UPDATE June 23: At the Committee meeting, it was revealed that the Ritz is also seeking state taxpayer funding, which would bring the total public support for the project to $8 million.
Representatives from The Ritz Carlton Hotel on Lincoln Road will ask the Miami Beach Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (FERC) on June 23 for a $4 million contribution from taxpayers to their entryway expansion program.
Details of the proposal, including plans and a draft development agreement, were posted onto the Committee’s agenda website late Thursday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the scheduled meeting.
In addition to the increased number of lanes at the Ritz’s entryway, the driveway for the loading area is slated to be expanded.
A number of items are still pending, including traffic impact studies. Previous traffic studies provided did not include pedestrian activity in the analysis.
The section of Lincoln Road leads to the recently completed 7-mile long Beachwalk shared use path, and provides a public access pathway to the beach.
If approved by the FERC, the full Miami Beach City Commission will review the project on June 28.
Images obtained from public records