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Commission approves Cypress Crossing mixed-use project, allocates 286 flexibility housing units
Summary
The City Commission approved second-reading ordinance and final plat for the Cypress Crossing/Cypress Creek East mixed-use redevelopment of the former FDOT park-and-ride site. The approvals allocate 286 flexibility housing units, authorize waivers, and include developer commitments on solar lighting and EV stations; votes were unanimous.
On second reading the City Commission approved a mixed-use redevelopment plan and final plat for the former Florida Department of Transportation park-and-ride lot at the southwest corner of Cypress Creek Road and I-95, allocating 286 flexibility housing units and approving several city waivers and development commitments.
Sierra Marrero, director of engineering and community development, described the proposal as an eight-story mid-rise building with roughly 286 residential units and about 25,000 square feet of commercial space, plus two retail buildings and an internal private roadway network. Marrero said the project site totals about 8.4 gross acres (6.95 net acres) and straddles the Oakland Park–Fort Lauderdale municipal boundary.
Attorney Nectaria Chalkas, representing the applicant, told the commission the developer agreed to additional commitments since the first hearing, including solar lighting for surface parking and drive aisles, relocation of five EV charging stations to the surface lot for retail use, and execution of a development agreement and restrictive covenants. Chalkas said the applicant waived automatic administrative extension rights and agreed that any extension would require commission approval; she added, “So any extensions would be coming in front of the City Commission.”
Staff and the Planning & Zoning Board recommended approval. The commission approved six waivers tied to site area, landscape buffering and setbacks, a limited height exception, and additional monument signage because of the property’s irregular shape. Marrero said the applicant has committed to enhanced architectural screening, trellises and 52 EV charging stations in total (including the five to be relocated to the surface lot).
The item included both an ordinance on second reading to adopt the master development plan and the associated final plat. The commission voted unanimously to: adopt the ordinance approving the mixed-use master development plan and waivers; allocate 286 flexibility housing units to the project; and adopt the final plat for “Cypress Creek East,” subject to the plat note restricting the site to 286 mid-rise residential units and 25,000 square feet of commercial use.
Vote: Vice Mayor Arndt — yes; Commissioner Gordon — yes; Commissioner Newbold — yes; Commissioner Budhu — yes; Mayor Tim Lonergan — yes.
Commissioners asked several practical questions during debate, including parking arrangements for visitors (staff and the applicant said visitors will use the parking garage and parallel parking along drive aisles), and whether the units would be used for short-term vacation rentals (applicant: units are intended as residences; no short-term rental restriction was imposed). The approvals clear the way for the applicant to seek Broward County redevelopment units and proceed to county review as required for the flexibility-unit allocation.
