Apartment complex plan fails; officials say no to changes

A proposal to put a 308-unit, five-story apartment complex along Dixie Highway in Deerfield Beach drew a packed house Tuesday night and failed in a 2-2 city commission vote.

Developers were asking to close a road and change the rules governing the area’s height limits, allowed density and overall use. The proposal would have been five times the allowed density, two stories higher than the area’s limit and just a residential use, rather than a mix of uses, as the city’s plan envisions.

Commissioner Gloria Battle recused herself from voting because her sister had hired a lawyer to oppose the development proposed for a vacant lot between Southwest 13th and 15th streets on Dixie. The eastern side of Dorothy Battle’s housewould have been next to the complex.

Many in the crowd of hundreds that overflowed into the Old School House questionedwhy the citywas considering this at all. Debate on the question continued for four hours.

“This is an outrageous proposal for this property,” PamMilitello said.

Commissioner Joe Miller said he thought it would present new opportunities for the area, which is now mostly vacant lots, warehousebuildings and a few convenience stores. Mayor Jean Robb joined him in voting yes. But Commissioners Bill Ganz and Richard Rosenzweig opposed it.