Hollywood commission approves first reading to reclassify 1301 South Ocean Drive; opponents urge pause

The Hollywood City Commission voted 5–2 on Dec. 10 to approve on first reading a land‑use plan amendment that would reclassify 2.98 gross acres at 1301 South Ocean Drive from “community facility” to “medium‑high residential” (25 units per acre), a step the city says will allow future private residential development tied to a public‑private partnership. Mayor Levy presided.

Andrea Winget, director of development services, told the commission the question before them is narrowly legislative: whether to change the land‑use map. She said staff’s technical review found sufficient infrastructure capacity and recommended protective measures — including restrictive covenants to preserve open space east of Surf Road — even as the Planning & Development Board had recommended denial at an earlier hearing.

Keith Polikoff, attorney for Related Group (the project’s P3 partner), presented a redesigned proposal the team says is smaller and more protective than earlier…