Land Use and Zoning

Holland & Knight has extensive knowledge in all aspects of land use, zoning and environmental law, from zoning and entitlements to acquisitions and project development, as well as compliance assessments and environmental impact reports. Our attorneys and professionals have experience addressing issues related to water quality, due diligence, entitlements, wetlands, historic preservation, health and safety, hazardous materials, biotechnology, insurance and litigation.

REPRESENTING PAN AM FLIGHT ACADEMY IN ZONING FOR PILOT TRAINING FACILITY

Holland & Knight advised Pan Am Flight Academy in connection with the zoning rights for a flight simulation training center in Hialeah, Florida. The Hialeah City Council passed a conditional-use permit for the flight school on first reading in August 2021, giving the academy permission to operate within a warehouse not typically used for educational training. A second and final vote is scheduled for September 2022. The flight school would occupy 67,594 square feet at 1125 Northeast Eighth Street, part of the 19-acre Miami Axis Park. It would host 20 flight simulators with capacity for up to 60 pilots, including instructors, and could accommodate up to 20 instructors and three staff members at one time.

The project will contribute to the city's economic prosperity and viability, provide access to a globally recognized academy for world-class flight training, and generate additional economic synergies between the city of Hialeah and Miami International Airport.

ASSISTING IN ZONING RIGHTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SWEETWATER

Holland & Knight represented the client in connection with the zoning rights for Lil Abner Apartments II in Sweetwater, Florida. The construction for the 244-unit affordable housing complex will complement and share some amenities with the neighboring Lil Abner Apartments that were completed in 2013. The apartments will target low-income senior citizens and help serve the fast-growing elderly population in western Miami-Dade County as rents in market-rate apartments increase. Based on the project's proposed development program, it will serve to contribute to the city's economic prosperity and viability, and will address one of its highest priorities: meeting the housing needs of the elderly population.

PRO BONO REPRESENTATION OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN CAMPUS EXPANSION

The Learning Experience is a school that has promoted a safe and peaceful environment for children and adults with developmental disabilities since 1972. Holland & Knight provided comprehensive pro bono legal representation in order for the school to expand and provide additional educational opportunities for developmentally disabled students in Miami.

The Learning Experience sought an expansion to its existing campus located at 5651 Southwest 82nd Avenue. Holland & Knight immediately went to work to represent The Learning Experience with a comprehensive pro bono representation that included a multipronged approach, as detailed below:

• Determining development program viability. The team presented the preliminary vision of the expansion to

Miami-Dade County, which entailed the development of a new academic building, and an increase in overall student enrollment. The team also worked with project design professionals to ensure the final site plan adhered to the Miami-Dade County zoning regulations.

• Navigating zoning regulations. To meet the requirements of the proposed expansion, Miami Learning

Experience School sought a rezoning of the expansion site, a special exception to allow for the development of a two-story, 4,355-square-foot academic building encompassing additional classroom space, an unusual use request to allow for an increase in enrollment from 135 to 180 students, and minor non-use variance requests to allow for reduced setbacks and driveway distances.

• Neighbor outreach. In preparation for the public hearing process, significant neighborhood outreach was also started to discuss the application requests and obtain support for the expansion proposal. As a result of these discussions, great efforts were undertaken by the project design professionals to ensure that the proposal would maintain the residential character of the community. Prior to the public hearing, more than 100-plus petitions of support were provided to the county on behalf of neighbors, parents and supporters.

• Obtaining necessary approvals. After obtaining county staff's favorable recommendation, Holland & Knight represented Miami Learning Experience School during the public hearing process before the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners and obtained unanimous approvals for all required land use entitlements.

• Ongoing representation. Holland & Knight is proud to further the incredible mission and required needs of

Miami Learning Experience School, and our land use attorneys will provide continued pro bono representation through completion of the school expansion project.

ASSISTING DEZER DEVELOPMENT IN MALL REDEVELOPMENT APPROVALS

Holland & Knight represented Dezer Development in land use matters for its proposal to redevelop the Intracoastal Mall, a waterfront retail and restaurant center in North Miami Beach. Our land use team obtained approvals for a mixed-use project with 2,000 residential units, 375,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment use, 200,000 square feet of office use, and 250 hotel rooms, which was vested through a development agreement with the city. Buildings will be up to 40 stories and the project will feature the creation of a new waterway.

ADVISING PROLOGIS IN APPROVALS FOR LAST-MILE LOGISTICS CENTER

Holland & Knight represented Prologis Inc. in land use matters for its proposal to assemble and redevelop two blocks in a mixed-use industrial neighborhood with a vertical last-mile logistics center in Miami-Dade County. Our land use team obtained a road closure, zoning approval and site plan approval for a three-story, 968,750-plus-square-foot building that includes a warehouse, office and retail uses that will serve as an urban distribution hub for an e-retailer.