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Commission transmits Orange Brook land‑use change to county amid resident concerns over golf‑course protections
Summary
Commissioners approved first‑reading ordinances Oct. 1 to create a Commercial Recreation land‑use category and apply it to roughly 23.7 acres at Orange Brook as part of a P3 redevelopment that includes a renovated course, clubhouse, hotel and residential units; residents urged that deed restrictions and golf‑course protections be respected and that the course be built before residential occupation.
The Hollywood City Commission on Oct. 1 voted to transmit to the Broward County Planning Council two companion first‑reading ordinances: one to add a Commercial Recreation (CREC) land‑use category to the comprehensive plan and another to apply an irregular CREC/residential designation to 23.7 acres at the Orange Brook Golf Course site at 400 Entrada Drive.
Staff told the commission the CREC category aligns the city plan with the county’s and is a necessary tool to allow the public‑private partnership (P3) developer to complete a phased redevelopment that includes a renovated 18‑hole championship golf course, a 9‑hole par‑3 practice course, a 15,000‑square‑foot clubhouse, a 175‑room hotel and residential buildings.
Members of the public urged caution. Anne Ralston and other residents reminded the commission of prior voter‑approved deed restrictions described at public record and asked that any disposition of city open space be subject to voter approval where the deed requires it. “The deed restriction…provided that the restriction could be terminated only by a majority of the voters in a subsequent referendum election,” Theresa Fort Nash told commissioners.
Developer representatives said the lease and development agreement obligate the developer to build and obtain a certificate of occupancy for the golf‑course improvements and clubhouse before residential units can receive occupancy. Keith Poliakoff, representing the development team, told the commission that phase‑1 requires coordinated completion of the course, clubhouse and certain site infrastructure and that financing for course renovation is tied to the residential component.
Commissioners said they had reviewed the lease and restrictions and sought to ensure that the developer’s contractual obligations — including course construction and drainage improvements that will benefit surrounding neighborhoods — would be enforced. The commission voted unanimously on first reading to approve the CREC category and to transmit the specific land‑use change to the county planning council with a recommendation to approve.
What to expect next: The land‑use amendment will proceed through Broward County review and, if approved, return to the city for second reading and final adoption; site‑level zoning and site‑plan review with public hearings will follow before any building permits are issued.
— Reporting from the Oct. 1 Hollywood City Commission meeting.
