Coral Springs sets June public hearings for Lifetime Fitness redevelopment after residents raise noise, parking and traffic concerns

The Coral Springs City Commission on May 20 voted to set second‑reading public hearings on June 17 for two related ordinances that would change the long‑term land‑use designation and rezone about 13.11 acres at the former Heron Bay Golf Club to allow a Lifetime Fitness campus.

Planning staff and the applicant described an approximately 86,700‑square‑foot, two‑story facility with pools, a spa, indoor and outdoor programming and four outdoor pickleball courts, along with 590 proposed parking spaces — substantially more than the 421 spaces that code requires. Staff said the project includes expanded landscaping, berms and a six‑foot acoustic wall to screen the site from nearby homes.

The action was procedural: commissioners set the dates for second readings rather than adopting the land‑use or rezoning changes. Mayor Brook said the commission applauded outreach and design refinements while noting concerns raised by neighbors. The motions to set the hearings carried without recorded dissent.

Why it matters: converting residential or golf‑course land to commercial use changes long‑term expectations for neighbors and is a necessary step before permitting and construction. Residents who testified asked that the city keep a close watch on traffic, noise and future uses if Lifetime leaves the site.

What commissioners and staff said Tina, a planning staff member presenting the petitions, told the commission the future‑land‑use amendment and rezoning were reviewed by multiple divisions and found to meet comprehensive‑plan criteria subject to conditions in staff reports. Tina described the site plan, construction phasing and the city’s review timeline leading to a second public hearing on June 17.

Adam Pogue, a Lifetime representative, said the company reduced outdoor courts from six to four, moved the pool deck about 20 feet further from the canal, and added a six‑foot acoustical barrier on the western side of the pool deck to limit sound. “This development represents a significant capital investment in the community, meaningful job creation and a high quality amenity for this area for decades to come,” Pogue said.

Residents press for details on noise, parking and traffic Residents at the public hearing praised the design but urged the commission to require stronger protections. Lauren Schlang, who said she lives in the Falls of Heron Bay, asked for an operational noise plan and noted the city’s nighttime noise limit. “It can’t go above that 50 decibels,” Schlang said, referencing Coral Springs’ limits.

Other speakers questioned the amount of surface parking on the site and recommended multi‑level parking to preserve land for recreation or trails.

Traffic counts and the study date Some residents questioned whether traffic modeling reflected current conditions. Staff and the applicant’s traffic consultant, Chris Hagan of Kimley‑Horn Associates, said the intersection counts used in the analysis were collected in February 2025. Hagan told the commission the system has capacity for the proposed development and that a traffic signal at Heron Bay Boulevard and NW 118th Avenue was not warranted based on the submitted warrants.

Next steps By setting the second‑reading public hearings for Ordinances 2026‑106 (future‑land‑use amendment) and 2026‑107 (rezoning to B‑2) on June 17, the commission kept the formal public‑decision timeline open while leaving space for additional community input and conditions from staff or the commission. If both readings ultimately pass, staff said the petitions would be sent to state review, the development‑review committee process would be completed, and permitting and construction could follow.

Reported facts - Project area: 13.11 acres (former Heron Bay Golf Club). Staff said the site comprises two parcels owned by NSID and the City of Parkland that are under contract with Lifetime. - Building: about 86,700 sq ft; height reported at around 48 ft. - Parking: 590 proposed spaces (staff said code requires 421). - Buffers: west buffer reported as 50–100 ft, pool deck buffer reported as more than 100 ft after revisions; a six‑foot acoustical barrier was added at the pool deck. - Traffic data: field counts used for the traffic study were taken in February 2025, according to the applicant’s traffic consultant.

Community role and concerns to watch Commissioners and staff emphasized ongoing outreach and said the project has already changed in response to resident feedback. Commissioners asked that staff and the applicant continue proactive community engagement, and residents said they expect operational limits — particularly on outdoor programming and amplified sound — to be enforced if the project proceeds.

The commission will take up second readings on June 17, when it could adopt or reject the ordinances or attach additional conditions.