More motion picture production coming to Fort Lauderdale
From David Volz
Fort Lauderdale will soon see more motion picture and television production operations.
During a recent meeting, the City Commission unanimously approved a comprehensive agreement with Fort Lauderdale Studio Initiative, LLC, for the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of a full-service movie studio complex at 1400 NW 31st Avenue. The City Commission determined that the proposed project would serve a public purpose as an educational and cultural facility. The project will include full-service movie, television, and streaming production studios including, but not limited to, multiple large sound stages and outdoor film sets. In addition to the production facility, the project will include an educational component to train participants in trades that are involved in motion picture production.
Commissioner Steve Glassman said, “This is an exciting project for our city and I will closely monitor the strength of the school to ensure that it is fully accredited. In addition, we must also make sure that our local vendors have opportunities on this site,” said Glassman.
There will soon be more opportunities for working families to find affordable housing. The City Commission adopted a city-wide incentive-based workforce housing policy, amending and adopting new regulations focused on providing housing opportunities to households with incomes less than or equal to 50% to 120% of the Broward County metropolitan statistical area median family income. The policy focused on strategic locations with access to transportation services and areas of high walkability, which included the Downtown Regional Activity Center (D-RAC), Northwest Regional Activity Center (NW-RAC), South Regional Activity Center (S-RAC), Uptown Urban Village (Uptown), the primary transit corridors of Broward Blvd, Sunrise Blvd, Federal Hwy, State Road 84, Andrews Avenue, NE 4th Avenue, Davie Blvd, State Road 7, SE 17th Street, NE 13th Avenue, East Oakland Park Blvd, East Commercial Blvd and NW 62nd Street. Incentives include expedited review, height bonuses, density bonuses, and an optional payment in lieu of affordable housing set-aside requirements.
The City Commission agreed to adopt a resolution amending a development project that adds residential units and amends certain developmental requirements to 530 North Birch Road. The proposed development includes a 14-story, multi-family residential building. This amendment allows for an additional 24 feet in height to the building, which creates 11 additional units.
The City Commission approved, upon first reading, an ordinance that prohibits smoking or vaping in public parks and on public beaches, in conjunction with the Florida Clean Air Act. The ordinance does not include the smoking of unfiltered cigars. The ordinance addresses the pollution issue associated with discarded cigarette butts and toxic chemicals that adversely affect the environment. The City Commission asked that City staff launch an educational campaign that would bring awareness to the City ordinance.
The City Commission approved an agreement with Arbor Tree and Land, Inc., for the Himmarshee Canal Dredging Project in the amount of $710,250. The project includes maintenance dredging of approximately 875 linear feet of the Himmarshee Canal. The dredging is scheduled to take place along the canal between SE 8th Avenue and SE 10th Terrace. There will be a current fiscal year impact to the City in the amount of $710,250 for this agreement, and $100,000 for estimated disposal fees for a total amount of $810,250.
