Council approves rezoning to allow RV and boat storage on church-owned lot after heated public debate

A sharply contested plan to convert church-owned land at 1550 West 60th Street into a commercial RV and boat storage lot won approval from the Hialeah City Council on March 10, 2026.

The council voted to change the site’s future land‑use designation and rezone the property to C2 (liberal retail commercial), clearing the way for a surface storage facility with about 78–81 spaces, an eight‑foot masonry wall along residential property lines, landscaping, and 24/7 surveillance. The motion carried after roll‑call voting in which four councilmembers voted yes and three voted no.

Supporters, including church members and the property’s proponents, said the fenced, professionally managed facility would replace an area they called a persistent nuisance. "This will provide a safer, more secure environment for our neighbors," said Jose Antonio Hernandez, who identified himself as a member of Westland Baptist Church. Pastor Angel Lopez said the church seeks to be "a positive stabilizing force" and cited problems with people camping and dumping on the property.

Developers and their counsel presented a detailed declaration of restrictions that they said would be recorded against the property for 30 years. The document limits use to recreational vehicles and boats, prohibits commercial truck parking, bans mechanical repairs and fueling on site, requires landscaping and an eight‑foot masonry wall adjacent to single‑family homes, and provides for monthly code‑enforcement inspections. The declaration also includes a clause to revoke operating permits if the property accumulates more than three code‑enforcement violations in any 12‑month period.

Opponents, who live directly behind and near the site, urged the council to preserve the area’s residential character and warned the change could be the first step toward broader commercial encroachment. "When you redefine this land as commercial today, what remains to protect these families when the recreational parking lot of 2026 inevitably matures into a retail center in the future?" said Julio Sosa, a resident. Residents also raised concerns about early‑morning engine starts, noise from trailers and winches, stormwater runoff and the safety risk of propane tanks in RVs.

City staff and the applicant said they had designed technical and operational safeguards: drainage engineering to retain stormwater on site, lighting aimed to minimize glare into homes, a prohibition on water/sewer hookups to parked units, limited hours of active use (no active use 11:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m.), and measures to limit egress to 60th Street with right‑turn only exit movements. The applicant said FPL (Florida Power & Light) has been engaged in the review process because the property overlaps FPL easements.

Council debate was tightly split. Councilman Lewis Gonzalez, who made the motion for approval, said the privately organized, regulated lot is a better alternative than ad‑hoc, unregulated parking that residents already see under nearby utility easements. Opposing councilmembers pointed to constituent opposition and uncertainty about long‑term effects.

Action and next steps: the council approved the land‑use amendment and rezoning (Item 16A and Item 17A). The recorded declaration of restrictions and final site plans will be conditions of approval; the applicant and city also agreed to refine the covenant language, drainage plans and the barrier/landscape details before final permitting.

Votes at a glance: The council carried the land‑use amendment and rezoning on a 4–3 vote. Recorded roll‑call for the land‑use vote: Yes — Councilmembers Lewis Rodriguez, Mr. Zagby, Lewis Gonzalez, Miss G. Perez; No — Councilmembers Willie Morero, Melinda Dega, Miss M. Perez. (As recorded on the March 10 meeting transcript.)

The council hearing concluded without further amendment to the recorded restrictions; staff and the applicant said they will supply final engineering and a cleaned‑up declaration for the March 24, 2026 second‑reading and permitting steps.