue additional driveway/parking capacity to the extent feasible under code.
Christina Malenki, the applicant’s agent, presented the plan on behalf of the developer and described the project as eight two-story buildings totaling 50 units (three- and four-bedroom mixes), 125 parking spaces (2.5 spaces per unit) and amenity space including a pool and cabana near a reconfigured lake. Malenki said the townhouses meet setbacks and development standards and that the project reduces potential nuisances compared with previously proposed commercial development on the parcel. She said the design went through multiple reviews with city architectural staff and emphasized landscaping, a continuous buffer hedge along the southern property line, and extension of the city’s wall and signage.
Planning staff had recommended approval. During public comment, residents of adjacent Woodmont and Lakewood expressed concerns about wildlife relocation, trespassing in the broader Woodmont area, landscape buffering and parking impacts. Resident Ronald Jay Wasserman, whose property adjoins the site, said the neighborhood had “too many holes in this” and urged commissioners to deny approval as presented.
In commission deliberations, Vice Mayor Daniel (whose district includes the site) urged the applicant and staff to maximize double-driveway opportunities without compromising landscape and buffer standards; commissioners asked staff to craft an explicit condition. The applicant committed to working with staff to add double driveways "to the extent feasible" and agreed on the record to increase the public-purpose payment from the staff-recommended $1,000 per unit to $2,500 per unit, which the city indicated would be used for citywide public-purpose housing or related assistance programs. The applicant also committed to relocating or reconstructing the city’s “Welcome to Tamarac” sign as part of right-of-way improvements.
The item was moved by Commissioner Bolton and seconded by Commissioner Wright; the motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Michelle J. Gomez voting no. The approval included 12 staff conditions with the two amendments noted on the record (the higher public-purpose contribution and a new condition directing pursuit of additional parking where it does not cause variances). Staff said payment of the contribution will be made at or shortly after closing (applicant cited a 60-day window after closing) and that the funds will be available for city-administered public-purpose housing or neighborhood assistance programs subject to normal city processes.
Commissioners also asked staff to confirm details about how the new lake configuration, perimeter wall and landscape buffers will limit trespass and to confirm animal relocation steps required during permitting. The applicant said it had conducted multiple design reviews with city architects and would continue outreach to local contractors for construction bids.
