Miami Historic and Environmental Preservation Board Special Meeting – October 13, 2026

The Miami Historic and Environmental Preservation Board (HEP) met in special session on October 13, 2026. The board approved routine items, heard public comment about a tree-removal appeal, continued two pending appeals to the November 3, 2026 regular meeting, denied one appeal, and received updates on city commission actions affecting prior HEP decisions. All formal votes were unanimous.

Routine Approvals and Procedural Matters

• Quorum was present; absence waivers were approved by voice vote.
• The minutes of the September 15, 2026 special meeting were approved by voice vote.
• The agenda was adjusted to allow item 2, a continuance request, to be taken up before item 1 after public comments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Tatiana Oyster, 3525 Royal Palm Avenue, raised procedural concerns about item 3 (3201 Day Avenue): she said the lack of details and possibly unmailed 500-foot notices made meaningful public comment difficult, and online comment had already closed. She described the property's old-growth gumbo limbo trees and urged the board to help preserve them.
• Denise Tobino, 2566 Trap Avenue, Coconut Grove, expressed full support for the appeal filed by Pauline Ben Kamun regarding proposed tree removals at 3201 Day Avenue and asked the board to grant it. She cited a $682.50 fee allegedly paid for required mailed notices that she said were not sent, and asked the board to confirm on the record or continue the hearing. She cited that 22 of the 26 trees on the property were approved for removal, 15 were rated fair or good by the applicant's arborist (including five native gumbo limbos), three adjoining trees were listed as requiring no protection despite root zones extending into the construction area, more than 300 feet of root barriers were proposed while no root pruning was planned, and some protection barriers were smaller than the arborist specified. She urged preservation of healthy trees, matching protection zones, safeguards for neighboring trees and roots, and an updated arborist assessment.

Noticing Report

• Staff reported that the Miami Herald advertisement ran at least 10 days in advance, the property was posted on September 28, 2026 at 3:31 p.m., and 235 mail notices were prepared and mailed, processed on September 25 and confirmed fulfilled on September 26. This contradicted the public speakers' claim that notices had not been sent.

Agenda Item 2 – Continuance of File ID 19888

• The appellant and opposing counsel, including attorney David Winker, requested a continuance because they had reached a verbal settlement and hoped to memorialize it, resulting in withdrawal of the appeal.
• The board voted unanimously to continue the item to the regularly scheduled HEP meeting on November 3, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at Miami City Hall, rather than schedule a second special meeting.

Agenda Item 1 – Appeal BD 2501673401, 1300 NW 36th Street (Minute Track ID 19353)

• Neither the appellant nor the applicant appeared. Staff reported that the parties had reached an agreement, that the appellant wanted to be heard, and that the applicant's on-site planting exceeded the required mitigation.
• The board voted unanimously to deny the appeal, removing the item from the agenda. The decision is final unless appealed to the Circuit Court within 15 days.

Agenda Item 3 – Tree Removal Appeal, 3201 Day Avenue

• Board members noted that the appellant had not appeared when the item was called; the item was continued for the board's convenience after staff confirmed that the required noticing had occurred.
• The board voted unanimously to continue the appeal to November 3, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at Miami City Hall.
• After the vote, Carla Colindres of Land Studio and Luis Marin, a representative of the owner, addressed the board. The board stated that any future representative must hold a power of attorney from the owner; no additional notice would be mailed because the item had already been duly noticed.

City Commission Appeals Update

• For 3736 Irvington Avenue, the city commission overturned the HEP board's ruling and allowed the removal of a live oak. Attorney David Winker indicated he intended to file a certiorari appeal, with a deadline on the Thursday following the meeting.
• For the Legion Park project, the decision was also upheld, the applicant had met all conditions, and the trees had already been removed.
• For the El Prado project, the parties reached an agreement.
• Staff also noted that the only appeal received timely for the November agenda was the one referenced by Mr. Calmus at the previous meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Item 2 (File ID 19888): continued to November 3, 2026 – unanimous roll call.
• Item 1 (Appeal BD 2501673401): appeal denied – unanimous roll call; final unless appealed within 15 days.
• Item 3 (3201 Day Avenue): continued to November 3, 2026 – unanimous roll call.
• Next regular HEP meeting: November 3, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., Miami City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive.