Faced with unwavering opposition from residents, the Palmetto Bay Village Council voted unanimously Monday night to deny an application to develop the old Burger King headquarters on Old Cutler Drive into 485 units with 68,000 square feet of retail, including maybe a grocery store and pharmacy.
The owner’s promise to donate 22 acres of undevelopable land to the village did not sway residents or council members, some of whom felt the “gift” was an insult and slap in the face.
We’re not that stupid, they said in unison.
Speaker after speaker asked the council to deny the memorandum of agreement that would have paved the way for the Palmetto Bay Village Center project at 17777 Old Cutler Rd. Many were concerned with the traffic that the grocery store would bring and were surprised by the retail component, which they said was not in the proposal in September.
Read related: Controversial Palmetto Bay Village Center plan could get staff approval
It’s too big, incompatible with the neighborhood, too high. The city clerk read 18 messages against the project into the record.
Nobody spoke in favor.
The property’s future has been in flux for so long — more than 10 years and at one point it was going to be an adult living facility — that Gilbert Viera called it a “hot potato.” But, like most residents, he was concerned that the 2019 traffic study does not reflect the current conditions and that the move to allow administrative approval rather than the council would set a dangerous precedent in favor of developers.
“This is being driven by the administration. We did not elect them,” Viera said. “We elected you to represent us. This needs to be reevaluated.”
Andres de Cardenas, who lives right in front of the project site, said he has had no communication from the developers. “I am their direct neighbor and they have not contacted me one time. Not one time,” de Cardenas said.
Former Councilman John DuBois (2012-2020), who also lives about 400 feet from the property, reminded the council that the owner can’t develop the 22 acre buffer they were offering to the city without 75% approval from the 70 homeowners who live within a 500 foot radius.
“They scripted a story,” DuBois said. “The theme is to protect the 22 acres. There’s no truth to it. It’s simply another slick story. I would stake my life on the fact that there’s no developer no matter what, will get that.”
Before Ladra could remind him of what happened at Calusa, he went on.
“More than 25% of those people cannot be bought,” DuBois said.
Councilman Stephen Cody said the village was not interested in that land. “It’s just a maintenance nuisance for the city,” he told Ladra.
Palmetto Bay Council denies Village Center plan to build 485 homes, retail added by Ladra on
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