Commissioners narrowly approved a controversial proposal that paves the way for taller towers on Hollywood’s barrier island during a spirited meeting that ended before midnight Wednesday.
The plan — blasted by opponents as one that will forever alter the quaint charm of Hollywood beach — passed with a tight 4-3 vote.
Before the vote, several residents pleaded with commissioners to delay taking action until they had a better understanding of the 541-page proposal.
“I think cramming this through right now is insane,” said longtime resident Stephanie Burns. “I didn’t hear about any of this until recently. And I really think that’s going to be a disaster for the beach. Please, please have some common sense.”
Mayor Josh Levy touted the five-year plan as one that would help revitalize a beach dotted with what he called dilapidated hotels and buildings in need of redevelopment.
Levy voted for the Hollywood Beach Overlay District plan along with Kevin Biederman, Adam Gruber and Peter Hernandez.
Commissioner Caryl Shuham voted no along with Vice Mayor Traci Callari and Commissioner Idelma Quintana.
A second and final commission vote is set for Oct. 7.
Upon final commission approval, developers will be free to seek height and density bonuses across six distinct sections of the beach.
Under rules proposed by staff, the seven-story Hollywood Beach Resort could be transformed into a tower as high as 340 feet to 490 feet.
If the property’s multiple owners can agree to a unified and “iconic” development plan, Commissioner Peter Hernandez suggested they be allowed to build as high as they like, with the commission having the final say. His suggestion won support from the mayor, Biederman and Gruber.
Commissioners also agreed to cap the height in the central beach area to 150 feet on State Road A1A. A landmark property would be capped at 180 feet.
Resident Siobhan McLaughlin, a frequent critic of the plan, argued no one wants to see Hollywood beach turn into a condo canyon.
“Hollywood is fine the way it is,” she said. “It may be a little shabby. But nobody is asking you to change the character of our beach. Leave the beach alone.”
The new height caps are a bad idea, resident Steven Busacca told the commission.
“We don’t have to rush this through,” he said. “This beach overlay plan is opening us up to becoming like Miami Beach. That’s a genie that once you let that genie out of the lamp, you can’t put it back in.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan