Planning Board backs Manor Lane rezoning for six townhomes, requires on-site parking

The City of South Miami Planning Board voted March 11 to recommend approval of a rezoning that would allow up to six townhome units at 6540 Manor Lane, but only after the applicant revises conceptual plans to show all required parking can be accommodated on the property.

Planning consultant Kirk Pinder told the board the 0.38-acre site is currently zoned RT-6 (duplex residential) and that the proposed RT-18 townhouse district would raise allowable density from 6 to 18 dwelling units per acre and allow up to three stories under the zoning envelope. Applicant representative Nicholas Font said the project proposes a two‑story townhome product and argued the change would “allow us to bring a product that is scarce to the City of South Miami, which is townhome product, that can help meet the growing demand” while returning the parcel to its long-standing future land‑use intent.

Several neighbors raised traffic and safety concerns at the Manor Lane/65th/80th intersection and questioned whether the conceptual layout provided adequate parking. Resident Jason Lopez told the board parallel parking in the median and on-street parking are not realistic during rush hour and urged the board to require a smaller project or off‑street accommodations. Staff said the new RT-18 district generally requires two parking spaces per dwelling, at least one enclosed, and that counting on-street spaces under the new district would need additional study.

A board member moved to recommend approval on the condition that the applicant update the conceptual plan to demonstrate all required parking will be located on-site (not in the median or relying on unmarked on-street spaces). The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The recommendation is advisory to the City Commission; if the Commission approves zoning, the project will return for design-review and final site-plan approval where parking and compatibility measures can be enforced.