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Homestead Council approves rezoning, school mitigation pact and Cuba-related licensing resolution
Summary
On July 2 the Homestead City Council approved a 62.35-acre rezoning first reading, a companion school mitigation agreement, a $15,594 victim-services grant, and a resolution urging federal review of Cuba-related authorizations; several city ordinances and budget amendments also passed on roll call.
The Homestead City Council met July 2 and approved a slate of planning, finance and regulatory measures intended to advance downtown projects, clarify local business tax classification and strengthen compliance with federal sanctions rules for Cuba-related activity.
Rezoning and school mitigation Council approved the first-reading rezoning requested by developers (Bama LLC/Penco LLC) to convert about 62.35 acres from agricultural (AU) to one-family half-acre estate (A2). During debate members noted a desire to preserve larger-lot character where feasible; one councilmember recorded a dissent at the local planning authority stage but the council’s roll-call vote carried. Council also approved a companion school concurrency/proportionate-share mitigation agreement with the Miami‑Dade County School Board to direct developer mitigation payments to address local school capacity impacts.
Grants, budgets and ordinances Council accepted a $15,594 grant from the Florida Office of the Attorney General to support victim advocacy services and authorized the city manager to execute the agreement. The council passed a series of ordinances and procedural updates on first reading or final reading (including a new article addressing 'squatters' enforcement referencing Fla. Stat. §§82.036–82.037, adopting the NAICS manual for local business tax classification, and updates to property addressing standards), a stormwater utility budget amendment, and a firefighters retirement-plan update — all approved on recorded roll-call votes.
Sanctions/OFAC licensing resolution In a separately noticed agenda item, Miami‑Dade County Tax Collector Daniel Fernandez urged coordinated local review of businesses that may use federal authorizations for Cuba-related transactions. The council adopted a resolution urging federal agencies to suspend certain Cuba-related authorizations pending audits and supporting state legislation that would require applicants for local business tax receipts conducting sanctionable transactions to present active OFAC licenses or authorizations. Sponsors said the measure aims to prevent economic benefit from flowing to sanctioned Cuban entities while allowing lawful remittances for food or medicine as statutorily required.
Property acquisition debate Council also debated a proposed CRA purchase and loan authorization (note not to exceed $1,666,812) for property at 406 Washington Avenue. Members who opposed the proposal cited high price-per-square-foot, missing adjacent parking acquisition and uncertain near-term return; supporters said owning key downtown parcels is necessary to control future development and protect longer-term redevelopment goals. In the portion of the transcript provided, council discussion was extensive and no final vote on the purchase was captured.
Votes at a glance - Grant acceptance (Office of Attorney General, $15,594): approved (roll-call) - Tab 6 rezoning (first reading) — ~62.35 acres: approved (roll-call) - Tab 7 school concurrency / development agreement: approved (roll-call) - Tab 8 'squatters' ordinance (first reading): approved (roll-call) - Tab 9 NAICS adoption for local business taxes (first reading): approved (roll-call) - Tab 10 property addressing standards (first reading): approved (roll-call) - Tab 11 stormwater utility budget amendment (+$2M): approved (roll-call) - Tab 12 firefighters retirement plan amendment (second reading): approved (roll-call) - Tab 13 directive to address uncollected utility fees: approved (roll-call) - Tab 14 authorized signatories resolution: approved (roll-call) - Tab 17 Cuba-related licensing resolution: approved (roll-call)
What’s next Several approvals were first readings and will return for final action where required by ordinance process. Staff were directed to coordinate implementation details with Miami‑Dade County agencies (school district, tax collector, fire) and to report back on permit/implementation status where relevant. The property acquisition discussion will return if proponents bring a final purchase-and-financing package that responds to council concerns.
