Talk about burning the midnight oil. Tuesday’s commission meeting lasted five hours and 37 minutes and did not end until after midnight.

During the marathon meeting Wilton Manors Commissioners pushed forward changes to the city’s land-use regulations.

Ordinance 2020-013 was passed by the commission on the second reading. The ordinance changes density in city land use from 25 to 60 units per gross acre. Commissioner Chris Caputo was happy with the outcome.

“After hearing from residents both for and against the increase in density to 60 units per acre in our transit-oriented corridors, the commission unanimously passed the proposal,” Caputo said. “This is the right step forward for smart, responsible growth in our city.”

Former Mayor John Fiore led a group of redshirted residents to speak in opposition to the increased density. The group expressed concerns about traffic, stressed infrastructure and crime as reasons to not raise density regulations. It was noted the city’s two most recent high-rise housing developments — Wilton Station and the Metropolitan — were built on a 25 units per gross acre model.

Eventually, Commissioner Gary Resnick, attending virtually via Zoom, grew tired of the circular discussions and logged off before midnight, saying he wasn’t comfortable making any more changes without public feedback.

“Wilton Manors is a community rich with compassion and love,” said Vice Mayor Paul Rolli. “We are a family and like all families, we don’t always get along, but we all come together in support and love during difficult times. This is Wilton Manors and why we all live here.”

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