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North Miami board approves variance for salon‑suite business at 744 Northeast 125th Street
Summary
The North Miami board voted unanimously to approve a variance allowing “The Suite Life,” a 16‑suite salon‑suites facility at 744 Northeast 125th Street, to operate within 1,500 feet of similar uses in the C‑3 commercial district. Staff recommended approval with conditions including obtaining a certificate of use and business tax receipt.
The North Miami board on a unanimous vote approved a variance allowing a 16‑suite salon‑suites business called The Suite Life to operate at 744 Northeast 125th Street.
City planner Daniel Losandir presented the staff report and said the property, folio 0622300150010, is zoned C‑3 and that the applicant demonstrated compliance with four of six variance criteria used in the LDR review. Losandir told the board staff recommended approval with conditions that include obtaining a certificate of use (CU) and a business tax receipt (BTR) before operation and securing building permits for any future enhancements.
Applicant Justin Murphy, who said he and his wife purchased the business in February, told the board the prior owner had “made several misrepresentations to us” and that the operation had outstanding code‑enforcement violations. Murphy said he is pursuing the required CU and BTR, had completed a fire inspection and was working with Miami‑Dade agencies as part of the licensing process. He also described the business model: 16 individual suites where tenants provide their own equipment and maintain their own clientele.
Counsel and board members asked how the proposal had been noticed and whether nearby salons had received notification. Staff said mailed notice was sent to property owners within 500 feet and a sign was posted on the property the week of July 4; a distance‑separation map was shown to the board to identify nearby similar uses.
After closing the public hearing the board moved to approve the variance. A roll call recorded affirmative votes from Hector Medina; Kenneth H.; Bernadette Pierre; Diana McClory Fellenor; Savi/Sophie Bienemer; Vice Chair Marlene Monestein; and Chair Michael McDearme. The motion passed unanimously.
The board’s approval is conditioned on the applicant obtaining the required CU and BTR before commencing business and obtaining building permits for any future site changes. No implementation timeline was provided at the hearing.
