May 11, 2023 Aventura City Commission Special Workshop Minutes •
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AVENTURA CITY COMMISSION
SPECIAL WORKSHOP MINUTES
MAY 11, 2023
9:30 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
9:34 a.m. The following were present: Mayor Howard S. Weinberg, Vice Mayor Amit
Bloom, Commissioner Rachel S. Friedland, Commissioner Billy Joel, 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. Presentation: Applicant's Proposed New Plan for "Tal" Project at 2785 NE
183rd Street (City Manager): Mr. Wasson briefly introduced the item for a new project
proposal in lieu of the previously approved one for TAL (2785 NE 183rd Street).
Brian Adler, Esq. (Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod, LLP — 1450 Brickell Avenue,
23rd Floor, Miami), explained the change (to 22 stories, 225 feet, and 139 units) in the
original plans (from 26 stories, 295 feet, and 86 units) for the project within the smart
corridor, due to market changes, entailing the need for a modified site plan, creation of a
new comprehensive plan category, with a re-designation to high density residential, a new
zoning category and conditional use approval. A presentation was reviewed including the
following: Conceptual Design, Site Location, SMART Corridor Buffer Area, SMART Plan
Corridor, Aventura Future Land Use Map, Trip Generation Comparison, and Code
Analysis.
Stephane L'Ecuyer, Architect (IDEA Architect LLC), continued the review of the
presentation including the following: GFA Table Units Matrix & Conceptual Building
Section, Site Plan, Conceptual Ground Floor, Typical Floor Plan, and Renderings.
Matthew Rosenblatt, Authorized Member (GOT183, LLC), provided comments in
response to discussions.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following items: building structure,
increased market demand for smaller units, parking spaces, valet, use of Brightline,
desired less vehicles in Aventura, variances on a case by case basis, and Miami-Dade
County's request regarding the Rapid Transit Corridor.
Aventura City Commission
Special Workshop Minutes—May 11, 2023
Mr. Meyers provided comments on Code changes, conditional use, and variances. Mr.
Wasson provided comments on the City's proactive response to the County's request to
do something for the corridor plan.
Keven Klopp, Community Development Director, explained the request for a new
category to allow up to 79 units per acre and conditional use to allow up to 90 units per
acre that would require Commission approval, which is in line with what the County was
looking for.
Mr. Adler explained the request for certain properties within a quarter mile of the Brightline
to be able to seek re-designation to a newly created RMF5 district, provided certain
criteria is met.
Mr. Wasson will provide the City Commission with a map of the vacant lots in Aventura
that can be developed and Mr. Klopp will provide the properties that would be affected at
the June meeting.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission for the
item to proceed.
Mr. Meyers provided information on the quasi-judicial process.
4. Discussion: 4th of July Drone Show (City Manager): Mr. Wasson reported on
the success of the preliminary drone show at the recent movie night, the need to reserve
a drone company if the Commission desires to move forward, and the cost for a show on
the 4th of July.
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: positive feedback from
the preliminary show, reaching out to Turnberry to split the cost of the drone show, getting
sponsors, putting the show on the City's cable channel, and recording the show for future
uses.
Bryan Pegues, Assistant City Manager, provided information on the proposal for a show
using 150 drones.
Evan Ross, City Consultant - Public Communicators, provided comments on
record ing/livestreaming.
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the City Commission to proceed
with a drone show in conjunction with the fireworks for July 4th
5. Discussion: Yacht Club Pocket Park (City Manager): Mr. Wasson discussed a
request to add a bathroom to the plans for the park and reviewed the cost as well as the
changes that would need to be made to the current plan.
The City Commission discussed the item and whether or not the cost was justified for the
addition.
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Aventura City Commission
Special Workshop Minutes—May 11, 2023
City Manager Summary: It was the consensus of the majority of the City
Commission for the item to proceed.
The following additional items were discussed:
Mr. Wasson will provide the information for interested members of the City Commission
to join the health insurance plan per the recent resolution adopted.
Mayor Weinberg reported on his visit to the Florida west coast with Charter Schools USA
to view the schools that they have built.
Mr. Wasson provided information on an annex building for the high school that will require
future Commission approval. The Commission discussed finding land to build a new high
school and using the existing high school building for a middle school (grades 6-8).
6. Adjournment: There being no further business to come before the City
Commission, the meeting was adjourned by consensus at 11 :10 a.m.
•
Ellisa L. Horvath, M , City Clerk
Approved by the City Commission on June 6, 2023.
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