MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A South Florida community is pleading with Miami-Dade County commissioners to deny a developer the upzoning he needs to now build a 216-bed senior assisted living facility on the end-of-the-block property he bought almost a decade ago.
The twice deferred vote was kneecapped again on Thursday by too many commissioners being absent from the zoning hearing.
The neighbors, who had packed the chamber, have been protesting the proposed facility at 8315 Southwest 122nd Street since learning about it, bringing up the 1986 covenant for a single family home, unless upzoned.
“We met with these neighbors, we addressed their concerns,” said developer representative Melissa Tapanes. “The issues before you are simply not in my backyard.”
The developers’ team makes a case that changes in county housing and transportation plans makes this spot adjacent to the busway ripe for denser living.
As the morning ticked on, commissioners departed and there was no quorum, leaving no choice but for no action.
The district representative backs her residents.
“This applicant is going to come back and continue to upzone this property,” said Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins.
One commissioner warned that upzoning and more may eventually be inevitable.
“It may not be an ALF next time, but probably still won’t be townhouses,” said Commission Chair Oliver Gilbert.