The City Commission sitting as the Local Planning Agency on Oct. 29 approved two ordinances to establish a new Flagler City Center District land‑use category and to redesignate roughly 104 acres to that category, paving the way for a large master‑planned redevelopment.

Applicant Alejandro Arias, who identified his business address as 701 Brickell Avenue, told commissioners the site is bounded by Northwest Seventh Street to the north, West Flagler Street to the south, Northwest 10th Avenue to the east and Northwest 14th Avenue to the west and described a plan that would include "thousands of new residential units, prime retail and dining destinations, healthcare and educational facilities, a hotel and conference center, and generous public green spaces." He said a traffic impact study has been submitted to city staff and will be reviewed by the Florida Department of Transportation and Miami‑Dade County staff before second reading.

Why it matters: The approvals create a land‑use framework the applicant says is intended to guide a large‑scale mixed‑use district with transit access and new housing. Arias linked the proposal to multiple goals in Sweetwater’s comprehensive plan, including economic development objectives and housing element objectives; he cited a housing element target of 1,048 dwelling units mentioned in the plan.

Legal and procedural questions raised at the meeting centered on a prior local ordinance and a state statute that governs relocation of mobile‑home residents. A commissioner asked whether the proposal was affected by ordinance 43‑90. The city attorney reviewed that ordinance and what the transcript names as "section 7 23.083 of the Florida statutes," explaining that ordinance 43‑90 had incorporated that statute and that the statute bars official action that would remove or relocate mobile‑home residents without determining suitable relocation options.

The city attorney said, based on recent litigation and the issuance of writs of possession in eviction cases, the site is no longer a functioning mobile‑home park and therefore the relocation statute and ordinance 43‑90 do not apply in the city attorney’s view. "It is no longer a functioning trailer park," the city attorney said, adding that some eviction orders remain on appeal but that no appellate stay has frozen the trial‑court orders. The attorney also noted that formal official action on the ordinances occurs at second reading and when the mayor signs the ordinance.

The local planning agency voted on each ordinance by roll call. Item 4, the text amendment establishing the Flagler City Center District, was moved by Commissioner Jose Madi and seconded by Commissioner Yano and carried on a roll‑call vote. Item 5, the future land‑use map amendment for the listed folio parcels, was then moved and seconded and also carried on a roll‑call vote.

Next steps: Both items will be transmitted for state review to the Florida Department of Commerce and will receive further agency review, including FDOT review of the traffic impact study, before the city holds second reading and the mayor’s signature can make any ordinance final. The local planning agency adjourned and the body scheduled a special commission meeting at 6:00 p.m.

(Quotations in this article are taken from the meeting transcript of the City of Sweetwater local planning agency meeting on Oct. 29, 2025.)