Airport hotel delayed; aviation staff says Westin design under FAA review, agreement allows completion through 2029

Committee members pressed Miami‑Dade Aviation Department staff for a status update on the airport hotel project the commission authorized in 2022. A department representative told the committee the agreement’s effective date was Aug. 2023 and that the Westin design is currently being revised to address an FAA building‑height determination.

"The Westin hotel is currently under redesign due to an FAA height requirement," the aviation representative said, adding that the department has resubmitted coordinates and is awaiting the FAA’s review. Staff explained that the FAA evaluates how a proposed structure would affect navigational aids and that the department does not unilaterally set those safety limits.

Commissioners said the project had earlier been presented to the full commission with a projected start of hotel operations in June 2026. The aviation representative responded that, under the terms of the agreement, the developer has until 2029 to complete the building once permits are issued and that the department has been working with the developer on utility surveys, relocations and redesigns.

Commissioners asked aviation staff to provide clearer, written updates and to notify their offices when FAA responses arrive. Staff said the FAA’s review typically takes about four months, but noted federal delays could extend that timeline. No new approvals or contract changes were made at the committee meeting.