By Coral Gables Gazette staff
A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge on Monday asked the City of Coral Gables to hold off on approving zoning changes tied to the proposed University Drive dog park until he can rule on an emergency motion seeking to temporarily bar the city from taking any action under Resolution No. 2025-452, the measure authorizing development of the off-leash dog park, according to sources familiar with the courtroom proceedings.
Emergency injunction hearing continues
Judge Joseph Perkins heard testimony Monday afternoon on an emergency motion for a temporary injunction filed by the University Green Neighbors Association and resident Jose Val Cohen, who are seeking to stop the city from moving forward with the project at 520 University Drive while their broader lawsuit proceeds.
According to sources familiar with the case, Perkins asked the city to refrain from taking action on the zoning amendment until he issues a ruling. Closing arguments could not be completed before the court’s scheduled time expired and were continued until Tuesday morning, just hours before the Coral Gables City Commission is set to meet.
It remains unclear whether commissioners will formally defer the item to a future meeting or simply delay discussion until later Tuesday while awaiting the court’s decision.
The Gazette will update this story as the court and commission proceedings continue Tuesday.
The hearing began at 2 p.m. Monday at the Miami-Dade Justice Center and stretched well beyond the scheduled two-hour block as multiple witnesses testified, including members of the University Green Neighbors Association, which has led opposition to the proposed off-leash dog park.
Zoning change remains on commission agenda
Tuesday’s City Commission agenda included the second reading of an ordinance amending 1972 Ordinance No. 1952 to remove restrictions limiting the city-owned parcel to overflow parking for the Coral Gables Library and War Memorial Youth Center. The amendment would also eliminate a provision requiring the property to revert to single-family zoning if no longer needed for parking, clearing the way for the proposed public park and dog park.
Commissioners are also scheduled to consider a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Melissa Castro that would require mailed notice to surrounding property owners before future park construction or major park renovations. Castro first sought to delay the zoning amendment until the litigation concluded during the commission’s June 2 meeting, but her motion failed on a 3-2 vote before the ordinance advanced on first reading.
Lawsuit challenges approval last year
The underlying lawsuit challenges the legality of the commission’s November 2025 approval of the dog park and argues the city cannot proceed with development unless the decades-old zoning restrictions governing the property are lawfully changed. The injunction request seeks to preserve the status quo while the court considers those claims.
This Post Has 28 Comments
I support the Dog Park.
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
me too
Do you live around this proposed dog facility?
Otherwise, it’s not up to you and I. I live only a quarter mile from the proposed idea and may possibly use such this facility for my dogs. However, it’s not my decision (or anyone else’s) to build and pay for a such a facility bordering single family homes. Unless all those living around it support it. And as of now it doesn’t sound like everyone around it supports it, let alone 90%.
AMEN. These are inconsiderate selfish people supporting what they want, not what those affected want. Let us move one next to you and see all those supporting it whine and cry against it.
Then I do not support you. Do you live there? NO. So you and the 3 amigos are showing your lack of support for our residents. Disgusting
I guess we can call you another arrogant person who does not respect residents that this park will affect. This is our City and it is shameful that a lawsuit has to be lodged to protect our neighborhood. This will not be forgotten.
Dog parks are great, but NOT in people’s backyards!!!
Do the dog park in the Youth Center property! There’s plenty of space in the front. This is ridiculous!! Such a waste of time and our $$$!!! Shame on the Commissioners and Mayor who are wasting our time and $! Shame!
The design includes 25-foot-wide native landscape buffer to screen the park from neighboring single-family homes. This is not in anyone’s backyard
I love dogs. I love parks. But, I don’t not live around the proposed changes.
.
Only those who live around this ‘proposed use’ can decide its fate. Nobody else, including a commissioner or staff employee. Unless this is unanimously supported by all if the single family homes surrounding such a ‘proposed use’ — it should not be a consideration. If a commissioner or staffer wants this so badly, they need to invest time in the living rooms of the surrounding neighbors and get their full approval first.
.
Otherwise, this proposed idea should not go anywhere.
Well said my friend
Coral Gables residents support community engagement. Anderson’s petition never stated where the dog park would be built and the overwhelming opposition by adjacent residents to the proposed Youth Center dog park has been ignored causing residents to sue the City.
Coral Gables residents support the City making decisions based on supply and demand. We have already exceeded the 2-dog park goal set forth on p. 367 of the City Budget and there is little or no use of the current dog parks at Salvadore and the Underline. Build another dog park only after the demand for a dog park exceeds the current unused dog park supply.
Coral Gables residents support elected officials spending City money in a fiduciary manner. It costs $150,000 annually to maintain the Salvadore dog park per p. 366 of the Budget. The City is facing an economic crisis because in addition to its existing obligations (A) discretionary dollars will decrease by $11.4M with the change to the homestead tax exemption, (B) new unplanned $1M cost to maintain the Underline property, (C) borrowing $70M to build a parking garage (i.e., the Mobility Hub) almost doubling our outstanding $99.6M bond amount, (D) the $11.2M cost for the Ponce Circle Park, and (E) purchasing art for $1M for a parking garage! The desire for Lago, Anderson and Lara to spend money on a new dog park means either the City spends less dollars on existing services (so we have less services) or we pay more dollars for existing services which is a tax increase. I hope Lara’s knowledge of managing a bankrupt company will not be needed to address the City’s economic crisis that Lago and his clan are creating.
Mr.Wells: appreciate the summation of the costs. I lose perspective when I look at projects individually. Not that it makes a difference because once we get it into our heads that we “must” have dog parks, bike lanes (in a heavily trafficked City with narrow streets) a Mobility Hub and high rises we have a very hard time changing course. Or, we get excited by a novelty like the Underline which we are now told by the County we have to pay up to maintain. I’m still wondering what happened to the Envision Biltmore website the City set up a good 3 or more years ago that reads “The City of Coral Gables along with town planning and urban design consultants Dover, Kohl & Partners are leading an effort to reimagine Biltmore Way! “. Today I saw crews working on the Granada Fountain and was pleased: taking care of what makes CG so special and not say Audrey ,the man eating flower, on Segovia. I am of an older generation so maybe I’m out of step with the time. Good look to the residents fighting the dog park.
Well said my friend
How do you like the fact that all city employees, past and present, and all volunteer advisory board members get free golf at Granada and Biltmore golf courses?
The Mayor and his two obedient allies on the Commission are ignoring a Florida Attorney General opinion that blocks such freebies. Increasingly the Commission thinks we work for it. Taxpayers are funding all these rip offs.
Build a dog park by the huge UM lot that was just secured. Where it is safe, versus on a busy street that will cause major safety issues with kids crossing and dogs escaping causing injuries ! Cancel 520 University Dog Park
Again, I am totally sick of the audacity autocratic King Lago and his minions are trying to pull off. No where would a Mayor push an issue that is so unaccepted, that a lawsuit is lodged against the city with high costs. What is with you? Why are you so bent on this park and hurting the surrounding neighborhood? Why are you so hateful? This is so out of hand and unacceptable. Bow out and leave their neighborhood alone. The other parks are NOT being used much as we are there. Tell the residents you will respect their wishes and stop your arrogance. You are one true ogre who should not be a mayor. And then there is the cost with the HUB, circle and everything else. You lack fiscal responsibility to your City and all this will follow you to any other political position you aspire to obtain. You will be known as the autocratic king who does not support its residents, only what he wants.
I am very concerned that none of the above respondents mentioned the library. We must be supportive of EDUCATION of young and old – and all in between. The library desperately needs the additional parking area that the land across the road offers. A few times recently I could not find a space to park, so was forced to return home without entering the library. Sad…..I like dogs, but education for all ages is more important and our beautifully remodeled library interior offers it – if we could park our cars conveniently.
I am very concerned that none of the above respondents mentioned the library. I like dogs, but EDUCATION of young and old – and all in between is more important. A few times recently I could not find a space, so had to return home without visiting our library, with its beautifully remodeled main room. The additional parking across University is desperately needed. Why’ is that so hard for some to understand?
Enough with the dog parks! The new Chewy park is great and less than one mile away located in a non-residential area. How about prioritizing the basics like finally re-paving Biltmore Way?
Miracle Mile is so vacant at this point. It’s a total eyesore. Let’s put a dog park somewhere near the mile. Maybe then dog-centric/welcoming businesses could open on the mile. I don’t understand why a dog park is being shoved into a spot next to homes.
No one understands why it is SO IMPERATIVE that a dog park be placed abutting homes!
Even more important is the question of why it is SO IMPERATIVE that the protective reverter clause on that property needs to be removed by the city???
Think about it. With the amount of INCOMPATIBLE DEVELOPMENT occurring all over the city, this seems to be following a pattern. Removing the protective clause which would require it to remain compatible single family housing, opens it up to whatever NEFARIOUS plan “the city” has up its sleeve.
King Lago, Anderson and Lara are just proving how arrogant they really are. To go behind the residents who had to open a law suit against a dog park next to their homes, refuse to listen and support them, and then have the nerve to try and change the protective clause behind our backs. shows what lowlife disgusting people these 3 are. Trying to change the playing field before this is brought up before a judge is bad, but for the judge to tell them to stop it, is downright horrible. Please someone start a recall of these resident haters.
No conscience, no ethics, no courage, no shame, no honor, no integrity.
No one’s safe from city hall.
Don’t get in their way.
~Time to go.
By the way, there’s plenty of open space for a mixed people and dog area along Le Jeune Road and Granello Avenue, that is slated for still more concrete massing between the “Grand Living” and Ponce/Gables residences.
When and where will the “city beautiful” draw any kind of line ?
The City will draw the line when we throw out King Lago and his 2 puppets Anderson and Lara. Elections can not be soon enough. We need to make sure anyone we elect is against further development and will support residents and businesses. These 3 do not. This will go down as an administration that destroyed the City with overbuilding and autocratic rule. They have taken away the light and open space with buildings that do not belong. Changed zoning to thank their contributors by giving developers what they want. Between the Garden and the dog park, you 3 have gone against what your residents want and have created law suits from residents. How shameful can you get.. We will never forget the mess you have made and how Coral Gables west of US1 is totally unrecognizable. You 3 have changed the soul of our beautiful City.
As immeasurably obnoxious and disgusting as the city dump.
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