For the first phase of the long-planned city village project, the Coral Springs Commission will vote on special exceptions
Coral Springs, Florida – This week, Coral Springs’ elected officials will decide whether to approve special exceptions for the construction of a renovated City Village complex on the northwest corner of University Drive and Sample Road.
On four of its twelve acres, Amera Downtown Development Company intends to construct a mixed-use rental and retail complex along Sample Road from Coral Hills Drive to about NW 94th Avenue.
Amera’s request for exemptions from off-street loading, building frontage, circulation, block length, and other design requirements is scheduled to be decided by city commissioners on Wednesday.
For years, the project has been under development.
Commissioners denied Amera’s plan last year to develop 150,000 square feet of commercial space, including a Whole Foods store spanning 40,000 square feet, on the 12 acres, along with 412 residential units.
The denial resulted from local citizens’ objections regarding the placement of commercial spaces and building heights.
The Amera team then made the decision to divide the project in half.
They submitted plans earlier this year to construct 300 residential units and roughly 20,000 square feet of commercial space on the “west” side of the land, which was formerly the location of Coral Springs City Hall.
Although plans have not yet been submitted, firm executives intend to construct at least 65,000 square feet of commercial space on the property’s “east” side, which is now the location of an outdated and abandoned plaza.
In a 3-1 decision last month, the city’s Planning and Zoning Board granted special exclusions with limitations for the proposed west-side project, enabling it to move forward to the commission for final review. The exceptions are also supported by the city’s zoning and planning officials.
The following information relates to the west-side project:
• Building A: An eight-story building fronting Sample Road, made up of 205 residential units and about 11,000 square feet of commercial space. The design features an outdoor covered plaza between its east and west wings.
• Building B: A building with a parking garage for 553 spaces, 95 residential units, and about 10,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. The building’s height transitions from four stories on the north side to five stories towards the south.
A pedestrian bridge on the second level will connect the two buildings, creating a new “main street” that will provide simple access between the garage and the residential units.
Timeline:
• West-side project: Construction is planned to start in the fourth quarter of 2025, with completion expected by the second quarter of 2027.
• East-side project: Slated to begin in late 2027 and conclude by mid-2029, this phase will develop the remaining eight acres of the site, with plans for at least 65,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
