The final decision on whether Waste Management’s landfill will grow the size of a building in northern Broward will wait for another day.
Broward County commissioners postponed their vote Tuesday on whether to allow the Monarch Hill landfill to grow to as much as 325 feet tall and to also expand the width of the base. Waste Management said it needs the extra space because it needs to put the trash somewhere.
The delay came at the urging of the county attorney, who suggested putting it off for another meeting or two.
But the delay wasn’t before listening to hours of public outcry from residents and city leaders who said they would be affected by the expansion, which they argue would be too big. They spoke of their fear of water contamination and an impending “blanket of stink” as more odors potentially proliferate.
Deerfield Beach City Commissioner Bernie Parness urged the County Commission to wait until the master plan was completed by the Broward County Solid Waste Authority.
He argued standing at the top “now you can see the ocean. Add another 100 feet we’ll see who is playing tennis at a resort in the Bahamas,” he said.