Board recommends approval for two-story home at 1921 SW 61st Court with condition banning cooking in junior suite

The Planning and Zoning Board of the City of West Miami voted unanimously on Jan. 28 to recommend approval of Special Use Permit 2026-001, a proposal by John and Monique Ortiz Serpa to renovate and expand the house at 1921 Southwest 61st Court into a two-story single-family home.

Applicant Monique Ortiz Serpa told the board the family has lived at the property for 18 years and that the planned house would contain about 3,699 square feet of living area, four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms on a 7,800-square-foot corner lot zoned R-1. The board clarified that no variances for setbacks or other standards were included in this application; members explained the variance process and that a separate variance application would be required if the applicant later sought relief from setback rules.

During design discussion a board member suggested a nonbinding interior design change and proposed a condition prohibiting cooking facilities in Junior Suite No. 1 to prevent creation of an accessory dwelling. Neighbor Yana Janowitz (1960 SW 61st Court) spoke in support: "I support John and Roni." The board then moved to recommend approval with the cooking-facility condition; a roll-call vote recorded Alberto Alonso, Eugenio Gonzalez, Alexandra Diaz, Victoria Ganz and Diana Rio voting yes.

Staff noted the board's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Commission for final action at its Feb. 4 meeting.