On February 7, 2017, the Town Council of the Town of Miami Lakes directed the Town Manager to explore and return to a workshop with recommendations regarding information sessions conducted by an applicant/developer that has made a zoning application subject to public hearing before the Town Council. The idea was to create an informal setting where the public could learn about a proposed project in advance of its presentation at a Town Council hearing. There currently are no provisions within the Land Development Code that provide for such informational sessions.
On June 27, 2017, at a publicly advertised workshop of the Town Council, staff presented a recommended approach regarding “Developer Information Sessions.” After some discussion, consensus was reached requiring such sessions to be conducted in an informal format, at a site preferably at, or as near as possible to, the project site or if not feasible, at Town Hall; for all projects subject to Town Council consideration that involve projects that are equal to or greater than 50 residential units and/or 50,000 square feet of commercial area. The cost of the developer information session will be paid by the developer. Any staff or direct costs incurred by the Town will be reimbursed by the developer through the cost recovery process. The proposed ordinance is reflective of that consensus.