Planning Commission approves first‑reading of height increase for limited Biscayne Boulevard parcels
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Summary
The commission approved first readings of companion comprehensive‑plan and land‑development code amendments to raise allowable height from 110 to 210 feet for certain parcels south of 123rd Street and east of NE 18th Avenue; applicants presented a two‑tower design and commissioners praised the project's design while noting density is unchanged.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved first readings of PC17‑118 and PC17‑119, companion proposals to amend the comprehensive plan and the land‑development regulations to permit a maximum building height of 210 feet (up from 110 feet) for specified parcels in the Biscayne Boulevard Planned Corridor Development (PCD).
Debbie Love, director of community planning and development, said the change is limited to parcels south of 123rd Street and east of Northeast 18th Avenue within the PCD and that, if approved by council, the comp‑plan amendment must be transmitted to the state land planning agency for review (staff said a state response is expected in roughly 45 days and second readings will follow after that review). Love emphasized the LDR amendment would be scheduled for second reading only after the state completes its review of the comp‑plan amendment.
Carla Jones, counsel for the project (identified as Causeway Village, now called La Maison), introduced principal Laura Taubber and architect Jerome Sutra of architectonica, who presented renderings showing two towers connected at the base, retail activation along 123rd Street and parking set to the rear. Architect Jerome Sutra described flood‑elevation measures and pedestrian improvements; a developer representative (unnamed in the record) said raising the allowable height would "keep the buildings as narrow as possible" and would not increase residential density on the site.
Commissioners voiced support for the text amendments and praised the design, while noting that approval of the amendments would not be an approval of the final project design — the applicant must return with any modifications to its conditional use permit and detailed site plans. Both items passed on unanimous roll calls and will be transmitted as required for subsequent reviews and readings.