“The Fab Five” on the Hollywood City Commission approved a land use amendment change for the 1301 Project on Dec. 10. The 5 to 2 vote came after hours of public hearing that went into the night. The land use amendment helps the developers move forward with their plans to build a 27-story high-rise building on city-owned land on Hollywood Beach. The City will now forward the amendment to Broward County, according to Andria Wingett, the Director of Development Services. The City Commission will also hold a second reading on the issue.

Before the Commission vote, developer attorney Keith Poliakoff told a packed City Commission Chamber that he has already reached out to the County. In fact, Poliakoff said he expects to discuss with County officials his contention that Broward County maps going back to the 1970s already label the land in question as zoned Medium-High Residential. The City action Wednesday changed the land use designation to Medium-High Residential, setting the stage for an entity connected to the Related Group to build 111 luxury condo units.

The 1301 Project, now called Portofino Hollywood, also calls for construction of a new City-owned community center, new parking and increased park space. The decision follows years of controversy in Hollywood, dating back to 2022, when the Commission approved a Public-Private Partnership Comprehensive Development Agreement and a Land Lease Agreement.

Before the vote, residents waited their turn to speak in opposition to the project. In a nutshell, speakers charged the deal violates the City’s Comprehensive and Master Beach Plans; puts an already vulnerable barrier island at greater risk from climate change and sea-level rise, and flooding. These inexorable climate conditions also put beach residents at risk during floods and emergency evacuation orders, speakers contended.

Additionally, they questioned the wisdom of a 99-year lease, and whether the City got a fair financial return on the deal. One speaker even offered an alternative place to construct the building. Offer the Related Group entity a piece of land at City Hall Circle that intersects with Hollywood Boulevard, the speaker said. Various residents also challenged the Commission majority to put the 1301 Project to a city-wide vote next year. Commissioners said that wasn’t necessary; voters elected or re-elected them to speak for them. Some of the Commission majority also noted they got re-elected after approving the 2022 Public-Private Partnership Agreements.

The five commissioners who approved the land use amendment pushed back. They argued large sums of money will flow into City coffers for the duration of the lease. And that money is needed to hold back property tax increases and pay for City services.

Called the “Fab Five” by a local supporter, they tend to vote together on controversial issues. Only District 1 Commissioner Caryl Shuham, and Vice Mayor and District 6 Commissioner Idelma Quintana, opposed the change.

Shuham leveled a long indictment before casting her vote. Among other things, she noted the proposed construction project has changed significantly since the Commission signed the Public-Private Partnership Agreements.

Therefore, Shuham said, the new plan ought to go before the City Planning and Development Board before the Commission passes judgment. She also called for a new financial review to determine whether the shrinking size of the project will generate all the revenue promised the City in the contract.

What’s more, Shuham said, the reduction from 30-stories to 27-stories, and 190 units to 111 units, means the Comprehensive Development Agreement must be modified. Developer attorney Poliakoff agreed, announcing he planned to seek modifications from the City Commission.

Mayor Josh Levy, District 2 Commissioner Peter Hernandez, District 3 Commissioner Traci Callari, District 4 Commissioner Adam Gruber, and District 5 Commissioner Kevin Biederman, voted for the land use amendment. Members of the ruling majority said they love the City, care for its residents, and take actions that they believe benefit the people.

The Commission must still approve a revised site plan and design. But Poliakoff said his team is continuing to make improvements to please as many City residents as possible. Despite this olive branch, he also lashed out at residents who spoke against the project, branding them liars. Poliakoff also admonished volunteer City Planning and Development Board members who spoke during the hearing, charging they conflicted themselves in case the matter comes before their Board again. In
another fit of pique, he chastised environmental and land use attorney Richard Grosso for not understanding the law
in connection with the land use amendment application.

Moving forward, it’s clear a significant group will continue opposing the 1301 Project, with an email to the commissioners becoming public before the hearing. That email came from attorney Grosso who wrote the email on behalf of a client. Grosso reminded City leaders they must act in a way that is consistent with state law.