September 5, 2023 Aventura Local Planning Agency Meeting Minutes •
CITY OF AVENTURA
LOCAL PLANNING AGENCY MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
Following 6:00 p.m. First Budget Public Hearing
Aventura Government Center
19200 West Country Club Drive
Aventura, FL 33180
Aventura City Commission acting in its capacity as the Local Planning Agency for the City
of Aventura:
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order by Mayor
Weinberg at 6:16 p.m. The roll was called and 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 done at the First Budget Public
Hearing.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (June 6, 2023): A motion to approve the minutes of
the June 6, 2023 meeting was offered by Vice Mayor Bloom, seconded by Commissioner
Stern, and unanimously passed by roll call vote.
4. PUBLIC HEARING - MOTION RECOMMENDING ADOPTION OF THE
FOLLOWING RESOLUTION: Mr. Meyers reviewed the quasi-judicial procedures for Item
4 and Mrs. Horvath administered the oath to all those wishing to offer testimony on the
item.
Mrs. Horvath read the following Resolution title:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA,
GRANTING CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL, PURSUANT TO SECTION 31-145(E)OF THE
CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES, (1) TO PERMIT A DENSITY OF 47 DWELLING UNITS PER
ACRE, WHERE THE CITY CODE PERMITS 25; (2) TO PERMIT HEIGHTS UP TO 24
STORIES (260'), WHERE THE CITY CODE PERMITS 10 STORIES (100'); (3) TO PERMIT
UNITS WITH FLOOR AREAS NO LOWER THAN 658 SQUARE FEET WHERE THE
MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS 900 SQUARE FEET; AND (4) TO PERMIT 1,690 PARKING
SPACES, WHERE 2,112 SPACES ARE REQUIRED BY THE CITY CODE FOR THE
City of Aventura Local Planning Agency Meeting Minutes
September 5, 2023
PROPERTY LOCATED AT 20801-20807 BISCAYNE BOULEVARD; PROVIDING FOR
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Note: The Quasi-Judicial procedures of the City shall be invoked for this item (4).
A motion to recommend adoption of the Resolution was offered by Vice Mayor Bloom and
seconded by Commissioner Kruss.
Community Development Director Keven Klopp entered the staff report into the record,
which recommended approval for a mixed-use development subject to the conditions
listed, and reviewed the item.
The following provided comments on behalf of the Applicant (Bercow, Radell, Fernandez,
Larkin & Tapanes on behalf of Aventura Opportunity Owner LLC) for property located at
20801-20807 Biscayne Boulevard (Aventura Corporate Center): Michael J. Marrero, Esq.
— Bercow Radell, Fernandez, Larkin & Tapanes (200 S. Biscayne Blvd. Suite 300, Miami)
and Juan Espinosa, PE, Vice President Transportation — David Plummer & Associates
(1750 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables).
The City Commission discussed the item including the following: responses for the
standards for review, use of Brightline and Freebee, traffic congestion, ingress/egress,
600 square foot sized units, opposition to the process, shuttle, attracted demographics
including young professionals that use alternative means of transportation, change in
traffic, conditions for Freebee and schools, City's comprehensive plan, statistical data
needed, parking spaces, and shared parking component.
Mayor Weinberg opened the public hearing. There being no speakers, the public hearing
was closed.
The motion to recommend adoption of the Resolution was passed (5-2) by roll call vote,
with Commissioner Friedland and Commission Dr. Marks voting no.
5. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Local
Planning Agency, a motion to adjourn was offered by Vice Mayor Bloom, seconded by
Commissioner Friedland, and unanimously passed-, thereby, adjourning the meeting at
6.49 p.m.
•
Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC, ity Clerk
6
Approved by the Local Planning Agency on October 3, 2023.
Page 2 of 2