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Planning board approves omnibus clarifications to South Miami transit‑supportive zoning code
Summary
The board approved staff’s omnibus amendments to Article 8 (Transit Supportive Development District), including new definitions (contiguous building floor area), personal‑mobility‑device parking rules, open‑space clarifications, and a zoning map correction; staff said many changes are clarifications and some policy items were noted for Commission action.
The City of South Miami Planning Board on April 14 approved an omnibus package of zoning code clarifications for the Transit Supportive Development District (TSDD), forwarding the recommended ordinance language to the City Commission.
Planning consultant Mark Alvarez of the Corradino Group told the board the bulk of the package is clarifying language learned from recent applications. Key changes include a new definition, 'contiguous building floor area,' to replace 'floor plate' for regulating tower massing; counting methods for off‑campus student bedrooms (apartment area divided by number of bedrooms); replacing the word 'bicycle' with 'personal mobility device' in parking counts (allowing e‑bikes and scooters to be included) and adding requirements for outlets to recharge those devices.
Alvarez also proposed stricter rules for bonus open space (open space counted toward bonuses must be vertically open to the sky, although a waiver process for public open space is available), clarified street‑hierarchy easement requirements where development fronts state or county roads, and recommended codifying glazing and canopy rules to reduce ambiguous interpretations. He noted a map correction was needed to remove TSDD designations mistakenly placed on PUD‑hospital properties.
A board member asked technical measurement questions about contiguous floor area; staff confirmed the package allows a waiver process for certain six‑story buildings and that the city manager (or designee) would determine LEED equivalency for sustainability credits.
The board voted to approve the staff package (as discussed), and the recommendation will be presented to the City Commission for ordinance readings.
