2026 Annual Neighborhood Meeting — Recap

Eastern Shores POA held its 2026 Annual Neighborhood Meeting on April 15, 2026, bringing together residents, city officials, law enforcement, and community leaders to discuss the issues shaping our neighborhood's future.

First and foremost, thank you to everyone who attended the meeting and took the time out of your evening to participate. We understand that schedules are busy and attending meetings after hours is not always easy. While we had a solid turnout, it was somewhat disappointing that more city officials were present than residents. Community involvement matters, and your participation helps ensure our neighborhood’s voice is heard.

We were joined by the Mayor, four out of five City Commissioners, the Chief of Police, along with more than a dozen officers, Code Enforcement representatives, the new City Manager, and the new Deputy City Manager. Their attendance demonstrated the City's strong commitment to improving the Eastern Shores and addressing resident concerns.

Community Safety was the first and most urgent topic discussed. Residents raised ongoing concerns regarding vehicle break-ins, unauthorized access through the guard gate, speeding, and the need for a stronger security presence throughout the neighborhood. The Board shared that it has been actively coordinating with the North Miami Beach Police Department regarding increased overnight patrols and additional visibility within the community.

One of the evening’s most heavily discussed topics was the proposed Dezer redevelopment of the Intracoastal Mall site. We discussed the proposed Texas U-turn, which would give Uptown Harbor residents direct access to the development instead of routing traffic through 35th Avenue. The City confirmed that Phase I of the traffic study is expected by August 24, 2026, and a Go/No-Go decision is planned for the September 2026 City Commission meeting.

An updated traffic study is needed due to changing conditions, including sea-level rise, increased delivery traffic, more frequent Tri-Rail closures, and major nearby development growth. The study will evaluate emergency access, evacuation safety, regulatory compliance, and outdated traffic assumptions. The Board is closely monitoring the development application and attending City Commission hearings related to the project. Residents were encouraged to submit comments directly to the City and contact their commissioners to ensure community concerns remain part of the public discussion. ESPOA will continue advocating for residents throughout this process. ESPOA maintains that no approvals should be granted until the study is completed.

Abandoned and derelict boats in Maude Lake were also raised by multiple homeowners as both an environmental concern and a neighborhood eyesore. Several vessels have remained anchored in the lake for extended periods without maintenance or visible registration, including at least one partially submerged boat. A representative from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) attended the meeting and stated that citations will begin to be issued to boats anchored on the lake without permits. The Board is also continuing discussions with the City of North Miami Beach regarding removal procedures for abandoned vessels, recognizing that resolving the issue will require coordination among multiple agencies.

The City also requested residents' assistance in identifying abandoned or neglected homes throughout the neighborhood. If there are properties on your street that appear vacant, poorly maintained, or neglected, please send the addresses to the Board so they can be forwarded to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager for further review and enforcement follow-up.

Additionally, the new City Manager shared that the City will follow up with FPL on the possibility of undergrounding power lines in Eastern Shores — an issue many residents have raised over the years regarding storm resiliency and neighborhood aesthetics.

If you attended the meeting and still have questions or concerns that were not addressed, please feel free to reach out directly. Any unanswered questions will be forwarded to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager for follow-up.

Thank you again for your time, involvement, and continued commitment to making Eastern Shores a stronger and safer community.