City Commission Approves Site Plan Amendment for McDonald’s at Cooper City Commons
The City Commission approved Resolution 26-13 granting site plan approval for Site Plan Amendment Petition SPA# 9-1-25 for the redevelopment of approximately 1.08 acres located at 2550 Pine Island Road, within the Cooper City Commons shopping center. The project involves redeveloping the vacant 3,130-square-foot former Wendy’s restaurant into a new 3,359-square-foot McDonald’s featuring dual drive-thru lanes. The redevelopment remains consistent with the Cooper City Commons master site plan and complies with the B-3 General Business District zoning requirements. Access to the site will continue to utilize the existing shopping center drive aisles, and pedestrian connectivity has been enhanced to improve safety for customers parking south of the building. The petition included a parking variance request to reduce the required number of parking spaces from 68 to 53, reflecting a 15-space reduction. The site plan amendment was reviewed and recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Board on November 3, 2025, contingent upon staff recommendations and the applicant’s commitment regarding surveillance connectivity. McDonald’s proposed operating hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., with the opportunity to expand to 24-hour operation depending on customer demand. The City Commission approved the resolution with an amendment specifically acknowledging the opportunity for 24-hour operation and requiring that surveillance cameras align and connect with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Cooper City Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC). This condition ensures enhanced public safety monitoring, particularly during extended operating hours. Additional site improvements include updated building elevations, new signage, designated mobile order pickup areas, and exterior repainting consistent with the architectural character of the overall shopping center.
City Commission Approves Parking Variance for McDonald’s Redevelopment at Cooper City Commons
The City Commission approved Resolution 26-14 granting Variance Petition #V9-1-25 for the property located at 2550 Pine Island Road, within Cooper City Commons. The variance allows a reduction in the required number of parking spaces from 68 to 53, representing a 15-space decrease pursuant to Section 25-4(g) of the City’s Code of Ordinances. The variance is associated with the redevelopment of the vacant former Wendy’s restaurant into a new McDonald’s featuring dual drive-thru lanes. To accommodate the second drive-thru lane and improve vehicle stacking and service efficiency, eight parking spaces on the northwest portion of the site are being removed. The total parking reduction requested accounts for site layout constraints and operational needs. The applicant justified the variance based on several factors, including the existing building footprint and property lines, which limit redesign flexibility without full demolition. McDonald’s also presented operational data indicating that approximately 70–75% of its business is conducted through the drive-thru, and that the dining room will contain only 28 seats. A parking analysis from a comparable location was submitted to support the position that 53 parking spaces will exceed anticipated demand. The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended approval at its November 3, 2025 meeting. During discussion, the City Commission made it clear that approval of this variance applies solely to this specific petitioner and this specific site.
City Commission Approves Sign Package and Sign Waivers for McDonald’s at Cooper City Commons
The City Commission approved Resolution 26-15 granting a Sign Package (#SI 11-1-25) and Sign Waiver request (#SW 11-1-25) for the proposed McDonald’s redevelopment at 2550 Pine Island Road within Cooper City Commons. The approved sign package includes two wall signs featuring McDonald’s signature white and yellow branding. The south elevation will display the word “McDonald’s” in white lettering measuring 24 inches in height and 196 inches in length. The east elevation will feature the yellow “Arches” logo measuring approximately 42 1/8 inches in height and 48 1/8 inches in length. To accommodate the proposed signage, the applicant requested several waivers from Section 25-23 of the City Code, including:
• Increasing wall sign height from the permitted 18 inches to 24 inches on the south elevation (6-inch waiver).
• Increasing wall sign height from 18 inches to 42 1/8 inches on the east elevation (24 1/8-inch waiver).
• Allowing the “Arches” logo to represent 100% of the sign area, exceeding the 20% logo limitation (80% waiver).
• Increasing the permitted wall sign length from 192 inches to 197 inches on the south elevation (5-inch waiver).
The applicant justified the waiver requests based on site-specific conditions, including the building’s significant setback from Pine Island Road and the presence of a heavy landscaped berm that limits visibility from the roadway. Additionally, due to the layout of the existing outparcel and the adjacent FPL transmission corridor, the building does not have a full façade directly facing Pine Island Road. The applicant emphasized that the design adapts to an existing structure rather than a newly configured site. The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended approval on November 3, 2025. Staff found that the proposed signage is proportionate to the building’s architectural style and meets submittal requirements for consideration.
City Commission Approves Professional Services Agreement with J. Kardys Strategies to Advance Parks and Recreation Master Planning and CAPRA Accreditation
The City Commission approved authorization for the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement (PSC2026-2) with J. Kardys Strategies (JKS) in the amount of $49,500 to support the Parks and Recreation Department’s ongoing master planning and accreditation efforts. As Cooper City finalizes its Parks and Recreation Master Plan, JKS will provide strategic guidance, mentorship, and facilitation to the new Parks and Recreation Director and department staff. The engagement will focus on developing CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies) accreditation-compliant recreation and maintenance master plans, along with strengthening accountability, performance measurement, and customer satisfaction. The six-month engagement, scheduled from March 2026 through August 2026, will include twelve bi-weekly virtual meetings, six in-person sessions, system tours, and monthly progress reports to the Deputy City Manager. Key components of the scope of work include:
• Facilitating the development of a Recreation Program Plan that incorporates master plan needs assessment data, establishes programming philosophy and standards, sets expansion priorities, defines measurable performance metrics, and outlines an implementation strategy.
• Assisting in the creation of a comprehensive Maintenance Management Plan by reviewing existing maintenance policies and aligning them with expected service levels and operational standards.
• Providing analysis and recommendations regarding youth sports partnership agreements, including ballfield use, scheduling capacity, and pricing models.
• Offering recommendations to improve cost recovery and performance outcomes for Citywide programs and special events, including reviewing policies related to event solicitation, permitting, planning, and implementation.
The procurement was executed pursuant to Section 2-258(g) of the Cooper City Procurement Code. The City Manager determined it was in the City’s best interest to waive the competitive procurement process, as the services are not subject to Florida Statute § 287.055. Funding for the agreement will come from savings generated by the vacant Parks and Recreation Assistant Director position, which had $135,000 budgeted in Fiscal Year 2026 for salary and benefits. After the budget transfer, sufficient funds remain within the department’s line items.
City Commission Reconsiders and Rejects Resolution Eliminating End-of-Meeting Public Comment
During the Regular Meeting on February 10, 2026, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 26-11, which amended the City’s administrative procedures for the conduct of Commission meetings. The resolution eliminated the opportunity for public comment at the end of Regular City Commission meetings. At the subsequent Regular Meeting held on February 24, 2026, the City Commission approved a motion to reconsider the adopted resolution. Following discussion and reconsideration of the changes to public participation procedures, the Commission voted to reject the resolution in its entirety thereby reinstating the opportunity for public comment at the end of a Regular Meeting.
City Commission Appoints Innovations and Community Engagement Director
The Commission approved Resolution 26-16 appointing Michelle Gonzalez to serve as the City’s Innovations and Community Engagement Director, in accordance with Section 4.01(4)(c) of the City Charter. The position was publicly posted on the City’s website, generating numerous applications. A selection committee comprised of the Assistant City Manager, the Human Resources Director, and the City Manager interviewed several qualified candidates. Following a competitive review process, Ms. Gonzalez was selected as the most qualified candidate based on her professional expertise, educational background, and credentials. The Innovations and Community Engagement Director is a strategic leadership role focused on advancing the City’s innovation initiatives and strengthening engagement with residents and businesses. Responsibilities include developing and executing communication strategies that promote innovation and organizational goals, managing branding and public relations campaigns, leading cross-functional teams on innovative projects, building and maintaining stakeholder relationships, and overseeing technology investments that support City operations. Ms. Gonzalez brings extensive executive experience in technology, public relations, and communications, along with a long history of service in both the public and private sectors. Her background positions her to enhance the City’s strategic communications, drive innovation, and strengthen community engagement efforts.
City Commission Defers Adoption of Parks and Recreation Master Plan
The Commission considered Resolution 26-17, which would have approved and adopted the City of Cooper City Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Master Plan was developed by Miller Legg following the issuance of RFP 2023-6-REC and included public input gathered through a community workshop and an extended survey period. The proposed plan outlines long-term goals, park improvement recommendations, implementation timelines, and cost projections intended to guide future growth of the City’s parks, facilities, and recreational services. Following discussion, the Commission voted to defer the item and continue the discussion during a soon-to-be-scheduled workshop. The deferral and workshop allow for additional review and consideration before any final action is taken on the adoption of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
More Information
For more information regarding the February 24, 2026 agenda, please visit: https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=COOPERCITY&me=f3dbad86a86048c89d77d07adabf64ca&ip=true.
The next City Commission Regular Meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2026 at City Hall located at 9090 SW 50 Place, Cooper City, FL 33328.