Broward County Voters Split on Municipal Property Ballot Measures

Voters in several Broward County cities weighed in on ballot measures that govern city-owned real estate, and the results diverged. In Fort Lauderdale, the most populous city in the county, voters approved replacing competitive bidding and appraisal-floor requirements for city property sales with a supermajority commission vote of four of five members. Sale proposals must now explain why the deal serves the city's interest. Leases on public parks require a unanimous commission vote, leases longer than three years need outside review at the tenant's expense, and agreements exceeding 10 years require a viability assessment of the tenant's business. The 50-year lease cap was removed, and residents can force a referendum only on leases longer than 50 years, backed by signatures from at least 15 percent of registered voters.

In Hollywood, voters approved requiring five of seven commissioners to approve leases longer than 20 years, and voter approval for leases beyond 50 years. In Deerfield Beach, voters rejected removing floor area ratio caps on oceanfront commercial parcels between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic, declined to let city-owned lot parking count toward nearby commercial requirements, and kept voter approval for government property deals above $750,000.

For developers and lenders, the practical implication is that city-owned land in Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood now carries stricter approval and review steps for long-term leases, while Deerfield Beach oceanfront density limits remain in place.