The city hasn't told developers Christian D. Wissing and Vicenzo Esposito how much shorter their La Rive building should be on the 33,976-sf site along the Intracoastal Waterway.

The low-profile scenario unfolds as this oceanfront city, 26 miles north of Downtown Miami, aggressively tries to limit heights of commercial and multifamily projects so that its internationally-accepted, sun-drenched ambience will remain intact and not be blocked out by multistory structures. The city's final decision is set for March 15.

It is uncertain how Wissing and Esposito intend to respond to the commission action. Efforts to reach them for comment were unsuccessful, and the attorney representing them did not respond to a request from GlobeSt.com for additional information.

According to the city, the only concern on the project is from officials at the adjacent three-story Holiday Isle Yacht Club, who fear the planned 12-story La Rive, at 715-725 Bayshore Drive, will cast shadows over the neighboring property.

Members of the Central Beach Alliance, a local business group, backed the developers' application at the Dec. 20 P&Z meeting, according to a city manager's memorandum. No one spoke against the project, though individuals attending the meeting questioned possible noise from a proposed 94-unit parking garage at La Rive.

In recommending the approval, city staff indicated the project met all concepts mandated in the city's Beach Redevelopment Guidelines through the use of stepbacks, balconies and variations in building planes.

Instant Insights /

City Asks Land Owner to Scale Back 12-story Condo Project but isn't Saying by How Much

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