Design Review Board defers 1‑story home at 5400 SW 63rd Ave over tree and drain‑field concerns

The Design Review Board of the City of South Miami voted unanimously to defer action on application DRB‑2026‑017, a proposal for a one‑story single‑family home at 5400 Southwest 63rd Avenue.

During a staff presentation, Mark Alvarez of the Corradino Group, who identified himself "on behalf of the City of Miami Planning staff," described the architect's H‑shaped design and said the lot meets the RS‑2 dimensional and height standards. Alvarez told the board the site plan was designed to disturb as little specimen tree canopy as possible but flagged two items that must be addressed before building plans can be approved: an apparent error in the landscaping counts (the report listed a requirement of three shrubs when the correct code requirement is six) and inconsistencies in the sodded/pervious area calculations. He also said the waiver‑of‑plat approval requires maintaining at least 50% of the existing protected canopy for six years, and staff could not find the required recorded covenant in the county system. "We could not find a covenant," Alvarez said, and he recommended approval only after the applicant satisfies those items and provides fence height for the plans.

Owner Robert Kramer, identified himself as the owner of 5400 South 63rd Avenue and told the board he would look for the signed covenant. "I do believe I did sign the covenant," Kramer said.

Board members focused most of their criticism on the landscape plan and the location of the drain/septic field. Board member Mariano Carrel (the transcript also spells the name "Corral" in several places) said he liked the house design but questioned whether trees numbered 3 and 29 in the arborist report would survive the proximity to the house and grading. "Those trees will not survive six years based on the proximity to the house," Carrel said, adding that required details — including energy conservation zone markings, root‑zone depictions and accurate planting sizes and DBH measurements — were missing from the submission. Several other members expressed similar concerns about locating the drain field where it could conflict with root zones.

After discussion, Carrel moved to defer the application so the applicant could return with a more complete presentation addressing staff and board comments; Christian Rodriguez seconded. The board recorded a unanimous voice vote in favor of deferral (board members recorded as voting yes during roll call: Mariano Carrel/"Corral," Christian Rodriguez, a board member identified in the record as Lopez, and the presiding member). The board directed the applicant to provide corrected landscaping details, the fence height, the recorded covenant showing waiver conditions, and explicit septic/drain‑field documentation. Alvarez had said the building plans cannot be approved until the covenant is recorded with the county clerk.

The board also asked that the applicant's landscape architect attend the next meeting to help resolve concerns. Kramer said he would research the covenant and provide any missing documentation. The board approved two sets of meeting minutes and set its next meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. The item will return to the board after the applicant submits the requested materials.

What happens next: the applicant is expected to supply corrected landscape and grading plans, the covenant recorded with the county clerk, the required tree‑removal permit if applicable, and the fence height; staff will recheck code compliance and the waiver‑of‑plat conditions before the board considers the item again.