Planning board backs driveway ordinance changes to limit front‑yard paving

The South Miami Planning & Zoning Board on Sept. 10 voted unanimously to forward recommended driveway ordinance language to the City Commission, adopting several clarifications to the draft ordinance intended to limit excessive front‑yard paving and protect trees.

The city attorney summarized key provisions in the draft ordinance: a minimum curb cut width of 9 feet and maximum of 22 feet, a required driveway setback of 5 feet from property lines (except at the approach), and a cap that a driveway "cannot exceed 35% of the area of the yard," the attorney said. The board discussed corner‑lot specifics and agreed to language that treats curb cuts on a per‑frontage basis and to limit the total number of curb cuts on large corner properties.

Board members expressed concern that the ordinance not discourage homeowners from improving existing driveways. After discussion the board added direction allowing "existing legal nonconforming area and shape" to be resurfaced with approved materials without losing their nonconforming status, while still requiring material changes that also alter shape or area to meet the new standards. That language was described in the meeting as intended to avoid disincentivizing property owners from making minor repairs or aesthetic improvements.

The motion to forward the ordinance with the discussed edits passed by unanimous roll call. The board also asked staff and the city attorney to finalize per‑frontage curb‑cut language and to include a cap on the total number of curb cuts in extreme corner‑lot cases.