Good evening everybody and welcome to the uh July 17th meeting of the North Miami Board of Adjustment. Can we be >> June? I'm sorry. Uh of the uh uh can we
have a roll call, please? Board member Kennet each. >> Board member Ector Medina >> present. >> Board member Bernardet Pierre. >> Board member Marlene Monstein >> here. >> Board member Dana Mcllori Fenon
>> here. >> Chair Michael McDermade >> present. Board member Mark Bob. Board member Safi Vienn >> present. >> We have we have a quorum.
>> Okay. Uh can we have the pledge of allegiance, please? The flag is behind me. Kenny, you want to lead us >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. The uh Thanks. Um the next me um item on the agenda is the appointment of a vice chair. Um is there anyone who would like
to serve in that position? >> No, we have >> I I really I give the job to Dr. Medina because doing a lot of I want to turn down the Corvette and everything else. I I I'm going to be doing a lot of
traveling, so I don't know if I'm >> Yeah, I'll be honor. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> I would like to make a nomination. I would like to nominate Marian Monstein. >> Okay. So, we have two nominees. We have
Marlene and we have Hector. Okay. Um um I guess the best way to do that is roll call, right? Council, >> what do you think we should do? >> Well, it could be a private vote as opposed to a
public vote. Okay. The I guess the first question is do do both nominees accept nomination? I thought there was some question over here on the deis. >> Sure. >> Okay. So
>> yes. Okay. So um so we either you can decide we either have a public vote or a private vote. And so, um, >> can I second Bernardet's, um, motion for
Marley Monaceum? >> I don't think we need a >> Well, yeah, it >> No, >> no, no. >> I think we should have a public vote. >> Public vote. >> Mhm. >> Okay. Can you run? >> You want to run a public vote? >> Okay. Um, are we going to be voting
first for >> You know what, council? Why don't we have a um a private vote? We do. >> Why? Why? >> Why? Why should we? >> Yeah, let's just vote. >> It's a public. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we should do it publicly. >> Okay. So, just go through um each board
member's name and ask who they were voting for. >> Okay. Board member, can I each >> I vote for Dr. Medina. >> Board member Ector Medina. >> Vote for myself. Board member Bernard de Pierre.
>> I vote for Marlene Monestine. >> Board member Marlene Monestine. >> I'll vote for myself. >> Board member Dana Mcllori Fenolum. >> My vote is for Medina. >> Um, chair Michael Mcderme. >> Okay. What is the vote
>> for? Who are your voting? >> No, I mean how what? Because I'd like to abstain because I support both of them actually. >> Mike, you can't abstain. >> Well, there really is no abstaining at the local government appointed board level.
>> Okay. Um I I'll vote for Marlene. and board member Safi Bian. Um I vote for Marley Monstein. >> Okay, let's go for three. >> The motion to approve uh board member
Marley Monstee as by chair has passed with both of four to three. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Congratulations. Now you have to come.
>> Okay. Um can we have the announcement please? >> Yes sir. Uh this is a summary of quasi judicial procedures which are applicable to uh all of the items on tonight's agenda. These rules apply to applications on specific parcels of land like zoning map amendments, special
exceptions, variances, and conditional use requests. The board will sit like a court, hence the term quasi judicial, reviewing the facts presented at the hearing, applying the adopted rules as explained by staff in the staff report and verbally. Board members can make
site visits, but must disclose the evidence upon which they intend to rely from that visit. Board members will disclose at the beginning of each hearing whether they have had communications with individuals on behalf of the applicant or otherwise, including who the communication was with and what the topic of discussion was.
All persons intending to speak to the board will be sworn by the clerk. The staff will make a presentation and the board may ask questions. The applicant will make a presentation, including expert witnesses, if any, and the board may ask questions. When the public hearing is open, the public can make comments on the application limited to
three minutes each. Citizen testimony must be factbased, not opinion. The board may ask questions and the applicant's attorney, if any, may ask questions on cross-examination. Members of the public can decline to be cross-examined, and staff may present additional testimony to supplement or
rebut arguments made. The board then deliberates based on the evidence presented. The board's decision must be based on competent substantial evidence, meaning based on the record, staff presentations, expert presentations, and fact-based comments by citizens
according to the standards for approval set forth in the city code. The board may approve, deny, or continue the item. While staff previously read into the record, emailed or mailed comments, since these are not competent substantial evidence, for example, not
sworn testimony subject to cross-examination, the board's decision cannot be based on what is contained in the emails or mailed comments, but they can be used to identify issues and help identify sources of information that do contain covenant substantial evidence upon which a decision can be based.
Written comments submitted before the meeting are part of the record and available for review by the board. Lastly, we ask each of you to treat this proceeding with respect and proper decorum. No calling out, interrupting speakers, or disrupting the proceeding. Please give this proceeding the same
dignity and respect as if you were in court. Disruptions are prohibited and enforceable pursuant to the city code. Please also silence your cell phones. Thank you. >> Okay. Now, we have the oaths. Um, we ask anybody who's going to be
speaking at the podium to please stand so they can be sworn in. >> Excuse me, chairman. Uh, are you going to approve the >> Do you swear or affirm that the testimony and evidence you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
>> You might be seated. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, can we please have a a motion to approve the minutes of May 20th? >> I got a want to bring up something. I I called I was on vacation. I think I let you know I was on vacation. You got me
down here as absence. Am I not excused or am I? >> Yeah, you're excused. >> So, you're going to change that to being >> Yeah, just ask. >> I don't want to ruin my record, you know. >> Okay. Thank you. >> There's definitely some question as to what qualifies as an excuse for an
absence and I think that's something that at some point needs to be addressed. So just contacting staff or um being on vacation is not necessarily a >> Well, that's not >> No. >> Okay. Well, then I'm I'm absent. >> You are.
>> But if you go on vacation, aren't you and you call in, aren't you supposed to be excused? >> Or if you're in a hospital or >> I have not seen where that rule is written anywhere. >> I think they are. >> I don't think there's anything written on that.
>> Some someday there might be. Well, >> just so that chair. >> So, it's up to who? >> Pardon? >> It at this point it it's not it's not material. So, >> yes, let's let's mark him as excused. >> Huh? >> We're going to mark you as bad. Thank
you. >> Okay. >> I'd like to also be marked as excused. Thank you. >> Okay. Um and under new petitions um we have uh SE-10-25
special exception request to authorize a vocational school at the property located at 12975 West Dixie Highway specifically identified with folio number 0622306560. is a special exception use pursuant to
article 4, division 5, section 4-202 of chapter 29 of the city of North Miami code of ordinances, land development regulations, LDRs, to authorize the proposed vocational school use of the property located again at 12975 West
Dixie Highway within the C3 commercial district. said special exception is to be reviewed under the criteria set forth in article 3 division 5 section 3-504 of the LDRs. >> So we should do disclosures first.
>> Yeah. Any board disclosures? >> No. >> None. >> No. >> Thank you. >> Uh staff report. >> What's the question? Sorry about that. >> Staff report. Uh the staff report um
pertaining to divas is correct. However, for the second item, I do have an amendment uh staff report to the palmetto. >> All right. No, just give the first item staff report verbally. >> Oh, verbally. Yeah. >> Okay. Just briefly. Okay. All right. Uh
for the first item that we have here uh divas angel look um salon is a brief uh request pertaining to a special exception to authorize a vocational school um at the uh property given here
12975 West Dixie Highway. Um as you know Divas is an existing thriving uh commercial business in the city. Um the applicant simply just wants to add a specific use Here we have the property details. Uh the
business owner is Miss Marie uh Dorville. Uh reference folio number for the record uh 062230 006560. Uh current zoning district is C3
commercial district. Existing land use is commercial building and the future land use is business commercial. Uh here we have the location map for sub subject property which is located on west Dixie Highway. Uh the parcel is
located in green. Here we have the existing site conditions. As you can see existing uh business. Uh the image to the left is the rear of the property where you have existing parking asphalt parking. And
the image to the right is the front uh entrance of the business. Um as part of the public hearing process, um the property was properly um uh noticed uh 10 days plus prior to the public hearing. Um and we provided the
uh images of the sign as well as the adjacent property owners within 500 ft were probably notified as well. Here we have the special exception uh standards that staff had to review pertaining to the use to be added to the
existing business. Uh staff uh the applicant demonstrated compliance with all seven of these uh special exception standards. Staff recommends approval uh for this item. Um if the board determines an
action of an approval, there's two uh conditions that has to be met. Of course, condition number one is in reference to the CU and BTR. Um that has to be applied with the city uh CPND department. Um that has to be approved prior to commencement of the business.
And then if there's any um modifications, interior modifications to the building, uh the applicant must simply apply for a building permit. Those are the only two conditions we have. This concludes that presentation. um the
applicants here to uh elaborate um on their business. Um I'm here for any questions the board may have. Thank you. >> Okay, you want to come up? Please give us your name and address. >> My name is Mary Lucadoville. The address
is 12975 West Dixie Highway, Miami, Florida 33161. >> Okay. Do you want to tell us a little bit about the little bit about the um what you're going to be doing there? >> Yes. The project is I want to keep the
resident in the city of North Miami because of skill. I've been in this field for so long and I heard a lot of complaining about other beauty salon leaving the city and my concern is to help the city keep this salon open. So
that's why I upgraded to the vocational school. They could have more skill to keep their salon open and keep the resident give better service to the resident so they don't have to go to Fort Lada or anywhere else. They keep the city
moving. Okay, >> thank you. >> You welcome. >> Um, I'm going to open the public hearing now. Is there anyone who would like to come up and speak for or against the item? Going once. Going twice.
Yes. Okay. Come up. Your name and address, please. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Linda Celesteon. I'm a local realtor and I'm here to support the applicant. >> What's your address, please? >> The address is 12975 West DC Highway.
As a as a realtor and someone who believes in education and workforce development, I see a tremendous value in creating opportunities for people to learn a trade, obtain professional lensure, and build successful careers.
Cosmetology is an industry that allows many individuals to become entrepreneurs and small business owners. I also know the applicant to be a dedicated professional who is passionate about the work that she does and to serve the community. I believe this school would
be a positive addition to North Miami, creating educational opportunities and contributing to the local economy. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Anyone else? >> Great idea. Support it. Good evening, members of the board.
>> Name and address. >> My name is Frankie Lewis. I'm the husband of Marie Dorville. My address is 7400 Southwest 13th Street, Plantation, Florida, 33317. I'm here to support my wife because
since she since she's come she has come to the US, this is the only thing she has ever done as work. She never she has never done anything else but making beautiful people in North Miami more beautiful. And that's what she breathes.
That's what she lives for. Even when she's in bed, she's talking about doing air. So sometime it bothers me, but that's part of her life. And I'm here to support her all the way. And when she had that project to upgrade to like a
vocational um school, I was all in and I'm still in and I'm here to show support to her. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. >> You're okay. Anyone else? Going once, going twice. Okay. Um public comment
closed. Um board members, we'll start to my left down here. Questions or comments? Um, I guess I wanted to know how do you plan on attracting um students you know now social media is the best
way to attract people and the way I do here and people always referred me and they always ask me why don't you help others to have more skill and more knowledge That's why I have this and I say, "Okay,
this a great idea. I have to continue doing what I have to do to help my community moving forward. >> That's all. Thank you." >> No. No. Chief's. Okay.
>> Okay. Chief, >> nothing. >> No problem for me. >> Okay. Do I hear a motion to approve the item? How about this lady? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> I made a motion to approve the item. >> No, >> we don't we don't count on
>> I know you don't count. Okay, come on. Tell us. >> Um, I know I've been here for 25 years and I've passed in front of your beauty salon all the time in West Dixie. Just for the public, how long have you been in existence?
I >> was in high school, man. >> I remember. 22 years. >> Wow. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I I actually recall going to divas when I had long hair >> when I was in high school. So, yes.
>> Bring back memories. >> Okay. Um >> honest. >> Thank you. Just wanted to acknowledge how long you guys have been in uh the city. I admire the growth. Um I definitely visited not not this time. my
hair's just in a ponytail, but um in high school for sure. So, I'm glad to see that you guys are expanding and offering a workforce training opportunity to the residents of the community. So, congratulations on that. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> All right. Do I hear a motion to approve
the item? >> I made a motion. >> I'll second it. >> Second. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Board member Ector Marina. Yes. >> Board member Kennet each. >> Yes. >> Board member Marlene Monoststein.
>> Yes. >> Board member Dana Mcllori Fenelam. >> Yes. >> Board member Bernard Pierre. >> Yes. >> Board member Safib. >> Yes. >> Chair Michael Mcier. >> Yes.
>> The motion has passed unanimously. >> Congratulations. Okay, we're moving on. Um, we have two items that are companion items, correct, council? >> We'll deal with them separately. >> Well, you can deal with them together for hearing purposes and then vote
separately after that. >> Pardon? >> Do them together, but vote separately at the end. >> Okay. >> And I believe there's substitute staff report. Do you want to comment on the record? >> Yes. Okay. >> All right. So, I did uh make an
amendment uh to the uh staff report uh pertaining to the next item. >> That Let me read the item. >> Yes, sir. >> In the record. >> Yeah. Um, in item SE-2-26, a special exception request pursuant to
article 4, division 2, section 4-202, to authorize automobile sales and showroom display in the in the C-2BW zoning district, specifically identified with folio numbers 06 2229- 045-
0390 and 06-22 229 045-380 and 06229 0450360 and 0 62290450350
a special exception use pursuant to article 4 division 2 section 4-202 of the chapter 29 of the city of North Miami code of ordinances land development regulations LDRs to authorize automobile sales in showroom
display at the four vacant parcels located at the corner of Northeast 123rd Street and Northeast 15th Avenue and specifically identified with Folio numbers 06 2229450390 and 06229-45-3806-2229
0450360 and 06-2229 90450350 in the C-2BW commercial zoning district said special exception to be reviewed under the criteria set forth in article 3 division
5 section 3504 of the LDRs. Uh council I'm going to read the second one in as well. >> Yes sir. Um, and also the companion item is V-3-26, a variance to article 4, division 2, section 4-202
to permit the proposed retail, automobile, showroom, and sales use on properties containing less than the required minimum lot area of 1 acre on the four vacant parcels located at the corner of Northeast 123rd Street and Northeast 15th Avenue. and specifically
identify with folio numbers 062229-45-390 and 06-2229 0450380 and 062229-45-3060 and 06229-450350 with the C-2BW
commercial zoning district. A variance to article 4, division 2, section 402 of chapter 29 of the North Miami code of ordinances, land development regulations to permit the proposed retail, automobile, showroom, and sales use on properties containing less than a
required minimum lot area of 1 acre on the four vacant parcels located at the corner of Northeast 123rd Street and Northeast 15th Avenue and specifically identified with folio numbers 06-2229 9-045
and 0390 comma-06229- 04503 0380 062229 0450360 and 062229-450350 within the C-2BW
commercial zoning district said variance to be reviewed under the criteria set forth in article 3 division Six, section 3-606 of the LDRs. Uh, any disclosures? >> No. >> No.
>> Nobody. >> No. >> Okay. Staff report. All righty. Um, prior to me starting um uh city staff did make some amendments to the uh special exception uh review standards in the staff report as well as the variance
review uh standards as well. Um, I'll give a brief uh presentation as well. Um, won't take too long of the time. Uh, for the record, Daniel Losander, the zoning administrator on the behalf of the city uh, community planning and development department.
Uh, the the request before the board is for a special exception and variance approval request to authorize an automobile retail showroom on four contingious uh, parcels. Uh the par the parcels were read into the record already. So I'm not going to repeat
that. Uh here we have section 4-202 types of uses. Uh pretty much here I'm identifying that the uh proposed use is uh permitted as a special exception in
the C2BW uh commercial zoning district. Uh there is a footnote um where the applicant is making the variance request. So, as um displayed on the screen, I'll just read it for the record. Retail showroom automobile use requires a minimum lot
area of 1 acre. No more than 15% of the gross building area assigned to the retail automobile showroom business shall be devoted to minor vehicle service. Uh the applicant is applying for variance for the minimum lot area
requirement. Um, when it comes to the minor vehicle service, uh, this use component won't be pertaining to the showroom. Um, the vehicle service will be done offsite, but the applicant would elaborate on that, um, for his business.
Here we have the property details. Um, as of today, uh, the property is owned by an LLC, uh, 1535 Northeast 123rd Street. Uh, there's no pointed address. It's a vacant lot. Of course, the the applicant will have to go through the address assignment uh process folio
numbers or it's four folio numbers. Current zoning district C2BW commercial district. The property was reszoned back in 2024 uh per ordinance number 1520. It's also um the parcel of land also
resides in the North Miami Transit Station Overlay District. Ex existing land use is commercial and the future land use is commercial/off here we have the subject property this aerial review identifying the location
existing site conditions as you can see the property is currently vacant well maintained um there's existing uh black olive trees and existing uh pavement on near the rideway and the sidewalk as well um for this request uh for the site
plan. Um, as stated previously, this is for a special exception for the use as well as for a variance, but I did want to um also provide insight for the site plan portion. Um, the development itself will include a six-story commercial building, uh, a showroom display with
offices, 85 parking spaces, including a parking garage, internal storage only, so all of the storage components will be done inside. uh no outdoor uh storage component, ingress and egress access points along Northeast 15th Avenue and
along the rear uh portion as well, Northeast 124th Street. And of course uh landscape enhancements uh along the parameter, the entire property, the front, the side, and the rear. Here we have the existing floor plan just identifying the layout of the
showroom uh which is in the peach color. Um, in blue is the office space and yellow is the additional office space and open space area they may have. And the garage component is in the rear and parking is highlighted in gray.
Here we have some 3D exterior renderings for the development project u showing you different angles along northeast 123rd street. Here we have the special uh exception uh standards which staff um had to review
per our findings in the staff report and we provided our responses. I would uh elaborate on them if there's any questions the board may have. And here we have the uh variance review standards as well. Um the applicant did uh demonstrate compliance with four of the
variance uh review standards out of the six. staff recommends approval for the applicant's uh requests. Uh in addition uh to the project, uh there is uh conditions of approvals that has to be met if the board uh provides approvals
tonight. Um and I'll just read it for the record. A minimum 10 foot wide sidewalk will have to be required on Northeast 123rd Street as part of the improvements. Um if there's any brick pavers or stamped concrete or any other
imperous materials, um it shall not be uh installed within designated uh drainage swells. Um ensure all work adjacent to the public rightway complies with chapter 17 of the city of North Miami code. uh submittal of a completed
flood proofing certificate uh will have to be provided at time of permitting as well as the uh draft emergency operations plan at time of permitting and draft panel maintenance plan at time of permitting. Um
submit the required owner letter with the permit application formatted in in accordance with the flood proofing certificate. So these are just uh requirements uh by the flood uh plane reviewer um city staff myself from the
zoning and uh public works as well. Next steps. If the board determines an action of approval for the special exception and variance request approval, uh the applicant shall proceed to city council um because the project is over
the 20,000 um square foot threshold. So the item will have to advance to city council for um review and decision and um if uh approval is done at city council they'll move forward to building permit submitt. That concludes my
presentation. Um the applicant is here and they have a presentation as well just to go in depth pertaining to their business. >> Okay. Thank you. Um somebody like to make a presentation on behalf Before
we start, um Mr. Chair, I don't know if the other applicant for the previous item actually wanted to stay for the whole meeting. Um if they wanted to leave >> the previous um applicant. >> Yeah, we Yes, we told them congratulations.
>> Unless you want to show support. Thank you. >> Well, good evening. Good evening, Chairman McDermad, members of the board of adjustment, city staff, um deputy attorney, and to my fellow residents and business owners in North Miami. Uh my
name is Dr. May Flormon and I am the main presenter for this evening. I'm a resident of North Miami at 11:55 Northeast 126th Street, North Miami. and I am very honored to appear before you tonight on behalf of the applicant Pomero Alpha Romeo Fiiet and the
property owner um Mr. Carlos Ryos in connection with these petitions. So joining me as part of the presentation team are my co-presenter Dr. Lazero Remon who is participating actually virtually from his hospital room. He's
due for uh surgery. Um and our director of operations, Miss India Alvarez here and our property owner and business owner of Palmetro of Palmetro Alpha Romeo Fiat, Mr. Carlos Rios. We are we're actually the strategic
consultants providing Mr. Rios with the full service end-to-end support grounded in quality, professionalism, and results. As a small company, we are proud to bring over 50 years of combined experience in public administration, operational efficiency.
Thank you. And community engagement. So these values align closely with Mr. Ryus's vision and they shape the thoughtful community conscious approach reflected in this project. So I would like to thank Mr. Daniel Losendir and the rest of the staff of the community
planning and development department for their thoroughess of the staff report. Staff recommendation for approval of both petition speaks of the rigor of this application. So going over at a glance for this particular project, the petition facts are summarized for the board's
reference. So in front of you, we show you the folio numbers that were already um mentioned earlier. There are four contiguous parcels zoned as um C2BW with the north North Miami overlay district
for um transit oriented overlay district and it is uh owned by 1535 Northeast 123rd Street LLC. Let me just go over really quickly because those were already mentioned.
So, as far as the subject site in front of you, you can see the aerial view of this current vacant lot lot. As the board sees on the aerial view, the parcel sits at the northeast corner of Northeast 123rd and the northeast 15th
um Avenue, bounded by Northeast 124th Street to the north. The proposed development is a six-story building with approximately 94 feet to the top of the elevator and stair um enclosures. It contains showroom display, administrative offices, structured
parking, and concealed inventory storage all within a single building envelope. Nothing about this project asks the neighbors or the neighborhood to be dis disturbed or absorbed by any spillover. I know that Mr. Losender did mention
this earlier for the ingress and eress because this is very important as part of the deliberate design team. So customer egress with ingress will be from um northeast 15th Avenue. Egress and parking access are on northeast
124th street. The solid waste enclosure is internal to the building with curbside collection on Northeast 124th Street. Meaning there will be no sanitation trucks entering the structure and no maneuvering on residential frontage. These aren't accidents of the
site plan. These are conscious decisions to minimize impact on residential properties to the east. The neighborhood will not experience traffic, sanitation, or loading activity it would experience under conventional dealership.
As far as the operational design, this is the heart of why this project is different from any other um projects that the board have seen or likely will see in automobile um dealership. This is not your conventional suburban dealership. It's a boutique digital
first model and every design choice flows from the premise. So, first appointment-based traffic. What does this mean? Walk-ins are welcome. However, if the operation itself prioritizes scheduled appointments, it has a software that operationalizes
that. That yields a predictable low impact traffic pattern. It's not random Saturday afternoon walking in. its structured and scheduled appointments. Second, zero on-site heavy logistics. There are no carrier transporters that
will be offloading inventory at site. All heavy logistics are handled at the owner's existing facility on Northeast 151st Street in North Miami Beach. The neighborhood will not experience any of the heavy vehicle disruption typically
associated with this type of use. Third, it is fully internalized operations. Customer activity, parking, and vehicle inventory are all contained within the building envelope. Minor service component is just 2.18% of the gross
building area, which is way below the 15% ceiling or threshold. Fourth, it has a very lean on-site staff. On team alpha, there will be one general manager, one manager, and two salespeople at any e given time. It is
lean by design to show low impact. The point of this slide is simple. Every operational concern, the one acre minimum was historically designed to address outdoor inventory yards, transporter logistics, weekend congestion, this project addresses
through its design and not the lat size. As far as the site design, um the site design allows for the same logic. It has 85 total parking stalls, all on site, all internal. 25 of those will be
specifically for customers and staff across floors one, three, and four. 57 inventory stalls concealed on floors two, five, six, and the roof. from the street. The residents will not see a single inventory vehicle on the
landscape. This is particular very important. 24% of the onsite is landscaped open space. It exceeds the C2BW minimum of 20%. 100% will be Florida native species.
Sable palms are positioned along the eastern boundary specifically to provide a natural screen for adjacent residential properties. And just to address through waste pro solid waste dumpsters enclosures and paths the drivers will be coming in to wheel
dumpsters to the curb on collection days in order to prevent traffic and obstruction. How is this aligned to North Miami? So the North Miami 2045 comprehensive plan under objective 10.8 Eight, redevelopment and revitalization
encourages exactly this kind of investment. Smart growth, energy efficient development, the discouragement of urban sprawl. A six-story vertical building on a halfacre infill site is a textbook definition of smart growth redevelopment.
On policy 10.8.10, it goes even further. It promotes economic development and employment opportunities with preference for applica applications that foster local workforce development in entrepreneurial activity. This project delivers
employment in management, sales and automotive service preference with North Miami residents. These are stable professional positions, real career paths. And the applicant has committed to active civic partnership supporting local organizations participating in
citywide initiatives. An Alfa Romeo and Fiat dealership use you choosing Northeast 123rd Street is also a statement. That's North Miami's commercial corridor that is a destination for premier retail investment.
and before you just like what Mr. Losender said earlier as far as staff review uh city staff has reviewed both petitions and recommends approval for each one of them. Um I'm not going to rework this because that has already been and that's in front of you. Um I
would like to emphasize also on petition one for special exception that all seven standards under section 3-504 has been satisfied and there are all the seven of them here and I'll just read the header. So listed a special exception in the in the district. B adequate access
facilities. C adequate parking and loading. D landscaping and buffering. E logical extension of public services. F appropriate use will not detract. And on G there are no open code violations or unpaid fines for this particular
property. As far as petition two for variance um for this particular project on petition two there is this is where I would ask the board to focus which is on hardship under section 3-606
rest on three pillars. First and most important the legislative intent. On April 9, 2024 mayor and council unanimously adopted ordinance number 1520. The ordinance reszone the four um the four contiguous parcels from C3 to
C2BW expressly and I'm quoting from the ordinance to allow the applicant to develop the automobile retail showroom with minor vehicle service and inventory vehicle storage through special exception process.
So the planning commission found the reasonzoning consistent with the LDRs. The city adopted the supermajority and the variance the board is asking to grant tonight is necessary corlary to the leg legislative action. The second is the hardship component that is
inherent to the on on this site. The parcel dimensions are a function of the historical platting of this area. They predate the applicant's interest in the property. The hardship is not self-created. And the third one, there's no special
privilege. As I described on the operational design slide, the boutique model directly addresses every operational concern on one acre standard that was designed to mitigate. Granting the variance does not bend the spirit of the code. It honors the site unique
constraints while permitting the use um the use the council expressly authorized. And in summary, as far as public notification, um, this has been mailed to property owners within 500 feet and posted on site. We have not received any
negative comments or correspondence from residents of North Miami. And there are no open code violations or unpaid fines on the property. And to summarize also with justification and alignment to the comp to the comprehensive plan, it is in
alignment with objective 10.8. 8 which is the smart growth and policy 10.8.10 which promotes economic development. Mr. Chair, members of the board, thank you. First, please accept my apology for not standing before you in person this
evening. I'm currently in the hospital and there is nowhere I would rather be tonight than in that chamber with you. I want you to understand what it means that I'm sending these words anyway.
I know the commitment Carlos Rios has to North Miami. I know the person he is and I know the benefit this project will bring to this city. For a matter like this, for a man like
this, I would not miss it. So, I'm here in the only way I can be. Let me also be clear about my capacity here because the board should know exactly who is addressing it. I am not an attorney. I do not represent
the applicant as legal counsel and nothing I say tonight should be taken as the practice of law. I am the applicant's representative and consultant, the person who helped him walk every step of the city's process the way it's written to be walked
through the pre-application conference, through staff review, through the DRC comments, through the landscape revisions, and now before you. My role is simply to follow the
established laws of North Miami and help a good project meet them. And I'll tell you honestly, Carlos Rios is an easy man to stand up for because he does things the legal way
and the correct way every single time. So, let me tell you who he is. Carlos Rios is not a developer who flew in to chase a permit and will be gone before the paint dries.
Carlos is North Miami. He is a lifelong resident of this city. He lives in Sans Susi. He sleeps here. He eats here. He raises his family here. And he plays
here. When this dealership opens its doors, the man behind it will drive home that night to a North Miami address. The same streets, the same neighbors, the same city the rest of you serve. He also owns property throughout this
city. He has put his own money and his own name into North Miami's ground over and over because he believes in it. This is not a tenant testing the market. This is an owner with roots
and he brings something this board rarely gets to consider together with that kind of local commitment. More than 40 years of experience running automobile dealerships here in South Florida and across the country.
40 years of knowing how to run a clean, quiet, well-managed operation. That experience is the reason the model in front of you is what it is. Appointment-based, digital first, fully internalized within
the building with all heavy logistics handled offsite at his own facility on Northeast 151st Street. A man who has done this for four decades knows how to keep a dealership from becoming a nuisance to its neighbors. And he
designed this one that way on purpose. Think about what the city actually gets here. A resident business owner. Someone who knows this community because he lives in it. Someone who will be accountable to you, not as a stranger,
but as a neighbor. The jobs stay local. The tax base grows and the person responsible answers to the same city hall the rest of us do. That is exactly the kind of investment and exactly the kind of investor North
Miami says it wants. Now, the two requests in front of you, the special exception use is a listed use in the C2BW district and city staff recommends approval. The variance is from the 1 acre minimum
in section 4-202. And remember how this site became C-2BW in the first place. In April of 2024, this city's own mayor and council voted five to nothing to reszone these four parcels specifically so this showroom
could be built through this process. To deny the lot size variance now would be to block the very project the city unanimously authorized. Staff recommends approval of that petition as well. And the property carries no open code violations and no
unpaid fines. So everything lines up. The law supports it. Staff supports it. The legislative history demands it. And the man behind it is exactly who you'd want carrying it forward. I'm sorry I can't ask you in person, but
I ask you all the same. Please accept both petitions, the special exception and the variance, and approve this application tonight. Thank you. And with that we conclude our presentation. Thank you very much
and we open for any questions. >> No, I'm I'm okay. >> Well, just in case you do, why why don't we have him introduce himself for the record? Uh my name is Carlos Rios and my uh address is 1937 Northeast 119th Road in North Miami in St. Susi. I've been
resident for 25 years. Actually, I just uh acquired a property for my son. So, I'm bringing my son from down south to North Miami also. So, I just did that last two weeks. So, we're bringing just trying to get my whole crew back up here. You know what I mean? So, uh very
proud of the city. Love the city. Uh love the people. Uh, like I said, uh, I'm always getting involved with everything to do with the city because I really like the city. I love the city. I didn't I wasn't born on this side of the city, but been here 25 years and I love it. I'm not going nowhere and I want to
stay here and then support the city and, you know, support the residents too also. >> Yeah. council. >> So, um, so just so we have a clean record, and maybe this is for one of the other representatives, I I would appreciate if somebody would verify the
facts that were stated in the video since the video was not sworn testimony. Anyone of you do that? Yeah. Are you following? >> I'm sorry. >> Can you repeat that? I'm sorry. >> Sure. That was a pre >> filmed video,
>> right? The gentleman speaking was not sworn. >> Actually, he is online with us. He's on call. >> Okay. Yes. So, but he um so if he could >> of course >> there he is. >> We can't hear you.
>> Does he have a microphone? >> Are you? >> Um I'm sorry. Council Dr. Lazro alone 1155 Northeast 125th Street 126th Street. Uh I'm uh I I can attest to
everything uh factual that was there. It's uh directly from the staff report and the information provided in the LDRs. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> It's always good to have a clean record. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> Absolutely.
>> Council, you done? Okay. Okay. Okay, we're going to uh open up public hearing. Anyone wishing to come to comment on this project for or against, please come up. Going once, going twice.
Okay. Okay. Um we now move into board discussion and we're going to begin with a very important and valued member here down below, Bernardet. We don't want
You you tried to make up for your past mistake. >> What >> past mistake? Um I actually have no comment because based on what I've heard, the council a
approved this back in 2024. Why is it back though? >> Say it again. Why am I back? >> Yeah. So, >> I'm sorry. >> My understanding is that the council
action was an amendment to the land development regulations to permit its use in the zoning district, >> right? Not a sightspecific decision >> as how whether to apply that standard to this particular property. Right? The
interesting question is why there's a 1acre minimum requirement in this zoning district. And I don't have the historical background, but I'm assuming at this point in the absence of more information that it preceded the
presentation or introduction of vertical uh automobile showrooms u because this project makes a lot of sense and I was just discussing with the deputy city attorney that maybe this is something for us to look at when we do our LDR
update to modify that requirement. Okay. >> Yes. Just a note for the record, staff is looking into that. Um when I did my research, you know, regarding the property, the project itself, um I had the same question, you know, why is it the one acre minimum, but definitely
we'll look into uh amending and updating our LDRs. >> Yeah. Okay. Is that it, Brandon? >> Yeah. Staff has approved it, right? >> Yes, we recommend approval. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Okay, Marlene. >> Okay. Okay. So, we'll start down at this
end on this end. Commissioner each, >> I think it's a great addition to 123rd Street. You did a lot of work over there. The building looks sharp. I think it's going to be a a fantastic place. I I I know the quality of I know when you
took that property over, you got rid of the pine trees and you you really cleaned it up. You did a nice job and I'm excited to see that building going up. Thank you. >> Thank you, Safi. >> Yes. I just have one question for the applicant andor staff. I know when this
came for DRC there was some um issues with landscaping um >> stuff is your mic on >> Yes. Sorry. >> No, I know there was some issues with landscaping um adjacent to the existing two-story residential um multif family
building. So, I just wanted to make sure that was addressed and um looked at by our arborist and you know those comments were >> Yes, those comments were uh demonstrated compliance with the um city's uh uh landscape arborist and sustainability uh
sustainability division as well. So, we did um provide approval. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> It's a beautiful building. I'm really happy about this project. I do have a couple of questions because I always
have questions. Um first, um how long will the construction take? >> That's a good question. >> It should take no more than 18 months. >> No more than 18 months. >> Okay. And um will there be I guess any
hindrances or impediments in in terms of the traffic and you know is it going to impede upon traffic throughout that 18month process? >> No, not at all. Not at all. >> You know, we're trying to shoot for 15 months. Uh we should we should do it in
15 months, but you know, I think the longest will be 18 months, which I don't think it'll get there. But we should have we're not going to have any problems. >> Okay. >> And then I did have one other question.
It's more for more so for staff. Um when when this came aboard um when you started to speak, I started to think about the flooding and I was thinking about um we have another beautiful
building um the Porsche on um you know complex and so and when I looked at this I said this is gorgeous, right? Um, so but that building came up and the flooding it didn't help the situation of
the flooding on 151st Street. So I'm just wondering and I heard you saying flooding certificates. I heard a lot of flooding kind of verbiage in your report. So can you explain the flood
proofing process and how this building is not going to cause more flooding? >> All right. So the conditions that was uh presented um in the presentation as noted in the presentation as well as um noted in the staff report those
conditions came from uh the flood plane reviewer. So we have a outside consultant uh that provided his review uh during the technical review process with DRC. Um those comments are conditional as part of the project. So it's going to carry over um when the
applicant is ready to submit at time of building permit. Um the applicant is is highly aware of any you know drainage uh improvements to the site as well as the current flooding the flood zone for the property. So, it's going to be elevated at a level where it's going to
accommodate for any future flooding that will be um on the property. So, um any improvements for drainage that will be uh taken care of on the property. >> Let's see if I have any other additional questions. I think that's all.
Yeah, that's all I have. Thank you. And um I'm looking forward to making a motion. >> Okay, Mr. Medina, >> beautiful project. Thanks >> um Carlos. I think that Alfa Romeo has been a wonderful community partner
and a lot of circumstances and and certainly has been very involved in a lot of city events. Uh we appreciate your participation um and being the great partner you are with the city. So um I certainly would support this of course.
>> Thank you. Appreciate. Um so now we're going to vote individual items. Correct, council? >> Right. Um it seems like the variance should be considered first. >> Okay. All right. And the variance um
>> V326. >> It's item V-3-26 27. Okay. All right. um in SE- SE-2-26-27.
Do we have a motion to wait? >> No, we're doing the special exception. So, the variance is V-3-26. >> 26. >> We should do that one first. >> Okay. Um, so in item uh SE-2-26, do I hear a motion to
>> approve >> variance? Varian, >> we're doing V-3-26. Yeah. >> The second item first. >> Yep. >> I make a motion to approve the item. >> Okay. >> All in favor? >> I >> I.
>> Roll call. >> Board member Ector Medina. >> Yes. >> Board member Kenned. >> Yes. >> Board member Marlene Monstein. >> Yes. >> Board member Dana Mcllori Fenolan. >> Yes.
>> Board member Bernard Pierre. Yes. >> Board member Safi Bianame. >> Yes. >> Chair Michael McLar. >> Yes. >> The PO the motion has passed unanim unanimously. >> Okay. >> All right. And I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Yeah. Yeah. In SE-2-26. >> I'll make a motion. >> Uh a motion to approve. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> Okay. Roll call. Board member Ector Medina.
>> Yes. >> Board member Kenna each. >> Yes. >> Board member Marley Monstein. >> Yes. >> Board member Donna Mcllori Fanolon. >> Yes. >> Board member Bernad Pierre. >> Yes. >> Board member Safi Bianame. >> Yes. >> Chair Michael Mcderme.
>> Yes. >> The motion has passed unanimously. >> Okay. Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thanks for >> Okay. >> So, just to clarify, the the approvals would be with standard conditions. I I don't necessarily see them spelled out
the staff reports, but the standard conditions would apply. >> Okay. >> Um, you know, there was one thing. We never actually approved the minutes. >> Yeah. >> Yes, we did. >> No, we didn't. I think >> I think chief made an amendment to it,
but I don't think we formally approved formally approved. >> Okay. So, do we want to um approve the minutes of May 20th 26? >> So, moved. >> Second. >> All right. Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> One question. >> How much is uh how many members have to
be here to have quarum? >> I >> So, do alternate seat when we meet quarum? So the rubber rules of orders are kind of clear about this. When we have quorum do alternate seat on the board.
>> When can an alternate seat >> do they sit when we have quorum? Do they alternate? >> Do they sit >> seat in the hearing? >> Seven members. So you can >> No, that's not the question. >> More than seven. So um seven members the
alternates can sit as long as you don't exceed seven members. >> So they can but not it's not necessary. Once we reach quorum >> you need quorum to do business but should have seven to u sit as a complete
board. Yeah, >> there is language in the code that uh >> Well, it's not the code. It's the Robert rules of orders. >> Code supersedes Robert. >> I don't think so. >> Not even lawyer. >> Anytime you want, but not right now. >> Okay.
>> Staff, do we have any old business? >> No old business. >> Okay. And uh no new business. Correct. >> Okay. So, do I hear a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> Motion. Okay,
>> I'll second. >> All right. All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> 7:36. Need to go.