Council expands mural pilot to Midtown corridor and updates approval process

Summary

Council amended and approved an updated mural ordinance to create a Midtown mural pilot corridor along Campbell Drive, allowing larger facade murals in designated commercial areas for a pilot period (permits valid two years with possible two‑year extension); staff will process individual mural permit applications for council review.

Council approved a revision to the city’s mural approval process on Dec. 17 and added a Midtown mural pilot corridor that covers portions of Campbell Drive between the Homestead Extension of the Florida Turnpike and portions near SW 142nd Avenue. The change allows expanded mural placement in specified commercial corridors intended to promote public art and corridor revitalization.

Councilmembers debated whether the amendment should allow murals on front facades (including glazed areas) and how to protect visibility and safety (for example, limiting coverage of windows). Staff explained the new code creates a mural permit application and intake criteria so proposals will come back to council for review and approval; the permit term is two years with a possible two‑year extension. "If we're not happy with the mural, we would be able to authorize them to remove it after the expiration," a staff member said.

The council adopted the amendment as a pilot and approved a $250 permit fee for mural applications. The amendment aims to test curated public art in corridors that are not served by the downtown side‑street mural program.