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South Miami panel approves Smith residence after landscaping, fenestration conditions
Summary
The Design Review Board approved a one-story Smith residence in RS-3 (DRB-2024-019) by unanimous vote after staff and members required adjustments to landscaping, tree mitigation and additional fenestration on a long street-facing wall.
The City of South Miami Design Review Board unanimously approved the Smith Residence (DRB-2024-019) after staff conditions and board comments addressing landscaping, tree mitigation and street-facing windows.
Staff presented the proposal for 6731 (Smith residence), describing a single-story U-shaped house on a 12,820-square-foot lot with 83.3 feet of frontage. Staff said proposed building coverage is 4,030 square feet (about 31.4%) and impervious area is 6,269 square feet (48.9%, under the 50% maximum). The report noted the application met the one-story dimensional requirements per section 23.5 e and flagged outstanding submittals including a tree removal permit and an erosion and construction control plan.
Architect Francisco A. Mendez told the board the design uses an interior courtyard to achieve indoor-outdoor living and higher central ceilings, and that the team revised plans after Development Review Committee feedback from May 14. Mendez said the client preferred a one-story home and that the team would "definitely address" board comments about adding vertical fenestration to soften blank walls.
Board members commended the single-story approach but pressed the team on the long blank façade facing the street and potential conflicts between trees and proposed septic and drain-field locations. Board member Mariano Corral described concern about a large existing Ficus aurea and how root systems could conflict with proposed septic infrastructure; the architect and staff said a city arborist had reviewed the site and identified invasive species for removal. Staff identified tree numbers 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 for removal as a condition of the approval.
The board and staff also discussed coordination with Florida Power & Light on nearby poles and guy wires. The architect reported initial relocation review fees and cost estimates; the board noted relocation of large poles was likely infeasible at the homeowner's scale.
Rebecca Cruz moved to approve the application "with staff and board comments." The motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The board's approval is an advisory recommendation; final administrative approval and incorporation of the board's comments will be completed by the planning director as part of permitting.
What happens next: staff will require the applicant to submit a tree removal permit and comply with tree mitigation and erosion-control conditions before the planning director signs off on final approval.
