Planning board adopts new podium and parking‑screening rules, incentives for habitable liners and micro‑units

The Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board voted unanimously in favor of updates to Miami 21 and the zoning code on May 20 that create clearer podium and parking‑structure design standards, new definitions, screening requirements and incentives intended to reduce the visual and pedestrian impacts of above‑ground parking.

Urban design staff presented the package as a multi‑part set of amendments: (1) define a podium by a height cap (converting the prior “eight stories” approach to a measure in feet — up to 125 feet in the higher transects) to produce more consistent outcomes; (2) require high‑quality architectural screening where liners are not feasible and prohibit faux vegetation as a screening substitute; (3) permit controlled encroachments for screening (up to 5 feet on principal frontages, up to 3 feet on rear elevations) to allow more design flexibility for naturally…