Planning board approves concrete batching plant and development agreement for 1360 Cairo Lane

The Opa-locka Planning & Zoning Board unanimously approved a site plan and a development agreement on June 2 to allow a concrete batching plant at 1360 Cairo Lane.

Oscar Robin of Robin Associates described the project as a conversion of an existing salvage/junkyard into a roughly 3.5-acre concrete batching operation with "a proposed 38 parking spaces" for trucks, employees and visitors, new paving, drainage upgrades and measures to control dust and off‑site tracking. He said the owner was not present because of a family emergency and that family representatives were available to answer questions.

Gerald Lee of the Planning & Zoning Department told the board the proposed use is permitted in the I4 district and complies with setbacks and performance standards. Lee said the site redesign aims to move the "dirtier" operations to the rear of the property, improve stormwater management in an area with known drainage problems, and reduce staging on Cairo Lane.

Board members asked about current operations and safety. Applicant representative Laura Pedre confirmed the existing business is an auto salvage operation and said vehicles and salvage stock would be removed from areas to be paved. She also said the owner intends to retain employees where possible. The board asked about permitting and timing; staff and applicants estimated permitting at six to eight months, with construction taking another six to eight months (up to a year in the worst case), and noted state and county air and water permits would be required.

Staff recommended approval. A motion to approve the site plan passed on a 4–0 roll call. The board then considered and approved a development agreement setting the procedural terms for permitting and inspections; that motion also passed unanimously.

What happens next: the applicant must secure required county and state permits (air quality, stormwater) and local building permits, and comply with the conditions discussed at the meeting before construction begins.