By Coral Gables Gazette staff
A routine Coral Gables Planning and Zoning Board meeting on August 13 took a sharp turn when members clashed over how Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado was treated during a prior meeting in July.
Regalado, whose District 7 includes parts of Coral Gables, appeared before the board last month to support the University Station Rapid Transit District Overlay. The proposal would allow high-rise, mixed-use development across from the University of Miami Metrorail Station. While numerous residents spoke against the plan, Board Member Sue Kawalerski voted no — but only after repeatedly questioning Regalado and urging her to slow the project to address neighborhood concerns.
The exchange grew pointed, with Regalado telling Kawalerski, “I’m just not in the mood to be berated by you at 8:34 in the evening.”
At the August 13 meeting, Board Member Robert Behar brought the matter back. “I want to bring something up that has been bothering me since the last meeting,” he said. “Sue, I have come to like you over the last two years but as a board we need to be more respectful to guests and (even) more to elected officials. Last meeting, I felt and still feel that you went after an elected official in a manner that in my opinion was disrespectful. You actually berated the commissioner, to the point that she even brought it up.”
Behar said the episode reflected poorly on the city and the board. “Unfortunately, we have tarnished the city. I hope we, as a board, do better in the future.”
Kawalerski rejected that view. “We have an obligation here, to residents and to the city, but what we experienced as result of that commissioner’s actions was totally disrespectful to this city — allowing a developer who was denied by us to jump us and go directly to the county,” she said. “I am representing residents, not representing elected officials. I represent what those residents in the audience came to express. If this board doesn’t agree with residents, what are we doing here?”
The disagreement quickly escalated into a direct back-and-forth.
“You can represent residents, just don’t berate (elected officials). You can’t be disrespectful. You were really screaming at her, that’s not right. I am not going to tolerate you or any member of this board doing that again,” Behar said, raising his voice.
“Robert, what you are doing right now is screaming,” Kawalerski replied. “I was stating facts, asking questions on behalf of residents. (And I am) a little disappointed in board members here, because we were looking at a pimple on the butt of an elephant instead of looking at the elephant.”
Behar praised Regalado for helping keep the project from seeking maximum density. Kawalerski countered that she didn’t have to vote for it at all.
“She could have done that but the way we convey that message to her has to be in a proper and polite manner, not the way you did,” Behar said.
Board Chair Eibi Aizenstat stepped in, agreeing the July meeting “deteriorated in a way it should not have.” He reminded members, “We all have opinions and can get heated, but we must show a certain demeanor and respect to individuals. We have to listen to residents, but at same time respect is what is most important.”
“This city was not being respected, sorry,” Kawalerski said.
Other business
Earlier in the meeting, the board reviewed a proposal to redevelop two small apartment buildings in the 600 block of Anastasia Avenue, across from University Baptist Church. The new owner, The Terraces at Anastasia, LLC which Jorge and Daniel Lopez control, bought the properties from the church earlier this year and seeks to replace them with eight modern townhomes. The change would require rezoning from the current Special Use designation — applied when the church purchased the properties — back to a multi-family classification.
Several nearby residents voiced concern over the loss of green space. Although the project would keep the same number of units, its footprint would be significantly larger. Some board members suggested the developer consider a redesign, noting that the Board of Architects would ultimately approve the design. Planning and Zoning will vote on the zoning change at a later meeting.
The board also recommended the city commission clarify what qualifies as an excused absence for board members and how those determinations are made. The discussion followed a proposed ordinance stating that missing two of three consecutive meetings without an excused absence would trigger automatic dismissal.
Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff
Originally established in 1996 and relaunched as a digital publication in February 2025, the Coral Gables Gazette is an independent local news organization dedicated to factual, objective and accountable community journalism. Our newsroom reports on the people, policies, institutions and events shaping Coral Gables, Florida, providing residents with timely, informative coverage of the issues affecting their community. Our reporting includes City Hall, local government, municipal elections, public spending, real estate development, business, education, arts and culture, and neighborhood affairs throughout the City Beautiful. We follow City Commission decisions, examine public records and report on the businesses, organizations and individuals contributing to Coral Gables. We believe informed residents are essential to a healthy, engaged community. Stories published under the Coral Gables Gazette News Staff byline are prepared or compiled by the publication's editorial team. We strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency and clear distinctions between news reporting, opinion and advertising. Readers are encouraged to submit news tips, corrections, editorial inquiries and story suggestions through our Contact page and learn more about our standards through our Editorial Policy.
Expected of Behar, the typical “rubber stamp” board appointee. So common in our city. In total agreement with Kawalerski that the interests of our city and residents are the priority. Elected officials exist because of us, the voters. They are not above any of us and must respect and advocate for our interests, not ones who serve them well and counter to ours. Thank you, Ms. Kawalerski, for not being the typicsl rubber stamp.
Sue’s abrasive style isn’t new—it’s been her trademark for over a decade. Despite this, she’s been handed board appointments time and again, and anyone who’s disagreed with her, elected or not, has gotten the same treatment.
Sue’s mistreatment of staff, residents and electeds was ignored when she wasn’t directing it to Lago or his agenda—now her behavior is front-page news.
Excellent reporting! Thanks for this.
Excellent reporting!
Sue’s job is to represent the citizens of Coral Gables. Thank You Sue.
Sounds like Sue is all college and no high school.
Sounds like Regalado was bought off again by developers. Her history speaks for itself, going back to her school board days, where the KB mayor paid her off for MAST. Sounds like she’s in bed with the commissioner once again.