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Board approves Meridian and Drexel phases of Lincoln Road master plan; adds conditions on trees, bike protection and bollards
Summary
The Historic Preservation Board approved phase‑2 elements of the Lincoln Road Master Plan — streetscape improvements for Meridian and Drexel avenues — and added conditions requiring mature canopy trees where possible, bike‑lane protection coordination with transportation, and review of bollard and electrical room details.
The Historic Preservation Board on May 9 voted to approve right‑of‑way improvements for Meridian Avenue and Drexel Avenue as part of the broader Lincoln Road Master Plan, directing staff and the applicant to refine several technical elements before final sign‑off.
Planning staff said the Meridian and Drexel designs generally follow the board's 2015 master plan but update paving, seating and tree placement and reintroduce a protected bike lane. "The most significant change to the previously approved portion of the master plan is new pavement treatment ... the design of the pavement has been modified to correspond and to complement the existing Lincoln Road pavement design that was introduced in the 1990s," staff said.
James Corner Field Operations, the project's landscape consultant, presented proposed sidewalk enlargements, new street trees and a mosaic of exposed shell aggregate pavers designed to harmonize with the existing Lincoln Road color palette. On Drexel Avenue the plan would pedestrianize the block between Lincoln Lane South and North, creating a new plaza with circular planters, stepped seating and electrical access for events.
Board members and neighbors asked detailed questions about bollards, delivery and loading, tree species and canopy, construction and maintenance responsibilities, drainage and the long‑term durability of paver installations. "If you put a bike lane ... you have to have it protected with the armadillos or whatever else you're gonna do. You do not have that in this plan," said a board member during questioning; the Miami Design Preservation League urged the applicant to extend the bike lane across Lincoln Road to avoid an unsafe gap.
After discussion the board approved staff's recommended order but added explicit conditions: (1) wherever possible new canopy trees should be used and planting stock should be of a significant caliper (the board requested a 6‑inch caliper target where feasible); (2) final plans should incorporate protections for the Meridian bike lane subject to review and approval by the city's Transportation Department; and (3) final bollard design and removable bollard details, and final electrical room ("Electrical Room Number 4") details behind the Drexel seating steps, shall be submitted and approved by staff.
Staff said pavers will be set on mortar over concrete slabs with grout joints and sealer, and that drainage, Silva cell root protection and irrigation systems will be included in final construction documents. The board also directed staff to pursue a broader study of rooftop‑addition regulations and preservation funding (separate board recommendation) at a later meeting.
The action advances construction of the Meridian and Drexel improvements to allow the city to begin coordination and phasing for implementation; staff said phase‑3 work on the main Lincoln Road corridor will come back to the board later.
