Doral OKs zoning change after mayor’s probe wraps

The Doral City Council approved a zoning change Wednesday for the development of a five-acre tract formerly owned by the mayor’s children. The tract had sparked a debate over a potential conflict of interest.

The Miami-Dade Ethics Commission found earlier this month that Mayor Luigi Boria had not violated any ethics code. The council delayed the vote by six months, until an opinion had been released.

“This was not personal matter but more of a public trust issue,” said council member Christi Fraga.

Developer Grand Floridian plans to build a 66-home, gated community on Northwest 107th Avenue at 68th Street. The starting price for homes is $1 million.

In June, Venezuelan businessman Juan Carlos Tovar bought the remaining 50 percent of shares of Grand Floridian from Boria’s children, Alex and Lorena. To do this, Tovar borrowed $3.6 million from them. El Nuevo Herald’s review of documents show Boria gave his children $5 million to buy their share of land, although Boria has denied this.

Residents criticized the government’s deal last year to develop about 6,000 new homes within two years, as previously reported. They said Boria’s kids stand to profit because Grand Floridian planned to build a luxury residential area in the city. [Miami Herald] — Mark Maurer