Zoning Board of Adjustment

The ZBA granted a variance to Da Leo Trattoria in order to allow liquor to be served within a forty-nine-seat restaurant. The long-running and very successful restaurant located in the 800 block of Lincoln Road currently serves wine and beer and, now with the granting of the variance, diners will also be able to enjoy their favorite cocktail with the delicious Italian fare that’s made Da Leo Trattoria so popular.

The Miami Beach Commission appointed the new chairperson of the Budget Advisory Committee, Deede Weithorn, to serve on the G.O. Bond Oversight Committee. At last week’s meeting of the oversight committee, Weithorn was sworn in and Roberto Sanchez was unanimously voted to serve as vice-chair.

In other committee action, several members expressed their frustration to the administration over the construction costs and delays related to both firehouses 2 and 4. Member Marty Hyman said the new firehouses are by far the most important of all the G.O. Bond projects and chairman David Dermer instructed the administration to bring to his committee a progress report on the firehouses every thirty days.

The HPB continued until its February meeting a request by the applicant, Just Around The Corner, LLC, TGNC Development, LLC and POP Development LLC, a Certificate of Appropriation to substantially demolish, alter and modify six existing structures to extend an existing parking deck and to construct five floors of residential units above one level of retail space at 205-237 Twentieth Street, 2000-2038 Collins Avenue and 220 Twenty-First Street.

At its January 28 meeting, the NBV Commission will be holding a public hearing to consider a Special Use Exception (SUE) for property located at 1755 Kennedy Causeway. If approved, the SUE will allow multi-family residential use within the General Commercial District of NBV’s Treasure Island. Approval of the site plan will also include height bonuses in connection with the development of a 94-unit multi-family residential structure.

The commission will also be considering ordinances to revise the minimum lot size relating to the high-density multi-family district; and also revising the maximum height of buildings within the low and medium density single-family residential zoning districts.   

Congratulations to Aventura’s Luis Cruz, the first Miami-Dade runner to cross the finish line in last week’s 26.2 mile Walt Disney World Marathon in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Other Miami-Dade finishers include Miami Beach’s Stefan Eriksson, Susan Kelley, Stacey Koch, Ernesto Estaban, George Myers, Rick Gullage, Sonia, Gruenert, Tom Campbell, Andy Brebberman, George Lopez, Honey Giller, Jacki Elbaum, Idalis Alvarez, Chin-Pin Lu, Faye Goldin, Kelly Nett, Mary D’argenis, Priscilla Cupid, Jessica Kurti, Alexand Mager; Surfside’s James Brenan, Joseph Emas, Lisa Korin; Aventura’s Anita Reibel, Marc Kesselman, Harry Seidner, Francine Birbragher, Norma Glogover; and Bay Harbor Islands’ Cathy Bargen. Congratulations to all. 

Congratulations to Miami Beach Senior High School’s Karina Reyner for being named to All Miami-Dade’s Girl’s Second Swim Team. No small achievement in this highly competitive field of countywide swimmers.