February 16, 2023 Aventura City Commission Special Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
SPECIAL WORKSHOP MINUTES
FEBRUARY 16, 2023
9:00 a.m.
Aventura Government Center
19200 W. Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
1. Call to Order/Roll Call: The meeting was called to order by Mayor Weinberg at
9:12 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Billy Joel,
Commissioner Amit Bloom, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Paul A.
Kruss, Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks, Commissioner Michael Stern, City Manager
Ronald J. Wasson, City Clerk Ellisa L. Horvath, and City Attorney Robert Meyers. As a
quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced.
2. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge was led by Mayor Weinberg.
3. Aventura Upcoming: A Presentation and Discussion Regarding Various
Planning and Zoning Matters (City Manager): Mr. Wasson provided brief remarks
regarding the purpose of the workshop, which is to start discussions on the future of
Aventura and how the City should be positioned for development.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, briefly reviewed his background and
responsibilities. A presentation titled "Aventura Upcoming —A Zoning Specific Workshop
Discussion...About What's Next" was provided including the following items: Once Upon
a Time...In 1993, Comp Plan for NE Dade, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities,
Challenges, Everything is An Opportunity, "The Right Way to Plan?" in Context with the
Community, Put the Opportunities in Context, Focus on the Opportunities, Immediate
Recommendations, More of the Good/Redevelop the Bad, Land Use — Transportation
Connection, Long Term View, Coming Soon, and Area Specific Overlays & Incentives.
The City Commission provided input throughout the presentation and discussed the
following items: cleaning up the areas around the hospital, the Rapid Transit Zone, future
workshops, Mr. Wasson and Mr. Klopp providing a list of recommended priorities, FAR
(Floor Area Ratio), providing a comprehensive picture of the City showing development
areas and identifying open space to remain open, adjustments to be done to the districts
for RTZ (Regional Transit Zoning) and MUC (Metropolitan Urban Center) to fulfill the
County requirement, the County is pushing for increased density around the Brightline
station, goal to become a more transit and pedestrian friendly community with a live-work-
play concept, increased communication for input from residents, and educating residents
on developer rights.
Aventura City Commission
Special Workshop Minutes—February 16, 2023
Mr. Meyers discussed the various opportunities for public input at workshops and public
hearings.
Mr. Wasson will provide the Commission with an analysis/overview of open space and
submerged lands in the City.
The following members of the public provided comments- Steven Friedfertig (Turnberry
North — 19707 Turnberry Way #12A, Aventura), Ken Bernstein (19501 Biscayne Blvd.,
Unit 400, Aventura), Jeff Bercow, Esq. (200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 300, Miami), Michael
Marrero, Esq. (200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 300, Miami), Marjorie Rosenblatt (19333 W.
Country Club Drive, Aventura), Leon Silvera (19707 Turnberry Way, Unit 28-D, Aventura),
Haim Swissa (2760 NE 203 Street, #3, Aventura), Bernardo Rieber (2820 NE 214 Street,
#100, Aventura), and Barry Silverstein (19667 Turnberry Way, #8E, Aventura).
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to
acknowledge the items presented and to provide support in general of bringing each topic
back individually for further discussions.
4. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the workshop was adjourned by consensus at 10.40 a.m.
•
Ellisa L. Horvath, MN City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on March 7, 2023.
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