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Board approves parking variance for Imeka lumber-and-hardware redevelopment at 2315 W. Fourth Ave.
Summary
Planning & Zoning Board approved a parking variance allowing 10 on-site spaces where 18 are required for a proposed Imeka Lumber & Hardware store at 2315 West Fourth Avenue, finding a lower parking demand based on showroom/warehouse mix and a submitted parking study.
The Hialeah Planning & Zoning Board on Aug. 27 approved a parking variance to allow 10 parking spaces where 18 are required for a proposed 9,528-square-foot Imeka Lumber & Hardware store at 2315 West Fourth Avenue.
Staff and the applicant said the project is a one-story building with a 2,102-square-foot showroom and 7,426 square feet of storage. Under city code the showroom portion drives higher parking requirements than the warehouse portion. The applicant submitted a parking study showing observed demand at comparable Imeka locations and national parking data (ITE), concluding that the proposed supply — roughly one space per 1,000 square feet — should meet expected demand for the boutique, contractor-focused store.
Hadley Peterson (Kimley-Horn) and project representatives told the board that peak staffing would be four employees during busy hours and two during off-peak hours, leaving most spaces for customers. Peterson said most sales were expected to be online with contractors picking up materials at a pickup window, reducing foot-traffic to the showroom.
Staff noted the site is about 0.50 acres and historically contained a service station and used-car dealership; the previous building was demolished in March 2024. The applicant’s site plan provides a dumpster enclosure, landscaping buffers that exceed minimum pervious-area requirements, and an ADA-accessible space.
Based on the parking study, staffing plan, and project consistency with the City of Hialeah comprehensive plan policies promoting economic vitality, staff recommended approval of the requested parking variance. The board moved to approve the variance; the motion passed unanimously.
The applicant will proceed with final plan adjustments and must still complete permitting and concurrency review. The site redevelopment was presented as supporting local job creation and reuse of a vacant industrial parcel.
Votes at a glance: Planning & Zoning Board approved the requested parking variance to allow 10 spaces where 18 are required; motion carried on the record and will be forwarded to City Council or included in the decision package per normal procedures.
