North Miami board approves Preschool at the Gardens despite neighbor concerns about parking

The North Miami Board of Adjustment voted unanimously to approve a special exception allowing Preschool at the Gardens to operate at 1125 Northeast 125th Street.

Staff planner Safi Bieniime told the board the applicant seeks a private educational use in the C-3 commercial district, and that the application met three of the zoning criteria and the staff analysis found the project compatible with nearby uses. "Staff does recommend approval," Safi Bieniime said during the staff presentation, while listing conditions including compliance with federal, state and local regulations and a cap on enrollment at 50 students pending the certificate-of-use and business tax receipt process.

The applicant said the program would serve infants through 5 years old and initially expects about 45 students with five teachers and one director. "The name of the school is Preschool at the Gardens," owner Michael Varela said. Applicant representative Dr. Lazar Rahman said site plans include seven classrooms, one nursery, and a dedicated 3,000-square-foot outdoor play area. "It's part of the curriculum for them to have [outdoor time]," Rahman said.

Several nearby residents spoke during public comment urging the board to clarify how drop-off and pickup would work and to address parking and tree cover. Neighbor Deborah Davies, who gave her address as 1165 Northeast 127th Street, said, "The devil is in the details" and asked whether children would be kept indoors and where parents would park. Staff and the applicant told the board drop-off would be on the north side of the building using 12 dedicated parking spaces on-site and a pedestrian walkway to the entrance; staff said 6 spaces would have been required but the applicant dedicated 12.

Board members pressed staff on traffic impacts and licensing. One board member asked whether a formal traffic study had been performed; Safi Bieniime said no formal traffic study was required for this preschool application and explained the program’s flexible hours (staff described operations as staggered drop-off and pick-up rather than a single peak). The chair and staff confirmed that licensing from the Florida Department of Children and Families and required certificates would be verified during the certificate-of-use process.

After the discussion, a board member moved to approve the special exception and the motion passed on a unanimous roll call.

The board's approval includes the conditions recited by staff (compliance with applicable regulations, required licenses during certificate-of-use processing, and a recommended student limit of no more than 50 unless and until the applicant submits revised plans demonstrating sufficient space).