Miami-Dade County is considering a major change to its rules for large retail and entertainment developments, lowering the minimum site size for a special zoning designation from 50 acres to 30. The proposal passed its first commission vote unanimously, as officials weigh new projects against a shrinking supply of large, developable parcels—and the prolonged delay of American Dream Miami.
Key takeaways
- The proposed ordinance would reduce the minimum REDPAD site size by 40%, from 50 acres to 30.
- The measure passed its first reading unanimously but still requires further review and a final commission vote.
- American Dream Miami, the project associated with the zoning category, has not begun construction after more than a decade of planning.
The proposal is intended to make the designation available to more sites while retaining a substantial minimum footprint. It does not itself approve any particular development.
What the zoning change would do
Sponsored by Commissioner Oliver G. Gilbert III, the ordinance would amend the county’s Retail Entertainment District Planned Area Development, or REDPAD, rules. Projects would still need at least 30 contiguous acres to qualify. The county established the designation in 2017 with a 50-acre minimum, a threshold intended to accommodate large-scale retail and entertainment uses.
The change has not yet become law. After its unanimous first reading, the measure was referred to the Infrastructure, Innovation & Technology Committee, which has a hearing scheduled for November 12. A second reading and public hearing before the full commission are also part of the approval process. If enacted and not vetoed by the mayor, the ordinance would take effect 10 days later.
American Dream remains stalled
The zoning category is closely tied to American Dream Miami, a proposed mega-mall from an affiliate of Triple Five Group. Planned for a 175-acre site near Interstate 75 and Florida’s Turnpike, the project was pitched more than a decade ago with retail, entertainment attractions, hotels and other uses. Despite county zoning approval in 2018, construction has not started.
The project has faced land disputes, missed deadlines and questions over infrastructure costs. In a settlement following litigation with the county, Triple Five agreed to make $5 million in economic development payments, with interest, over five years. The settlement gives the developer until 2045 to complete the project.
A response to limited land supply
The county’s move reflects a practical constraint: suitable parcels of 50 acres or more within the urban development boundary are increasingly scarce. A lower threshold could give developers more options for retail and entertainment projects, while still requiring sites large enough for substantial development.
Any new proposal would remain subject to county review and other applicable requirements. The change would broaden eligibility for REDPAD zoning, but it would not resolve the questions that have kept American Dream Miami on hold, including financing, infrastructure and the project’s long timeline.