Planning board forwards favorable recommendation for Dubu Ballroom & Lounge at 3104–3108 W. Commercial Blvd.

The Tamarac Planning Board voted 4–0 on Aug. 12 to forward a favorable recommendation to the City Commission for a special‑exception allowing Dubu Ballroom & Lounge to operate a hall‑for‑hire at 3104–3108 West Commercial Boulevard.

Applicant Mona Massey, who identified herself as owner of Dubu Ballroom and Lounge, told the board the venue is intended as a culturally focused, professionally managed ballroom and lounge offering private events and programming rooted in American and Haitian traditions. "My name is Mona Massey. I'm the owner of Dubu Ballroom and Lounge," she said during her presentation. Massey described the interior as a banquet space with a dedicated dance floor, stage area and event lighting and said the venue would host up to about 150 guests.

City planner Christian T. Waterbaugh reviewed case 2Z26, explaining the request would combine two existing suites (staff described the combined area as approximately 4,200 square feet) within the 3 Lakes Plaza and change the use to a hall‑for‑hire, which requires a special exception in the MUC (Mixed Use Corridor) zoning district. Waterbaugh summarized parking availability (the plaza has 486 spaces, staff said, with 347 required for existing uses, leaving 139 spare spaces) and noted future permitting will be required for interior wall openings and other building modifications. "As such, the director of community development recommends approval," Waterbaugh told the board.

Waterbaugh read eight conditions that would accompany a favorable recommendation to the City Commission at its Aug. 26 meeting. Key conditions include requiring any transfer of the special exception be acknowledged in writing by a new owner; satisfaction of pre‑existing code violations before issuance of a business tax receipt or certificate of occupancy; limiting the approval to the hall‑for‑hire use as defined in the city's land development code; and operational limits prohibiting events between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. The conditions also restrict alcohol service without the appropriate state license and require that all events occur within the interior of the space (no parking‑lot or exterior events).

A board member asked about the applicant's business history; Massey said the operation has existed in some form since 2013 under a prior business name and experience with party rentals. After discussion the board member moved to approve the special exception recommendation "with the recommendations set forth by the city," and the motion was seconded by the chair. The clerk recorded the motion passing 4–0.

The recommendation now moves to the Tamarac City Commission for final action on Aug. 26. Planning board action is advisory; the Commission will consider the staff conditions and any public testimony before making a final decision.