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Hialeah planning board recommends denial of land‑use change for Westland Baptist Church parking proposal
Summary
After extensive public comment raising concerns about traffic, flooding and neighborhood character, the City of Hialeah Planning & Zoning Board voted to recommend denial of a proposed land‑use change that would allow a commercial surface parking lot at 1550 West 60th Street.
The City of Hialeah Planning & Zoning Board voted Nov. 19 to recommend denial of a requested land‑use amendment that would allow a commercial surface parking lot on a 1.08‑acre parcel at 1550 West 60th Street, property associated with Westland Baptist Church.
Staff described the site as privately owned land subject to a Florida Power & Light easement and advised the board the eastern portion of the parcel could be developed for a commercial surface parking use subject to subdivision and concurrency review. Applicant architect Manning Rios told the board the plan calls for a heavily landscaped lot with lighting, a six‑foot fence, stacking space to keep vehicles from queuing into the street and restrictions on vertical structures because of the FPL easement. “We were basically generating a buffer between the properties on the East Side and on the West Side with plenty of landscaping,” Rios said.
Neighbors urged rejection. “I live at 5830 West 14th Lane. I am a long time Hialeah resident, and my home will be negatively impacted by this proposed zoning change,” said Margarita Caravallo, who told the board she feared loss of green space, noise, illegal dumping and increased flooding. Another neighbor, Osmel Kusa, said 60th Street abuts Milam Elementary and warned the conversion would worsen congestion near the school.
Board members pressed the applicant on ownership and easement issues, drainage and security. The applicant said drainage would be addressed during the construction‑document phase, including percolation tests and county and city public‑works approvals; he also said voluntary covenants would be written into zoning agreements to limit vehicle types and on‑site maintenance activities.
After discussion, an initial motion to approve failed. The board then moved and seconded a motion to deny the land‑use amendment; the motion passed and the Chair said the application will go to the City Council with a recommendation of denial.
The applicant has the option to bring the rezoning and companion zoning applications back for reconsideration and has requested additional neighborhood meetings; the rezoning companion item was re‑opened and postponed to the Jan. 14, 2026 meeting so the items remain coordinated.
