THE CITY FOR YOUR LIFE, DESIGNED FOR YOUR FUTURE. TAMARAC 2 4
FOREWORD TO THE 2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
By Michelle J. Gómez, Mayor
In the 60 years since its establishment, the City of Tamarac has grown from a small retirement locale to a thriving, multigenerational city covering 12 square miles, with 74,000 residents and 2,000 businesses. We expect to add 20,000 more residents over the next 20 years. Our property values have increased by an average of 11% annually for the past 10 years, and Tamarac was recently ranked third by MoneyGeek as the best place to live in “a small up-and-coming city showing the most promising … financial growth” out of 211 small cities in the United States.
As we enter our seventh decade, the City of Tamarac has reached a pivotal moment in our City’s development that requires us to transition into a new phase of revitalization and redevelopment, to ensure that our City remains vibrant, resilient and sustainable. To that end, the team at City Hall has worked with experts, community businesses and residents to develop the 2040 Comprehensive Plan that follows. This Plan serves as the framework for decisions being made for the next 20 years, taking a measured approach to thoughtful development in the right places, while being guided by a commitment to preserving the unique character of our community – one with a “Big city feel with small town charm and quietude.” It will allow us to balance the increasing demand for services, infrastructure and amenities with maintaining the quality of life that makes Tamarac such a desirable place to live, work and play.
As we move forward together into the next phase of our City’s growth, we are committed to keeping Tamarac a City that meets the diverse needs of all our residents and businesses, combining suburban quiet with the best that city living has to offer. We are also dedicated to being prepared to meet future challenges while preserving what we know and love about the place all of us are proud to call home. The Tamarac 2040 Comprehensive Plan will enable us to meet these challenges, and make the most of these opportunities, for the next 20 years and beyond.
To our current and future residents and businesses, we hope you are proud to be in Tamarac.
Sincerely,
Michelle J. Gómez Mayor, City of Tamarac
E P LA N COMPREHENSIV
THE CITY FOR YOUR LIFE, DESIGNED FOR YOUR FUTURE.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR’S LETTER
It is with great pleasure that I present the City of Tamarac’s Comprehensive Plan, a strategic blueprint that guides the future development, growth, and prosperity of our community. This document reflects our collective vision, values, and aspirations, serving as a framework for policymaking and resource allocation to achieve sustainable growth, enhance quality of life, and preserve the unique character of Tamarac.
The Comprehensive Plan is the result of extensive collaboration between residents, businesses, city staff, and community stakeholders. It addresses a broad range of elements, including land use, transportation, housing, economic development, public facilities, and environmental protection. Each element is carefully crafted to balance the diverse needs of our community, ensuring that we can accommodate future growth while protecting the natural and built environments that make our city a desirable place to live, work, and play.
As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of the coming decades, this Plan will serve as our guiding document. It outlines clear goals, objectives, and policies that will help us make informed decisions, foster economic resilience, and enhance the well-being of all our residents. This is not a static document; it will be periodically reviewed and updated to respond to evolving circumstances and emerging trends.
I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this process. Your input and dedication have been invaluable in shaping a plan that truly reflects our shared vision for the future. Together, we are building a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable city for current and future generations.
Sincerely,
Maxine A. Calloway, Esq., AICP
Director of Community Development & Deputy City Manager,
City of Tamarac
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
MAYOR & COMMISSION
Michelle Gómez - Mayor
Marlon Bolton - Commissioner, District 1
Morey Wright, Jr. - Commissioner District 2
Krystal Patterson - Commissioner, District 3
Dr. Kicia Daniel - Vice Mayor, District 4
CITY MANAGER
Levent Sucuoglu - City Manager
Maxine Calloway - Deputy City Manager
Tanya Sterling - Assistant to the City Manager
CITY ATTORNEY
Hans Ottinot
Pamela Ryan
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Christine Cajuste - Financial Services Director
MANAGEMENT & BUDGET
Jeff Streder - Budget Manager
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Maxine Calloway - Deputy City Manager/Director
Maher Mansour - Assistant Director
Collette Tibby - Senior Administrative Assistant
PLANNING & ZONING
Ann Johnson - Senior Planner & Project Manager
Robert Johnson, III - Senior Planner
Christian Waterval - Planner
HOUSING
Carolyn Francis-Royer - Housing & Community
Development Manager
PARKS & RECREATION
Melissa Petron - Assistant Director
Rose Cure-Persad - Social Services Supervisor
Sammie Monroe - P&R Site Supervisor
PUBLIC SERVICES
Mustafa Albassam - Public Services Director
Earl Henry - Assistant Director/Utilities
Daniela Herrera - Assistant City Engineer
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
Joanna Johnson - Communications & Marketing Manager
Ciera Campbell - Marketing Specialist
Greg Rosenberg - Marketing Specialist
CITY CLERK
Kimberly Dillon - City Clerk
Monica Barros - Assistant City Clerk
BROWARD SHERIFFS OFFICE
Christopher Palamara- Interim Captain
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
James Twigger - Chief Information Officer
Justin Antonoff - GIS Analyst
Jason Campbell - Deputy Chief Information Officer
Danny Ortiz - Network Infrastructure Manager
Zach Steiner - Technical Support Representative I
FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT
Mike Annese - Fire Chief
Tommy Demopoulos - Division Chief/Fire Marshal
FIRE PREVENTION
Rebecca Geimer - Assistant Fire Marshal
PURCHASING
Daniel Vest - Procurement and Contracts Manager
Rhonda Kaplan - Senior Procurement Specialist
II. Future Land Use
This element identifies locations where various land uses and intensities of use will be permitted to occur in the future. In a way it outlines what we want our city to look like. The element provides the criteria for the locations, pattern, and character of development.
III. Transportation
This element focuses on providing a multimodal transportation system that emphasizes public transit systems and encourages economic development through flexible mobility options for the City. This includes roadway improvements, micromobility investments and integrated transit centers that offer first-mile/last-mile connectivity throughout our City.
IV. Housing
This element is designed to promote the development of housing options that meet the diverse needs of the community. This includes affordable housing initiatives, transit-oriented developments, and mixed-use districts, while preserving the character of our city’s single-family neighborhoods, and cultural landmarks.
V. Infrastructure
In this element the level of service is set for the City’s infrastructure, including water, sewer, storm water, and solid waste facilities. Our City is responsible for the development, expansion and maintenance of all sanitary sewer collection and transmission facilities within the City. Wastewater generated by the City is treated by two separate treatment providers – the City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County.
Although the statute does not mandate the enforcement of regulations outlined in a comprehensive plan, it establishes a robust foundation for local governments to base their planning goals upon, empowering residents to hold their officials accountable for achieving these goals.
This updated comprehensive plan not only fulfills all State-mandated requirements but also includes optional elements designed to address local priorities and safeguard improvements to residents’ quality of life. At its core, the plan articulates Tamarac’s values—past, present, and future—while establishing a framework for realizing its goals and objectives.
“More
Community involvement has been central to the development of this plan. By incorporating diverse feedback from residents, this document has been crafted to be both adaptable and accessible, ensuring its relevance and usability across the community.
The development of this plan was a thorough and deliberate process, guided by a series of clearly defined tasks that ensured every critical detail was considered before implementation. The Comprehensive Planning Process depicted below, showcases our commitment to a Plan that is heavily influenced by our residents.
USERS GUIDE
As Used by City Staff
The Plan references and builds on the existing plans of City departments and community partners. City staff will consult it when reviewing changes to development ordinances, rezoning requests, and making recommendations for facilities, services, and capital improvements. Department heads will use the Plan to inform the preparation of work plans, budgets, and capital improvement programs.
As Used by the General Public
Residents will be able to refer to the Vision Statement, Goals, Strategies, and illustrative maps for assessing the potential for growth in individual neighborhoods and when addressing a particular proposal or other matter before the City Commission. As a common point of reference, the Plan will foster better discussion of the positive aspects of growth and development as well as concerns about changes to Tamarac.
As Used by Appointed Boards and Committees
Members of appointed boards and committees will be able to use the Plan to carry out their work and mission. Some boards, such as the Zoning Commission and Planning Board, will more regularly consult the Plan for guidance in decision-making.
As Used by City Commission
The City Commission will use the Plan as a guide when making decisions so that the long-term vision for the City is a consistent point of reference.
As Used by Other Agencies and Partners
A wide variety of Tamarac’s partners, including non-profits, businesses, the education community, and nearby county and municipal governments, can use the Plan to identify and implement mutually supportive goals.
As Used by Development Interests
Developers, property owners, builders, and others involved in constructing our City will be able to consult the Plan to develop projects and site plans that consider the larger context, rather than focusing solely on individual sites. The Plan will create a starting point for discussions about issues that will be considered when making decisions about land use changes.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Homes are still affordable.
The City has a lower median household income than Broward County but we also enjoy a much lower cost of purchasing a home than other cities nearby. However, there is an affordability gap that has been increasing rapidly in recent years and we plan to mitigate these price increases with home buyers assistance initiatives.
We have a car problem.
The City of Tamarac is largely a car-centric City with over 4/5ths of its residents using a car as their main mode of travel. The number of people using other forms of transportation is very low. This is due to the commuter City ideology of Tamarac that we strive to eliminate. Currently, only about 1300 people live and work in Tamarac, and close to 30,000 people leave Tamarac to work elsewhere.
We have a diverse workforce.
Although many do not both reside and work within Tamarac, our employment types vary across many different industries.
We have to address poverty.
The percentage of people in poverty in our City is on par with national and regional trends but it has been slowly increasing over the last few years.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Community Outreach
During a period spanning four months from May 2023 to August 2023, The Corradino Group collaborated with City officials to organize a series of five (5) public engagement workshops and two (2) supplementary outreach events that informed residents about the 2040 Comprehensive Plan update process.
These gatherings provided a platform for the consultant team to present forward-looking visions for the City, soliciting public feedback on priorities and gaining insights into the community’s challenges and opportunities.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Feedback was gathered from meeting notes, participant surveys, and comment cards. Additional data was collected from community tabling events and VeraVoice interactive mapping software.
5 PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
5 PUBLIC WORKSHOPS
2 TABLING EVENTS
2 TABLING EVENTS
238 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS
238 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS Public
Public
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Community Surveys
Starting in May of 2023, Tamarac residents were asked to complete a survey that centered around questions of livability and the quality of what the residents saw or did not see in Tamarac.
The results of the surveys showcased that overall, the residents have a positive outlook on their lives in Tamarac, but there are many improvements that would increase their quality of life here.
Key Findings from the Surveys:
• Very few residents believe there are job and business opportunities
• The location of Tamarac is a large draw to move here
• Residents do not believe there are enough shopping/dining options
• Most residents prefer the single-family home-dominated landscape that has defined the City but a third of residents also want to see the City become more urban
• The revitalization of old buildings is of high concern to residents and believe that it holds the ability to greatly improve the image of the City
The community places a strong emphasis on urban beautification and place-making strategies to preserve and enhance the City’s distinctive identity. There will be a strong emphasis on fostering familyoriented spaces that improve the quality of life while safeguarding that cherished small-town ambiance.
The incorporation of green and open spaces is deemed vital to the City. Revitalization of public corridors, community gathering spaces, and promoting an integrated urban tree canopy will reinforces a sense of place.
The City strives to integrate public art and landscape enhancements into its public spaces, thereby creating an aesthetically pleasing and inviting environment through welcoming and inviting entrances and drives.
This multifaceted approach underscores the City of Tamarac’s unwavering commitment to harmonizing urban development with the preservation of its character.
CHANGES TO OUR LANDSCAPE
CHANGES TO OUR LANDSCAPE
Existing and Future Land Use
To promote the facilitation of our goals, the City has updated its future land uses to reflect the changes that we want to see.
These updates were based off the wishes and wants of the public, current regional trends, and extensive data and analysis. These changes include a vision for a downtown in a more unified city campus, thriving job centers, growing economy, more housing options, while acknowledging environmental impacts and preserving our greenspaces.
The Existing Zoning Map broadly categorizes Tamarac into areas with distinctly different types of development. In Tamarac, unlike in most cities, where development patterns vary based on proximity to the City center, development has occurred around major roadway intersections.
Map 1: Existing Zoning Map 2023
CONCLUSION
The 2040 Plan
The 2040 Comprehensive Plan update for Tamarac outlines a strategic framework to guide the City’s growth and development over the next 10 to 20 years and beyond. As the City evolves, it is crucial to balance increased density, embrace diversity, and preserve the unique sense of place that has made Tamarac a desirable community and destination. Over the past decade, investments in public spaces and infrastructure have laid a strong foundation for Tamarac’s success, resulting in increased investment, national recognition for conservation efforts, and new economic opportunities.
Looking ahead, addressing the potential displacement of long-term residents and families requires a comprehensive approach that includes affordable housing, transportation, and workforce development. The physical and policy components of the 2040 Plan will guide Tamarac’s transformation, ensuring that the City continues to build upon its legacy of excellent city-making. The strategies outlined in this plan reflect a collaborative effort, incorporating input from corporate leaders, local institutions, citizen focus groups, and public meetings. By aligning Tamarac’s development with the aspirations of its residents and stakeholders, this plan sets the stage for a prosperous and inclusive future.
