The Miami Beach City Commission adopted a one-year temporary deregulation initiative aimed at activating vacant retail spaces along Lincoln Road, Washington Avenue, 71st/70th Street and Collins Avenue in North Beach.

The sponsor told the commission the goal is to cut permitting red tape for one year so landlords and tenants can more quickly open businesses and test uses that previously would have required a Conditional Use Permit (CUP). The sponsor urged caution but said the existing regulation is “failing Lincoln Road” and that a short-term test could incentivize landlords to lower rents and bring quality businesses back to the corridor.

Under the amended measure the commission approved by acclamation, certain uses that ordinarily would require a CUP may proceed under an expedited process for a one-year window. If an operator uses the temporary approval and is later found to be in violation (for example, operating unauthorized indoor entertainment), the penalty can include loss of the entertainment privilege and the requirement to obtain a CUP as a remedy. The sponsor emphasized that the one-year window is an incentive to get tenants into spaces quickly; businesses that open under the pilot and operate appropriately can remain after the pilot ends.

Commissioner Bahta voiced support for the approach, calling it a direction that would primarily incentivize restaurant and larger-space uses but could also help smaller local operators. Commissioners discussed limits — the sponsor said the proposal would not remove permitting for very large venues that present different public-safety considerations — and emphasized this is a time-limited experiment rather than a permanent rollback.

The commission adopted the item by acclamation as amended; no roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript. The meeting record shows the motion was moved and the item carried by unanimous consent.

The sponsor asked staff to monitor results and return with data on tenant take-up and any violations; staff were asked to report back after the one-year trial and sooner if problems arise.