By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Over the last 18 months, members of the Coral Gables Parking Advisory Board have repeatedly criticized city decisions that they say encourage overdevelopment and ignore the board’s recommendations. But during the board’s Aug. 5 meeting, those frustrations boiled over, with members openly questioning whether their volunteer service has any impact and suggesting that decisions affecting parking and development are effectively made long before public meetings are held.

A routine Mobility Hub update reopens old wounds

The discussion was sparked by Parking and Mobility Services Director Monica Beltran’s routine update on the city’s forthcoming Mobility Hub, where she said staff continues preparing for construction by recertifying Garage No. 4, relocating city vehicles and creating additional parking capacity to soften the loss of spaces during construction. She also said city staff hopes to soon display mock-ups of the garage’s exterior façade and decorative ceiling treatment for board members to review.

That update prompted board member Lisa DeTournay, one of the Mobility Hub’s most outspoken critics, to revisit her longstanding objections to the project.

“I’m going to voice my opinion again,” she said, noting that while the project is now moving forward, she believes years of resident opposition have been ignored. DeTournay said that since becoming active in city affairs in 2005, she could not recall a single major development opposed by large numbers of neighbors that was ultimately stopped.

“It’s very defeating,” she said, adding that residents repeatedly speak against projects only to see them approved anyway.

Beltran responded that while she understood residents’ frustrations, the city commission had already approved the project, leaving staff focused on making it as functional as possible.

“My role as director is to get the best I can to service people the best we can,” Beltran said, explaining that her responsibility is improving projects once elected officials make policy decisions.

Years of opposition, and a sense that nothing changes

The exchange continued as DeTournay criticized the scale of the Mobility Hub and broadened her comments to what she described as a pattern of increasingly dense development throughout Coral Gables.

She wondered whether meaningful deliberations occur during public meetings, saying projects often appear to have been decided beforehand and suggesting discussions may occur outside public view. She also cited the recently approved Crystal Residences project as another example of development she believes exceeded what surrounding neighborhoods should accommodate.

The debate echoed concerns the board has raised for months.

In March, members questioned the Mobility Hub’s size, convertible design and compatibility with the city’s character, while in June Beltran urged members to shift their attention toward improving a project that had already received final approval.

Board members say their advice goes unheard

Board member Blanca Famadas said the frustration extends beyond the Mobility Hub itself and centers on advisory boards feeling ignored.

“They decided to have advisory boards made up by residents, and the voices are not heard,” Famadas said.

She pointed to a previous development near the post office on Salcedo Street that board members believed would not eliminate parking spaces. Instead, she said, curb extensions, or bump-outs, were ultimately installed, reducing on-street parking despite assurances to the contrary.

“We give our time to have these discussions and be able to represent the constituency of the residents,” Famadas said. “And then something happens afterwards.”

Board member Ada Holian agreed, saying years of similar experiences had created growing cynicism.

“I have to agree,” Holian said. “It’s now just become so cynical… the citizens have never won.”

City staff explains where parking spaces are lost

Beltran pushed back on suggestions that developers were solely responsible for the loss of parking, explaining that many curb extensions stem from city landscaping requirements rather than developer requests. In several cases, she said, developers actually prefer retaining parking spaces because they benefit their projects.

Instead, Beltran said, her department works to reduce parking losses whenever possible by negotiating smaller bump-outs or other design changes while complying with city requirements.

“You’re going to lose”

Near the end of the discussion, DeTournay recounted sitting next to a Chicago developer during a recent City Commission meeting on Crystal Residences. After DeTournay told the developer she opposed the project, the developer simply replied, “You’re going to lose,” DeTournay said.

The comment, she said, reflected years of unsuccessful efforts fighting projects she believes diminish Coral Gables and had left her wondering whether it was time to stop trying altogether. Beltran encouraged her to remain engaged, saying city staff would continue working to protect parking and mitigate the impacts of future development wherever possible.