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Doral council clears text and zoning-code changes to allow curated fitness and indoor recreation in industrial zones
Summary
Council approved a comprehensive-plan text amendment and an amendment to industrial zoning rules that add definitions for fitness and indoor/outdoor recreation, establish a special-exception process, and impose supplemental regulations (e.g., parking, no amplified outdoor sound) for those uses.
The Doral City Council approved changes Dec. 10 to the city's future land-use text and to industrial zoning rules to allow certain recreation and fitness uses in industrial districts under a curated special-exception process.
Planning staff said the comprehensive-plan text amendment (Ordinance 2025-47) strikes a prohibition on amusement centers, entertainment, health/exercise and sports uses within the industrial future land-use category so that the city can instead evaluate such uses through a special-exception framework. "We are proposing to strike amusement centers, entertainment, health exercise, and sports facilities from that future land use category," staff said.
A related zoning amendment (Ordinance 2025-48) adds new definitions for fitness center, indoor recreational facility and outdoor recreational facility, revises the use/compatibility table, and creates Section 74-171 with supplemental regulations. Those rules include minimum off-street parking, restrictions on locating indoor/outdoor recreation adjacent to residential areas, and a prohibition on outdoor amplified sound. Staff said the change creates a process for administrative review and council consideration of special exceptions.
Council members moved and approved the ordinances on first reading. Supporters said the changes protect industrial areas while allowing certain curated uses — for example, indoor pickleball or paddle facilities — in appropriate locations subject to conditions and council review.
The amendments establish criteria and a public hearing process for future applicants who seek to operate indoor or outdoor recreation uses within the city's industrial zoning districts.
