A partial appellate court victory for opponents of a Midtown Miami Wal-Mart won’t stop construction of the 200,000-square-foot store.
The Miami-Dade Circuit Court appellate panel sent the store’s approval back to the city for reconsideration. It determined the store should have a maximum of three off-street loading berths, not the five approved by Miami’s planning director. A revision of project plans – and subsequent re-approval by the city – is likely.
Opponents did not convince the judges that the city’s initial approval of the Wal-Mart should be overturned because the proposal did not comply with Miami’s zoning code and needed variances, according to the Miami Herald.
“We are very pleased with today’s decision, which affirms nearly all of the arguments that Wal-Mart and the city delivered to the court,” company senior manager of communications Amanda Henneberg said in a written statement. “We look forward to receiving an amended permit as soon as possible and will then move forward with constructing a store that provides access to affordable groceries and creates hundreds of new jobs.” [Miami Herald] — Eric Kalis