By Coral Gables Gazette staff

The Coral Gables City Commission will take up a series of interrelated land-use decisions on Tuesday, April 14 that together will define the next phase of development along the South Dixie Highway corridor, while also revisiting a controversial overhaul of golf policies that drew sustained resident backlash last month.

At the center of the agenda is a coordinated set of items tied to the University Station Rapid Transit Overlay District and a proposed mixed-use development known as The Mark. The package includes amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan and zoning code, a proposed alley vacation at the development site, and final site plan approval for the project itself.

Taken together, the items represent more than a routine zoning update. They form a sequence of actions that would increase allowable density, expand the overlay district, modify site conditions, and authorize a specific project within that framework. The votes are scheduled to be heard in close succession during the meeting, underscoring their connection.

The Comprehensive Plan amendment would permit higher residential density within the overlay district, while the zoning changes would implement those allowances and extend the district to additional properties, including 6100 Caballero Boulevard. A companion item would vacate a 45-foot-wide public alley at 1250 South Dixie Highway, the site of The Mark, clearing the way for site configuration changes tied to the project. The final step is approval of The Mark’s site plan, which calls for two eight-story towers with residential units and ground-floor commercial space.

City officials have framed the overlay as a mechanism to retain local control over development near Metrorail stations in the face of Miami-Dade County’s Rapid Transit Zone, which allows developers to bypass municipal review. The April 14 agenda represents the most consequential set of actions to date under that framework, moving from policy to implementation to project approval in a single meeting.

Golf policy returns to the agenda

The commission is also scheduled to revisit its recent changes to Granada Golf Course operations, which eliminated longstanding unlimited-play memberships and altered pricing and access rules. The March decision prompted significant pushback from regular players and residents, leading commissioners to bring forward a series of adjustments and transitional measures.

Items on the April 14 agenda include a one-year program allowing certain longtime members to continue under modified terms, revisions to fee structures, and changes to tee-time allocation designed to balance public access with course availability.

The set of proposals reflects an effort by the commission to stabilize the policy after its initial rollout, while maintaining elements of the new structure aimed at managing demand and increasing revenue. The discussion is expected to revisit many of the issues raised during the earlier debate, including equity of access, pricing, and the role of the course as a public asset.

Development modifications and approvals

In addition to the overlay-related items, the commission will consider modifications to previously approved development projects, including proposals affecting Regency Parc and the Publix on Le Jeune Road redevelopment.

At Regency Parc, commissioners will review requests that would allow a temporary certificate of occupancy before completion of certain public improvements, including a park component tied to the project, with a performance bond proposed in place of completed park delivery as the guarantee. The proposal raises questions about the sequencing of private occupancy and delivery of public benefits.

The Publix-related items include revisions tied to flood zone requirements and adjustments to prior conditions, including modifications to traffic and bicycle infrastructure obligations. These changes reflect ongoing negotiations between developers and the city as projects move from approval to implementation.

Other business

The agenda also includes ratification of a collective bargaining agreement with the Coral Gables Fraternal Order of Police, covering the period from October 1, 2025 through September 30. The agenda materials do not summarize the terms of the agreement, leaving details such as compensation changes to be reviewed in the supporting documents.

Additional items address procurement, advisory board appointments and administrative matters.