Remarks by Steven D. Losner
633 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 25 of 26
“Well, you know, if they, if we ask them, for example, give us the closest intersection to your job. Wherever that is, kind of that, that hot spot map. Yeah, how do you get there? Yeah, where do you live? Do you live east of US 1 or east of the Turnpike? Or west, or west of US 1? Where do you go and how do you get there?”
“I don't know that they do, but maybe they could help fund it. maybe i mean we give them funding but the point is is let's let's ask what already exists it may be supplementary in nature but let's not ignore the data that may be out there thank you let's be collaborative with the effort you know and i i i filled in the mayor's coalition last week with you know where we were going and what my thought process were and the edc was there and and you know there was no mention that they had that data either You know, for me, it's kind of like one of those, wow, I could have had a V8 moments. We're…”
“All right. So we're almost at the end, but let's tidy things up and have a motion to extend to 9 o'clock.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“Thank you. Okay, yeah, I've only got six minutes. Y'all burned up my time on purpose, didn't you? Okay, so Council Fletcher, I know several weeks ago we had a meeting, a Sunshine meeting that was initiated by you to talk about putting some guardrails in place for the use of council discretionary funds. So assuming that's not out the window, not out the window and i'll be bringing it up during our budget discussions budget discussions to establish some guidelines and to the manager i believe this is in your purview i'd really like some policy and direction distributed to council and council…”
“Well, but no, this is private practice. this has nothing to do with the county services and and we haven't forgotten that but that would be the opportunity to locate offices in spaces that are no longer that not now permitted for new veterinarians yes all right thank you all good night”
“Order for the city of Homestead. Still 05/20/2026, and it is now 07:15PM. Madam clerk, can we have a roll call, please?”
“Here. Okay. All right. Director Storch, do we have any additions, deletions or deferrals from this agenda? No.”
“No. Additions, deletions, or deferrals. So first we have the minutes of February 18 before us. Moved. Second.”
“And seconded. All in favor? Second. And also the April 22 minutes. Moved and seconded.”
“Okay. So Mayor? Yes. Do we need to discuss these now or can we please push them on to the council meeting? We we could do that.”
“We could just vote to to push them on and have a more full comprehensive discussion at the regular council meeting. I think I'd rather do that than we can get some of these other people to Right. But we still have to do it in the order. Got it. So that would be tab.”
“All right. So we're going to open So I think we've all been briefed. We understand what this is about with respect to tab four. So let's open the public hearing for any public comment or, you know, if the applicant wishes to come forward, I understand we'll have a more comprehensive discussion at the council meeting. But let me open the public comment on this item on tab four.”
“If you wish to speak, come on down. Give us your name and address for the record. Try to position the microphone where we can hear you.”
“Thank you. Anyone else? Let me just say to you know, it's great to have an audience that's that's paying attention. Understand that as the property is currently zoned, Right? And this this conversion would be up to 15 units per acre.”
“And it's from what I understand that this property owner has come in with site plan approval for townhouses, not apartments, even though the category is r three apartments. The site plan that has been submitted that we've not seen yet is with respect to townhouses. You may have heard of the state statutes that were enacted a few years ago generally called Live Local. These properties currently enjoy a business zoning. Under the state Live Local Act, a property owner has the right to come in and in this case, if they can do it without any variances, build high rise apartments of up to 31 units…”
“So as perverted as it sounds, this is minimizing the the top end of what could under state law that ties our hands here from saying no what what could be. I just I want everybody to to understand that that nuance there that Tallahassee and this is not just unique to Homestead. The the actions of the state legislature three years ago really preempted, as we call it legally, tied the hands of of municipalities from denying certain uses. That if they could figure out a way to put 31 apartments per acre on this 20 acres, they have the right under state law to do that. So if it's any consolation,…”
“I don't think any one of us up here disagree with you about the road infrastructure. Some of that is out of our control. Those are our county roads. We've solved the wastewater problem. The the first step of this project was taken almost three years ago now and because of sewer issues has not been able to to go forward.”
“We the city has the water capacity and it also now has the sewer capacity. Road issues are somewhat of of a county issue. They pay impact fees, and we have a good dialogue going right now with our district eight commissioner about recouping some $60,000,000 that were paid by developments in Homestead to Miami Dade County for roadwork. So I just I just wanted everybody to understand that, you know, that's more backdrop here than we're potentially popping down 15 units per acre in what used to be farm fields. So is there anyone else from the public wishing to speak on this matter?”
“So I'll close the public hearing. And, again, this will go for more, you know, full discussion on the council agenda later this evening. We need a motion on tab three first, four. Tab four.”
“Right. Okay. Then two. Okay. So I need a motion on tab four, which is the comp plan text amendment.”
“Moved by vice mayor Bailey. Second by Councilman Fletcher. Any final questions or comments from I guess we're still board. We're not council members yet. We'll change those hats at the next meeting.”
“Alright. So let's have a roll call vote on tab four.”
“Reluctantly, yes. The motion carries. Now we need to go to tab three. Move by vice chair Bailey. Second.”