Member Susan Trevarthen, FAICP, and Kathy Mehaffey represented the City of Coral Gables as Special Land Use Counsel in its review and approval of one of the largest projects ever approved in the City. First proposed by Agave Ponce LLC in 2012, the $500 million plan for the Mediterranean Village includes approximately 1.1 million square feet of high-end hotel, office space, restaurants, and retail establishments, as well as 214 condo units and 15 townhouses. On June 10, 2015, the City Commission approved the project’s applications for comprehensive plan text and map amendments, the creation of a new zoning overlay, a master development plan applying the overlay to the project, a partial alley vacation, and a development agreement assuring approximately $37 million in developer improvements, mitigation and contributions. Ms. Trevarthen worked with City staff and City Attorney Craig Leen to review the project proposal, draft the ordinances and development agreement, and advise the City’s review boards and the City Commission. She also worked with Dover, Kohl & Partners and peer review consultant Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk to prepare and review the form-based regulations in the zoning overlay approved for the project. Firm partners Gail Serota and Paul Gougelman also assisted Ms. Trevarthen with the project.
