Miami Beach mulls seating limit on hotel restaurants

Nation's Restaurant News,  March 3, 2008  

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MIAMI BEACH, FLA. -- The City Commission here has approved the first of two necessary votes for a new ordinance that would limit hotels' restaurant seating to the number of rooms in hotels located in the South of Fifth neighborhood.

Current law allows for the seating of up to 299 people at any establishment serving alcohol.

Hoteliers and developers are opposed to the new ordinance, saying it would limit business.

The city code in the largely residential neighborhood does not allow standalone restaurants and permits eateries only as accessories to hotels there. City Commissioner Richard Steinberg said residents were concerned that "the accessory use was becoming the main use."

Residents have complained that large hotel restaurants bring unwanted traffic and noise to the area on weekends.

A final vote on the ordinance was scheduled for March 12.

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