By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Plans to build a new Publix Supermarket at the current site of the store across from City Hall along LeJeune Road, between Andalusia and Valencia avenues, will move forward after the grocer and city officials reached last-minute agreements to modify the previously approved site plan at the April 14 commission meeting.

A last-minute deal unlocks funding for preservation

While representatives for Publix outlined required changes to the 2024 approval emphasizing the need to keep the project moving, Mayor Vince Lago said negotiations held during breaks in the lengthy Commission meeting this week resulted in a significant win for the city: roughly $1.4 million dedicated to historic preservation.

Flood requirements drive design changes

The revisions stem largely from technical requirements. According to attorney Mario Garcia-Serra, who represents Publix, the project must be elevated due to its location within a flood zone and adjusted to reflect Miami-Dade County feedback on off-site roadway and bicycle improvements.

“The components of the project remain the same,” Garcia-Serra told commissioners, noting the plan still includes a state-of-the-art supermarket, enclosed parking garage, liquor store and a 20,000-square-foot public park. “What we are requesting today is a modification of certain conditions of approval which we cannot comply with,” he said, citing flood elevation standards and unresolved county requirements.

To meet FEMA regulations, the building will be raised above grade, increasing the roof height from roughly 36 feet to 42 feet and the architectural peak from 61 feet to 67 feet, but still well below the site’s allowable 190-foot limit. The elevation will require stairs and ramps to connect the sidewalk to the building, though Garcia-Serra stressed the project’s overall design and aesthetics remain unchanged.

County requirements complicate off-site improvements

Off-site improvements, including bike lanes and roadway modifications along Valencia Avenue, have proven more complicated. County officials have requested a citywide bicycle master plan but that is still in progress, and have not supported certain proposed traffic changes. Garcia-Serra said Publix remains willing to collaborate but warned the project should not be delayed by issues beyond its control.

“We cannot have the building permit held up based on those discussions,” he said.

Transferable development rights deliver $1.4 million for the city

Despite the challenges, negotiations produced a key concession: Publix will provide 35,000 square feet in transferable development rights (TDRs), which the city can sell to generate approximately $1.4 million for historic preservation efforts.

Lago praised the agreement, describing it as a major public benefit tied to the project.

“We’re going to put that money into a fund that will only be used for historic preservation,” the mayor said, suggesting it could support projects such as improvements at City Hall or other historic sites. He added that Publix would be publicly recognized for its contribution.

New park expands green space in the urban core

Lago also highlighted the broader impact of the development, particularly the addition of green space in the city’s urban core.

“This is going to be transformational,” he said, noting the new park will help expand the number of downtown parks from one to seven. “It’s an oasis of green space in the middle of the central business district.”

Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson supported the project but stressed the importance of continued coordination on pedestrian and bicycle safety.

“It takes a village to get these things done,” Anderson said, urging ongoing collaboration with the county to improve infrastructure and ensure safer access for residents, cyclists and people with disabilities.

Additional details discussed include allowing the park area to be used during construction and ensuring the park will ultimately be conveyed to the city in fee simple, guaranteeing it remains a permanent public space. Officials also clarified that a temporary certificate of occupancy (TCO) for the store would precede completion of the park.

The commission unanimously approved the ordinance on first reading, with a second reading expected next month.