Sunrise to consider rezoning development project
A Stiles Corp. affiliate is scheduled to go before Sunrise’s planning agency and City Commission today to pitch the first phase of its long-delayed Westerra development project.
The developer is asking the city to rezone nearly 32 acres of vacant land at West Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 136th Street.
Westerra’s history dates back to 2005, when a partnership called Sawgrass Tech Land Association Ltd., created by Stiles’ late founder Terry Stiles, acquired 105 acres at the site on the south side of West Sunrise Boulevard.
The land is south of the BB&T Center and Metropica, the mixed use development now under construction. It is also west of the sprawling Sawgrass Mills shopping complex.
In 2009, the city granted approvals for the Westerra development, which envisioned 1,650 high-rise dwellings, a 300-room hotel, and more than 2 million square feet of commercial, industrial and office space.
Faced with a recession brought on by the real estate crash, Westerra never gained traction.
Now, Stiles is back with Westerra Phase I on 32 of the 105 acres. The land would be rezoned from “office and recreation” to “planned development district.”
According to a project description submitted to the city, the components include:
750 high-rise residential units that would be no higher than 15 stories. 50,000 square feet of commercial space. 750,000 square feet of office space. 1.6 acres of park and open space. A Stiles spokeswoman declined the proposal on Monday.
Westerra is listed by the city as being part of its Sawgrass Core Business & Entertainment District, which among other things to discuss includes the BB&T Center, mixed-use projects such as Metropica, the Artesia residential development, and various office and hotel sites.
Stiles had a significant hand in developing the Sawgrass Technology Park to the south of Westerra.
If the zoning changes for Westerra pass muster with the planning agency and commission on Tuesday, commissioners would consider further details such as dimensions and renderings on April 10.
The city planning agency is scheduled to start its Westerra discussion at 4:45 p.m. at Sunrise City Hall, 10770 W. Oakland Park Blvd. The City Commission meeting will follow at 5 p.m.