Planning Commission Unanimously Recommends North Miami Sign Campus Development Agreement with FIU
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Summary
The North Miami Planning Commission unanimously recommended the city approve a campus development agreement with Florida International University for its Biscayne campus master-plan update, finding no substantive changes to the agreement and confirming the plan does not propose opening 135th Street. The item moves to City Council on Jan. 27, 2026.
The North Miami Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of a campus development agreement (CDA) between the city and Florida International University for FIU’s Biscayne campus master-plan update.
Debbie Love, the city’s community planning and development director, told the commission FIU adopted an update to its campus master plan covering 2015–2035 and transmitted the draft CDA to the city on Aug. 18 "within the time frame that is required by Florida statute." Love said the CDA’s purpose is to ensure the campus master plan is consistent with North Miami’s comprehensive plan and to address impacts to public facilities, such as roads, water and sewer. She also noted the item is scheduled for a City Council public hearing on 01/27/26.
John Cal, associate vice president for facilities management at Florida International University, told the commission the university’s Board of Trustees approved the plan on 11/21/2024, which "triggered a 270 day period" and that the parties must have a signed agreement within 180 days of transmission, a deadline Cal identified as 02/12/2026. Cal said the draft CDA is substantively the same as the existing agreement and described the most significant forthcoming capital project as a marine robotics lab focused on Biscayne Bay.
Commissioners asked whether the update would reopen 135th Street through the campus, a neighborhood concern raised historically. Staff and the FIU representative confirmed the current master-plan update does not propose opening 135th Street. Commissioner Reed said opening that street would significantly increase neighborhood traffic; staff replied that the illustrative master plan and the packet show nothing proposing 135th Street access.
After discussion, the chair called for a motion. A motion and second were entered and the commission took a roll-call vote: Commissioners Each, McDermott, Pierre, Seifried, Besson and Chairman Ernst voted yes; the motion passed unanimously. The commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to City Council for its scheduled hearing on Jan. 27, 2026.
Why it matters: A campus development agreement sets the framework for how a large institutional campus grows within a municipality and establishes responsibilities for public facilities and impacts. With the commission’s recommendation, North Miami and FIU will have a clearer timetable to finalize technical conditions and address neighborhood concerns ahead of the council hearing.
What’s next: The CDA and master-plan update go before North Miami City Council on 01/27/26 for final consideration. Staff and the university will continue to provide materials and answer follow-up questions requested by commissioners.
