Remarks by Roberto J. Gonzalez
253 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 5 of 11
- Play at 57:58
“Prior to today's hearing, my office was contacted by some neighbors in regard to the subject property. However, my staff has not shared the contents of these communications with me. Therefore, I am able to be fair in considering this application, and I will base my decision only upon the evidence presented during the public hearing today. Thank you. And so I'm not completely opposed to this project. I do understand that there was a reduction made from 65 to 57. It was denied at community council. Why was it denied at community council? Were any of you folks present?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 58:49
“Mr. Chair, through you, if I may, I would like to hear what she has to say. Can you approach, please?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 59:07
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 59:21
“Well, from your perception of what happened, do you know what the conversation was? Why was it denied?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:00:15
“Do you know approximately how many people were present at that hearing?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:00:24
“Thank you so much. So I do have a few questions on the history because like I said, I'm not generally opposed, but I would like to understand the history of the property. So to the county attorney's office in 2001, there was a site plan profit on this property. What was the contemplated use of the subject property at that at that time? And I'm referring to the 2001 site plan. You're recognized.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:01:00
“For 107,000 square feet shopping center, is that correct? Correct. Now to staff, in 2004 there was a revised site plan for this property. What was the contemplated use of the subject property at that time? Still commercial use. For 50,934 square feet for a shopping center, five one story high retail buildings, is that correct? Correct. And I promise you I have a point and I'd like to discuss. Now lastly, in 2022 there was another revised site plan prepared for the property. What was the contemplated use to staff please? was a skilled nursing facility with 176 beds and that's the one that we…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:07:35
“So are these improvements happening regardless of whether this gets built or not?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:07:48
“Because, you know, you can also, I mean, going down that hypothetical line, I don't know how much that would actually help. I would love to hear from the traffic engineer, but you can also arguably go down Chrome because you're so close to Chrome. However, even if you did that, you know, eventually you need to get to the 836 or you need to get to, you know, either Doral, Coral Gables, downtown, wherever it is that you work. So it would cause congestion either on Kendall Drive or on 8th Street. And so that's my concern. If I can get your traffic expert to just explain those numbers.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:09:02
“I'm sorry to cut you off, and I promise I don't mean to be rude, but are you saying that, because this is what I thought, so we're not considering already existing congestion. We're only considering the congestion that would be provided should this be built. For the traffic analysis that you've done, sir.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:10:13
“Yes, and I appreciate your answer and the fact that you're being candid, but my Now another concern is raised where we're not considering the amount of congestion that already exists, but we're only considering the congestion that would be caused by this project moving forward, which is kind of exactly what seems to have been the conversation at the community council according to both the young lady that spoke earlier. Was there any study done whatsoever, traffic study whatsoever, was there any traffic study done that considered the congestion that already is part of this area?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:12:14
“Look, I don't disagree with you that a center like that that has incoming and outgoing ambulances wouldn't have caused more traffic. But I don't think I would have supported that either way. because of the same issues. Candidly, I'm inclined to deny, but I would be willing to defer in order to further study the traffic congestion situation to try to figure out how we can alleviate the congestion in the area that already exists while adding 57 more homes. But if there's really nothing to be done, it might it might just be better to move forward with the denial. Because on the other hand, I…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:14:30
“And I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to move to defer, but I do want to be clear that I will not approve something or move to approve something that will not take into consideration the existing congestion and existing traffic specifically for this area. And I will say, not only are you a brilliant attorney, but you have a brilliant team with you as well. You guys know that this area is very different when it comes to traffic than all of Miami-Dade County. Because there's no public transportation, because there's no places where folks can work. So just want to put that on your radar. All…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:15:41
“Regional. Okay. Regional. I made comments at a previous hearing regarding a separate project, but I made comments very similarly about just because this area might not seem affected, surrounding areas and surrounding traffic will affect that will affect that area and be directly affected so this is a more extensive traffic study this is why i'm willing to defer it if you guys are willing to tackle um trying to solve the issue absolutely you would be happy to so with that mr child i would move to defer all right so the deferral we have a motion we have a second by commissioner lopez on the…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 18, 2026
- Play at 1:29:08
“Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm not an I told you so type of person, but Oliver is. And I do remember that meeting very, very clearly. And I do remember you saying that. And I do remember us having an entire conversation on that. And although it's easy to play Monday morning quarterback, now we're here. And what are we going to do to move forward? I do have some questions to lay the foundation as to how we got here. And I know that the administration is ready to answer these questions. But I think it's important to understand how we got here so that we can get to the proper solution and really…”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:30:47
“And what specific date or around what date was that?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:31:36
“When did the closing occur on the property? October 2025, Commissioner. October of 2025. Did the county submit an offer on the property prior to October of 2025? No.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:32:02
“Before you answer this to the county attorneys, can we get into why didn't we submit an offer?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:32:56
“Thank you, Chief. Was the possibility of imminent domain contemplated prior to the purchase? And if it was, why did the county not proceed with imminent domain at that time? And I'm specifically trying to get to if imminent domain made sense prior to our September 18, 2025 special meeting and Why didn't the administration come to the board at that time seeking to institute eminent domain proceedings prior to the September 30th closing on the property?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:34:19
“And that was actually my next question. And I think if you could please just clarify it, because you just answered it. But if you could just clarify it once more, because we gave the administration the authority to proceed with them in a domain should the negotiations not work. And so, Why do we have this before us today where we're saying again, yes, move forward with eminent domain? If you could just explain it.”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:35:03
“Got it. So in the original memo, the parcel just wasn't correct?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:35:17
“Got it. And to the port or to the chief, whoever feels more comfortable answering the question, of course, always through the chair, but Were alternate sites, including on-port sites, thought of to be viable prior to the closing”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:36:32
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:37:35
“Wait, so your analysis came to the conclusion that there was viability, but there had to be, I guess, business contemplations. but you determined that there was viability?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026
- Play at 1:38:48
“And when I hear you say all those things, and I like how you ended it because I'm thinking that there are certain considerations that need to be looked at specifically with financing and timing. Is that correct?”
Board of County Commissioners · Jun 16, 2026