Miami 21: Update Efforts

In 2018, leaders serving on the ULI Southeast Florida / Caribbean’s Advisory Board recommended an evaluation of Miami 21 zoning code to assist and inform efforts currently underway by the city to revisit and revamp the code. The district council invited contributors with vast experience working with Miami 21 to join a focus group to determine priority fixes for the code. The group evaluated the code’s ability to address key priority areas in the region: housing choice, housing affordability, and mobility; and provided recommendations to update and improve the code towards these goals.

The Miami 21 Review Task Force, composed of twelve local professionals, developers, and community representatives who collaborated during 10+ public meetings throughout 2021, produced a final report setting forth 183 recommendations (“Task Force Final Report”).

Following the Task Force Final Report, and as follow-up to the Urban Land Institute (“ULI”)’s previous Miami 21: From Good to Great effort, the Young Leaders Group solicited community input via an in-person workshop and online comment form to ensure that young professionals are involved. In partnership with The American Institute of Architects (“AIA”) Miami’s Resilience + Adaptation Committee, this report sets forth a limited collection of low-friction action items that can be implemented at little to no cost to the City.

The recommendations outlined in this paper are not intended to be an exhaustive list of recommendations but a clear path to a Phase I Implementation
of concepts designed to foster a more resilient, sustainable, and affordable Miami starting now. This Miami 21 white paper is intended to engage the existing Miami 21 Zoning Code through a water, energy, and carbon agenda that strengthens Miami’s position as a global climate leader in thinking and doing. The Task Force Final Report is the genesis for each of the recommendations in this paper, and we provide specific citations herein, along with a full list at the end of the paper. Some of the Task Force Recommendations are fully endorsed; in other instances, a portion of a Task Force Recommendation is utilized or adapted.

The name Miami 21 to 2100 is a reference to the year 2100. It acknowledges that decisions related to the built environment will have consequences now and long into the city’s future.