Miami Residents Push Back Against Proposed Transit-Oriented Zoning Expansion

Miami City Commission meeting, residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed ordinance aimed at expanding transit-oriented development across the city.

Critics described the initiative as favoring developers over neighborhoods, with one public speaker calling it “another money-motivated manipulation at Miami City Hall.”

The ordinance, approved on first reading by commissioners, is intended to help the city align with Miami-Dade County’s rapid transit zoning policies and Florida’s Live Local Act, which promotes affordable housing near transit hubs. If passed, it would establish new Transit Station Neighborhood Districts for properties within a one-mile radius of existing or approved transit stations, provided the developments offer improved mobility options.

Projects in these zones would still face a layered approval process, and neighborhood conservation districts—such as those in Coconut Grove—would remain exempt. Additionally, properties in the new districts would be restricted to the city’s T6-8 zoning limits, allowing for eight-story buildings, with potential for added height through bonuses.

Despite these limitations, residents expressed concern that the ordinance would lead to out-of-scale developments and diminish neighborhood character.

“This is your chance to prioritize the people who elected you over developers who fund your campaigns,” said longtime resident Elvis Cruz. He and others argued that the measure prioritizes profit over the city’s livability.

Coconut Grove resident Debbie Dolson criticized the ordinance as a threat to neighborhood integrity, warning it would enable “out of scale and out of character development.” She also expressed skepticism about the widespread use of terms like “affordable housing” and “transit corridor,” which she believes are often used to justify high-end developments with minimal benefit to lower-income residents.

“We keep seeing these buzzwords attached to every new project,” Dolson said. “But the reality is fewer truly affordable units and more luxury buildings—some with ocean views—towering over single-family homes.”

Mel Meinhardt, chair of Friends of the Commodore Trail, urged commissioners to delay a vote, citing inconsistencies between presentations made to the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board and the one given to commissioners.

“Coral Way could become a complete canyon,” Meinhardt warned, describing the ordinance as “big, bad, and potentially very damaging.”

The meeting also saw public opposition to another item: the potential sale of the historic Olympia Theater to a nonprofit charter school affiliated with rapper Pitbull. That decision was deferred.

Source: The Real Deal