February 3, 2017
Facts Regarding the “Paseo de las Artes” Cease and Desist Order
The City’s priority is the health, welfare and safety of its residents, businesses and visitors, which are protected by local city ordinances and state building codes that are in place and our responsibility to enforce, always.
On December 21, 2017, a Special Magistrate issued a Cease and Desist Order to Paseo de las Artes to stop operating out of the containers by January 7, 2018 at midnight due to life-safety concerns.
On Saturday, January 27, 2018, it was discovered that the containers were being used again as micro theaters, in violation of the Special Magistrate’s order. They were operating illegally. A Code Compliance Officer carried out the order with support of Doral Police, as routine during these type of operations to ensure the safety of patrons and City personnel. No force was used to carry this out.
In addition to violating a Special Magistrate Order, it was discovered that construction had been done without a permit, when they elevated the containers onto cinder blocks and secured them in an unknown manner that was never inspected. The other areas of the business were not closed as those were in compliance with the Permanent Building Structure Code and may be used for any legally permitted manner. Mr. Ferro may move his shows into that structure while he performs the necessary changes in the unpermitted area if he is concerned about interrupting the artist’s work.
Since 2015, the City has worked with Paseo de Las Artes, including Mr. Miguel Ferro, trying to help them make the changes required by the city, county and state codes. During that time time there were three cases in which they were operating without appropriate Building permit approvals and licenses.
The goal of the City has always been to work with Paseo de las Art for the required permits to be acquired so they may operate legally in the City as all other businesses are required to do. Through several meetings with City administration, they were advised of the requirements to process permit application to build a permanent structure, according to the Florida Building Code to house the micro theatres. The process is as follows:
- Planning & Zoning Department
✓ Administrative Site Plan Review and Approval
✓ Meet parking requirements
✓ Prepare traffic impact analysis
- Building Department
✓ Fully-executed permit application
✓ Two copies of a full set of plans prepared, signed and sealed by design professionals.
✓ Construction documents that include:
- Soil improvement plans including Geotechnical Calculations
- Site plan
- Fire protection shop drawings
- Design Flood Elevation information
- Structural information (details, design loads, calculations, etc.)
- Full set of Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing plans including Energy Code information
- Means of Egress information
- ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) information complying with ADA Code
✓ Electronic copy of the plans in PDF Format
- Approval from Outside Entities
✓ Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue
✓ Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM)
✓ Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer (WASD)
✓ On January 26, 2018 and January 27, 2018 the Code Compliance Department had performed night inspections throughout the city.
The City greatly values all its’ businesses as well as the artist community, which it regularly has shown support to. We hope to be able to resolve this issue while respecting the laws in place locally and statewide that exist to keep the community safe.
Edward Rojas
City Manager
En español
