Objectives

  1. Endangered Species
  2. Wetlands - local effect
  3. Traffic Safety
  4. Personal Safety
  5. Crime
  6. Regional Impact
  7. Canopy lost effects
  8. Property values

inputs & outputs


Broward County Commissioner, Kristin Jacobs
kjacobs@broward.org

Regional Impact

<-- Sent 05/15/2008 To Kristin Jacobs: County Commissioner
I am a member of a group of Concerned Citizens of Lakewood East.  We are involved in trying to prevent the last piece of green space in Coconut Creek from being destroyed to make way for yet another shopping center.  This greenspace is located on Atlantic Blvd. between Lyons and Banks Roads.

We have many issues that concern us about this development.  First is the redundancy of the proposed anchors planned for this development (proposed anchors are Loew's and Kohl's).  We currently already have, or have planned, both stores within a 7 mile radius from this proposed construction.  This, along with the fact that there are plans to fill in wetlands, endandered and threatened species located in this area, as well as a multitude of traffic and safety concerns (some of which involve the safety of our children) are issues that must be taken into consideration before allowing this project to proceed.  

To complicate this issue further, this project will straddle both the City of Margate as well as the City of Coconut Creek.  As we have gotten further and further into this situation, it has become apparent to our group that there is a communication issue that is not currently being addressed between these two cities.  At this point, we have Margate approving parking and driveway issues that, should this development proceed, will affect both Coconut Creek residents use of their homes as well as the general aesthetics of our neighborhood. 

We have begun discussing these, and other areas of concern, with our local representatives in Coconut Creek, however, due to the fact that we have more than one City involved in this debate, we would like to request that you consider this proposed development as an area of Regional Impact and assist us in working towards a better solution for this last area of green space in Coconut Creek.

I thank you in advance for any assistance or guidance that you can provide us in this regard.
Sent 05/15/2008 To Jo Sesodia,
Principal Planner
South Florida Regional Planning Council
3440 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 140
Hollywood, FL 33021
Ph.  (954) 985-4416
I am not sure if you are the correct person to receive this email, however, I ask that you please forward it to the correct individual in your organization. 

I am forwarding to you a copy of an email which I have sent to our local Broward County Commissioner, Kristin Jacobs.  I understand, after reading some of the information on your website, that your organization is also involved with issues of Developments of Regional Impact.  I would appreciate any help you can give our group with regards to situation. 

Please contact me with any information you may have that will help us in our efforts to keep this last little bit of green space alive.
Response from Prinipal Planner...05/15/2008

Thank you for your email concerning an undeveloped site located on north-west corner of Atlantic Blvd and Lyons Road.
 
Florida Statues contain criteria to determine whether a project should be reviewed as a Development of Regional Impact (DRI). In general a project has to be of sufficient size that it impacts more than one county. Some examples would be Sawgrass Mills Mall, Miami International Airport, Dolphin Stadium, Pembroke Pines Mall, etc.  
  
The threshold for a retail project to be reviewed as a Development of Regional Impact is a minimum of  400,000 gross square feet (pursuant to Rule 28-24.031 Florida Administrative Code).  It is my understanding that Lowe’s is proposing a 171,069 square feet of retail space and Kohl’s is proposing a 100,780 square feet. Therefore, the proposed development would not appear to meet the minimum criteria for review as a Development of Regional Impact.
  
t Creek and City of Margate have responsibility for zoning and site plan review within their jurisdictional boundaries. Therefore, I would advise you to work with the planning staff at the two cities at this time and to attend any future public hearings that may be scheduled by the City Commissions on this matter.
 
Jo Sesodia
Sent 05/16/2008 To Jo Sesodia:
I am writing to request that your committee take a look a the total site plan proposed by the Regency, the developer. Please take into consideration all the out parcel establishments included in the site plan that surround the proposed Kohl's and Lowes. The out parcels in Margate city total (not including the Kohls or Lowes) totals 22,400 sq. ft. per the Margate city Development Review Committee held on April 18, 2000. The total square footage of development has yet to be made public by review in the city of Coconut Creek. Just the propose 271,849 square feet and the two mentioned out parcels in Margate put the total at 293,889 square feet there are still 4-5 out parcels for establishments along Atlantic Blvd proposed in Coconut Creek that we don not have the square footage for yet but that are on the proposed site plan that has yet to be reviewed by the city of Coconut Creek. Furthermore, as a citizen of Broward County, a homeowner and resident of Coconut Creek and to feel like my hands are tied concerning this proposed development due to the lack of coordination or liaison of any kind between the two cities is a very frustrating. The left hand (Coconut Creek DRC) does not know what the right hand (Margate city DRC) is doing in the way of variances and concessions for the developer.

 Why is Broward county not concerned with the traffic issues and impact this big proposed project development will have on local residents? I am imploring you to get involved before this proposed development proceeds any further if only so there will be some cohesiveness in the project between the two cities and for the county to be FULLY advised of the traffic safety issues this will pose.
We are waiting for a reply...
Response 05\23\2008---
You should know, I have had various conversations with City of Coconut Creek and Margate officials.  Additionally, I have asked various County Departments to determine what (if any) part the Broward County Commission may have in approving, regulating or providing permits for this project. 
 
I am also trying to determine if the County Commission will be asked to approve or deny a Land Use change on the property.  It's my understanding from Coconut Creek officials that the City's Zoning Code allows for commercial construction on this site.  Additionally, the City is taking steps to continue to protect the wetlands.  
 
Bottomline:  Just as soon as I have the County's departmental review outlining Broward County's jurisdiction concerning this project, I will contact you again.  And, I will provide each of you with the complete written report. I expect to have this information in the first week of June. 
 
Please allow me a little more to to continue my investigation and I will be back in touch.
 
Kristin