Miami Lakes: Special Call Meeting | April 1st, 2026
Summary. The Miami Lakes Town Council held a special call meeting on April 2, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM to address several agenda items including a motion to reorder items, autism awareness month proclamation, and two significant land use applications from the Graham Companies. The meeting began with standard procedures including roll call, invocation by Vice Mayor Moreira, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council first handled reordered items 8C, 8A, and 8B, addressing autism awareness flag display, covenant recording procedures, and public art requirements. The main focus of the meeting was on agenda items 7A and 7B, which involved rezoning applications from the Graham Companies for a 22-acre property at Northwest Corner of Oak Lane and Northwest 146th Street. The applications sought to change the future land use map from industrial/office to medium density residential and rezone parcels to RM-30 (30 units per acre). This represented a significant departure from previous commitments made in 2017 and 2019 for a senior village development that included age-restricted housing, assisted living facilities, and a senior center. The Graham Companies' attorney presented the project as a "downzoning" alternative to potential Live Local Act development, which could allow up to 50 units per acre by right, and offered $1.56 million toward a senior center as compensation for abandoning the original senior center commitment. After extensive public comment expressing opposition to the rezoning and concerns about broken promises, both items 7A (comprehensive plan amendment) and 7B (rezoning application) passed first reading on 5-2 votes. Council members expressed concerns about traffic impacts, procedural issues with voting before Planning and Zoning Board review, and the loss of the senior amenity. The meeting concluded at 9:27 PM with both items scheduled for second reading later in April.
Agenda Items
Agenda Reordering. Motion to reorder agenda items and add attorney's report
Mayor proposed moving items 8C, 8A, and 8B to after public comments and adding an attorney's report before item 7
- Items would be reordered per attorney request
- New attorney's report item added before public hearings
Public Comments. General public comment period
Multiple residents spoke about transparency concerns, senior center promises, and opposition to rezoning applications
- Concerns about missing executed covenant documents
- Public records transparency issues
- Opposition to abandoning senior center commitment
- Traffic and development concerns
8C. Autism Awareness Month
Discussion of flying autism awareness flag and implementing autism awareness toolkit
- County Commissioner Regalado presented neurodiversity toolkit
- Debate over flying flag on official flagpoles vs. lobby display
- 27 municipalities participating statewide
- Amendment to display flag in lobby instead of on flagpole
8A. Changes to Recording of Covenants
Proposal for town to be responsible for recording required covenants at applicant's cost
- Prevents future confusion over covenant recording
- Town would handle recording with applicant paying costs
- Addresses issues in 'Wild West' area of town
8B. Public Art Land Development Code Requirement
Proposal to require public art in new developments
- Would require public art in development approvals
- Art could range from sidewalk medallions to sculptures
- Supports 'growing beautifully' town motto
Attorney's Report. Background on Graham Companies Applications
Town attorney provided detailed history of Graham properties and previous approvals
- 2017 original approval for senior village with ALF and senior center
- 2019 decoupling request when Miami Jewish backed out
- Covenant issues and recording problems
- Current application seeks to unify all parcels under RM-30 zoning
7A. Comprehensive Plan Amendment - Graham Companies Development
Amendment to change 12.75 acres from industrial/office to medium density residential
- Graham Companies attorney presented project as 'downzoning'
- Alternative to Live Local Act development at 50 units/acre
- Proposed 541 units at 24 units/acre density
- Offered $1.56 million for senior center at different location
- Public opposition citing broken promises and traffic concerns
- Traffic congestion concerns on east-west corridors
- History of failed senior housing partnerships including DOS Healthcare
7B. Rezoning Application - Graham Companies Property
Quasi-judicial hearing to rezone 22+ acres from IUC/RM-36 to RM-30 (30 units per acre)
- Procedural concerns about voting before Planning and Zoning Board review
- Questions about park mitigation requirements and level of service deficits
- Traffic impact analysis comparing proposed residential to potential office uses
- Density calculations and zoning district options
- Site plan approval process and density limitations
Motions & Votes
Move items 8C, 8A, and 8B to after public comments and add attorney's report before item 7
Moved by Mayor Dieguez, seconded by Council member Fernandez
Passed unanimously
Amendment to display autism flag in lobby like Florida Panthers flag instead of on flagpole
Moved by Vice Mayor Moreira, seconded by Council member Fernandez
Passed 4-2
Main motion as amended for autism awareness flag display in lobby
Moved by Mayor Dieguez, seconded by Council member Garcia
Passed 5-2
Motion for town to be responsible for recording covenants at applicant cost
Moved by Mayor Dieguez
Passed unanimously
Motion to direct staff to develop public art requirements for land development code
Moved by Mayor Dieguez
Passed unanimously
Motion to reopen item 8A to direct staff to bring back resolution
Moved by Vice Mayor Moreira, seconded by Council member Garcia
Passed unanimously
Motion to reopen public comments for autism item
Moved by Council member Cuadra Garcia, seconded by Council member Garcia
Passed unanimously
Motion to approve Ordinance in first reading - Item 7A (Comprehensive Plan Amendment)
Moved by Council member Herzberg
Passed 5-2
Motion to approve Ordinance in first reading - Item 7B (Rezoning Application)
Moved by Not explicitly stated
Passed 5-2
Action Items
Develop resolution for town recording of covenants policy
Assigned to Staff/Town Attorney · Due April council meeting or future meeting
Develop public art requirements for land development code
Assigned to Staff
Send autism awareness toolkit to council
Assigned to Commissioner Regalado · Due Next day
Display autism awareness flag in lobby
Assigned to Staff · Due For month of April
Continue discussions with applicant between first and second reading
Assigned to All council members · Due Before second reading
Review trip generation report accuracy and site plan details
Assigned to Vice Mayor Moreira and applicant
Discuss RM-36 parcel rights with town attorney
Assigned to Council member Herzberg and Town Attorney · Due Before second reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What was decided at this meeting?
The Miami Lakes Town Council held a special call meeting on April 2, 2026, beginning at 6:30 PM to address several agenda items including a motion to reorder items, autism awareness month proclamation, and two significant land use applications from the Graham Companies. The meeting began with standard procedures including roll call, invocation by Vice Mayor Moreira, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The council first handled reordered items 8C, 8A, and 8B, addressing autism awareness flag display, covenant recording procedures, and public art requirements. The main focus of the meeting was on agenda items 7A and 7B, which involved rezoning applications from the Graham Companies for a 22-acre property at Northwest Corner of Oak Lane and Northwest 146th Street. The applications sought to change the future land use map from industrial/office to medium density residential and rezone parcels to RM-30 (30 units per acre). This represented a significant departure from previous commitments made in 2017 and 2019 for a senior village development that included age-restricted housing, assisted living facilities, and a senior center. The Graham Companies' attorney presented the project as a "downzoning" alternative to potential Live Local Act development, which could allow up to 50 units per acre by right, and offered $1.56 million toward a senior center as compensation for abandoning the original senior center commitment. After extensive public comment expressing opposition to the rezoning and concerns about broken promises, both items 7A (comprehensive plan amendment) and 7B (rezoning application) passed first reading on 5-2 votes. Council members expressed concerns about traffic impacts, procedural issues with voting before Planning and Zoning Board review, and the loss of the senior amenity. The meeting concluded at 9:27 PM with both items scheduled for second reading later in April.
What was on the agenda?
This meeting covered 8 agenda items: Motion to reorder agenda items and add attorney's report; General public comment period; Autism Awareness Month; Changes to Recording of Covenants; Public Art Land Development Code Requirement; Background on Graham Companies Applications; Comprehensive Plan Amendment - Graham Companies Development; Rezoning Application - Graham Companies Property.
How many motions were voted on?
9 motions were voted on during this meeting. See the Motions & Votes section above for each motion and its result.
What action items came out of this meeting?
7 action items were identified. See the Action Items section above for details and who they were assigned to.
Who attended this meeting?
10 members were recorded as present: Mayor Dieguez, Vice Mayor Moreira, Council member Fernandez, Council member Cuadra Garcia, Council member Garcia, Council member Herzberg, Council member Sanchez, Town Attorney, Town Clerk, Susana Alonso.
Where can I watch the full recording?
The full video recording is available on YouTube or embedded at the top of this page.
What county is Miami Lakes in?
Miami Lakes is located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Browse other Miami-Dade County meeting summaries to see what local governments across the county are working on.
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