1. Name and address of project for which the waiver is requested:

Name:

Street:

City:

Zip Code:






Local Building Department Contact Information

















Applicant Information:


2. Name of Applicant. If other than the owner, please indicate relationship of applicant to owner in space provided:

First Name:

Last Name:

Street:

City:



Zip code:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

Relationship to owner:


Owner Information:


3. Please enter the owner information below. If the owner and the applicant are not the same person, please upload a written authorization by owner in space provided:



Owner First Name:

Owner Last Name:

Street:

City:



Zip code:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:



Written Authorization:




Project and Facility Type:



4. Please check one of the following:


5. Type of facility. Please describe the building (square footage, number of floors). Define the use of the building (i.e., restaurant, office, retail, recreation, hotel/motel, etc.)






Description:
Two-floor restaurant with 3 Bathrooms (2 of them being ADA approved and conditioned in the first floor. 120 Seats in total including the outdoor patio area.


Construction Cost:



6. Project Construction Cost (Provide cost for new construction, the addition, or the alteration):
Summary:
$1,200,000
Construction Cost upload:


7. Has there been any construction activity on this building during the past three years?


Cost of Construction:

Comments:
Building Official Recommendation upload:




Construction Status:




8. Project Status: Please check the phase of construction that best describes your project at the time of this application. Describe status.


*Briefly explain why the request has now been referred to the Commission.
Throughout our two-year journey to open this restaurant, we’ve encountered numerous challenges and delays, many of which arose during the plan review phase. Despite no significant support from the county or Coral Gables city, we’ve consistently worked to meet every requirement. Initially, we were advised to reconfigure the second floor for office use to avoid installing an ADA chair, but this required a complete change of use for the floor, further complicating our project. When we explored the option of installing the chair, both our architect and the Coral Gables building official confirmed that the stair dimensions prohibit installation, and the chair would present a disproportionate financial burden. Following the official’s guidance, we are submitting this application to waive the ch


Requirements to be Waived.




9. Requirements requested to be waived. Please reference the applicable section of Florida law. Only Florida-specific accessibility requirements may be waived.
Issue 1: Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms  Minimum height in parking structures  Accessible parking
  Vertical accessibility  Toilet rooms
  Private  Other

The stairway designated for ADA compliance on our plans is unfortunately too small to accommodate a chair lift. This is the only stairway in the building with vertical accessibility, yet the dimensions fall short of the requirements for a compliant lift. While a simple, non-motorized chair might fit, it wouldn’t meet the self-sustaining standards required by ADA. Given these limitations, we respectfully request a waiver, as modifying the existing structure to fit an approved lift is not feasible.

Issue 2: Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms  Minimum height in parking structures  Accessible parking
  Vertical accessibility  Toilet rooms
  Private  Other

Installing an ADA-compliant lift in our building presents a disproportionate financial burden relative to the overall project. The costs for both the lift itself and the structural adjustments needed for installation far exceed our budget for accessibility modifications. This added expense threatens the financial viability of our project, especially given the existing challenges we have already faced. We are therefore requesting a waiver on the grounds that the lift represents an excessive cost without reasonable alternatives for compliance.

Issue 3: Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms  Minimum height in parking structures  Accessible parking
  Vertical accessibility  Toilet rooms
  Private  Other Need Additional Space

Grounds for waiver.


10. Grounds for Waiver: The Florida Building Commission may grant waivers of Florida-specific accessibility requirements upon a determination of unnecessary, unreasonable or extreme hardship. Please describe how this project meets the following hardship criteria. Explain all that would apply for consideration of granting the waiver.
NOTE:**



This project presents a unique challenge regarding ADA compliance, as the designated stairway cannot physically accommodate a lift. The structural constraints prevent both vertical and chair lift installations—available lifts do not reach the necessary height, and installing a chair lift along the stairway would create a significant fire hazard. Additionally, the only feasible areas for an elevator intersect directly with critical spaces, including the kitchen and restrooms, making installation both structurally and operationally infeasible. Given these limitations, we respectfully request an exemption based on these hardships unique to our building layout.



Need Additional Space
Cost Estimates For Compliance:










Licensed Design Professional Comments.


11. Licensed Design Professional: Where a licensed design professional has designed the project, his or her comments, including his or her signature and professional seal, MUST be uploaded.



Comments:
 Letter Attached

Design Professional First Name: Design Professional Last Name: Street Address: City: State:

Zip: Email Address: Phone:


Additional Documentation.


12. Upload Additional Documentation: Please upload any documentation such as plans, photographs, or anything that will assist the Council and the Commission to determine the appropriate resolution of your request.