• Site Plan

• Development Review Process

• Design Review

• Historic Preservation

• Comprehensive Planning

• Transportation Planning

• Landscaping

Site Plan
A site plan is a document that describes how a parcel of land is to be developed. In addition, the site plan provides a scaled drawing that includes the outline of all structures and site improvements such as driveways, parking lots, landscaping and utility connections.

Site plans are reviewed by staff as outlined in Chapter 162 of the City’s Code of Ordinances. A pre-application meeting is conducted with the staff members, the company representative and their design processionals to discuss the project and the City’s requirements in a cooperative environment. City Staff reviews the project for Preliminary and the more detailed Final review. Two public meetings are held to allow staff and the applicant to discuss the site plan while members of the public may attend, listen and speak regarding the site plan.

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Development Review Process
Once the Applicant has satisfied all technical requirements at the Site Plan level the project is presented to the Development Review Board (DRB), whose members are appointed by the City Commission. The DRB are private sector professionals working in the field of land development and sensitive to community concerns. This meeting is publicly advertised. The DRB has the ability to approve the site plan, the project design, variances and special exceptions. Therefore, the DRB offers a consolidated plan approval where all required approvals can be obtained at one meeting and run concurrently.

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Design Review
Design review examines architectural drawings for consistency with the City of Hollywood’s Design Guidelines, General Criteria and any other neighborhood specific design review criteria approved by the Design Review Board. Design review encompasses the aesthetics, appearances, safety and function of the structure in relation to the site, adjacent structures and surrounding community.

Staff uses the Design Review Guidelines (available for sale and review in the Office of Planning, Room 315, City Hall) and the Development Review Board in evaluation the appropriateness of architectural plans. The Design Guidelines should be read in their entirety because in most cases multiple sections apply to individual design situations. The Design Guidelines are supplemental to regulations listed in the City’s Zoning and Land Development Regulations.

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Historic Preservation
In 1994, the City Commission adopted a Historic Preservation Ordinance. The regulations of the ordinance are intended to promote excellence in urban design by assuring compatibility of restored, rehabilitated or replacement structures within designated historic districts or for sites with local designation. In that same year, the City established the Historic Preservation Board, an important step in the preservation process. Hollywood obtained “Certified Local Government” status from the Florida Department of State Bureau of Historic Preservation. This designation assists the Historic Preservation Board in preserving historic and cultural resources and helps to create public awareness of historic preservation. To aid the Historic Preservation Board, the City adopted National Registry guidelines for building, additions, and safety (The Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines of Rehabilitating Historic Buildings, U.S. Department of Interior National Parks Services, 1993).

A Historic Resource Database has also been created; the site surveys were formatted to appear the same as the Florida Master Site File form used by the State. The information in the database, which is available to the public, is used in the review of demolition permits, building permits and during the design review process to ensure that historic properties are preserved.

Today the City has designated the Lakes Area Historic Multiple Resource Listing District, the Harrison and Tyler Street Historic District, the Historic Hollywood Business District and several local historic sites. The City is currently conducting a survey several properties on the beach for possible designation.

Hollywood’s Design Guidelines for Historic Properties is a document used to supplement the City’s Design Guidelines by providing information regarding goals, processes and the effects of historic preservation. The Guidelines are intended to answer questions often asked about Hollywood’s historic preservation program, illustrate appropriate design solutions for rehabilitation and influence decisions regarding the ultimate disposition and preservation of historic properties.

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Comprehensive Planning
Comprehensive Planning is the process of identifying how residents wish their community to be in the future. To facilitate that goal, the Comprehensive Plan is written to identify how various departments within the City will work together to achieve the future vision of the City. The Plan itself includes various elements including Land Use, Transportation, Infrastructure, Intergovernmental Coordination, Conservation, Housing, Coastal, Conservation and Recreation and Open Space.

Due to the importance of this planning process, the State enacted legislation requiring every municipality to create its own Comprehensive Plan. This was done in the 1985 Florida State Statute, Growth Management Act, Chapter 163. The City of Hollywood’s Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1989.

Comprehensive Plan Evaluation & Appraisal Report
Scoping Meeting Presentation

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Transportation Planning
The Transportation Planning Section of the Office of Planning is responsible for the coordination and implementation of transportation planning activities of the division. Staff serves as the City representative on the Technical Coordinating Committee of the Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization and as the City representative on various interjurisdictional transportation projects. Staff is responsible for ensuring that the City receives its fair share of funding for transportation related projects.

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Landscaping
Most of us enjoy the beauty and shade that landscaping/trees provide around our houses, places of work, and urban environments. While there is no doubt that landscaping/trees is a great asset, the rapid growth and development of Florida often appears to be the mortal enemy of our landscaping/trees resources. This need not to be the case. Landscaping/trees preservation can be compatible with development. Landscaping/trees must be respected as living, breathing organisms. We encourage all property owners to join us by improving and maintaining their properties. If we all take pride in our community, the City of Hollywood will be a nicer place to call home.