You're smiling. That's a good thing. I'm living. >> What's up, girls? Is it really a congratulations? >> Should we wait for >> No. Move. >> We'll give it one more minute. is on. All right. All right. Good
evening. Calling the meeting to order. The time is now 6:01. >> One moment, please. >> Okay. >> Recording started. Thank you. >> You want me to do that again or call the >> Please do. >> All right. Calling the meeting to order. The time is now 6:01 still. Um, good
evening. The board is comprised of seven members. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of four members shall be necessary for the adoption of any motion. If only four members of the board are present, an applicant may request and be entitled to a continuence to the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the board. >> Is your mic? >> I'm on. You want me to go closer? In the event that four votes are not obtained, an applicant except in the case of a comprehensive plan amendment may request a continuence or allow the
application to proceed to the city commission without a recommendation. Pursuant to resolution number 2021-118, the city of Coral Gables has returned to traditional in-person meetings. However, the planning and zoning board has established the ability for the public
to provide comments virtually. For those members of the public who are appearing on Zoom and wish to testify, you must be visible to the court reporter to be sworn in. Otherwise, if you speak without being sworn in, your comments may not have evidentiary value. Lobbyist
registration and disclosure. Any person who acts as a lobbyist must register with the city clerk as required to pursuant to city code. As chair, I now officially call the city of Coral Gable's planning and zoning board meeting of May 2020 to order. The time
is 602. Jill, please call roll. >> Just a correction. May 20, 2026. >> 2026. Apologize. >> No worries. Uh, Ignasio Alvarez >> here. >> Robert Behar, >> present. >> Alice Bravo,
>> present. >> Shane Glasson, Glasson, sorry. >> Present. >> Thank you. Felix Partardo, >> here. >> Gonzalo Sanabria, >> he's not present. Alex Balo >> here. Thank you.
>> Notice regarding exparte communications. Please be advised that this board is a quasi judicial board which requires board members to disclose all exparte communications and site visits. An exparte communication is defined as any contact, communication, conversation, correspondence, memorandum, or other
written or verbal communication that takes place outside the public hearing between a member of the public and a member of a quasi judicial board regarding matters to be heard by the board. If anyone made a contact with a board member regarding an issue before the board, the board member must state
on the record the existence of the exparte communication and the party who originated the communication. Also, if a board member conducted a site visit specifically related to the case before the board, the board member must also disclose such visit. In either case, the board member must state on the record
whether the exparte communication and or site visit will affect the board member's ability to impartially consider the evidence to be presented regarding the matter. The board member should also state that his or her decision will based on substantial competent evidence and testimony presented on the record
today. Does any board member have such communication and or site visit to disclose at this time? >> Mr. Mr. Chair, I do. >> Right. >> Um I have visited the site. Uh this is a couple blocks away, a block and a half away from my home. I've been to the
site. I've looked at the site. But then again, I've looked >> site which matter. >> Oh, I'm sorry. on on the second matter on today's agenda. Uh but I I feel that I can be very impartial as far as that
particular uh application and I am uh I feel that I have absolutely no conflict of interest but I wanted to disclose that. Um, I also know a number of people that are in in the in the room simply because they are my neighbors
and I have not been uh approached in any way, shape or form by any of the people that are present and even those that may not be present uh in discussing this matter and I uh stayed in arm lengths away and I wanted to make sure that this is full disclosure and and make sure
that it's in as part of the record. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> Understood. Thank you. Swearing in, everyone who speaks this evening must complete the roster on the podium. We ask that you print clearly so that official records of your name and address will be correct. Now, with the
exception of attorneys, all persons physically in city commission chambers who will speak on agenda items before us this evening, please rise to be sworn in. Excuse me, Mr. Chair. Yes, >> Mr. Sanavia. I just arrived at 605.
>> Zoom platform participants. I will ask any person wishing to speak on tonight's agenda item to please open your chat and send a direct message to Jill Menendez stating you would like to speak before the board and include your full name. Jill will call you when it is your when it is your turn. I'll ask you
to be concise for the interest of time. Phone platform participants. After Zoom platform participants are done, I will ask phone participants to comment on tonight's agenda item. I'll also ask you to be concise for the interest of time. Can I have approval of last four meetings minutes? I'll make a motion to
approve. >> Second. >> U Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make some comments on the minutes from the last meeting. If you will allow me for a second, please. >> Yes, >> Mr. Chairman. When the election took place in an impromptu manner, I voted uh
no uh for the nominees. And I want to tell you, it's not anything to do with the nominees. It's just the way it was processed, which is something I'm not accustomed to. It's being done much different in other boards that I have
attended. So, I want to tell you that my vote for you as chair and for Alice Bravo as vice chair is a definite yes. It had nothing to do with the nominee. So, congratulations and welcome and let's do some good
things together. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Sonia. I think we have a motion and a second. Joe, can you call roll? >> Yes. Robert Behar? >> Yes. >> Alice Bravo? Yes. >> Shane Mlen? >> Yes.
>> Felix Partardo? >> Yes. >> Gonzalo Sanabria? >> Ignasio Alvarez? >> Yes. >> Alex Bello? >> Yes. The procedure we use tonight is the identification of agenda item by Mr. Caller, presentation by the applicant or
agent, presentation by staff. We'll then open up to public comment first in chamber then zoom platform and lastly phone line. We'll then close public comment open up to board discussion and then entertain a motion discussion and the second of the motion and then
board's final comments. Mr. City attorney, can you please read the first item? >> Uh Mr. Chair, I'm sorry through the chair. Are we going to >> Well, actually, thank you for that. Yes. Before we get started, we have a new board member and before we introduce or
have him introduce himself, Mr. Menendez is here. He was with us for I think close to a year. So, we would like any final comments and thoughts. >> So, um excuse my appearance. It's been a pretty long day. Um I just want to thank
you all for the privilege of ser serving on the planning and zoning board. Uh it's been a genuine honor to work alongside such thoughtful and dedicated colleagues, fellow residents who give so generously of their time in service to our community and to contribute to the
future of our city. I'm especially grateful to Vice Mayor Anderson for appointing me and uh placing her trust in me to serve the residents with integrity and professionalism. That confidence and trust have meant a great deal to me and I hope I've lived up to
them. uh during my time on the board. I'm also grateful for the trust this board and the residents we serve placed in me. The conversations around this table, sometimes spirited, but always in good faith, reflect the very best of how local government should operate. Now,
I'll carry these lessons from this experience with me long after tonight. To the staff, my fellow board members, and everyone who took the time to share their voice, thank you. The work you do matters and I leave knowing this board remains in capable and principled hands.
Thank you. >> Thank you and good luck, >> Mr. Menendez. Thank you very much. We It was a privilege and an honor to be serving with you and instrumental to this success of this board. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Menendez, I'm sorry. Through
>> Oh, please. Absolutely. >> Why are you resigning again? >> Uh I'm Can I say Craig? Um, I'm a I'm a candidate for um a commission seat that's up in uh
November. So, um I thought it would be best to uh avoid any impropriety or um illusions of impropriety. Not that I had any plans to do anything, but there's a lot of members of this community that uh come to this board um that might support
me or not support me or have issues in front of this board that I just I I felt it was something to to send a message to be beyond reproach. Um and uh focus on the candidacy and not have any potential conflicts of interest uh come before the
board where I might have a a opinion or a voice or a vote on. So that's pretty much the reason why I uh I stopped off >> through through the chair to the city attorney. Is it an automatic the people that run for office should come off the
the committee? >> I believe it's the from what I've been advised I believe it's up to the member. If the member feels that it would be best for them not to serve that's a personal decision that they make.
>> Mr. Alvarez uh to that point um two years ago I ran for office and I was sitting on this board. I also resigned to just like he's doing just for lack of a you know conflict of interest as I would say. So I I too two years ago to run for commission seat. I also resigned
from the board. >> No, I only asked cuz I know also Gonzalez is also running. So I don't know what the position is for Gonzalo on on that if he's going to stay with us and not stay with us. That's why I was asking but
the it's up to the individual whether they feel that it would be better for them not to serve or to serve. There's no requirement for them. It's not a resign to run thing that that's under
state law as far as whether a board member chooses to continue to serve or not. It's up to the individual board member and how they feel. Okay. Thank you again. >> But Mr. Mend, I commend you for your
what you're doing. I think it's the correct >> I think through through the chair. I know I see this all the time in the commission meetings. Should we take a picture with Mr. Menendez? >> I think it's great. >> I think that's a great idea. >> Yeah. So, we have a camera or um I use microphone. >> Use your camera. I think Yep. It's your idea. >> Yeah. To say goodbye for everything. It
was my counterpart here. Thank you. He replaced me with Robert. That'll be a high. >> Does he receive anything to commemorate his time with the board? Like a little mini g You never you never got off.
>> You stayed on. >> Now, if before we begin, if we can have you introduce yourself to the board as well, >> of course. Um, good evening everyone. My name is Shane Mclashian. It's a pleasure to be here. I'm a resident and homeowner in Coral Gables. I'm also a practicing
attorney. I live with my wife Natalyia and it's a real honor and a privilege to be here and I'm going to do everything I can to serve this community. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman. There's sort of a housekeeping measure on the agenda that maybe we could take first because I
noticed that the the assistant city attorney is here to present the item. It's up entirely up to you. It's really just a a provision relating to appeals. It's not relating to a piece of property. It's just a um
it's a timing, how much time, what's to be in the notice, and I don't believe there's anybody here to speak on it. It's entirely up to the board if you want to take it out of turn before you hear probably pretty extensive testimony
tonight. I would anticipate >> I would I would move for that. Yes. >> I'll make a motion to move it forward. >> Second. >> There we go. >> All in favor? Well, if you want to I think it's I Okay, perfect.
Item E3, an ordinance of the city commission amending article 14, process section 14-208, appeals of the city zoning code to revise appeal procedures, extensions, deadlines, increase specificity and notices of appeal, limit
the scope of stays, establish provisions regarding consolidation, related approvals and abandonment of appeals, providing for severability clause, repealer provision, codification, and providing for an effective today item E3 public hearing.
>> Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, vice chair, and fellow board members. Uh, thank you for taking this item first. Uh, for the record, assistant city attorney and city prosecutor Gus Bios. Uh, so this appeal um amendment, it's before you strictly
for recommendation. If you have any recommendations that we can further along to the commission, I will give you a quick little highlight of what the actual changes are proposing. Um the first one is in the appeals of staff decisions which is not something that the city frankly faces very often but
when we looked at other municipalities in the area we found that ours was a very very long time frame. Most other cities we found anywhere from 10 to 20 days was an appropriate time. We are profering to reduce that to 15 just to bring it in line with similar
municipalities in the area. Um we also had a string of appeals in the recent history that lacked specificity. So it's very difficult for the city clerk, the city attorney, and anyone to schedule appeals when we don't really have an understanding of what it is that's being
appealed. So one of the additional things that we have requested to change is to uh the notice of appeal, she'll provide um a particularity why it's being appealed. Uh the basis, the standing, all of those things need to be
included as part of the notice of intent to appeal. Additionally, you'll notice that it states that within 14 days of fighting filing the written not of appeal, they'll must provide a completed appeal package. The reason why that's being included is prior to this code change. The way that our code is
currently written, most appeals, you have 10 days. And when you get a written notice of intent to appeal, 10 days is given to you. And what that means is you can write a simple email to the city clerk's office and saying, "I intend to appeal A, B, and C." From that moment, the clerk's office gives you a package.
That package then gives you an additional 14 days to complete the package. But that document, that 14 days was only included in that package. It was never codified in our code. So, we decided, well, we're cleaning it up. We're going to clean up that form. We're going to clean this up. We're also going to include that language in here. Uh
we've also included language that final decision shall not be shall be appealable. Only final decisions will appeal appealable. Uh, once again, not an issue that we've had, but we thought it was a good cleanup to make sure that, you know, preliminary decisions, um, opinions, uh, any sort of non-binding final
decisions couldn't be appealed because once again, no final decision has been made. You'll see the same language is added on the second page that mirrors on the first document. Then we do dive into a little bit into the remand. So the city commission when
they remand something back to a lower board typically it's one of the options that the commission has if they believe there wasn't enough some sort of you know procedural error or some sort of factf finding issue and they want to send it back to the lower board they can remand this just specifically states
that once um that any remand shall be limited to spec specifically to the issues identified by the city commission and no this is not a new opportunity a new bite of the apple to present new information or new arguments ments by either side. And uh
one of the other items we're also going to be doing is consolidation. This is something we found in a lot of other similar cities where whenever it's practical, we can try to consolidate multiple appeals on multiple issues of a particular project. It's been an issue where we have a singular project or you
know over the years where every aspect of that uh project whether it goes to one board or three boards gets individually appealed or individual items can get appealed. any changes before the board of architects then get appealed. So what you end up having is basically just this unnecessary
significant delay on a project somebody just take taking advantage of the fact that the process has so many approval steps to take advantage and delay the project at every single step. Additionally, and I believe lastly, we
are addressing the sections of postponements before the first postponement is an automatic one. In discussion with the city commission and discussing with staff, we believe that's not appropriate. So, none of them will be automatic, but the first one should be granted if there is good cause up to
21 days. The second one would also be granted not to exceed 14 days if there's extraordinary circumstances, and that one must go to the city commission for approval. So it takes staff out of the equation where staff is put in a very awkward position asked to continue and continue and continue projects. In this
particular way, we take it to the city commission, the final decision makers, and if they want to grant additional time, so be it. Uh and then in no event shall there be a third postponement granted unless there is an emergency declaration or an added disaster. Now, one big caveat that I should highlight
for everybody because this is a question that a lot of people may have. Nothing in these sections would prevent additional postponements upon agreement of all parties. Why do I say that? If there's a hurricane and it's followed by a second hurricane and there's no way to
meet the previous deadlines and there's perhaps, let's say we're waiting for some information that is not readily available. If the city and the appellant and if in the opportunity in the in the particular case where the property owner is not the appellent if all three parties agree we have no issue with it
being extended further but it's something that must be agreed agreed upon by all parties and uh I think that takes care of all the major changes. If any appeals are not heard within the time frames, they'll be deemed uh
abandoned and void. And if you have any other questions, I'm happy to answer them. Thank you. >> I've got a question. >> You want to wait for like board? Oh, you want to Oh, a question. I apologize. Go. Yes. Sorry. >> Absolutely.
I I you're I understand that um you're looking at this from the applicants standpoint. In other words, a building, a development or something like that. But the appeal
period seems to be uh something that the public and usually an agrieved party is directly affected by. By shortening that, you're not providing anything on the other side as far as as far as e
ease of a speedier method of appealing a decision where you have an agreed party. So, it seems to me that it's only weighted on the side of the applicant by shortening and making stricter the
ability to appeal. And normally it's not uh someone that is just uh hoping to drag the feet of the project to make the developer pay more money, but it's more like someone has a true objection and
has to gather a bunch of information to be able to then rightfully appeal. It seems to me that it's a little one-sided. Uh maybe I am wrong but for me the ability to appeal a decision is
extremely important for the agreved party usually someone that's going to be affected possibly in a negative way. So as far as the speed you know in shortening these time periods it becomes
more difficult. Keep in mind that most people that appeal aren't lawyers. Most people are residents. They would have to go out, hire a lawyer, do this, do that, get the information from staff, you
know, all these searches. All of a sudden, you've reduced that time period where it becomes almost impossible for them to appeal unless they have a lawyer in hand, unless they know the process. and most residents don't know the
process and they have to rely on people that will return emails or phone calls. So that is my that is my great concern that I I I think that you know the way it is now uh and with all due respect to
other municipalities you know for a um a a municipality of 50,000 people and with the amount of development that we have here and with the uh people that have concerns I think it's it's wrong to try
to shorten and and limit that uh because it puts the normal resident that is affected in a very bad position I think >> but I can I can address that very easily. Um, so it's not shortening the
time period at all for the purposes of intent to appeal only decisions from city staff. Meaning the timeline that you have to appeal the board of architects, historic preservation, planning and zoning board, board of architects, every other board
in the city is not being touched. Not being touched. You have the exact same amount of time. You have 10 days to file a notice written uh uh notice of intent to appeal subsequent to whatever day you file that notice of intent to appeal. You have 14 days. That is way it is currently handled and is not being modified in any way. The only thing that
was an outlier was 14-2084 which is appeals of decisions of city staff which as I stated before rarely comes up because it's basically an administrative decision that somebody chooses to appeal. And this still gives you 50% more time than you would have
than if you were appealing the board of architects, the historic preservation board, any of the other city boards. So you're actually getting significantly more time than you would with any other board, but just in this section. We're not affecting or changing any other notice of intent to appeal timelines or
application portion. That's exactly the same. That is not being touched. >> I have another question. How long did you work on this? >> It's been something that's been discussed over the years. Um, we've probably dabbled over I'd say frankly over two to three years. >> So you you had input from staff and
>> Oh no, this was worked in we've had probably probably I'd say at least half a dozen meetings over the years about addressing not only this package, this particular code section, but the actual appeal package, the appeal package has a bit of redundant information that doesn't coincide with the code. Like I
specifically stated before, how the 14 days was never codified anywhere in our code and now we're choosing to codify it. We So basically when somebody goes to the city clerk's office, picks up an appeal package, they're not getting conflicting information from what's on the city code or the zoning code and
what's on the appeal package. I bring it in line. This is going to simplify the way I see it. You're not >> I I printed it. I read it very carefully. I read it backwards and forwards and I have questions for the city attorney's office. I I would like
to have a simply a deferral before we change something like this simply to be able to understand it. We received our package as you know Friday afternoon and I printed it. I read it. I read it again. I went back I tried to go back and then find out exactly what the
differences were and and the whole point is that I I've already stated my point about my concern about the ability to appeal. I think it you know you you this is appealing like the staff recommendations. It doesn't appeal
planning zoning board of architects none of that. I mean it's not changing any of that which to me are the the one that would be more concerning for the residents to have an opportunity to do that. You know, for me the staff, I mean, at the end of the day, staff is
going to say something, you know, recommend and they're going to come to the boards and this is where you're going to appeal. >> I I understand the concern. My concern was I felt like I really needed to be able to have enough time to discuss with staff so I could understand it.
>> With all due respect to staff, I mean, I don't care what they put together. You know, they do. I care what the board's decision whether it's this board the board of arch architects or any other board that's the decision I want to have the opportunity the correct time to
appeal because you know we come here and the board comes you know board staff member comes and presents something that at the end of the day we change or you know makes modifications to me my the concern is as Mr. Mayor
stated clearly, it's not affecting the time frame for the other boards, the planning, the board of architects, none of that. That's not being compromised. >> What are all the boards that are being affected by this change? >> No board is being affected by that
particular change. >> So, it's only what that is being affected. >> So, in terms of the shortening of the notice of intent to appeal, no board is being affected. It is strictly decisions from the city staff. That's it. >> Decisions from the city staff.
>> Correct. So if you have a decision from the DRRO, the city architect, although typically city architect, you will just go to the board of architects. But let's say for whatever reason the city architects makes a decision and you choose to appeal that decision. You have 15 days to file your notice of intent to appeal. The city architects.
an average person that that sees that maybe there's anot that has been uh approved by the manager's office and someone is concerned with theote. So all of a sudden you have 15 days to run around and and and try to find the
ability to appeal that decision once you find out who made the decision the ultimate decision on that which in this case would be the city manager. So you might be going to public works trying to figure out what's what and it could take you 15 days easily to get the right
answers to be able to point in the right direction. >> You could make the same argument for every other board. I mean the fact that you only have 10 days, you can make the same argument. I think it's it's pretty much in line with all other municipalities. >> I am making that argument. >> Yeah, I think it's in line with every other municipality. I think it's pretty consistent. I think we're being more
than fair. Um, but if you'd like to make that recommendation, at the end of the day, we're here to take some recommendations and we will I'll be happy to include them with our uh presentation to the city commission. >> But Mr. Chairman, the reason I was asking for uh more time is because I wanted to be able to learn a little bit
more about this because every decision we make in changing administratively something, you know, it's >> Mr. Chairman, >> if I can ask Mr. part of please in simple terms rephrase your concern so I
can understand it. >> My my concern is that >> speak to the mic please. >> My concern is that when you look at the different decisions that are made administratively by staff. There are an an enormous amount of
decisions that affect people and those people don't know necessarily who they can or if they can appeal to any of these things. There there is a lack of clarity if you're within staff. You know, it it it's clear to you to
compress it. I don't quite understand the reasoning behind compressing the amount of time for those staff decisions. And some of the staff decisions are direct decisions that affect people and their quality of life.
So I I was just asking for time to truly comprehend, you know, what what the ramifications are of this change. >> Mr. Chairman, if I may, can I ask the assistant county as city attorney,
what is the actual timeline that this has to be? Why this is before our board at this time? >> The only reason why this is becoming before this board is because these changes are in the planning the in the in the zoning code. So if this if these changes were in the city code, it wouldn't come before this board. But
because these changes specifically are in the zoning code, the zoning code requires that it comes before this board for recommendations before we take it to the city commission. >> So there's no urgency from your side for this to be heard today. It could be deferred. Is that correct?
>> We would prefer that there wasn't a deferral. Um, I was told to request that if there's any recommendations, any concerns, I'll be happy to incorporate them and provide them to the city commission who are the final decision makers. Um, but at the end of the day, I am in no way I can no way bind this
particular board to vote one way or the other. if you have some comments or some you know >> I I you know >> to add it I mean I I'll be more than happy to support something that goes but you know >> I I mean I think I think it could have
been um I think it could have been presented by staff a lot more clearer than just the strikeouts because there ramifications to these decisions from different offices and and different staff members. The question is I don't
know enough and like I said I printed it specifically to understand it but based on the presentation that I saw tonight with all due respect to the the to the assistant city attorney you know it it's just what are the ramifications I feel
very uncomfortable with it I only ask for this to be deferred to the next meeting simply to be able to understand it better not to not to sidline this, >> but simply to understand it better. So
if if I'm forced to vote, I'll vote no. But it's it's up to you. I just ask for time. >> I think let's Joe, is there any public comment? >> Sorry, not on this item. >> Okay. So let's close public comment. I guess open board discussion. >> I'm happy to answer any questions. Yeah,
I mean >> um >> please >> just to try to facilitate the discussion, would you say in your own words what this is accomplishing and the benefit of it? >> So, in essence, this is a cleanup um for our zoning code, specifically our appeal section. Currently, our appeal section,
there's a bit of a discommunication between our appeal package, which is what's provided by the city clerk's office, and what's currently in the zoning code. This attempts to bring those two items together so that they both reflect the same type of dates. We did find in our review of this, it was
one of those we're going to review this, we're going to try to update this. We're trying to clean this up. And as part of that process, we looked at every section to see where there could be improvements. One of those sections, we found it incredibly excessive is is the appeals from city uh
staff. At the end of the day, the person that typically will appeal the decision of a city staff member is the applicant themselves. Meaning, you're not going to have an agrieved party because on our code, to have an agrieved party, you need to receive notice. So, the only person that's going to receive notice of an administrative decision that was
denied is the applicant. The applicant is going to have more than enough time to file their appeal. So, if an applicant, let's say whatever the decision be, maybe a zoning reviewer has denied plan X and I'd like to appeal that decision. I have 15 days to file a
notice of intent to appeal. Once you file your notice of intent to appeal, you'll get an additional 14 days to get all of your ducks in a row, make your payment for the appeal, get your mailing labels that are required, and then we'll either take it to typically either the board of adjustments or the historic preservation board um for it to be
heard. So, the majority of this would not affect um general people in the public. Um in regards to your your comment about things of that nature, that's something that at least right now I can't see it being an appealable because you're not an agrieved party by
by the definition of our of our zoning code. Um and we also found that the current postponement section of the appeal section had been ripe for abuse where parties had been abusing it on both
ends. Um, and that doesn't mean that we can't extend it. We've had extended it, especially when there's both parties are agreed. If I'm if I'm building a two-story home on Sunset Drive and I need to go to historic preservation because my property was historically designated, but we disagree, it was
denied, I want to go to the commission to get this resolved. There is nothing that would prevent me for asking for an extension of six months because at the end of the day, the only injured party is me. It is my property. I'm injuring myself because I can't continue with my proposed redevelopment or proposed addition or
change or whatever may be. The only injured party is me. This the issue really stems here from somebody abusing the process and causing a third party who's typically the applicant a significant amount of delays. something that could have been delayed maybe a month or two months or three
months in order to make sure that all everyone's appeal rights are addressed because that's this in no way attempts to remove anyone's appeal rights. But it at this particular way that it's currently written, you can have a a property that's been appealed four,
five, six, seven times with postponements of months that cause unnecessary delay. And I think for the betterment of all parties involved, we'd like to be able to consolidate, minimize postponements. So at the end of the day, we can get it in front of the city commission who's the final decision
maker. And that's really what the goal is. >> So if I may, it sounds like you're a codifying what is the practice in the documents that we distribute. >> Yes. >> And also, you're making staff's time more efficient. They don't have to go digging for something months later. They
can deal with it on the spot. and then due process for anybody else that's interested in the topic, the matter will resolve in a reasonable amount of time. >> All right. I'm I'm satisfied with the information >> chairman. >> Okay. Go ahead.
>> And then so what I understand is when you look at your applications for the appeals, they are not according to what's in the zoning code right now. In other words, the the the handouts
that you give for the package, they are in direct conflict. No. >> With what's in the >> So, right now, the zoning code, if you read it, the only date, time, limitation you will see is 10 days to file notice of intent to appeal. That's it. But once
you go to the city clerk's office and you pick up your appeal package, you're going to find on the very second line, you have 14 days to complete this package. It simply is not codified in our code. So, this now codifies it. So now, you know, if you just look at the city code or the zoning code, you're not
limited to just 10 days. You know, I don't have 10 days. I can submit my notice of intent to appeal on the 9th day or the 10th day. I'm going to have an additional 14 days. So, I'm going to have in total 23 24 days to complete my package, get all my ducks in a row, do my research, get my mailing labels, make my payment, and take care of all the
things. And then from then it obviously also you have additional time because once you file all that information there needs to be at least 13 days for notice. So if you file let's say you file everything you completed and you there's a commission meeting or the appropriate board for your particular appeals
historic preservation there's a historic preservation board meeting in seven days you're not going to be on that meeting because we don't have 13 days to send notice. So, you're going to be on next month's meeting, but this at least codifies everything so that everyone can look at one document in this particular case, the zoning
code, and know the entire appeal process. >> Mr. Chairman, I'm I'm uh I understand now this is one of the questions which was not part of the package that we received it. So, I feel more comfortable now based on exactly what the assistant city attorney just explained.
>> Great. Mr. at some point if this item >> did we did >> we did >> Mr. Robert, >> is this explained to the the person that's doing the appeal? Is there like a in the application process, hey, you have this state, this state, this state,
this state? So everything's on there. >> It's on there. So the notice of intent to appeal is something that you typically will only find in our zoning code. But if, let's say, you have a particular application that went to historic or board of architects, whatever it may be. If you ask staff, hey, I don't agree with that decision. I'd like to appeal. They'll simply tell
you, you have 10 days to file that notice of intent to appeal. We are very liberal when it comes to that interpretation because at the end of the day, the last thing we want to do is infringe on anyone's due process rights. So that can be a simple email, come in, write it on a piece of paper. If you hand me a post that says I intend to
appeal and sign it and you hand it to me, I'll provide it to the city clerk and that starts your your clock for your next deadline, which in this case would be an additional 14 days to complete your package. >> Yeah. My question is that to avoid a regular person having to read the code, this is set in the package that they
get. Okay. Now you have this now you have like a timeline so the person knows >> if the person goes directly to the clerk's office and pickups pick ups the appeal package all that information will be provided on there. >> I have no comment. I
>> Shane, any comments? >> Uh no comment. Thank you. >> Mr. Sabria. No, I I just wanted to I've overheard that to file an appeal you need an attorney. >> No, >> you don't. I I don't think you do. >> Okay. I don't have any questions.
>> Make a motion to approve. >> I have no further comments either. Let's close board discussion. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Joe. >> Sorry. Alice Bravo. >> Yes. >> Shane McCclassen. >> Yes. >> Felix Partardo.
>> Yes. Gonzalo Sonabrio. >> Yes. >> Ignasio Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Robert Behar. >> Yes. >> Alex Bucello. >> Yes. >> Thank you again. Appreciate your time. Thank you. >> You stayed to the end of the meeting to do this.
>> I I started off my day with a code enforcement board in this room at 8:30 in the morning. I'm very happy to be ending. Otherwise, >> you started with my father then. >> Yes. He was sitting right over there. >> If we can have the next >> We're going to start with the first item. >> Yes. Okay. Okay. First item, >> chair, should we do the second item
because everybody's here for the second item? >> We have a motion up to the board. >> I I I I think it's a good idea. >> Okay. >> Motion to start with E2. >> So my motion is to start with E2 because everybody's here in the crowd just to help them up.
>> Second your motion. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. Item E2, an ordinance of the city commission amending ordinance number 1952 as amended, which changed the
zoning on lots 2 3 20 21 22 23 and 24 block 120 and lots 1 through 5, block 131, Country Club section 430, 440, 450, and 520 University Drive,
Florida to remove certain conditions of approval that limit limit the use of the property to overflow parking and that reverse the zoning of the property to single family zoning. All other conditions of approval contained in ordinance number 1952 shall remain in
effect. Item E2, public hearing. >> Good evening. Jennifer Garcia, planning and zoning director. If I could have a PowerPoint, please for item E2. Thank you. So before 1972,
these two properties uh one being between both on University Drive, one between Sto and Camo and one between um Riviera and Khalima were zone single family. Um I'm assuming they were vacant at the time. Um and then through
ordinance 1952, again the year 1972, a little confusing, I know. Um the commission then approved to change the zoning to um single sorry to um let me go back to special use and part of that
ordinance in ordinance number 1952 included four conditions of approval. The first one has to deal with keeping the uh property as was then in 1972 to not be paved um for overflow parking
involving both the library and the uh youth center. The second uh condition of approval has to deal with um using that property that's now zoned special use to be used as overflow parking again for youth
center and for the library. Uh condition number three um involved limiting the ingress and egress um to only be from University Drive and that there should be some kind of means erected to close off those properties to not be used
unless they're used for the additional parking needed for overflow parking for youth center and the library. And then condition number four has to deal with the zoning >> and that if the city decided that there was no use for either of those properties that the zoning would have to
be reverted back to single family without involving public hearing. So today we are looking just at the property which is known as 520 University Drive which is between Riviera and Kadima. This is not involving the north property which is
between Sto and Camo. just the 520 property again between Riviera and Kadima and there you are looking at the at the plat. So the current uh future land use nation is public buildings and grounds and
again the zoning is still zoned special use zoning. So what was proposed to you before today only affects the property at 520 University Drive and to take away that restriction of only using the property
for over parking, but to also allow for any kind of park use. So the property would still need to be kept at a park-like manner with existing trees. The second condition would be amended to again only affect 520 University Drive
um to also allow any kind of public park in the future. Condition number three would be amended then to specify that the ingress and egress has to deal with the temporary overflow parking and that would be again keeping it from University Drive unless otherwise
determined by the police department. And then conditioner number four would be removed altogether so that the city decide to reszone the property to be single family residential use that they would involve the public through public hearing process. So this is the first meeting dealing
with this exact uh ordinance change that will be moved to study commission for first second reading as any ordinance is done. The letters were sent out within a th00and feet of the 520 University Drive property as that's the a property that's
being affected by these changes and those letters was sent out one time for this meeting for tonight. Uh property was posted once as well. Website was posted as well as newspaper advertisement. So staff has determined this is consistent with the goals as far as
locating parks near single family uh neighborhood residential neighborhoods. They recommend approval. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any questions from the board before we open to public comment? >> Jill,
excuse me. We have several speakers. >> Sylvia King, Mr. Sure. Are we going to keep it? I could have Coral Gable's TV pull up that PowerPoint that I sent >> forwarded. Sorry.
>> Um about six. >> Good evening. I'm Sylvia Perez King, 3617 Harlano Street. I'm a member of the University Green Neighbors Association. We filed a complaint. >> Lower the Okay, thank you. Uh, we filed
a complaint to enjoin the development of a bark park at 520 University. No amendments to ordinance 1952 should be considered while the litigation is pending. We wave no rights by voicing our objections here. Um, I'm going to
make three points. First, this hearing should not take place. There should be a deferment. Residents within 1,000 ft of all the parcels listed in the ordinance were not mailed notice. The ordinance applies to all the parcels, not just
520. Taking away overflow parking at 520 University shifts the burden directly onto the other lot and those property owners. They have a right to be here. This hearing should be deferred for that reason.
Next, the intention of the city is to put a bark park at that new at the 520 university spot, but we have a lot of uh we have an overwhelming need for parking in our community because the library has
a lot of events. This first picture, uh, one of our members, just a random day, no events at the library. The library parking lot was full. Here we have cars parking on the swale next to the library.
Here we have cars parked in front of uh, 520 University. And all along the swale heading towards the youth center. Here we also have more cars because it
went all the way up to the youth center. And here in fact, we see the cars parked in front of the UN youth center. Parking is a really big issue here. And we do need overflow parking for special events.
Take for example the literacy festival that happened recently. The city opened an overflow parking lot directly across the youth center. They didn't open up 520, just the one in front of the youth center. It quickly
filled. Actually, I think I skipped a a slide. Well, there's a slide before this one. Let me see if I can get Yeah, here we go. the um overflow parking lot quickly filled up and people started to park on
the swailes all the way down Camo Avenue. This is another angle of the uh overflow parking open by the city. Cars parking along the swale all along University Drive
and they found their way to 520 even though it was not marked by the city. and they did not put up barricades or have police officers there, but the the public found it and they parked there. And here you
can see they saw the little sign posted there, which by the way, the city wants to say that um the other parcels aren't uh part of this, but they were signed as well for this hearing. They just didn't mailed to the neighbors. But anyhow,
these cars are parked on 520. there is a need when there are special events to have parking uh in the community. Also, we uh developed our own little plan here
showing what parking at university what we're talking about. We're talking about 83 parking spaces for a future of for special events. The city has no plans for the replace of the the lost parking.
When they put a dog park there, those spaces are going to be gone and parking is going to be chaotic. And where will the burden f fall? It'll b fall on the residents of the community who do not want a park there. There are there are
plenty of parks in our community for uh off leash dogs. We have Chewy. We have Salvador. You can go down to Chapman Park. Uh we we don't need any more dog parks.
What we need is parking for the library to support it. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry, William. Good evening. My name is Bill Ryvenbark. I'm a member of the United University Green Neighbors
Association, which is a 501c4. I live at 3616 Harlano Street, approximately 125 ft from 520 University Drive. And I would like to speak about the Coral Gable's Public Library and
give you some statistics which you may find interesting to make clear why ordinance 1952 should not be amended. To best understand why Coral Gable's Public Library needs to be able to have access to overflow parking in the lot,
you need only look at their current door counts. Door count is Miami Dade Library speak for headcount. how many people come in on a daily basis to visit the library. This includes special events and
countywide early voting attendance. In February of this year, I emailed the Miami Day Public Library system a series of questions regarding attendance at the Coral Gables branch. I received a timely and very thorough response
from the public records division of the Miami Dade Public Library system. Here's what we learned. The Coral Gable's Branch Library averages 30 to 40 programs per month. programs in their
speak again are special events, certain courses, certain topics, what have you. Other than just someone going in and out of the library, their programmed related attendance estimates between 1,00 and 1,250
people per month. That's 12,000 to 15,000 people per year visiting the library for special programs. Currently for fiscal year 2025 to 26, the door count averages are
approximately 26,000 visits per month. That's 312,000 visitors annually, the third highest among all 50 branches of the Miami Dade Library system.
Last year, fiscal year 24-25, the Coral Gables branch averaged approximately 31,000 visits per month or 372,000 visits per year, the second most visited
library in terms of door count, surpassed only by the main library in downtown Miami. From 2018 to 2024, countywide early voting at the Coral Gables branch
library has ranged from 16,000 to 25,000 participants. That's a large number of voters in a concentrated two-week period for the primary and the general election with governor, US senator, US House of
Representatives and many other state positions. In addition, now in addition to the Coral Gables elections, the numbers will again be high for a two-week period, primary and general elections.
Throughout the years, the Coral Gable's branch has consistently ranked among the type fi top five of early voting locations in Miami Dade County where everyone coming through in or near Coral Gables cast their ballots. a door count
of 372,000 annually, 15,000 special event attendees yearly, and 25,000 voters during early voting. It's easy to see why the ability to have overflow parking in the lot must
remain. Taking away the overflow parking at 520 University makes no sense. The numbers simply do not add up. Thank you. Thank you, >> Jean Davis.
Good evening. My name is Jean Davis and I am a member of the University Green Neighbors Association. I live at 3710 Harlano Street and I would like to ask what is the true purpose of these
proposed changes? The planning and zoning staff reports acknowledges that the city's interest in having a 40,000 square foot off leash dog park at 520 University Drive immediately abuing
three single family homes. The report says the city's request would not allow densities or intensities beyond what is permitted under the applicable future land use map classifications of public
buildings and grounds. But how do you reconcile the current passive green space open to everyone with a 40,000 square foot dog park which is only for the dogs? The report also says that it
will provide ample and effective opportunities for public participation at all levels of the city of Coral Gables governance and decisionmaking. That sounds good in theory, but we were told we couldn't have input as to
whether there would be a dog park, but we would only have input into how it would be designed. The report says that the city will ensure recreation facilities are well-managed, well-maintained, and that quality opportunities are
available within a 10-minute walk to all residents. The passive green space that is there now is readily available to everyone. I would also like to speak about the future land use compliance.
If this is about a dog park, planning and zoning board members should know. The report says that it does not permit uses which are prohibited in the future land use category of the parcel, but only places a dog park is mentioned in
that document is under policies wreck-1.4.2 two which references working with the county on Chapman Field County and Dog Park facility for the city and residents of the city sponsored programs.
I thank you very much. >> Thank you >> Lena Fernandez. Good evening board members. My name is Lo Fernandez and I live at 415 uh Kadeimma Avenue. I'm also a member of the University Green uh Neighbors
Association. Uh in general, as you've heard, this dog park is just not a not a great idea. traffic. Um the city is still years behind trying to catch up with our current traffic issues on Kadima and
Riviera and where this dog is uh dog park is wanted. Um it's customary for for your board to review traffic studies before making recommendations on development matters. Yet none to our knowledge uh has been
conducted. uh University Drive from Ljun Road to uh Bird Road and Granada Boulevard. It's a large collector street moving an ever growing number of east west commuters during morning and evening peak hours.
This two-lane road each way uh is also a major approach for fire rescue services uh going constantly uh to doctor's uh hospital. Evening rush hours collide with peak peak activity at the library and the youth center.
Long lines of cars can stack up at the intersections of University Drive uh and Riviera as well as Segoia at University Drive. um waiting for traffic lights to change and pedestrians to cross. The idling school buses, student pickup and
drop off at Coral Gables High, after school drop off at the youth center, church services, and the expansion plans for Somerset, Somerset Academy, all contribute to the neighborhood's traffic congestion. Please ask for a traffic
study before uh someone is hurt or someone's pet. The city is uh rushing into amending ordinance 1952 without any objective basis and without consideration of the reality of the
daytoday need for protecting 520 University Drive for the safety of our citizens. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Jose Val. >> Yes, it's right in here.
Hello to everyone. Um, good evening. The board is being asked to vote on a matter without having all the information. >> Can you please Sorry to interrupt you. Can you please state your name and address for the record? >> Yeah. Hi. Uh, my name is Jose Val and I
live in 520 Kadima Avenue right in front of the open space, open green space. So the board is as is being asked to vote on a matter without having all the information and some of the information you have may not be correct. Um I live
as I said in 520 Kadima Avenue immediately across the street of 520 University Drive with my wife and three young children ranging from six weeks to 5year-old today. Today is her birthday. As the
association president, I would like to speak about ordinance 1952 and why the buffer is important. Before tonight's meeting, you may not have known about ordinance 1952. Our attorney reminded the city commission
and the city attorney about it about it in January 13, 2026 city commission meeting, but they said nothing. In 1971 and 1972, the planning and zoning board and the city commission after the notice of public
hearing was duly published and notification of all property owners of record within 300 ft was made. Held public hearings seeking to change the zoning of the property to s use with special conditions. Lots 1 through 5,
block 131, aka 520, 430, 440, and 450 University Drive, had been sown single family, RS14, for homes at least 2500 square f feet until the library and the youth center relocated to the current day locations.
Ordinance 1952 stipulated that the properties could only be used for overflow parking, that ingress and egress be the university drive, that the properties be kept in a parklike manner, that the trees and foliage preserve in
the current state, and that the if the overflow parking was no longer needed in that zoning of the properties revert back to single family zoning. The change of zoning and thoughtfully conditions were developed through notice public hearings to provide an important buffer
between the library and the youth center with a quiet single family neighborhood to the south. These protections provided added assurance that the three homes and mine immediately about what is known as 520 University Drive including the
twostory 1925 early Mediterranean home. The neighborhood has relied and continues to rely on these conditions, including the revert clause for more than 50 years. This innovative yet
tested overflow parking arrangement provides passive public green space while protecting the neighborhood from parking and traffic intrusion during planned. occasional special events. Just as example, these events include the
extreme heck hunt, the literacy festival, the 4th of July, nightmare at 405, countywide early voting in all presidential, national, state, and local elections, political campaign events, sporting events at the youth center, soccer, baseball, and basketball games
and tournaments, hurricane and immersion centers, and other hightraic events all year round that you will hear about from other speakers. The temporary barricades help guide parkers during large scale special
events. The city rarely chooses to use 520 University to provide needed parking relief during special events. Please keep the buffer in place. Our neighborhood is a collection of individuals and family. babies, young
children re learning to ride or skate, teenagers walking to the youth center, young families with stroller, seniors, some in the later years. Blessed with a complete network of sidewalks, mature trees, historic homes, and treasure green space that can accommodate library
overflow parking so patrons don't park in the neighborhood. Docks are walked, wheelchairs are rolled, strollers are pushed, and people of all ages and backgrounds get their steps in as part of the daily routine. We're not here,
we're not here to debate whether bark parks are good. It's uh your business whether you take your dog to one. It becomes our business when the city tries to force a dog park in our little neighborhood when the zoning and dog
ordinance clearly forbid it. and we are clearly don't want it. We fully support dog friendly amenities in Corona Gables. We simply believe they should be placed where they are compatible with the surrounding uses and do not impose dispro impact on a small group of
residents. Our goal is not conflict but a solution that serves the community without sacrificing the safety, character, and quality of life of our neighborhood. We appreciate your consideration. >> Thank you.
Sarah Cortez. Hello. Good evening everyone. I'm Sarah Cortez at 511 Kadeimma Avenue. I am a member of the University Green Neighbors Association as well as living in that historic home uh that Jose just
mentioned. Um, the proposed dog park would actually be uh right next to me in the backyard. Um, which I have mentioned before in public uh spaces. I have a dog. I do not want a dog park in my backyard.
Um, I'm a an emergency medicine physician by training and I'd like to share some comments about mental health and why passive green space is so important. I do believe that our founders and those who came before you
recognized how important green space is and what a blessing it is to our community and I do believe that we are losing it slowly but surely. I am worried about that for many issues,
for many reasons obviously. Um, but green space is breathing space. Respecting wildlife and preserving habitat on green space, providing for overflow parking when needed, allows everyone, not just dogs and their owners,
to escape from the hustle and bustle of the world we live in. You can stroll around the sidewalks of the triangle with your dog. You can walk through the grass or maybe do some gymnastics through it as my daughter does. Um, you can listen to
the birds and watch the wildlife. Your kids can do that. Today, this is public green space that provides a helpful helpful respit to all. Mental Health America noted that children living in neighborhoods with
more green space have a reduced risk of developing depression, mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders, all of which are on the rise. Spending time in nature is good for you, your mental health. It positively impacts
mood, focus, stress levels, and emotional regulation, all of which I need right now. Let's all remember green space is breathing space and it's good for everyone. Thank you so much. >> Thank you,
>> Rose Bower. >> Hello. Good evening. My name is Rose Bower and I'm a member of the University Green Neighbors Association. I live at 3716 Siggoia Street. I have lived in the area a lifetime. I would like to speak
about dog parks and property values. The planning and zoning report these ordinance changes will not result in a substantial decline in property value or neighborhood character, noting that access to nearby open space can enhance
the desiraability and residential neighborhoods and support longtime stability. I have always loved and cared for animals, including a few cats that live in the green space that I feed daily. I have a 10-year-old Australian
Shepherd, and I have been a loyal and active member of the cat network for many years. But tonight, I want to speak about my profession. I value the historic charm of the city beautiful. I have been a successful real estate broker in Coral Gables with Rivera Real
Estate for 25 years. And much of my success comes with knowing the market. Some might disagree, but I feel compelled to speak about the impact of off leash dog park would have on adjacent homes. The triangle today is a
beautiful habitat for animals and people. It is mostly certainly an amenity while providing overflow parking for the library. There's a big difference between this natural green space and a large all-consuming dog park
immediately close to multiple homes. If dog parks are not properly maintained, problems surface, not only with the sound of dogs barking throughout the day, but with odors, tired landscaping, and trash. These factors influence the price of
sale to the seller because of the surroundings. Homeowners live in Coral Gables in part because of the security and beautiful canopies. Let's not negatively impact the neighborhood and the homeowner's financial future by adding another dog park next door. Thank
you. >> Thank you. >> I don't have any more speakers. I' signed in. >> Anyone on Zoom? >> No. >> And anyone on the phone? >> So, let's close public comment. >> Did you sign in, sir? I'm sorry. your
name. >> Sorry, just come up to the podium. >> Oh, he didn't mark the item number. So, >> go ahead. Sorry about that, sir. >> My name is Barry Golden. I'm a member of the University Green Neighbors
Association. I live at 3628 Harlano Street. I am five houses away from the proposed dog park, 520 University. Before the city considers revising the ordinance, removing certain protections and conditions and
considering additional uses, a comprehensive parking study and review should be under undertaken. For example, no formal current or future demand studies have been conducted. A member of the University Green Neighbors Association conducted an informal
parking count between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at and around the library during the first two weeks of February 2026. This included daily surveying the 48
space library, the 11 including two handicap parallel parking spaces in the circular drive in front of the University Drive entrance, the 20 angle parking spaces on the west side of Riviera, the five angle parking on the
east side of Riviera, and the 22 spaces in the swale of Segoia in front of the west entrance of the library. The youth center parking lot parallel to University Drive and the Siggoia North parking lot by the playing fields were
also surveyed. On most days, all parking spaces were exceeding capacity, including including those areas under the banyions marked no parking on University Drive. Depending on programming at the library or at the
youth center, parking regularly exceeds capacity and drivers drove frantically around looking for space to park. I have personally witnessed the library and youth center overwhelmed with cars and trucks. The available parking is
woefully insufficient and care cars naturally spill out onto the 520 university. It should be noted that there are no announced high volume event during any of the days surveyed. Please don't make any changes until a current or future parking study is performed.
High volume events need easy access to overflow parking. It makes no sense to take away the overflow parking there. Cars will have nowhere to go other than our properties. So, I I said that um
I live five houses away from 520 University. Okay. I've lived in Coral Gables for 20 years. July, it'll be 20 years. I love Coral Gables. It's an honor to live here. I mean, I
love where I live. I don't live in Miami. I live in Coral Gables. I'm proud to say and tell people I live in Coral Gables because you know what? is the safest, the most beautiful place in South Florida. Um, I walk my dog
around 520 University almost every day and every night. I will not take him to a dog park. Okay? I've had dogs for the entire 20 years that I've lived here. I had two dogs at one time. I'd walk two dogs around the 520 university, around
the library, around the youth center. I'm there every day and every night. And now that I think of it, Sarah brought up a fantastic point. The mental part of just walking around
that quiet green space. I do it every morning. I guess I just take it for granted that I live in a peaceful, beautiful, amazing city and I walk my dog and quiet. I don't have to listen to a bunch of other dogs barking and yapping and this that and the other and people walking around and cars and
dodging cars walking around the sidewalk. I walk my dog in peace and it's beautiful. It's my opinion that the city commission didn't follow proper policy and procedures when they voted in November
2025 to move forward with this dog park. Nobody, none of these people that are standing here right here, none of the people that were at the January meeting knew about it and they told the city about it.
You guys, we had a we're having a zoning hearing today. You guys posted a uh a sign on May 8th, this little orange sign that I think Jose Val or took a picture of.
He noticed it the day it got it popped up. There were no signs in November letting all these neighbors know that the city commission is planning on putting a dog park here. Nobody knew about it. They tried to say that they did. We didn't know about it.
Nobody knew about it. They came to the January 13th meeting and 50 people from our neighborhood, the people that are great, most impacted by this dog park, the two blocks around 520 University, they
didn't know about it. But when they found out about it, we united and came together and said, "We don't want this and we don't." and they had a chance to resend the November 2025 vote and go back, start
all over again, maybe find another green space somewhere else in Coral Gables. They didn't do that. They didn't listen to all the neighbors that were at that commission meeting in January and said, "We don't want this." They didn't listen.
They just moved ahead with a vote to go forward with the dog park. So, I stand here today telling you that the people most affected by this dog park feel like they were bamboozled by
the city commission because they didn't know about it and we don't want it. I hope you do the right thing. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So, let's go public comment before I open it to board discussion. Uh, Mr.
city attorney. Can you give us some insight on the on the pending litigation? I heard a couple of the participants mention litigation there. There has been litigation filed by a group. They're seeking to enjoin the city. Can you not hear me? Okay.
There has been litigation been filed by a an organization. They're seeking to enjoin the city from having um you utilizing this property for a dog park. Uh
when when the city went back and looked at the the regulations that were in this 19 the ordinance didn't play take place in 1952. It's just the number of the
ordinances 1952. It has a rather unusual a reverter clause. Most reverters are ownership clauses where the property reverts to uh to a an owner
at a particular time. What's unusual about this reverter clause is it says it reverts back to um single family zoning if it's not used for the overflow parking.
It back in 1972 was ordinance passed. Um, zoning was looked at at that time as being legislative. Uh, in
1993, there was a case called Snyder versus Bvard County where where the Florida Supreme Court said that resonings are not legislative, they're quasi judicial.
So there needs to be have a hearing notice and an opportunity to be heard. So it's somewhat problematic that there's a reverter that reverts back to a different zoning when there won't be a
hearing and opportunity to be heard. So that's going to have to be addressed at some point. I think they're the city is trying to address it by eliminating the reverter clause because
but it is a little unusual to revert a zoning to a different zoning separate apart from whether this should be green space or not green space. There's a legal issue about whether property can revert back automatically
without a public hearing to go from one zoning to a different zoning. So that was the issue on the reverter because it's not an ownership reverter, it's a zoning reverter which you really you don't really see
very often. I've never seen it before. If it's reverts back to single family, what happens? I mean, if it's not used for overflow parking anymore and it reverts back to single family, >> what happens? >> Well, the the property is owned by the
city at this point, but you could build houses on it. >> Your city could sell it and you could build houses. >> You could sell and build houses on it. I would recommend that before it reverts, there should be a public hearing and a notice and
opportunity to be heard because ordinarily when you reszone, that's a quasi judicial hearing. >> Isn't that what we're doing here? >> No. >> No. >> Okay. What we're doing here is
whether the ordinance should be amended to um to >> to go from a to overflow parking >> not not limit it just to overflow parking and two to
uh and it's a recommendation. We're not actually doing the activity but recommendation as to whether the reverter clause should be deleted
and whether the whether the uh property this area that's a park is just limited to overflow parking >> through the chair. >> Yes. >> So I'm going to put my lawyer hat on.
Um, so the litigation is seeking to void the revert or what what's the litigation? >> No, the litigation is seeking to prevent the uh city from utilizing the property for a dog park, >> but the city's not a party to the
lawsuit just yet. Correct. >> No, the city is a party. >> It is already a part. Got it. >> It sounds like what's going to happen is the the court's going to throw out the deed if the deed is not is not correct. >> It's not a deed. for and you know what you're right to
think of it referring to a deed because ordinarily reverters are in deeds >> right >> but this is not an ownership reverter this is a zoning reverter which is a little bit unheard of >> where are we with the litigation should should we
>> well I think there's >> there's a complaint and I think there's a motion to dismiss and the city is attempting to rectify which what it sees is a problem with that number 19521
1972 ordinance through the chair. Um I think there are several components here. Let's let's try to break them down. the original intent back in 1972,
uh my friend, Mayor Heath Phillips, Jr. was a great mayor. Um that's when it was signed in in 1972. And obviously there was a problem in the neighborhood
and the problem in the neighborhood was being caused by the popularity of the of the youth center and its activities and the library and its activities. Those uses there
are under the Sz zoning which is special. special meaning, special for special use, etc. It's very very specific. But it seems to me that if you look at the restrictions that were placed with
tremendous thought and posting and publications to those neighbors at that time. is that specifically they looked at those areas not as paved
parking lots but park-like manner. That is what's in that resolution that was presented. Furthermore, because they were trying to protect that single family neighborhood adjacent to those
two uses, they said that the only access to those two areas for parking would be through University Drive, not through the side streets, which include Riviera. And there's a traffic light on Riviera
and University. So therefore, what they were doing is keeping it in a park-like manner. And if that necessity would ever dwindle, then it would revert back to the
original zoning. The only zoning that was changed from the original zoning, which was single family, was to special use to be able to park, not to make it into a park, but to park
on that area that was bark-like. So when it wasn't being used intensely, the neighbors in the area had a green buffer zone to university, to the youth center, and to the library.
There has been so much time that has gone back over 50 years that the library has been completely redone and the youth center was completely redone about 35 years ago. The youth center is the crown jewel of
the city of Coral Gables and the library is part of the quality of life that we have here in the city of Coral Gables. It is our only library, public library in the
city of Coral Gables which is used by residents, by University of Miami students and by students throughout the elderly and everyone else. The foresight that Mayor Phillips had
and that commission at that time was to make sure that there was a buffer and that the parking issue was not forgotten about. And in fact, 35 years ago when the youth center was redone, the amount
of parking on site was increased and it's still not enough. Listening to the speakers is an eyeopener. With all due respect to staff, I look at
what they have said, the statistics of the intensity of special events there. And by the way, I ran into Mr. Aabria on Saturday because as a 41-year member of
the Coral Gables Rotary Club, we gave out almost 600 more than 600 books free of charge to children that were there at that special event. And the special event was packed. and
the games, the intensity, the buffer, all of these things. I want to make sure that there's no doubt in my mind of what the intent was of the
original commission in 1972 with Mayor Phillips was to protect the single family homes from the impact of those uses. The second thing is the re reverter clause and I'm not as smart as a lawyer
but I will tell you that the intent was obvious. It becomes a normal reszone back to the zoning that it was which was single family, not commercial, not a swimming pool, none of those uses.
I also noticed that the speakers tonight did not say one word about the intensity of the differences of green spaces compared to active spaces. I designed an
award-winning park, nationally award-winning park. And that park is a 50 acre park with all sorts of sports, baseball fields, football fields, soccer
fields, tennis courts, beautiful. That is not a passive park. That is an active park. And the youth center is an active park. But the buffer is a passive
parklike area which is green. Mayor Phillips was very smart in that commission was very smart in making sure that happened. When you look at the reverber clause, in my opinion, it is clear it goes back to
what the rest of the neighborhood is. But after the additional popularity of those two institutions, the library and the park were redone again already within the 50-year period.
It is obvious that there's still a demand and a requirement and a need for that additional parking for those uses, not for the single family homes. Which is why which is why having a
hearing on whether the property should be reszoned to single family makes perfect sense because you don't reszone property without a without a quasi judicial hearing because people might
very well object to a single family zoning might not be appropriate for that property today. I totally disagree with that point for the simple reason this is in litigation and there's a very good chance that this reverter may get thrown out period. So that's just my personal
opinion. But I I'll let Felix finish before I question. >> I think that the I think the issue for you all is whether you feel that this the restrictions that are on this property currently are appropriate given
the circumstances. That's what you're being asked. Your recommendation could be very well be we need to keep things the way they are. Mr. caller. One thing and we've known each other for many years and one of the
things that I have done on quasi judicial boards on dozens of boards that I've sat on for this city over the years is that I listen to the people that are affected.
We just had this conversation with the assistant city attorney that was here earlier, >> which is exactly what you're charged to do. >> Exactly. And and the whole point is the difference of a passive area compared to a bark park because that's
what they're referred to normally and the ones that we have. I have no problem with the Chewy Park which is under the underline. Perfect location for it. Salvador Park. I know they have issues over there, but
to go into this area, take away the intent that was there to buffer this neighborhood is altering the neighborhood in a very negative fashion. >> Well, that is what your decision is to do. And and and the point the point I'm making is that listening to the
statistics, listening to the way that they were prepared, listening to the evidence that they provided as the people that are affected, this board cannot ignore that. I don't think >> Mr. Chairman, I I think we should all before you give your opinion about me,
let's hear the whole board. >> Don't don't don't >> Let me start this way and we'll work it. >> Don't speak on my behalf. >> You want to >> Mr. Chairman, >> go for >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. this gentleman in the green t-shirt that came up with all those numbers.
That's fantastic. And also, I want to tell you, I did have the privilege and the honor to run by a booth of the Rotary Club. And there he was, Elix Farardo, running it. I think he's been doing this for 41 years. Kudos
and congratulations. What a beautiful event. Very well attended for our children. and I parked in that overflow parking. And I want to tell you all that you tolerate that. If I was a neighbor of
that overflow parking, I'd be sitting where you are moaning and groaning about it. So I commend you for being tolerant for that. And it really is a bonafideed benevolent gesture that you do as
neighbors to allow that to occur. So thank you very much from that end, Mr. Chairman. >> Thank you. Any comments? >> My comment would be I appreciate all the statements I've heard from everyone on the board and everyone who came up here.
I've heard a lot about dog parks. From my standpoint, this is a straightforward zoning issue relating to only a change in zoning. I don't think we're sitting here today making a decision on whether or not to institute a dog park. Um, and as far as
Mr. Coller's statement on the reverter clause, I think that that would also make sense. So, um, I see this as a zoning issue only. I don't see this as a dog park issue today. I don't consider myself making a decision on the dog park today. Those would be my statements. >> I I appreciate all of you coming out
tonight um to give your op opinion and and I want to echo the the comments. Uh I'm surprised that that you prefer the parking to a park use. Um but that being said, I also agree with the comment that
that the matter before us is is the zoning change and not the specific end product. Um but but I think when I moved to the Gables, I shopped many homes and uh there are a lot of homes that have no
backyard whatsoever. Um, so it's probably a good idea to have some dog parks where they can run free while I I know we have dog friendly parks, but there the parks are required to be leashed. So this probably is an amenity
that's needed somewhere in the city. >> Mr. Look, I'm I'm a bit con concerned and confused because if the reverted clause
goes into effect, this becomes single family zoning and the city could have the option and I'm sure it will be challenged to sell those lots as single family lots. correct me the attorneys. And I'm going
use Mr. Parlo's phrase. I'm not an attorney. I'm not the smartest in attorney. I'll leave that to my son, but he's not here, so I have to defer to the attorneys. If that goes to single family, the city will will have the right to sell those lots and could come
in and build single family there. and you prefer that, you know, you would prefer to have I don't know how many lots, six lots of single family than than than a than a dog park or or the
overflow parking that I agree I may not agree totally with Mr. Abra, but I would have to agree with him today that I would be very upset to see that this is a a a resolution or whatever legal terminology that was done 54 years
ago and things changes. I I I I my office is immediately or 150 feet from the park the the duck park you're referring to >> Chewy Park. Let me tell you, at first I
was hesitant and and I had my doubts. It is very nice to see how those dogs that like you know, Miss Bravo mentioned don't have to be on a leech. There's no noise there and it's clean, you know,
and and I I walk because when I cross the street to go to Grazanos, I walk by it. I don't see the the the the the duck part being dirty or being, you know, more. Furthermore, the or the last point I I I think I'm going to make is I was
in Brooklyn a couple weeks ago visiting my son and I hadn't been to Prospect Park and I went to Prospect Park and I and I saw families that are all over the park, much bigger park. And I'm not going to compare the green space here to
to that. But I did saw family enjoy themselves with their dogs in that area that was newly created for to have the dogs running loose, not being leech and not walking them through
the park on a leech. I feel that this is something that could be beneficial. Yes. Does it have to be done correctly? No question about it. Would it be, and I don't know the depth of this property that we're in questioning here that
we're talking about, could it be a buffer between the residents, the residential houses to the to the south, I guess, and and the park? But I I do see this as a positive. I don't see it
as a negative. Um, and this is not, you know, this is a great location to put it because you do have an active park across the street that you cannot let your dog, you know, loose on that youth center. And and and by the way, I've
been a resident of Corables for not as long as you, Felix, but for 36 years. And I used to coach my kids and and and you know in the youth center and and those those those lots rarely rarely get
utilized you know for the overflow. Maybe the event that took place this past weekend. I will grant it. I wasn't there. I didn't see it. But for the most part on the weekends those lots are completely empty. So, I think the use of
the dog park here, I think it will be a good good for the for the whole community, for the whole city. And that's my opinion. Thank you, >> Mr. Roberts. >> I'm going to go in order on my notes. First of all, this is for the city attorney. One of the speakers spoke
about improper notice. Is that an issue that will affect this meeting? I don't believe it does because the the the item was revised to reduce the
parcels that were impacted by this. And when you measure the,000 ft and the um cleaning zone can confirm this, but when you measure the,000 ft from the the li
the parcel that's now been limited, it meets the 1000 ft radius. The other parcels do not are beyond the,000 ft radius for this for this parcel. So by limiting it, you've essentially if there was an
issue, it's been cured because they've reduced the the impact of the proposed ordinance >> through the chair. I I think that were you mentioning the November commission meeting which was not
>> one of the speakers said that there was improper notice for this meeting. for this meeting. >> For this meeting I could have sworn and I I heard >> first speaker or second speaker >> when the when the November meeting >> Well, there's two different notices that were mentioned, >> right? It was a >> in November,
>> right? >> You heard from people that they were not aware of what was going on. What was talked about tonight, which I was aware of, was the thousand foot radius was met with
the the parcel that this item has been reduced to, right? >> And that was what her comments were. the other people should have gotten the notice but the the the item was reduced in its scope so they
were not impacted for in the notice and and I just wanted to mention one last thing which is the example by Miss Bravo that you know uh people that don't have yards people that has single family homes have yards the problem is all these buildings that have been built
that they don't have yards really that's where the dog parks should go where they don't have yards and then that way they they could have access to bigger areas. You see it in urban areas whether it's Chicago, Boston, New York. But but the point is that
these areas their dogs are in their backyards than the owners choose to walk their dogs through their neighborhood which is very different. And the also the the other thing is the intensity
when you get you may have no dogs but you also may have 10 dogs and the barking etc. There was a dog park that existed on Anderson Road and it was made
into a dog park and then it was removed as a dog park because of the negative impact on the single family homes nearby. So, the park is there, but it's no longer a dog park. In fact, it has a sign that says no dogs.
Okay. Um, I think my colleague made a great comment. This is a zoning change versus the end product. But if we go to the playground, it could be any playground. It could be a dog park. It could be anything. So, we are talking about the
end product here. And I don't see an issue with trying to change it. But this is where my problem is. I still do believe that we should be deferring this and waiting for the litigation to be done because you don't know what's going to happen that litigation. What happens if they throw
out the re the the this reversion clause and we're right back here. You don't know what the judge is going to do. So my personal opinion is we should let that litigation play out. Nevertheless, I have a problem with
buying a house knowing that there's going to be parking there for special events and that then switching that to a 40,000 foot duck park. I would have if I was the owner of the house, I would have a major issue with that. Um, I do have a dog. I love
dogs. I take the people that know me. >> A cute dog. A very cute. >> And people that know me, I take my dog everywhere. restaurants, my office, it goes everywhere. But there was a couple residents here that mentioned if if this they put this in my backyard.
I don't want it in my backyard. And I don't know what has been done. I I read this in the news. I I see it in all the Gable's blogs. I see in the commission meeting. What's been done to address the members, the residents that will be directly affected to have this stock
park? I don't see it. I don't see the part the the traffic study. I don't see the parking study. I don't have any information to relay on it if telling me the gentleman in the green shirt is is correct. He may be totally wrong. He may be totally right. I don't see anything that Gables has
done to address that. Being a former police chief, obvious obviously if there is a dog park and people have to park in different areas, law enforcement can take action for that and stop it. But I think that this is too early. I think
that staff should go back and and and conduct more information. I am for a deferral. If not, I'm going to be a no on this item for the simple reason that I think
we should be doing studies. I think we should be doing I think the city should be working with other concerned residents and addressing their concerns because if I buy a house in Carl Gables which ain't cheap and they put a 40,000 foot dog park directly in my backyard my dog is going to be pissed and I'm going
to be pissed. Um for that reason and I don't know if I'm going to have support from the from anybody here. I move for this to be deferred until the city comes back with more information for us to consider, including parking studies, traffic
studies, and their attempts to work with the residents to try to come up with something that everybody's happy with. >> Thank you. I'll I'll keep it brief. I'm going to I heard all of you. I think I'm going to echo mostly Behar's comments. I
do think I myself have grew up in I was born and raised in Corables. I grew up in in the youth center. I I've rarely even when we ran for office twice at this point. I never saw that park I never saw that park be used as an overflow. I'm not saying that these events they're not, but I think they're
far few in between. Ultimately, I do think it's it's a beautifification of of the city. I I myself live next to a dog park. I was one of those residents that was against it. um always been against the dog park, but now I see myself using it. Um ultimately I I I and I'll keep it brief.
Like I said, I'm with the staff's recommendation of approval. So, >> Mr. Chairman, >> yes. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm with the neighbors in this case, and I'll tell you why. And I'm also with the youth center, and I'll tell you why. That's an
overflow parking that the neighbors have tolerated for a very long time. If we put a dog park there, we may be satisfying a few, but we are harming many. And I'll tell
you why. During this uh literacy art festival just this past weekend, which I attended, I have attended a few of those, there was hundreds of people. There was no place to park. and the good people that live across the
way at 520 allow the overflow to fill that lot completely where you could hardly even move a car out of there. So I don't see the point of even approving this from the sense
not just of the neighbor's sake but also the youth center sake and the events that take place there. If we have a dog park there, we're going to negate many other events that are beneficial to a city through the youth center. So
therefore, my vote is no on this item. >> Any more board discussion? >> Motion. >> Defer. >> I want to put up a motion to defer this item until my concerns are addressed. I
don't know. I want to get a second. >> I'll second the motion. Sorry. Motion to defer by um member Ignasio, second by Partardo. Uh Shane Mlaskin. >> Okay. Can before we before we go there, >> what what exactly the deferment is going
to do? Have staff come back with with what? >> Number one, all I see is the whole neighborhood is upset. Is there anything that staff can do to work with the neighborhood to come up with a better plan? Everybody's be happy. Number one. Number two, I want to
see a traffic study and parking study. I want to see if that guy's the green shirt. I'm sorry. I don't know your name. So, I apologize, >> Bill. >> If he's right because if I bought my house there knowing that there's going to be that that area is going to be used for parking, I accepted
that when I bought it. I didn't accept them to build a 40,000 square foot duck park or park or whatever thing and then now I have people parking all over my house and people parking in my front yard and messing up my my county swale and and causing all different types of damage. So I want to get more
information to see if Bill is correct. So I think that the the city should be doing much more work on this and that's what I'm asking for them to to prepare and come back to us with. And and the third item that you I'm sorry the third >> I was going to say the third item that
you mentioned as a lawyer is that it's in litigation right now >> and correct and my third item is we should wait for litigation be >> well with regard to litigation I think the city appre is looking to resolve this issue >> yeah I think it's >> prior to the litigation number one
number two I understand there's a certain urgency so if the of the item getting to the commission so if if you all feel that there should be a parking study and a traffic study. I think that
could be included in any in any motion either motion to approve or motion to deny. >> I'm denying it based on the fact that >> I'm for deferment because otherwise I want to say no. >> Yeah, but I think you're missing the point. It's not to have one done is to
have the results to be able to use it to be able to vote. >> Well, that's my point. >> It's not the other way around. I I see. Well, it can be a motion to deny based upon not having sufficient parking study, >> but >> I'm I s I'm sorry. >> I I just hesitate because every time I
hear, well, we're going to get a traffic engineer. >> No, I I want to make a decision based on the information that staff should have brought before us, not the other way around. >> Listen, right now we have a motion and a second to defer. >> To defer, I was about to say that. I was
about to say that, Robert. Call the RO. >> Call the RO. >> Jane McCclas. >> Uh, respectfully, I do not uh vote to defer. >> Felix Partardo, >> yes. >> Gonzalo Sanabria. >> I vote no because this should be turned
down right here and right now. >> Ignasio Alvarez, >> yes. >> Robert Behar, >> no. >> Alice Bravo, no. >> Alex Bello, >> no. No point. Any motion is in order.
>> Like to make a motion to deny the application as >> seconded. >> One second, please. >> It was second by Mr. Sanabria. >> Yes. >> Felix Partardo. >> Yes. >> Gonzalo Sanabria. >> Yes.
>> Ignasio Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Robert Behar. >> No. Alice Bravo, >> no. >> Jane Mclaskin, >> no. >> Alex Bello, >> no. >> I will make a motion.
>> Another mo motion would be in order. >> Everything is vote to approve with conditions. And the condition is to have a traffic study and a parking study done
prior to commission because it's not going to come back to us. Correct. It doesn't >> That's correct. Your your recommendation is that you're approving with the recommendation that there be a parking study and a traffic study. >> Yes.
>> Recommendation. You don't have to >> Well, >> but nothing that we do here is everything's a recommendation. >> I get that. But we're just >> that's the nature of this board. This board doesn't with exception I think something to do with preliminary plats which I just learned about
>> that you don't make decisions, you make recommendations. >> Look, I I I'll second Robert. Mr. Bhar, >> you could come to Robert. >> But we have a motion and a second. And I'm g add that the the uh
that the green area incorporates a buffer separating from the single family. Um that could be determined by parks department or whatever.
>> You still second? >> I still second. >> No. Ignasio Alvarez, >> yes. >> Robert Behar, >> yes. >> Alice Bravo, >> yes. >> Shane McClaskin, >> yes. >> Felix Partardo,
>> no. >> Alex Bello, >> yes. >> It passed. >> We We have one more item. I would recommend you might want to take a five minute break for the report. has been going. >> Can we not go? >> I'd rather go. I'd rather go. Okay.
Let's go. >> I'd rather go. It's 8:00. >> Okay. Item one, a resolution of the city commission of Carl Gables, Florida, granting an amendment to a previously approved conditional use resolution
number 2016-140 with all remaining conditions of approval to remain in effect pursuant to zoning code article 14 process section 14-203 conditional uses to allow private school use with educational instruction
from kindergarten through fifth grade with an existing daycare facility. facility with no increase in square footage or student capacity on the property legally described as the east 12.64 64 ft of lot 3, all of lot 7-4
and a and alley lying between block 35, Carl Gables section K 320 Halda Avenue, Carl Gables, Florida, including required conditions providing for appeal provision providing forability clause and providing for an effective date item
E1 public hearing. >> Thank you. Hello, my name is Maria Pluchino and I'm here representing Geralda Preschool of Coral Gables. Uh, can we have the PowerPoint please? The applicant PowerPoint. Okay, thank you.
So, today I will explain our request for the proposed kindergarten program and how it fits within our current operation. So, Giralda Preschool is requesting conditionalist approval to modify the
current childc care preschool use to a private school, initially offering kindergarten for fall this year with the potential to expand through fifth grade in the future. This addition doesn't increase the facilities approved
capacity of 174 students as it will serve only 10 students and will be accommodated within our existing art room. So we don't need any physical modification in our
facility. This is not an expansion of the facility but an expansion of the services we provide for our families. So our facility has an indoor pl playground that is allow because we are
in an urban area and um as I said before the kindergarten will be located in our room that has an area of 436 square feet. About parking, we have six
designated parking spaces uh only for drop off and pick up and also the garage building has 305 spaces available not only for the school but also for the restaurants and the retail.
This is our indoor plan. So um the kindergarten would be on the right in this on the right side. This is the side plan. As you can see there are the six reserve parking spaces
with direct access to a sidewalk leading to the school. Uhhuh. So, Geralda preschool is an Apple accredited school and it also holds the gold seal quality care program that uh that is offered through DCF that is the
department of children's and family. So, we have to maintain high standards and it includes low teacher to student ratios. Um, I'm not going to bother you with all the duration in each class, but I would
like you to know that we have 96 students in total with 16 teachers and three administrative staff. So um there is a significant gap between our current enrollment that is 96
students and a school approved capacity of 174 students. um traffic and arrival flow. We have uh we are open from 7:30 to 6:30 p.m. And we have two schedule in the preschool
from 7:30 to 2:30 p.m. is parttime and fulltime from 7:30 to 6:30 p.m. And most school arrivals are from 9:30 no sorry 8:30 to 900 a.m.
Okay. The proposed kindergarten program will be open from 7:30 to 3:30 p.m. Uh, and the kindergarten students have to arrive at 7:30 sharp. So as you can see
we have uh different schedules and we have more than 30 minutes between between one schedule and the other then it will minimize uh the congestion uh when dropping off or picking up the students.
So as a community center school in the her of Coral Gables, many of our families arrive by walking or biking or with a strollers. I can tell you like that like 70% of my families in the
preschool live around uh the uh thousand radio from the school. So, thank you very much for having me and if you have any question. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Chairman.
>> I favor this item. I think we should uh listen to all the comments. I think it's a basically an internal improvement within the boundaries of the school. It's no expansion. There's no zoning changes other than internal
modifications. >> Let's let's hear from staff and then we'll we'll have board discussion. >> All right. Good evening. Uh Mr. Chair, planning and zoning board. Greg Southern, planning official with the planning and zoning division. May we
please have the staff uh PowerPoint, please? Thank you. So, the item before you tonight, as uh Mrs. Pluchino had just indicated, is a request by the existing Hialda Preschool
of Coral Gables for an amendment to a previously approved conditional use from 2016 resolution 2016-140 for the subject property located at B20
Hiralda Avenue. So, if you take a look at the aerial map in front of you, even though it's a little blurred out, you will see that um the subject property is encapsulated from the north side, Heralda Avenue,
south side, Aragon Avenue, Leune on the west, and Salo on the east, just uh southwest of where we're currently located here in the central business district. Um, currently it is uh a preschool and daycare as Miss Plechino
just indicated. It's got 96 uh students that attend it. It's uh currently within the future land use map designation of commercial medium rise intensity and within the zoning district of mixed use 2.
So the request just to um refer back to the staff report briefly uh basically has submitted uh an application uh requesting an amendment to a previously approved conditional use
as previously mentioned resolution 2016-140 pursuant to zoning code article 14 section 14-203 to allow a private school use with an educational instruction from kindergarten through fifth grade with an
existing daycare facility with no increase in square footage or existing student capacity. As you can see, um there is a neighborhood participation meeting that was held by the applicant on April 23rd there at the preschool.
And then we've also held a development review committee, a DRC meeting April 24th. So the proposed amendment authorizes a private school use with an educational instruction from kindergarten through fifth grade with an existing g daycare
facility uh while maintaining all existing approved operational limits of the site. The property currently operates as a licensed early childhood education facility serving children from infancy through VBK
and the requested amendment would formally recognize the private school entitlement with the inist within the existing daycare framework subject to conditions of approval. The proposed private school use would initially consist of a kindergarten
program serving approximately 10 students located entirely within the existing 436 square foot art room. Uh Miss Puchino did bring up an interior floor plan. We're going to take a look at that again. But all that's really
changing of the existing um 9,087 ft tenant space is just this 436 square foot art room that's going to be converted into a kindergarten for 10 students. So there will be no expansion of any additional square footage to the
tenant space, no structural modifications. Um the request maintains the existing approved intensity of development um and will also continue as previously indicated to remain the cap of a maximum
of 174 students. Once again, there's only currently 96 students attending the daycare and the proposal is to add 10 students uh for this fall. Um that's when the proposal
is to open up for the kindergarten is this fall. Uh so that would be a total of 106 students. So operations in circulation um with the original conditional use was something that was brought up that was also brought up at the development
review committee. So, the facility currently utilizes six designated off- streetet spaces within the garage for student loading and unloading. And as a part of the conditions of approval from staff, which we'll get into later, um all vehicular drop off
and pickup activities must occur within the parking garage. Curbside or street drop off along the Hialda Avenue is strictly prohibited. Drop off and pickup times between the daycare and the kindergarten programs must be at least
staggered by 30 minutes and school staff will monitor and enforce operational procedures to minimize congestion and insert ensure safe circulation. So uh in respect to uh public notification to
all property owners within the thousand square ft, we've already sent out two mailers. one for the neighborhood participation meeting April 23rd and then also for this meeting this planning and zoning board meeting both times 583 notices were sent
out uh once again two times uh letters have been sent out two times uh property has been posted for the DRC and the planning and zoning board two times website posting for the DRC and planning and zoning board and for this meeting
there's been a newspaper advertisement So the findings of fact by staff uh pursuant to section 14-203.8 of the zoning code standards for review of conditional uses based on based on the analysis contained within the staff
report. Staff finds that the proposed conditional use amendment is consistent with everything that is required within that section 14 pursuant to the comprehensive plan. It is compatible with the surrounding mixeduse development patterns. It does not
increase intensity of use. It will not adversely impact the surrounding properties and it satisfies concurrency and circulation requirements. Staff also finds the request supports the continued provision of educational services within
the central business district while maintaining the existing approved operational framework. Additionally, as Miss Pleino indicated, 70% of the students currently live within a th00and foot radius. So, this is beneficial to
the neighborhood. So, the planning and zoning division based on the complete findings of fact contained within the staff report in front of you uh recommends uh approval with conditions. The conditions are detailed within the staff
report that everyone has, but I'll uh briefly summarize them for you. Uh maintaining the maximum enrollment cap of 174 students, limiting operational hours between 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
requiring all vehicular drop off and pickup activity to occur within the parking garage only. Rec requiring staggered scheduling and operational enforcement measures, requiring any future expansion beyond kindergarten to
undergo separate development review committee review and additional regulatory evaluation prior prior to implementation and that would include Miami Dade County uh Miami Dade County traffic and etc. So all other conditions
which were three conditions that were originally contained in resolution 2016140 shall remain in effect of the application. >> So if you have any questions for the applicant or staff we're >> I I have a question. >> Yes.
>> Does the applicant uh agree to those conditions? >> Yes, I do agree. >> Is there any public comment? >> No comment. Uh board discussion >> like to make a motion to approve. No comments. All good.
>> Motion to approve, please. >> You have a motion to approve? >> Yes, sir. >> I will second it. >> Okay. Jill. >> Ignasio Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Robert Behar? >> Yes. >> Alice Bravo? >> Yes. Shane Mclasson? >> Yes.
>> Felix Partardo? >> Yes. >> Gonzalo Sanabria? >> Yes. >> Alex Lucello? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Before we adjourn, I want to piggy back on something that Ignasio uh mentioned. Um
>> and and I again commend uh our former not with you guys. Yeah, you were there something else. >> Well, no, for him it's like off the record. Yeah, you got a great voice, but don't talk so much. But no, my point is
>> my point I want to make is that I I agree with you. Anybody, you know, whatever happened in the past is a past. Anybody running for office and the sitter court gave us that sits on this board should come off because this is a
quasi judicial board and I think that it doesn't look good for having, you know, candidates sitting here while they're running for office. And I I wanted to put that on the record before we go with that. Mr. Chair, I'm done. >> Any other comments,
>> Mr. Chair? >> Yes. >> Anybody whose term has overexpired >> since you are overexpired. You're 9 years. You're nine years now should should be
>> should not be on the board, Robert. So that's something that I will have to take up with >> some other people. >> Should be clarified. >> We don't need to be doing what happens in the commission. There's no reason to go back and forth. If you have an issue
with Robert, tell the the the city manager who just resigned, by the way. >> We'll do. >> Okay. He just resigned, by the way, for your vice versa. >> But I concur with him. >> Fine. >> Nobody running for commission should be on this board because it it doesn't look good. Gonzalo, >> we got two other people that do it right
here that have done it right here. >> Gonzalo, it doesn't matter. Just because Wait, >> Alex, just because somebody did it before doesn't mean it's right. I'm just telling you, Gon, does it look good for you? >> I hear you. >> There was a motion to adjourn. I heard. >> Not yet. Now, I'll make a motion to
>> just for the record, I I did resign when I ran for office. >> Yes. >> If there's a motion to adjourn. >> All in favor? I I >> Good evening. >> Have a good evening. Um there are multiple opportunities to
engage uh during the commission meeting whether it be by being present as many of you are here uh via the phone zoom uh there's opportunities to engage on a litany of different topics and we look forward to your guidance uh throughout the meeting. Uh, I also like to welcome
uh the chairwoman for the Miami Day County Public Schools, Marit Roas, who's here with us, who we're honored and blessed to have her representing the city beautiful. Uh, thank you for your leadership and your commitment. You go above and beyond and we're blessed to have you serving us. Thank you. And if you haven't had a chance uh to meet u
with the chairwoman, uh she meets here in the city on a daily basis uh with constituents and with parents. Uh please reach out to her. She's incredibly available and always interested in hearing your ideas and how we can continue to collaborate between the city
and the school board. Thank you for being here. I'd like to, like I said before, welcome everyone here. It's a good morning. It's a blessed morning here in the city beautiful. And to start us off this morning, we have our senior pastor, Bill White from Christ Journey Church. Good morning and welcome to the
city beautiful. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, Mr. Mr. Mayor, esteemed commissioners and community leaders, what a privilege to be with you today uh for just a 6-2 history moment if I
could celebrating our city together. 100 years ago, Mr. Merik was inviting us to be one of the first five churches in the city. Beautiful. He sold us our first plot of land for $1 and then gave us the
funds on which to build a temporary tabernacle structure right across the street from the cardboard college of M. Then after the devastating hurricane of 26 blew it down, he let us meet in the dining room of the Builtmore Hotel and
then in the country club of Coral Gables and then by the canal on the M campus. Then we purchased another piece of his property on Pon de Leon and built an office building to meet in a building that we would later sell the proceeds
for and then buy the place on Segoia and Riviera where we've met from 1949 until now. Now if you're wondering why am I telling you that I believe it's because I think Mr. Merrick really wanted us to succeed
in a time that was challenging. So from 78 members, we have now grown to over 5,000 and through the decades have been honored to serve the people of Coral Gables and our entire county.
We uh learn from the Bible Jeremiah 29 that God wants his people to seek the peace and the prosperity of the city to which he has carried us and then to pray for the to the Lord
for the city because when it prospers we will too. And I'm thinking who knows maybe that's why Mr. Merrick, a pastor's son himself wanted churches in his city so we could succeed together.
Whatever the case, we have been so pleased to be doing that for 10 decades now. And it is my honor and pleasure to invite God's blessing here today. Could we bow? Gracious Almighty God,
we pray your peace and prosperity for this city. We thank you for the mystery and privilege of life of sharing it with each other. We thank you for Coral Gables and that from the beginning our lives have been woven
together. We pray your blessing, your favor, your protection, your care for all of those who call Coral Gables home. all the children in our schools, the patients in our hospitals,
the businesses, all the businesses in every profession that serve that we might share community together in this place. We remember our first responders and those who whose call to serve places them in harm's way.
We pray for those serving here to build a brighter day for us all. and we pray for peace in our world that we might prosper together under your gracious hand. Bless us all that we
might all be a blessing to others. We ask in your name. Amen. >> Amen. Reverend, we would like to extend our best wishes to you and to your congregation. It is truly an honor, like you said, 10 decades. Looking forward to the next 10. It's an honor to have you
here and we will be celebrating your incredible, incredible church. I think it's on item A5 and looking forward to that. Thank you. Now, our personal point of privilege, uh, Commissioner Lada, uh, please take it away. >> Thank you, Mayor. Good morning. So,
today we have the, uh, rare privilege and honor to have an esteemed resident of the city of Coral Gables joining us here today, uh, Dr. Hal Sberman. and he will be leading us today in the pledge of allegiance. But before we ask Dr.
Silverman to come up and lead us in the pledge of allegiance, allow me just to give you a little bit of back a little bit of background on this extraordinary man. As we continue this tradition at our commission meetings, the pledge of allegiance. It is especially meaningful this morning to recognize a member of
what Tom Bro famously called the greatest generation. Americans whose courage, sacrifice, and sense of duty helped preserve freedom around the world and shaped the nation we know today. Today, we are deeply honored to welcome
Dr. Hal Silberman, a World War II veteran, long-term Coral Gables resident, and someone who is truly part of the fabric of our city. Remarkably, Dr. Sberman recently celebrated his 101st birthday. the very same age as the city of Coral
Gables itself. Both were born in 1925 and both continue to represent resilience, strength, and enduring spirit. Dr. Silverman, before we continue, would you mind coming to the podium so everyone can see you? We can
all celebrate you. You'll have to excuse me, but I have impaired hearing. So, would you like me to pledge allegiance? >> Not yet. I'm almost done celebrating all the things that you've done in a couple of seconds. We'll ask you to read it,
but I would I'll raise my voice because I really want you above all else to hear what I have to say. >> I hear you now. >> Very good. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Dr. Silverman served in the United States Army during World War II and was assigned to the Pacific theater where he
served in the Philippines and later occupied Japan following the war. During his service, he worked as a medical technician helping care for wounded soldiers returning from combat. He has said that serving his country
during that defining moment in history was one of the greatest honors in his life. As Memorial Day approaches, we are reminded of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the members of Dr. Silverman's generation, men and women who answer the call to defend freedom during one of the
most consequential moments in world history. Their courage and selflessness secured liberties that we continue to cherish today. Even at 101 years old, Dr. Silverman continues to lead a life of service and community involvement here in Coral Gables, inspiring all of
us with his patriotism, humility, and extraordinary life story. We found his story so compelling.