Owners seek voter approval to convert South Beach Marriott Stanton to 39 residential units

Owners of the South Beach Marriott Stanton asked the City of Miami Beach Land Use and Sustainability Committee to send a referendum to voters allowing the hotel to be demolished and rebuilt as a residential building while retaining the current height and floor-area ratio (FAR).

The proposal would not increase permitted height or FAR but would change how that development capacity is used: the applicant said the current hotel has about 224 units, and the proposed residential replacement would be about 39 units. Committee sponsor Commissioner Samuel moved a favorable recommendation; Commissioner Richardson seconded and the committee voted 2-1 to advance the matter to planning board and then to the full commission.

Why it matters: The change would remove hotel (transient) use from a portion of Ocean Drive in the South of Fifth (RPS‑4) district and allow an economically viable residential building to occupy the same FAR and height. Proponents said the change would reduce density and neighborhood spillover effects tied to hotel use, while opponents urged the city consider unit size and long‑term neighborhood diversity.

Planning and schedule: City planning staff told the committee the ordinance includes two elements: a Local Development Regulation (LDR) amendment and a comprehensive‑plan amendment to permit the conversion type. The administration said the item is noticed for the May 24 planning board hearing and could come to the commission for first reading on June 22 to meet election‑calendar deadlines for a November ballot question.

What supporters said: Commissioner Samuel framed the measure as a neighborhood‑driven opportunity: "This is a good news story. This is an opportunity to go to the residents in a referendum and say, would they like to take a certain swath of Ocean Drive and keep height the same, keep FAR the same, but take what is used as a hotel and turn it into residential." Attorney Neeson Kasdan, representing the owners, said the family owners "have decided that they think it is a better use of the property today if they, went residential." He added that the project would retain a two‑story contributing historic building on the site and that the architects chosen are Olson Kundig; the presentation cited an expected 39 residential units and noted the Ocean Beach historic overlay limits residential units on the parcel to 60.

Neighborhood response and concerns: Multiple speakers from the South of Fifth neighborhood addressed the committee. Matthew Goltanoff, speaking as a South of Fifth Neighborhood Association (SOFNA) resident, said many residents face housing pressures and suggested the commission consider unit sizes so housing serves year‑round residents rather than second homes. SOFNA is recorded in the packet as having "unanimously endorsed" the proposal. Commissioners and other public commenters raised questions about parking, unit sizes (one speaker said proposed units averaged nearly 4,000 square feet), and whether removing hotel rooms would affect the neighborhood character in other ways.

Short‑term rentals and covenants: Commissioner Minor asked how short‑term rentals would be handled; staff said the developer has proffered a covenant in the ordinance that would prohibit short‑term rentals on the converted property.

Outcome and next steps: The committee voted to advance the ordinance as a favorable recommendation to planning board and the full commission. If the commission approves a ballot question at first reading in a timely meeting, the measure could be placed on this year's election ballot; otherwise it would be considered for a later election. The planning board meeting and first‑reading dates cited at the committee were May 24 (planning board) and June 22 (first reading).