Miami Lakes council advances Graham Companies rezoning plan after residents press for promised senior center

The Miami Lakes Town Council voted in favor on first reading of a future‑land‑use amendment and a rezoning that would allow a Graham Companies development called 'Lakeside' to move forward under an RM30 medium‑density residential designation. The ordinances passed after a lengthy public hearing in which dozens of residents urged the council to hold the developer to a prior promise to deliver a senior center and expressed worry about traffic and neighborhood impacts.

The proposal advanced at first readings (7A and 7B) would redesignate roughly 12.75 acres from industrial/office to minimum‑density residential and rezone a total of about 22 acres to RM30, enabling up to 30 units per acre as a code maximum. The applicant presented a concept plan for 541 apartments (about 24 units per acre on the whole site), a mix of three‑, four‑ and five‑story buildings, landscaping that the applicant said includes 817 trees (45% above code), and a list of on‑site amenities. The Graham Companies also proffered $1.56 million, an amount the presenter said matched an…