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Southwest Ranches council presses Broward on Sheridan project, secures language to limit lights and seek turn‑lane funding
Summary
After sustained public comment from Old Sheridan residents, the Town Council approved a resolution asking Broward County to avoid streetlights where possible, reallocate lighting funds to turn lanes and require noise‑reduction measures for the Sheridan Road MAP project.
The Town Council of Southwest Ranches voted Feb. 13 to press Broward County for changes to the Mobility Advancements Program (MAP) proposal for Sheridan Road, asking county planners to minimize light pollution, prioritize turn‑lane work and add noise‑mitigation measures if the project proceeds.
The resolution, introduced by Council Member David Kazinski, directs staff to seek changes that reduce the project’s impact on adjacent neighborhoods and asks the county to consider shielding or removing proposed street lights and reallocating funds toward improved turn lanes. Kazinski said the goal is to address the “choke hold” at peak turning movements rather than add sidewalks and lighting where residents see limited benefit.
The measure followed an extended public-comment period during which multiple Old Sheridan residents urged the council to oppose a six‑lane widening. Alan Pearlman, who lives on Old Sheridan, told the council the plan “makes no sense” and warned that sound from the widened road would carry over wetland areas into backyards. He said neighbors want formal support from the town: “We can’t do this alone.”
Mayor BR Cruz and other council members signaled they would pursue a pragmatic strategy: press for changes that make the project less disruptive (longer turning lanes, fewer lights, shielding where lights are unavoidable) rather than simply issuing a blanket rejection the county is likely to ignore. Council members and staff agreed to coordinate directly with MAP leadership and to refine the resolution’s language with resident input before final publication.
The council approved the resolution on a unanimous voice/roll call vote. In describing next steps, Council Member Kazinski asked staff to work with Broward MAP staff and to circulate revised language for council review. Mayor Cruz said the town will pursue a “Plan A” of redesign and, as a fallback, “Plan B” options such as a sound wall if the county proceeds with the more intrusive elements.
The council’s action does not stop Broward’s project but documents the town’s objections and formally requests targeted changes intended to protect residential quality of life along Old Sheridan.
Public records: the Sheridan MAP item and the adopted resolution were considered under Item 10 of the Feb. 13 meeting; the council’s discussion and the resident testimony occurred during the public-comment and Item 10 segments.
