Hialeah board approves rezoning, variances to allow adult day care at 705 E. Eighth Ave.

Octavio Santurio, an architect representing Marbell LLC, asked the City of Hialeah Planning and Zoning Board on June 11 to change the property’s land-use designation and rezone 705 East Eighth Avenue so the site can operate as an adult day care. "We're here today to...represent my client and...to ask for this change in the land use plan," Santurio said.

The board approved both a small-scale land-use amendment and a companion rezoning and variance package, finding the requests compatible with the surrounding area and the existing built site. The actions move the matter to the City Council, which will hold a hearing June 24 where it may affirm, affirm with conditions, or override the board’s recommendation.

Why it matters: The property currently carries an RO (residential office) designation, which limits uses to professional services and offices. The applicant proposed changing the designation to allow a commercial use and rezoning to B-1 (highly restricted retail) so an adult day care can operate without altering the existing two-story structure.

Staff described the site history and the proposal’s technical details. A staff member identified the parcel’s subdivision and development history, said the existing two-story building contains about 3,545 square feet, and reported that the property currently operates as a medical facility under the name Los Amigos and “has active violations of records with the fire department.” The staff member recommended approval with conditions, including compliance with the site plan by Octavio Santurio dated 04/14/2025.

The rezoning package included three variances: a front setback of 6 feet where 20 feet is required, a street-side setback of 5.5 feet where 10 feet is required, and a reduction to 12 parking spaces where 13 are required. Board members and the applicant discussed fire-safety upgrades; Santurio said the plans include adding a fire-suppression sprinkler system. "We're fire sprinkling the whole building," he said when asked about outstanding fire-department items.

Discussion: Board members asked for clarification about the fire-department violations and whether the adult day care would require backup generators; staff and the applicant said the proposed use is day-only (not a living facility) and therefore a backup generator would not be required for this use, though generators would be required for nursing-home level care.

Formal action: The board moved and seconded the rezoning and variance approvals and recorded unanimous yes votes from the members present. The approval was given with the staff-recommended conditions; the file will go to the City Council for final action.

Next steps: The board’s recommendation and minutes will be forwarded to the City Council for its June 24 hearing. If the council adopts a resolution affirming the board, the applicant will coordinate with the building department to obtain required permits and must meet the conditions attached to the board’s recommendation.