Billionaire Jeffrey Soffer’s controversial plan to upgrade the pool deck of his Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort is barreling ahead.
Florida lawmakers approved land use legislation Friday that includes a provision allowing Soffer’s Aventura-based Fontainebleau Development to bypass approval by the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board after fierce opposition from city activists, elected officials and residents, the Miami Herald reported.
The measure, drafted by Doral State Rep. David Borrero, with assistance from a Fontainebleau Development lobbyist, forces cities to administratively approve variances and special exceptions that apply to 20 percent of land occupied by “large destination resorts.”
Such properties are defined as hotels with more than 500 rooms and an average occupancy rate of at least 70 percent for the past three years, which applies to Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
The measure sunsets in five years, but only for the application phase — not construction. State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat from Miami, proposed an amendment to strip the Fontainebleau provision from the land use legislation, but it failed by a 20-17 vote.
The move follows repeated delays by the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board, which put off a third vote in February on Fontainebleau’s plan at the developer’s request.
Soffer’s firm wants to add cabanas and a steel-and-aluminum waterslide tower at the 1,593-key resort at 4441 Collins Avenue. During the three board meetings, the city commission chambers were packed with residents holding anti-water park signs and demanding a vote.
Fabian Basabe, a Miami Beach Republican whose district includes the Fontainebleau, blasted the project as another example of overdevelopment straining infrastructure.
“What our community is asking for is responsible redevelopment that fixes what we already have before placing even more pressure on traffic, water and stormwater systems,” he told the Miami Herald.
At a news conference last week, Miami Beach residents and elected officials, including Mayor Steven Meiner, voiced their opposition to the measure.
“Local governments are closest to the people they serve and are best positioned to balance economic development with the needs of residents, traffic realities, infrastructure capacity and the protection of our historic landmarks,” Meiner said. “Miami Beach respects the role of the state, however decisions that directly impact our community should continue to include meaningful local review and public input.” —Francisco Alvarado