The Hialeah City Council voted to approve Trinity Garden’s application to expand an existing assisted‑living facility from 40 to 72 beds, granting the requested conditional‑use permit and parking variance.
Applicant counsel Javi Vasquez presented staffing and parking analyses to the council, saying the facility's staffing model exceeds minimum required hours and that residents do not typically drive. Vasquez also announced that earlier the same day the applicant had secured a five‑year lease on a 7,500‑square‑foot parcel 2.4 miles away as an off‑site parking contingency. The lease, he said, would be used only if on‑site parking proves insufficient and would be coupled with a shuttle program for employees.
Planning staff and the planning and zoning board recommended approval, citing comparables where similar variances did not create parking problems. The council debated the requested variances and the contingency measures, then approved the permit by roll call.
What happens next: The applicant will provide the lease to the city attorney for review and finalize implementation details for the shuttle program if triggered. The matter will return for second‑reading public hearing on 01/13/2026, per the council schedule.