Council advances Beverly Homes rezoning on first reading after resident raises school and traffic concerns

The Town of Davie council voted unanimously to approve on first reading a rezoning ordinance (ZB25-040) that would change about 17 acres from agricultural to a low‑medium dwelling (RM‑5) designation to permit a 92‑unit townhouse development.

During the public hearing resident Sherry Shine told the council she and neighbors were alarmed by repeated nearby development, increased traffic and “our right to peace and quiet,” and asked where future students would attend school if large projects continue. She said the village at Lake Pine has suffered traffic, construction noise and safety concerns for years.

Land‑use counsel Nectaria Chalkis, representing the applicant, said staging and construction would take place on site and would not close streets; the project includes substantial open space and a planned canal improvement. Chalkis said the applicant worked with the School Board on a student‑generation determination and that the district estimated the 92 townhomes would generate about 10 elementary, 4 middle and 7 high‑school students assigned to Fox Trail Elementary, Indian Ridge Middle and Western High School, respectively, which the applicant said are under‑enrolled according to those calculations. Chalkis also said the current nursery operation on the site generates heavier traffic than the proposed townhouse community.

Council members asked questions about emergency access, drainage improvements and garage dimensions; the project team said the existing canal would be widened from roughly 20–28 feet and about 1.5 feet deep to roughly 40 feet and about five feet deeper, and that garage widths were sized to accommodate cars and household trash bins.

The ordinance will return for a second and final reading on May 20. Under the town’s process, a supermajority may be required for final action depending on the ordinance language.