A Neighborhood vs. City Hall — 10 Days to Save Trees and Property
A small residential neighborhood in Oakland Park, Florida is facing permanent, irreversible changes after a city construction project moved forward without notifying homeowners.
Construction began quietly, affecting mature trees, yards, driveways, fences and enclosures, and residents only discovered the project by accident. They quickly alerted the community with a petition, which led to the formation of the Coalition of Oakland Park Affected Homeowners (COPAH) to organize, inform residents, and respond.
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A Court Stepped In — 10 Days to Act
On January 6, 2026, a judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), pausing construction for 14 days — until January 20, 2026.
If we launch this campaign today, the window to act and rally support is very short. The Court recognized that continuing construction could cause irreversible harm if residents were not heard.
When this pause ends, construction may resume — unless the neighborhood has the resources to be heard.
CBS 4 Miami's investigative reporter Ted Scouten covered this story:
WHAT’S AT STAKE
According to the City’s own plans, the project would:
• Remove 50+ mature trees on or adjacent to private property
• Take 10–15 feet of front yards from established homes
• Place sidewalks close to homes, affecting privacy and safety
• Alter driveways and parking access permanently
• Remove fences, changing boundaries and security
• Increase flooding and heat as green space is replaced with concrete
Residents don't have the resources to modify their property to accommodate the City.
- A number of residents are elderly or on fixed income and the burden to modify their property is overwhelming for them.
- Loss of lawful parking is an extraordinary hardship, especially for families with multiple members in the household on properties with very little setback.
- Replacing fences that's currently enclosing pets, that were previously permitted is costly for limited income households, and requires significant time and resources.
- The City applied a one-size-fits-all approach to a very unique neighborhood.
- The trees that provide shade and cooling to the neighborhood were planted by longtime residents decades ago, when their children were born, and they feel their memories and history of dedication to the community is being erased.
These changes are permanent.
WHY THIS MATTERS
This is not just a sidewalk project. It’s a story of ordinary residents versus a powerful, fast-moving government project, raising urgent questions about:
• Due process and public notice
• Property rights
• Government overreach
• Imposing unnecessary expense on households with limited income.
HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS
Every dollar helps residents organize, inform, and respond during this critical 10-day window:
• Official advocacy costs
• Expert review of city plans to understand impacts
• Community coordination and outreach
• Educating and notifying homeowners
• Amplifying residents’ voices so they are heard
We’ve already secured a temporary court pause, but continuing this effort requires resources we cannot fund alone. This is a working class neighborhood with very limited resources, but coming together to pitch in every dollar they can to protect their constitutional right to be heard, and their right to freely access their property without daily hardship for a sidewalk project to nowhere.
OUR GOAL: $6,000
This grassroots effort has no corporate backing and no special interests — just neighbors standing up for their homes, yards, and community.
PLEASE ACT NOW
The pause is temporary. The consequences are permanent.
Donate today. Share widely. Protect this neighborhood.
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Coalition of Oakland Park Affected Homeowners
For more information on how this will affect your home and neighborhood click here https://copah.myportfolio.com
