Cutler Bay council adopts Coastal Ridge Preserve final master plan after debate over 'final' language and optional bat house

The Town of Cutler Bay adopted a resolution on Oct. 16 to approve the final master plan for the 8.5‑acre Coastal Ridge Preserve after a brief exchange over how definitive the 'final' plan should be.

Vice Mayor Callaghan had pulled item 5g from the consent agenda to request that the consultants present the final plan and to press for less tentative wording. She said residents are owed a concrete final design rather than a plan full of 'coulds' and 'mights' and suggested deferral if the plan remained vague about elements such as educational pavilions or a potential bat house.

Nick (identified in the record as Nick Perez/Peroz), the Stantec project manager, said the team had captured specific programming elements — parking, entry pavilion, educational pavilions, two habitat zones (pine rockland and hardwood hammock), a viewing platform and recreational components — and does not intend to remove those program elements from the plan. He said the physical design (paths, exact orientation) may evolve during detailed design. Town staff and Stantec explained the bat‑house idea was exploratory and would require monitoring to verify feasibility; if pursued, it would return to council for further approval.

Vice Mayor Callaghan ultimately moved to accept the final master plan and Councilman Ramirez seconded. The motion passed with an unanimous voice vote. Council and staff agreed the plan preserves core programming elements and that any material change — such as converting a pavilion to a bat house — would come back to the council for consideration.

The plan positions the preserve as an educational and recreational resource with interpretive signage and outdoor classrooms, and staff discussed options for student field trips and public outreach once parts of the site are safe for visitation.