Doral Local Planning Agency transmits six land‑use and code amendments to City Council without recommendation

The City of Doral’s Local Planning Agency on Wednesday transmitted six proposed amendments to the City Council without recommendation, moving a package of land‑use and code changes toward public review despite no public comment.

The items included creation of a mall mixed‑use (MMU) future land use designation for regional shopping mall sites 15 acres or larger; a companion zoning code amendment establishing a new small mixed‑use district and associated standards for malls of that scale; a small‑scale future land use amendment and zoning map change affecting roughly 25.61 acres at 1625 and 1603 Northwest 107th Avenue; proposed changes to the sign code to allow digital changeable message signs for public institutions; and amendments to regulations for uses located under power lines, covering permitting, setbacks, accessibility and environmental requirements.

Why it matters: together these transmittals set the administrative path for how large mall properties and certain utility‑strip uses could be redeveloped in Doral. The MMU designation and corresponding zoning changes would create a regulatory framework for integrating residential uses into qualifying mall‑sized redevelopment projects, while the sign‑code and power‑line provisions change technical standards that affect permitting and design.

The actions were procedural transmittals to the City Council rather than final approvals. For each item the Local Planning Agency opened a public hearing, recorded that no speakers had preregistered or approached the podium, and then moved to transmit the ordinance or code amendments to the City Council “without recommendation.” Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso made the primary motion on multiple items; several motions were seconded by Vice Mayor Digna Cabral or Councilman (listed in the transcript as) Pinedo. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso, Vice Mayor Digna Cabral, the councilmember shown in the transcript as Pinedo (name appears inconsistently elsewhere in the record), and Mayor Christie Fraga; each motion passed among the members present.

Item highlights and votes at a glance: • Item 5a — Create MMU future land use for regional shopping malls 15 acres or larger; motion to transmit without recommendation carried; mover: Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso; second: Vice Mayor Digna Cabral; recorded votes: Reynoso — Yes; Cabral — Yes; (Pinedo) — Yes; Fraga — Yes. • Item 5c — Land Development Code amendment to create Division 6 (small mixed‑use district) for regional shopping mall properties of 15+ acres and related map amendments; transmitted without recommendation; mover: Councilwoman Nicole Reynoso; second: Councilman Pinedo; recorded unanimous yes votes from members present. • Item 5d — Small‑scale future land use and official map amendment (approx. 25.61 acres at 1625 & 1603 NW 107th Ave) from Business B/Corridor Commercial to MMU; transmitted without recommendation following no public comment. • Item 5b — Sign regulations: create a definition for “public institution” and allow a digital changeable message sign as an allowable monument/freestanding sign type for public institutions; transmitted without recommendation. • Item 5e — (Transcript label) Code amendment read and transmitted without recommendation; no public speakers. • Item 5f — Amendments to Chapter 24 governing uses under power lines (permitting, facility types, setbacks, ADA requirements, structural and drainage standards, environmental/sanitary requirements, inspection and enforcement); transmitted without recommendation.

The meeting record shows that staff read each proposed resolution and code change in full and that, in each case, the agency accepted a motion to transmit the item to the City Council without recommendation. No members of the public spoke during the public‑hearing portions of the meeting.

A certificate of attendance on the record notes that one councilmember who had been absent was later recorded as present for votes; the clerk also recorded several vote confirmations during roll call and after motions. The LPA adjourned and staff announced the regular City Council meeting would begin at 6:00 p.m.

Quote from the meeting: “We will now open the floor for public comments,” the presiding officer said when moving to the public‑comment portion of the agenda; on each item the chair noted there were no preregistered speakers.

What’s next: These transmittals send the amendments to the City Council and to the statutorily required reviewing agencies (the staff cited section 163.3184, Florida Statutes for review/transmittal). The City Council will consider the items at a future meeting; the LPA’s votes do not enact the changes.