The Local Planning Agency of the City of Sunny Isles Beach voted to recommend that the City Commission move exterior color and material regulations from Chapter 150 of the city code into the land development regulations (Chapter 265), create a formal city color palette to be adopted by resolution, and allow up to 25% of an exterior wall surface to use black, dark brown or dark gray as accent colors.

The change is intended to treat exterior color and material standards as development standards reviewed during permitting and site-plan approval, provide clearer procedures for applicants seeking variances, and make updating the official palette faster by allowing adoption via commission resolution rather than ordinance. Planning staff told the agency that the city’s previous palette referenced Sherwin-Williams’ “Fundamentally Neutral” deck, which has been discontinued; staff worked with Sherwin-Williams to update the color numbering and produce a new palette document to accompany the ordinance.

Planning staff said the proposed ordinance would: move the existing color and material rules into a new article titled “architectural and design standards” in Chapter 265; define the city color palette and establish that the palette can be adopted and amended by City Commission resolution; and permit accent colors (black, dark brown, dark gray) on up to 25% of exterior wall surface to reflect current architectural trends. “It has to be colors harmonious and compatible with the color palette,” planning staff said. “We just use Sherwin Williams as a reference point. So in no way are we requiring that brand.”

Staff noted the attached palette in the meeting packet is designed to help with cross-brand color matching; it updates the discontinued deck’s numbers to Sherwin-Williams’ current system and adds conversion information to aid matching with other paint brands and materials. Planning staff said other paint brands may be used provided the color is “harmonious and compatible” with the city palette.

The agency discussed the palette briefly and reviewed that it is generally neutral and soft, with no neon or highly saturated colors. The planning staff confirmed commissioners will be able to request additions or removals when the palette is presented to the City Commission as a resolution at second reading if the ordinance advances.

There were no public comments on the item. A motion to recommend the ordinance to the City Commission was made, seconded and carried by voice vote; the planning staff recorded no individual roll-call votes during the meeting. If the ordinance proceeds from the City Commission’s first reading, staff said a companion resolution to formally adopt the updated city color palette will be presented at second reading.