Opa-locka planning board approves six rezonings to align zoning map with comprehensive plan

The City of Opa-locka Planning & Zoning Board on April 7 approved six ordinances to rezone parcels along Atlantic Avenue and nearby sites so the local zoning map matches the citys Comprehensive Master Plan and existing land uses.

Gerald Lee, the citys zoning official, told the board the items are a routine "cleanup" intended to correct long-standing mismatches where multifamily or senior housing exists but the parcels remain zoned single-family or townhouse. "We're making sure that multifamily uses are called multifamily instead of something else," Lee said, summarizing staffs rationale that the rezonings restore consistency rather than change how land is used.

The six parcels and the changes read into the record were: - 2301 Atlantic Avenue: ~12,744 sq ft; rezoned from single-family (R1) to moderate-density residential (R3). - 2311 Atlantic Avenue: ~12,744 sq ft (folio listed in record); rezoned from R1 to R3. - 2321 Atlantic Avenue: ~14,364 sq ft (folio listed in record); rezoned from R1 to R3. - 2330 Atlantic Avenue: ~7,992 sq ft (folio listed in record); rezoned from townhouse (RTH) to R3. - ~2330 Opa-locka Boulevard: ~6,156 sq ft (folio listed in record); rezoned from RTH to R3 (the transcript notes this parcels address was described as a proposed address). - 2300 Northwest 136th Street: ~65,000 sq ft (folio listed in record); rezoned from townhouse (RTH) to R3; described in the record as an elderly/senior housing development of roughly 100 units built in 2006.

Lee told the board that the three Atlantic Avenue properties are existing multifamily buildings (he said the apartment buildings have about eight units each and date to 1972) that were never assigned zoning consistent with their use. Staffs presentation emphasized that the rezonings are not intended to increase density beyond existing uses but to allow future redevelopment consistent with surrounding zoning and the citys plan. "If we didn't make this change," Lee said, "if a building were destroyed, the current R1 designation could limit rebuilding to single-family rather than a replacement multifamily structure."

Each item was taken individually for a motion and roll-call vote. For every ordinance the board recorded yes votes from Claudine Hibbert Smith, Audrey Dominguez (who served as chair for the meeting) and Aldo Mata; each measure passed unanimously, 3-0. The clerk read or confirmed folio numbers into the record before each vote.

No public speakers opposed the rezonings on the transcript. Board members asked procedural questions (including whether developers had indicated interest in redeveloping the sites); staff said no developer proposals had been reported to them at the meeting.

Lee closed by saying staff will continue a series of zoning cleanups over the coming months to bring the zoning code into alignment with the Comprehensive Master Plan. The board then moved, seconded and adjourned the meeting.

The Planning & Zoning Board approved all six rezoning ordinances 3-0; final adoption and map amendments proceed according to the citys ordinance process and any additional steps required by the city commission or appeals board.