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Hialeah planning board approves parking variance to reactivate warehouses on NW 36th Avenue
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Board voted April 15 to approve a variance allowing 23 parking spaces where 53 are required for 5650–5660 NW 36th Ave to enable adaptive reuse of existing warehouses; approval is subject to a Declaration of Restrictions and several site‑improvement conditions.
The City of Hialeah Planning and Zoning Board on April 15 approved a variance to allow 23 parking spaces — instead of the 53 required under code — at 5650 and 5660 Northwest 36th Avenue to facilitate the adaptive reuse and modernization of two long‑standing warehouse buildings.
Staff presented the application and said the parcels total about 66,100 square feet (approximately 1.52 acres) and have been improved with warehouses since 1957. The applicant submitted a parking demand analysis prepared by TravTech and signed by Joaquin E. Vargas, PE (March 19, 2026); the city traffic consultant (Bowen Consulting Group) reviewed the study and concurred that the proposed parking would be sufficient for typical warehouse operations. Staff recommended approval with conditions that include a Declaration of Restrictions (DOR) limiting uses, demolition or legalization of existing unpermitted structures, site modifications reflecting the revised parking study and ADA improvements, and payment of landscaping mitigation fees at building‑permit issuance.
Applicant counsel Ben Fernandez and principal Joe Arrowwood told the board the plan subdivides the larger warehouses into multiple, smaller light‑industrial/warehouse units (at least five), restores striped parking where historically located and provides accessible parking and a dumpster enclosure. Fernandez said the perpendicular parking layout on NW 36th Avenue would organize an area that currently lacks formal striped spaces and that the proposed plan ‘‘represents an improvement over existing conditions where no functional parking is currently available.’’
Board members pressed on safety and frequency concerns about allowing vehicles to back out into the right of way. Chair Perez and other members noted NW 36th Avenue is an industrial street that primarily serves local warehouse traffic; staff said the design and conditions would improve circulation and reduce existing hazards. As a mitigation and enforceability measure, staff recommended and the board required a DOR that would restrict automotive, boat, motorcycle or other high‑demand vehicle uses unless additional review is granted.
Motion to approve the variance with the staff‑recommended conditions was made by Mister Iglesias and seconded by Mister Morales. The board voted to approve the variance; the approval is contingent on execution of the Declaration of Restrictions, adherence to the revised site plan and parking study, required ADA and circulation modifications, and landscaping mitigation fees. The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for review at its scheduled meeting on April 28, 2026.
The applicant and staff were directed to ensure the DOR and revised plans are clear about prohibited uses and the procedures for enforcement; the council will make the final decision on the resolution.
