Board approves canvas carport canopy at 1305 SW 60th Court despite visibility concerns

The City of West Miami Planning and Zoning Board approved a variance on Jan. 29 allowing a detached canvas awning carport at 1305 Southwest 60th Court to be located 2 feet 6 inches from the front property line, where 25 feet is normally required. The property is a corner lot; the applicant, Javier Matias, told the board he has lived at the property for 27 years and cited frequent damage to parked vehicles from falling black olive seeds and ongoing front-yard flooding as hardship reasons for moving cars inside the fenced yard.

Matias showed photos and explained he planned a covered area inside the fence and said he would later pave the area to make it usable. Planning staff expressed concerns about triangle-of-visibility rules at corners and said the board’s action would only approve the canopy, not any new driveway or street curb cut, which would require additional approvals. A board member observed that if the structure were constructed as a garage it would likely meet different setback standards and said she had no objection to the canopy itself.

The board voted in favor with a roll-call showing five yes votes; the approval included the canopy only and did not authorize curb cuts, an approach from the street, or permission to alter swale areas owned by the city. Members encouraged the applicant to consult the city engineer about drainage and approach permits.