Design board approves 1520 Stillwater Drive understory home with conditions to refine front façade

The Miami Beach Design Review Board approved a two‑story understory residence at 1520 Stillwater Drive and granted two design waivers, while asking the applicant to work with staff to refine the front façade and simplify certain roof and screening elements.

Planning staff recommended approval with conditions. Staff noted the lot is in the RS‑4 district; the applicant sought a 31‑foot height under rules applicable at the time of a prior pre‑application meeting (the district’s newer understory height limit is 28 feet but the project qualified to use the earlier standard). Staff said the design presented a contemporary house with substantial landscape and open space around a raised living level and recommended that one long side elevation be further recess‑modulated to meet the intent of the open‑space rule…