West Lake: The Creation of Fort Lauderdale's Central Park

This paper discusses the permitting and acquisition processes associated with a major land‐use decision, which occurred throughout the 1980s in southeast Broward County, Florida. The paper discusses the history of private and public attempts to preserve an important urban wetland area while accommodating lawful and economically advantageous development. The purchase of almost 1,300 acres in a coastal metropolitan area was consummated by state and local financial contributions, totaling $20,000,000. The development approvals for an industrial commercial complex and a 1,400‐unit residential development have a value in excess of $50,000,000. The federal wetland permitting program serves as a backdrop for an analysis of regulatory issues that are frequently confronted when urban wetlands are the subject of permit applications. The West Lake case history is used to demonstrate weaknesses in the process, and the paper contains recommendations to improve the situation.