Board allows 6‑foot security fence at Tangerine Montessori after parents and neighbors cite safety concerns

The Historic and Environmental Preservation Board approved a special certificate of appropriateness allowing a perimeter security fence at 7699 Biscayne Boulevard, home to Tangerine Montessori, after hearing testimony from the school director and neighbors about repeated trespass and nuisance incidents on the site.

Preservation staff described MIMO Biscayne Boulevard design guidance that ordinarily limits fronting fences to 3 feet in the first layer and noted staff’s partial‑consistency recommendation of a 5‑foot fence. Applicant counsel Rachel Stryfeld explained that the school has requested a 6‑foot aluminum fence with 60% visibility for security reasons and described efforts to obtain zoning waivers. School director Maria Tapia told the board she had to clean human waste and drug paraphernalia from the site and cited safety concerns for children. A neighbor, Wendy Mendoza, corroborated those safety and cleanliness concerns. After brief discussion, the board approved the requested 6‑foot fence with conditions requiring visibility of at least 60%, inclusion of the resolution in the master permit set, and compliance with applicable permitting and zoning waivers.