Alexander Montessori seeks to add students; neighbors warn of unsafe crossings in Palmetto Bay

Representatives for Alexander School Inc. told a Palmetto Bay workshop they are seeking to increase enrollment at Alexander Montessori from 270 to 328 students at the school’s campus at 14850 Southwest 67th Avenue.

"We are seeking through this application an increase to the student enrollment from the current 270 students to 328," said Maritza Haro Salgado, applicant representative for Alexander School Inc. She said the request is being pursued under Florida statute section 1,002.4219 and that no new buildings or site-footprint changes are proposed.

The applicant presented a traffic analysis and site exhibits showing on-site queuing, or "stacking," capacity. "Over 70 vehicles can stack on-site," Maritza said, and the plan includes a second lane that would add about 20 vehicle spaces of stacking capacity and 41 parking spaces. She said a police officer would be present during peak pickup and drop-off times to direct traffic and keep vehicles off the public roadway.

At the workshop, neighbors pressed for additional pedestrian protections near the school. A resident who said she has lived on 144th Terrace for 33 years described crossing at 67th Avenue as hazardous and asked whether the village could install sidewalks or a standard traffic signal at the intersection. "You take your your life in your hands trying to cross that," the resident said, describing heavy vehicle backups on nearby streets during peak school times.

Maritza replied that the traffic analysis submitted with the application did not warrant installation of traffic signals and that sidewalks and signalization are not triggered by the project itself; she said the applicant would be willing to follow up with the village on whether those broader safety improvements have been explored. "The traffic analysis did not, warrant any, you know, lights," she said.

Brett Rothfield, introduced by the applicant as a school representative, added that the corridor already includes school-zone flashing lights. "There is a school zone flashing light," he said, noting several schools are located along the route.

The workshop concluded with the moderator inviting attendees to review the display boards and asking that interested residents come forward to look at the plans. The applicant and staff remained available briefly after the close to answer follow-up questions.