Hialeah planning board approves rezoning for 4‑story mixed‑use building with ground‑floor daycare

The City of Hialeah Planning and Zoning Board voted Oct. 15 to recommend rezoning 4595 East 4th Avenue from an R‑1, one‑family district to an R‑3 multifamily district and to approve associated variances and conditions for a four‑story mixed‑use building that will include approximately 20 residential units and a ground‑floor daycare.

Staff told the board the property — roughly 13,627 square feet — previously received a land‑use amendment (Ordinance No. 2025‑050) that allowed medium‑density residential use. City staff recommended approval with conditions after the developer reduced the proposal from a six‑story to a four‑story design and submitted plans showing 38 parking spaces, internal parking garage levels and a separate daycare entrance. Staff also listed several required mitigation measures, including lighting and noise‑reduction elements on the south elevation and a traffic analysis to address circulation and pickup/drop‑off for the daycare.

Applicant Cesar Mestre said the developer reduced the building height to comply with council direction and that the ground floor would contain 5,546 square feet of commercial space to be used for offices and a daycare. He confirmed the daycare would have a separate rear entrance and a circular driveway intended for child pickup and drop‑off.

At the public hearing an attendee opposed the daycare inside a residential building, calling the proposed four‑story mixed‑use structure “a monstrosity” and expressing safety and neighborhood‑character concerns. The applicant and staff responded that the daycare use is permitted in the neighborhood business district overlay and that design and operational conditions would mitigate impacts.

After public comment, board member Enríquez moved to approve the rezoning and variances with conditions; the motion was seconded and the board approved the item. Staff will prepare a resolution for City Council, which will consider the board’s recommendation at a later meeting.

The approval includes requirements that incentive points be documented at the time of site plan, that landscaping and lighting and noise‑mitigation measures be submitted with site‑plan documents, and that a traffic analysis be provided; any recommended traffic improvements must be satisfied at construction. The developer must also enter into a declaration of restrictions binding the project to the plans approved through the city review process.

The council will receive the board’s recommendation at its Oct. 28, 2025 meeting.