Seth Ben-Shoshan

This Strategic Plan for the City of North Miami Beach outlines a roadmap for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) around the proposed FIU North Campus | 151st Street Station. It integrates land development, connectivity infrastructure, and first-last-mile mobility to transform the area into a vibrant, walkable, and safe district. The plan aims to realize a working TOD by 2032, with continued momentum through 2045 and beyond, empowering residents with convenient travel alternatives and fostering economic growth and a mixed-use environment.

The agenda for the meeting included several key items. For public hearings, the Board was scheduled to address the request to vacate a portion of NE 175th Street Right Of Way (RV-01-2026). Legislative items included discussion and potential adoption regarding the FIU North Campus 151st Street Station Area Master Plan, which is a Transit Oriented Development Plan. The board was also scheduled to address the approval of the February 9, 2026, Meeting Minutes and the election of a Vice-Chair. Discussions regarding the FIU North Campus plan focused on positioning the area as a clean industrial/tech center, increasing height and density, and addressing environmental concerns and plans for existing businesses during the transition.

The meeting included the approval of the November 11, 2025 Meeting Minutes. Legislative items involved discussions and subsequent approval of amendments concerning Land Development Fees, where the structure aligns with actual staff time costs, and a Variance Zoning Amendment intended to bring the Code of Ordinances into alignment with the City Charter regarding administrative waivers. A significant discussion item was the 151st Street FIU North Campus Station Area Plan, focusing on positioning the area as a clean industrial or clean tech center (Workplace focused Transit Oriented Development), balancing density increases with retaining workplace attractiveness, and addressing existing business transition plans and environmental concerns. The Board also reviewed the Comprehensive Plan Update, confirming the state-mandated deadline of April of the following year for completion.

The commission meeting involved several agenda modifications, including adding discussion items regarding charter compliance under the council manager form of government, protocol, and city manager selection. A resolution to accept a grant award from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was added to the consent agenda. Additionally, a resolution titled 'Standing in Solidarity with Iran' was added under legislation, and an appointment to the planning and zoning board was added. Discussions included deferring item 11.1 and moving item 5.1 (voting process regarding the city manager) to follow item 11.2. The meeting opened for public comment, during which several citizens spoke in strong support of Darvin Williams for the City Manager position, citing his leadership, commitment to community needs, and effectiveness in previous roles. Other speakers expressed concerns about undue political pressure on administrative matters and adherence to the city charter in a council manager form of government.

The meeting commenced with the call to order and a roll call establishing a quorum, noting the Mayor's late arrival. Following an invocation, discussions centered on agenda modifications, including the withdrawal of several items (9.14, 9.16, 9.17, 9.18) from the consent agenda for separate legislation review at the request of Commissioner Smith. An item regarding the urban development boundary was added to the consent agenda. Drainage and flooding updates for Eastern Shores and Highland Village were added as a discussion item at the request of Vice Mayor Smuckler. Further discussion involved deferring four grant-related items (9.5, 9.6, 9.7, 9.8) pending corrections to documentation discrepancies, which staff committed to resolving via scrivener's errors. A separate, controversial item concerning an investigation of elected officials was requested to be added to legislation but was ultimately deferred pending clarification from the video record. Discussions also addressed procedural concerns regarding adding items late to the agenda, the handling of grant items remaining on consent, and a motion to table new items like the city manager's performance review until the next meeting to allow for proper review, though this motion was met with disagreement.