Miami Beach boards and committees weighed redevelopment, budgets, and zoning — but no decisions are on the record yet
Miami Beach's advisory boards and committees held a full slate of meetings July 7–17, covering a major ground lease proposal, the preliminary 2027 city budget, and potential Medicaid cuts. However, minutes have not been published for any of these sessions, so no votes or final decisions can be confirmed from the available record. What follows is a summary of what each body was scheduled to consider, based on the published agendas.
Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee
The committee's July 8 agenda included a ground lease agreement for the redevelopment of the city-owned property at 1940 Park Avenue — known as The Barclay — into multifamily residential and retail space. Other scheduled items were a proposal to establish a Muscle Beach in North Beach, a feasibility study for an Affordable Housing Fund, a 20-year public-private improvement agreement for Lincoln Lane North between Meridian Avenue and Meridian Court, and a grant of up to $6,000 to the World Affairs Council for high school students to attend the WorldQuest Championship.
On July 17, the committee held a FERC Budget Workshop to review the Fiscal Year 2027 Preliminary Operating Budget and Millage Rate, along with a preliminary capital budget update. No figures beyond the agenda descriptions are available.
Planning Board
The July 7 Planning Board agenda listed a lease agreement for 1940 Park Avenue (PB26-0844) and land development regulations plus comprehensive plan amendments for 1775 Collins Avenue (PB26-0815/0816), which had been previously continued. The board was also scheduled to conduct revocation/modification hearings at 743 Washington Avenue (PB21-0442) and discuss single-family residential zoning regulations and swale maintenance. A request to continue a liquor store prohibition on Lincoln Road (PB25-0776) was also listed.
Public Safety and Neighborhood Quality of Life Committee
The July 15 agenda included a discussion of proposed Medicaid cuts — described as an estimated $3.84 billion reduction to Florida's funding — and their impact on the Miami Beach Community Health Center. The committee was also scheduled to discuss and take action on EV charging infrastructure on Normandy Island, consider amendments to lobbyist definitions and transparency requirements, and receive updates on the Promenade Master Plan, the 5th Street pedestrian bridge (including a possible over-water connection), and the Convention Center hotel timeline.
Land Use and Sustainability Committee
Also on July 15, this committee was set to discuss a financial incentive program for landlords to convert short-term rentals to long-term leases, amendments to incentivize the abandonment of retail alcohol sales on Lincoln Road, and parameters for creative development proposals as an alternative to Live Local Act preemptions for workforce housing. Other items included allowing tennis courts as a main use in RS-2 districts, adding a helipad as an accessory use in the I-1 district on Terminal Island, and monthly updates on historic hotel redevelopment on Collins Avenue between 14th and 20th streets.
Design Review Board
The July 9 hybrid meeting agenda included items at 1 Ocean Drive (DRB25-1146), 7928 Byron Avenue (DRB26-1165), 1 Washington Avenue – South Pointe Park as a modification (DRB26-1181), 905 Bay Drive as a new application (DRB26-1182), and 1414 Alton Road as a continued item (DRB24-1061). Proposal details were not provided in the agenda.
Historic Preservation Board
The July 14 agenda featured an application for The Bass Museum of Art at 2100/2111 Collins Avenue (HPB26-0691), a PNC Bank project at 1011 5th Street (HPB26-0694), an application at 141–145 South Shore Drive (HPB26-0692), a modification to a previously approved order for 280–300 South Shore Drive (HPB26-0690), and a single-family home application at 1835 Michigan Avenue (HPB25-0670).
Board of Adjustment — Cancelled
The July 10 Board of Adjustment meeting was cancelled. The agenda had included an after-action report from the April 10 meeting and variance applications at 605 Lincoln Road Unit 800RF, 3010 Alton Road, 1691 Michigan Avenue, and 2700 Sunset Drive. No decisions or discussions took place.
Coming up
The City Commission meets July 22. The agenda includes authorization for the City Manager to award or terminate contracts during the August recess, a contract with CHA Consulting, Inc. for West Avenue Phase II neighborhood improvements up to $1,127,336.48, a public outreach contract with HML Public Outreach, LLC up to $608,172.00, design services for Lincoln Road improvements with James Corner Field Operations, L.L.C. up to $397,870, and a proposed sponsorship for Emerge Americas 2027 not to exceed $82,000.