Planning board approves 173-unit Somi Wok near South Miami Metrorail

A City of South Miami planning board voted unanimously to approve PB2025-011, a special-exception site plan for a project called Somi Wok on approximately 1.01 acres near the South Miami Metrorail station. The plan, presented to the board as PB2025-011, proposes 173 residential units and uses the Transit Supportive Development District (TSDD) and the TODA subdistrict bonus structure to reach the proposed scale.

Mark Alvarez, with the Coradino Group and standing in for planning staff, told the board the site lies just west of the Vox Building and that the TSDD allows 150 units per acre by right and up to 200 units per acre with bonuses; the application "comes out to 171.3 units" under staff calculations and proposes 173 units. Alvarez said the applicant submitted a traffic impact study the prior week and that staff and the development review committee would analyze turning movements, loading and other technical items during plan review.

The applicant team said the design intentionally orients the building toward the Metrorail promenade to encourage transit use. "Our office is here in South Miami and a long time resident in the city," said Omar Morales of Forum Group Architects as he described a ground-floor lobby and southeast plaza, resident amenities and a three-level podium with an estimated 173 parking spaces. Attorney Javier Avignon of Bills and Sumbert described the proposal as consistent with recent code changes that emphasize density near the transit station.

Board discussion focused on site details rather than project principle. Mariano Corral, a landscape architect on the board, praised the design but pressed the team on pedestrian-zone widths and planting choices, raising concerns that large species such as mahogany would not thrive in narrow 5-foot planters and that mitigation calculations for specimen trees must be accurate. "I love your building," Corral said, but asked the project team to reconsider street‑tree species and to confirm planter depths and drainage. Devin Sejes of WALT Landscape Architecture said he would review tree placement and sizing and adjust the planting palette.

Staff and the applicant agreed to work through sidewalk widths, open-space percentage details tied to bonus floors, minor parking-count discrepancies (staff noted the plan is short by two spaces as submitted) and outstanding architectural dimensions before final plan approval. The board approved the application "with staff and board member comments," and the vote was recorded as Corral: yes; Lopez: yes; Renzi: yes; Chair: yes.

The board then approved minutes from the prior meeting and scheduled its next meeting for November 18. The planning board adjourned following the vote.