Aviation Dept. says Westin airport hotel redesign, FAA review pushed schedule; completion window extends to 2029
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Summary
Miami‑Dade Aviation staff told the committee the Westin airport hotel is under redesign because of FAA height requirements, that developers have until 2029 under the agreement to complete construction after permitting, and that the county awaits an FAA determination following recent resubmissions.
County aviation staff told the Efficiency & Oversight Committee that the Westin airport hotel project is undergoing a redesign tied to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review of building height and navigational impacts, delaying previously publicized schedules.
Aviation Department brief: The department said the agreement's effective date is August 2023 and that the developer remains active in design work, surveying and utility coordination. "The Westin hotel is currently under redesign due to an FAA height requirement," the Aviation representative said. The department reported it resubmitted coordinate/height information to the FAA in mid‑August and is awaiting the agency’s determination; staff estimated FAA review commonly takes about four months but cautioned federal staffing issues could extend that timeline.
Contract timeline and expectations: Aviation staff told commissioners the agreement allows the developer up to 2029 to complete the building (generally counted from permit issuance) and said the department is working with the developer on parallel elements such as utility relocations and design revisions. The chair pressed whether FAA height requirements had changed since August 2023; Aviation said they had not and that the delay stems from FAA evaluation of navigational impacts.
Commissioner concerns and follow up: Commissioners said they were surprised that a project awarded in 2022 has not advanced materially and asked for clearer and earlier communication to elected officials when timelines slip. The chair said the committee would prefer to receive FAA responses and project updates directly from Aviation staff rather than learn about schedule problems through press coverage.
What remains unresolved: Aviation committed to notifying the chair and commissioners when the FAA responds; the committee did not change or rescind the contract on the record. The department’s estimate that FAA review may take four months implies a potential response in early 2026 given the resubmission dates provided, but Aviation warned that federal delays could push that timeline.