Developers present 287-unit CocoGate plan at Margate public hearing; lift‑station and ‘hometown heroes’ units part of proposal

White Oak Development Group on Wednesday presented a proposal to demolish the CocoGate shopping center and build a mixed‑use project with 287 apartments and street‑front retail, telling the City of Margate Commission the plan would activate the State Road 7 corridor and include 21 restricted “hometown heroes” units for public‑service workers.

The developer’s attorney, Matthew Scott of Greenberg Traurig (speaking for the applicant), described the plan as “the Cocogate Development Agreement” and said the project would feature retail along 441, enhanced sidewalks and landscaping, and public‑benefit upgrades the city could help underwrite. Scott said the site sits inside the city’s Community Redevelopment Area and that the agreement is intended to “encourage mixed use” and speed redevelopment for a property he called a long‑standing eyesore.

The proposal calls for one multifamily building with 287 residential units plus two buildings containing retail, and, Scott said, the team “would restrict 21 of the overall units in the project” for participants in Florida’s Hometown Heroes program — a local preference for certain public‑service workers to access discounted rental terms.

Developers told commissioners the estimated project cost is about $90 million to $100 million. Andy Burnham of White Oak Development said the project will generate a public sewer improvement need: an existing lift station that serves surrounding properties must be upgraded. Scott and city staff said the developer would pay standard water and sewer connection charges at building permit, while the city would handle lift‑station improvements because the upgrade benefits the wider area. The applicant also requested expedited permitting and noted the project would coordinate with the CRA on burying overhead power lines along the corridor.

Neighbors urged caution. Laurie Brookins, who lives one block west of the site, said the corner needs redevelopment but warned the commission about traffic impacts on nearby cut‑through streets, asking whether the city or developer would mitigate increased traffic. Brookins said: “I am among the neighbors who have concerns about what this development will mean for Margate overall and our neighborhood in particular.”

Nina Culver, another resident, praised the developers’ proposal to reserve units for teachers, firefighters and other public workers, calling the hometown‑heroes element “an absolutely amazing thing” because many school staff and first responders cannot afford to live in the city.

City staff said the hearing Wednesday was the statutorily required first public hearing on a development agreement and that the proposed agreement will return for a second public hearing on Oct. 8, when the commission could consider final action. No final approval was taken on Sept. 17.

The commission and staff flagged several outstanding items that will be addressed between hearings, including final language on connection charges, coordination with Broward County for driveway access on Coconut Creek Parkway and exact timelines tied to existing leases on outparcels.

If approved, developers estimated about 18 months of construction from groundbreaking. The applicant described the retail portion as pedestrian‑oriented uses — restaurants and coffee shops — intended to make the corner a more welcoming “gateway” to downtown Margate.

Commissioners and staff said they would continue negotiations and refine the draft agreement ahead of the Oct. 8 second hearing.