Land may be used for senior housing

Weston leaders will decide whether to rezone more than 10 acres of land for new housing for seniors.

The plan — a scaleddown version from a draft a year ago — is for a 55-and-older community named The Lodge at Weston Hills, on the site of the Weston Hills Country Club, 2600 Country Club Way.

Lon Tabatchnick, who also developed the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, said Tuesday he is under contract to purchase the club and is planning a $1.7 million golf course renovation.

The revised plan calls for a four-story project of 199 condos “for empty nesters and grandparents looking to transition out of their single-family homes,” according to the application. Weston is lacking in “luxury multifamily options,” which means older adults might have to leave the city to find them.

Tabatchnick previously had submitted plans to City Hall to build a five-story, 274-unit apartment project where the country’s club pool and tennis courts are now located. The pool and tennis court would be relocated. The application was filed at City Hall in May 2017.

However, plans were changed after complaints from neighbors.

“We listened to the community; they felt it was too much density and too high,” he told the Sun Sentinel this week.

Reducing the number of units should help ease traffic impact, he said, and the age restriction would prevent a burden on schools.

The City Commission will decide the issue at its public meeting set for 6 p.m. Monday at Weston City Hall, 17200 Royal Palm Blvd.

lhuriash@sunsentinel .com, 954-572-2008, Twitter @LisaHuriash