Share:
for immediate release
March 9, 2026
—The Florida legislature is considering bills that would allow the proposed Fontainebleau water park and similar plans to move forward without municipal oversight —
Miami Beach, FL – Join the City of Miami Beach tomorrow, March 10 at 10 a.m. for a press conference to outline the city’s opposition to Florida Senate Bill 208 and House Bill 399 (2026) on the Beachwalk behind the Fontainebleau. Parking is available at the municipal lot at 4621 Collins Avenue. The press conference will be held two blocks south of the parking lot on the Beachwalk.
“This bad bill would silence local residents and strip Miami Beach of its authority to protect a historic and iconic landmark like the Fontainebleau, clearing the way for an enormous 120-foot water park right next to where our residents live,” said Miami Beach City Commissioner Alex Fernandez, who called for the press conference.
The legislation, which could pass as soon as Wednesday, March 11 in the Florida Senate, would usurp the city’s authority to rule on a proposed water park by the Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel and similar plans by large resorts throughout the state without regard to serious concerns about traffic, infrastructure and other resident quality-of-life issues.
“We are hearing our residents loud and clear regarding concerns about the Fontainebleau Hotel water park proposal. Local governments are closest to the people they serve and are best positioned to balance economic development with the needs of residents, traffic realities, infrastructure capacity and the protection of our historic landmarks,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “Miami Beach respects the role of the state, however decisions that directly impact our community should continue to include meaningful local review and public input.”
At its Feb. 25 meeting, the Miami Beach City Commission unanimously approved a resolution opposing the state legislation on grounds that it would “preempt and force local governments to administratively approve certain development applications submitted by large destination resorts, thereby overriding applicable provisions of the city’s land development regulations, as well as the independent authority of the Historic Preservation Board and other land use boards to review and approve such applications, and foreclosing existing opportunities for public input; and providing for transmittal.”
“Every legislative session, Tallahassee seems to try to become the Miami Beach zoning board,” added Fernandez. “It’s a troubling pattern fueled by special interests — when they can’t get their way locally, they run to Tallahassee to erode local control with sweeping bad bills like SB 208 and HB 399 that threaten everything from our most precious natural resources, like the Everglades, to historic treasures like the Fontainebleau.”
Miami Beach residents turned out in large numbers at the city’s Historic Preservation Board meeting on Feb. 10 to oppose the plan by the Fontainebleau Miami Beach to install as many as 11 water slides, including one that was 120-feet-high. The matter came before the board because the Fontainebleau is an individually designated historic site within a local historic district. The independent city body is responsible for ensuring that changes to historic landmarks are compatible with architectural and cultural significance.
Many residents sought to express concerns about the potential traffic and compatibility of a large-scale water park attraction within the congested Collins Avenue corridor. The hearing was deferred until a later date at the Fontainebleau’s request before residents could speak on the record.
###
To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2ADA (2232) and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).
