OUR ROOTS
The Beginning
Original Save Our Beach (OSOB) was formed when residents became concerned about proposed redevelopment and growth along Deerfield Beach's waterfront. Many felt that increasing development could change the character of the community and wanted a stronger voice in decisions affecting the beach area.
The group brought together residents who supported preserving the city's coastal atmosphere, public access, and quality of life. Its efforts reflected a broader desire to balance growth and redevelopment with the community's long-term vision for the beachfront. Since 1998, OSOB has protected Deerfield Beach's local feel and rights of it's voters.
3 Decades of Protecting Deerfield
1998
Protecting Public Land
OSOB was founded to stop a proposed 7-story, 240-room condo-hotel development on the 4.3-acre main beach parking area. Citizens organized a petition drive and successfully adopted Charter Section 7.09(2), requiring voter approval before the City can sell or lease City-owned property valued at more than $750,000. This ensured that major public assets could not be transferred without the consent of the voters.
2000
Voters Defeat Ocean Park Project
The Ocean Park proposal would have transformed the main beach parking area into a high-density commercial destination featuring retail shops, restaurants, a parking garage, and other facilities. Because of Charter Section 7.09(2), the proposal required voter approval. Deerfield Beach voters rejected the project and preserved the public beach parking area.
2001
Voters Again Protect The Barrier Island
OSOB helped defeat a proposal to designate 28 acres of the barrier island as a Regional Activity Center (RAC). The designation would have significantly increased density, removed height restrictions, and expanded commercial development opportunities. Community advocacy helped keep RAC zoning off the barrier island and contributed to Broward County prohibiting RACs on barrier islands.
2002
Voters Place Protections Into The Charter
Deerfield Beach voters adopted Charter Article 11.01, preserving beach-area development standards by placing them directly into the City Charter. The same election adopted Charter Article 11.02, protecting the main beach parking area from overdevelopment. Together, these charter protections established height limits, land area ratio restrictions, lot coverage limits, and other safeguards that continue to define the beach area today.
2026
Voter Approved Protections are Under Attack Again
Charter Section 7.09(2), Article 11.01, and Article 11.02 have guided public land and beach-area development decisions for nearly three decades. Proposed amendments scheduled for the November 2026 ballot would repeal these voter-adopted protections and place those decisions under the City's normal legislative process. Voters will decide whether these charter protections remain in place for future generations.
Defended Residents' Right to Vote
Worked for more than 30 years to ensure that major decisions involving public land and beach development remain in the hands of Deerfield Beach voters, not just elected officials.
Our Impact
Protected the Beach from Overdevelopment
Helped establish permanent Charter protections limiting excessive height, density, and incompatible development on the barrier island while preserving the community's village character.
3 Charter Amendments Passed
Successfully led citizen initiatives that resulted in three voter-approved Charter amendments protecting Deerfield Beach's public lands, beach area, and development standards.