Development Review Case (DRC)

The purpose of a DRC meeting is to ensure the applicant has the opportunity to meet with staff members from each City department (as needed) to discuss a proposed development project in more detail as provided on  DRC Application Submission Guidelines and assure conformity to applicable codes and ordinances.

Below is a hyperlink of all Development Review applications and their associated review checklist and review fees. To find out if your application requires public meetings: Application Cycle Matrix

Zoning and Land Development Applications 

The Planning and Zoning Division staff processes and reviews the following land development applications:    

Major Development Review: Major Development Review Approval is required by the City Commission prior to filing for a building permit for projects containing 10 or more residential units or 4,000 square feet or more of nonresidential gross floor area. Please refer to the Major Development Submittal Checklist for specific and all information that must be submitted along with PZ application and fee schedule.

Minor Development Review: Minor Development Review Approval is required prior to filing for a building permit for the project containing less than 10 residential units or less than 4,000 square feet of nonresidential gross floor area. Such projects may be approved by staff provided that the proposal does not involve requests that are subject to Planning and Zoning Board and/or City Commission action. Please refer to the Minor Development Submittal Checklist or Minor Development Submittal-Single Family and Two-Family Checklist for specific and all information that must be submitted along with PZ application and fee schedule.

*Please note Minor Development Review also require review from the Department of Public Work, Engineering Division. Please refer to Engineering- Minor Development Submittal Checklist.

Conditional Use Review: the City’s zoning and land development code establishes the uses permitted within a specific zoning district. In some districts, certain uses may be listed as uses permitted conditionally. Uses listed as such, may be permitted by the City Commission with certain stipulations and conditions to ensure the proposed uses are compatible with nearby properties and will not cause a negative impact to neighboring properties. Please refer to Conditional Use Submittal Checklist for specific and all information that must be submitted along with PZ application.

Land Use Plan Amendment and Rezoning Review: Land Use Plan Amendment (LUPA) and Rezoning Review: An amendment to adjust the long-range plan for the desirable use of land in the City. LUPA amendments may require Broward County approval, depending on whether the request is a small-scale or large scale. Please refer to Land Use Plan/Rezoning Checklist for specific and all information that must be submitted along with PZ application and fee schedule.

• Small Scale Land Use Plan Amendment: For property that is less than 10 acres in size.
• Large Scale Land Use Plan Amendment: For property that is greater than 10 acres in size. Right-of-Way vacations and Dedications 

Vacation Review: The termination of an easement or right-of-way. Please refer to Right-of-Way Vacation Checklist for specific and all information that must be submitted along with the PZ application and fee schedule. 

• Vacation of Easement Review: Request to abandon an easement on an existing property.
• Vacation of Right-of-Way: Request to abandon an existing right-of-way. 

Variance Review: A grant of relief from various sections of the Land Development Code which permits construction in a manner otherwise prohibited where specific enforcement would result in unnecessary hardship. Please refer to the Variance Application Checklist for specific and all information that must be submitted along with the PZ application and fee schedule.

The Code defines Variances as a relaxation of the area or zoning dimensional requirements where such variance will not be contrary to the public interest and where, owing to conditions peculiar to the property and not the result of the applicant, literal interpretation of the code would result in unnecessary and undue hardship.