Miami Gardens council approves rezoning for planned townhome development near stadium

The City of Miami Gardens City Council voted 7-0 Oct. 8 to rezone roughly 26.98 gross acres at the northwest corner of Northwest 203rd Lane and 30th Court from agricultural and single-family residential to a planned development to allow a townhome community.

The rezoning, sponsored by the city manager and presented by Reginald White, the city’s planning and zoning director, would allow a planned development with a mix of townhome models, pedestrian walkways, a clubhouse, a pool and more than 50% open space. Planning staff described the project as homeownership townhomes, each generally planned as three-bedroom units with about 1,800–1,900 square feet and 2.5 baths.

The project proponent presented a conceptual site plan showing over 200 townhome units and said the site currently contains seven communication towers, which the applicant intends to consolidate onto one existing tower. A representative for the applicant said consolidating the equipment onto a single tower would not affect cellular service in the area.

Neighbors raised several concerns during the public comment period. Resident Yvonne Hampton asked whether traffic signals would be installed at nearby intersections and whether the new development would connect to sewer rather than rely on septic systems. The applicant’s representative and planning staff replied that Miami-Dade County determines traffic-signal warrants and that the development will connect to water and sewer infrastructure rather than septic.

Resident Kathy Peacock, who said she and her neighbors have lived near the site since 1985, asked whether cul-de-sac streets in adjacent neighborhoods would be opened to through traffic and said existing street flooding and bus-turning problems worry nearby residents. Francis Ragu asked whether the developer could include workforce housing; the developer said staff and the applicant have discussed options but that requiring units as workforce housing would reduce the taxable value of the project and therefore the city’s expected tax revenue.

Planning staff recommended approval after applying the city’s rezoning criteria in section 34-49F of the zoning code. The council called for continued review of traffic impacts during the site-plan process and heard assurances from the applicant that water and sewer infrastructure would be provided and that a homeowners association would manage the development.

The council approved the rezoning on a 7-0 roll call. Council members voting yes were Councilwoman Powell; Councilwoman Wilson; Councilwoman Julian; Vice Mayor Stevens; Councilwoman Baskin; Councilman Leon; and Mayor Harris.

Council members and staff noted the item remains at a conceptual stage; final site-plan review, infrastructure permitting and any county determinations about traffic signals will take place in subsequent permitting steps.