R5N - Require Landscape for 50% Home Renovations

Ordinances - R5 N

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

10:35 a.m. Second Reading Public Hearing

RECOMMENDATION

The Administration recommends that the Mayor and City Commission (City Commission) adopt the ordinance.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

On December 11, 2024, at the request of Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, the City Commission referred a discussion pertaining to minimum landscape requirements for single family homes (C4 G) to the Land Use and Sustainability Committee (LUSC). On February 20, 2025, the LUSC discussed the proposal and recommended that the City Commission refer the attached ordinance to the Planning Board.

On March 19, 2025, at the request of Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, the City Commission referred the attached ordinance to the Planning Board (C4 B).

ANALYSIS

The attached amendment to the Land Development Regulations of the City Code (LDRs) provides relief from the City’s minimum landscaping requirements for renovations to single family homes that exceed 50% of the value of the existing building. In general, the landscape requirements set forth in Chapter 4 of the LDRs exceed the requirements in the Miami-Dade County (County) landscape code. The following are some examples of differences between the City and County landscape regulations:

Lot Trees The Miami Beach code requires that lot and street trees, at a minimum, be 12 feet in height, with a minimum 6-foot canopy spread and 2-inch caliper. The County code allows for a minimum height of 10 feet and that up to 30 percent of the tree requirement may be met by native species with a minimum height of 8- feet and a minimum caliper of one and one-half (1½) inches at time of planting.

Shrubs

The Miami Beach code requires a minimum of 12 shrubs per the number of required lot and street trees, and that no less than 50 percent of the required shrubs shall be native species. Additionally, 100 percent of shrubs shall be low maintenance, drought tolerant, salt tolerant, and suitable for Miami Beach, and no one species of shrub shall constitute more than 20 percent of the required shrubs.

The County code specifies that shrubs shall be provided at a ratio of 10 shrubs per required tree, and that at least 30 percent of required shrubs consist of native species. Additionally, 50 percent of all shrubs shall be low maintenance and drought tolerant.

Large Shrub/Small Trees Currently, the County has no minimum requirements for large shrubs/small trees. The City code requires all large shrubs or small trees to be a minimum of 6-feet in height, with a minimum crown spread of 4-feet at time of planting and 10 feet high at mature growth. The minimum number of large shrubs or small trees must also be ten percent of the required number of shrubs for the specific project.

The proposed ordinance amendment would allow for single family projects exceeding the 50% rule to revert to the minimum requirements of the County code. The proposal complies with the applicable minimum landscaping requirements in the County code, which apply to both unincorporated and incorporated areas of the County.

PLANNING BOARD REVIEW On May 6, 2025, the Planning Board held a public hearing and transmitted the proposed ordinance to the City Commission with a favorable recommendation (7-0).

UPDATE The subject ordinance was approved at First Reading on May 21, 2025, with no changes.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

No Fiscal Impact Expected

Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? Yes (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)

If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on: 6/20/2025 See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Not Applicable

CONCLUSION

The Administration recommends that the City Commission adopt the ordinance.

Applicable Area

Citywide

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):

Department

Planning

Sponsor(s)

Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez

Co-sponsor(s)

Condensed Title

10:35 a.m. 2nd Rdg, Min Landscape Req, SF Home Renovations Exceeding +50% Rule. (KRG) PL

Previous Action (For City Clerk Use Only)

First Reading Public Hearing on 5/21/2025 - R5 S