Title
An Ordinance Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Amending Article 3 Of The Zoning And Land Development Regulations To Revise Standards For The Painting And Color Of Exterior Surfaces Of Buildings And Structures And Art In Public Places And Providing For A Severability Clause. (24-T-70)
Strategic Plan Focus
Quality of Life & Strong Neighborhoods
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the attached Ordinance.
Explanation:
On May 13, 2025, the Planning and Development Board, acting as the Local Planning Agency, forwarded a recommendation of approval to the City Commission regarding the proposed Art in Public Places text amendment.
Background
In 2020, the City Commission initiated efforts to allow artwork installations on properties throughout the City, enhancing building aesthetics and promoting urban design. In November 2023, the City adopted Ordinance O-2023-17, formally establishing the Art in Public Places program. Since its adoption, staff have not approved any art projects through the development review process, and six have been approved through the voluntary participation program.
While it may take time for projects to advance through the development stream, Planning and Urban Design staff have continuously monitored the Ordinance’s effectiveness. Based on this evaluation, staff are now proposing amendments to further refine and expand the program.
Current Request
The current request is to clarify requirements for Voluntary Art Permits. The current text of the Land Development Regulations was added to O-2023-17 at second reading and directed staff to create a voluntary art permit policy. After working with several applicants, staff is now proposing to modify this section to include the proposed requirements for the voluntary program. Additional proposed amendments also aim to:
• Distinguish the requirements between the previously adopted mandatory Public Art Permit for all new developments over 20,000 square feet, and the new Voluntary Art Permit.
• Add an exemption for certain affordable housing development and add other restrictions to the exemption section.
• Introduce quorum minimums for the Public Art Committee.
• Clarify the appeal process and enforcement sections.
• Make revisions to address minor grammatical and typographical errors.
Due to feedback received during the initial administration of the program, the proposed Voluntary Art Permit will not have to comply with some of the more onerous sections of the mandatory program including the easement requirement and the appraisal requirements. The Ordinance will require compliance with the other applicable application requirements, the permit application review guidelines, and the maintenance requirements.
City staff have reviewed the proposed amendment and determined that it aligns with the policies and objectives in the Comprehensive Plan, the City-Wide Master Plan, and the Criteria for Text Amendments. Consequently, staff recommended approval to the Planning and Development Board (“PDB”), which, in its role as the Local Planning Agency, endorsed the application on May 8, 2025.
Since the PDB recommendation of approval, the draft Ordinance has been slightly revised to address minor typographical and formatting issues in Subsection 4 Voluntary Art Permit, and Paragraph g. Ownership.
Additionally, Staff have reviewed various municipalities that require a percent-for-art obligation on private development, each jurisdiction applies a charge based on construction cost. While many municipalities do not require a maximum required contribution, those that do vary from $100,000 - $400,000.
The City will be proposing a $300,000 maximum through the Comprehensive Schedule of Fees. The figure sits comfortably within this regional framework. It exceeds the lower-end caps of $100,000-$200,000, falls below the $400,000 ceiling in Palmetto Bay, and introduces a defined cap where more than half of municipalities currently have none. By establishing a $300,000 ceiling, Hollywood offers developers clarity and predictability while ensuring a level of public art investment that is competitive and aligned with South Florida peers.
|
City |
Public Art Requirement |
Maximum Required Contribution |
|
Boynton Beach |
1 % of construction cost (projects ≥ $250 000) |
No maximum |
|
Clearwater |
1 % of construction cost |
$200 000 |
|
Homestead |
0.5 % of construction cost (projects ≥ $1 000 000) |
$100 000 |
|
Sarasota |
0.5 % of construction cost (projects ≥ $250 000) |
$250 000 |
|
Tampa (CBD only) |
0.75 % on-site / 0.5 % in-lieu |
$200 000 |
|
Palmetto Bay |
1 % cash / 1.25 % on-site (projects ≥ $250 000) |
$400 000 |
|
Coral Gables |
1 % of construction cost (projects ≥ $1 000 000) |
None |
|
Lauderhill |
1 % of construction cost |
None |
|
Palm Beach Gardens |
1 % of vertical construction costs (projects ≥ $1 000 000) |
None |
|
Tamarac |
1 % of construction cost |
None |
|
Key West |
1 % of construction cost (new ≥ $500 000; renovations ≥ $100 000) |
None |
This recommendation is especially meaningful in Hollywood’s rapidly urbanizing context. Unlike many of our suburban counterparts, the City is experiencing significant infill, mixed-use development, and a surge in cultural tourism that together can transform the city’s cultural landscape. Staff is careful to ensure that the public art requirement enhances projects rather than deters them; a predictable cap and streamlined process prevent the fee from becoming a barrier to investment. Coupled with our detailed Public Art Guide (Attachment II), which highlights design options and the benefits of onsite art over in-lieu payments, this approach incentivizes creative contributions-whether sculpture, murals, or artful architectural finishes-enriching streetscapes and fostering a vibrant sense of place while supporting continued economic growth.
Conclusion:
In summary, the proposed ordinance to amend the requirements for Art in Public Places will positively impact the City’s economic vitality.
Attachments
Attachment I Planning and Development Board Staff Report with supporting documents
Attachment II Public Art Guide
Fiscal Impact:
Approval of this Resolution will not fiscally impact the City.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Anand Balram, Planning Manager
Andria Wingett, Director, Development Services
Raelin Storey, Assistant City Manager