A controversial rezoning of Miracle Mile and the Crafts Section of Coral Gables could be put on hold, even after it passed 4-1 on first reading, to get more input from residents and business owners who aren’t happy about amendments that would allow for height increases and remote parking.
Vice Mayor Vince Lago has put an item on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting that would direct the city manager to have another meeting with all the stakeholders of the Miracle Mile update before the commission considers a second reading of the zoning code rewrite. This comes after a virtual meeting Friday that was seen by more than 200 people.
In fact, at the start, there were 280 people watching online, but only 220 or so by the time the commissioners all finished speaking. That’s why Lago wants the next community meeting to be a Q&A between the stakeholders and city staff. No politicians.
Mayor Raul Valdes-Fauli had another item on the agenda to move forward with the rezoning of the Biltmore Way section of the downtown. But he has pulled the item so that it won’t be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting.
Read related: Coral Gables considers zoning changes Tuesday — minus Miracle Mile heights
That might not have as much opposition as the Miracle Mile reboot, which is apparently being driven by the mayor and Commissioner Pat Keon on behalf of Terra Development, which has accumulated a number of adjacent properties and wants to build a hotel.
Commissioners Mike Mena and Jorge Fors voted in favor on the first reading but indicated they would vote against it if it were not significantly changed when it comes back.
You just know this is going to be the No. 1 issue in the coming mayoral race.
In 2018, the commission awarded a contract to DZP Architects to do an update of the zoning code. But some changes are more than a simple “update” and residents feel they were not included in the process.
Lago’s item says that while “many public meetings have been held and the public has been afforded ample opportunities to comment on the Zoning Code update, the City Commission wishes to allow for an additional opportunity in the form of a widely-advertised Community Meeting to be held in mid-January.”
Read related: Coral Gables mayoral race in April shapes up as Pat Keon vs Vince Lago
Jackson “Rip” Holmes, a perennial commission candidate and city activist whose family owns property on the Mile, believes two community meetings are in order. One on the height restrictions and one on the remote parking, which is a way for developers to get out of building the required number of parking spots by using unused parking spaces elsewhere but nearby.
Lago says there has to be changes made to the Miracle Mile update, especially the use of FAR to increase height.
“There are significant implications to the future of our downtown,” he told Ladra Monday. “I will not support [the zoning code update] in its current form.”
The meeting starts at 9 a.m. and can be seen online here.
Miracle Mile reboot on hold as Vice Mayor Vince Lago seeks more input added by Ladra on
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