Amid huge opposition, Fontainebleau Miami Beach delays water slide proposal
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach postponed a hearing Tuesday on its application to install water slides as part of an overhaul of its pool deck area — a plan that has drawn a wave of community opposition.
The deferral came as a surprise to people who had packed the chambers at Miami Beach City Hall for a meeting of the city’s Historic Preservation Board. Minutes before the meeting was set to begin, a Fontainebleau representative submitted a deferral letter, a city spokesperson told the Miami Herald.
Opponents jeered after learning that the proposal, and public comment on it, would not be heard Tuesday. Some chanted, “Vote now!” People held up signs with messages reading, “A waterpark is not compatible with Miami Beach,” and, “Stop the crushing traffic on Collins!” Residents initially refused to leave and ultimately had to be escorted out of the room by security.
Still, after the meeting, leaders of the opposition group said they viewed the deferral as a win.
“Today was a huge win for Miami Beach, it was a huge win for the residents, and it was a huge win for historic preservation,” said Mark Weiss, a Miami Beach resident and attorney who has spearheaded activism against the Fontainebleau project.
Opponents have cited various qualms about the plan, including the height of the proposed water slides, changes to the Fontainebleau’s historic character and added traffic from visitors.
Weiss estimated that more than 200 people showed up at City Hall to express their opposition. Two buses helped transport them.
“The residents took over today, and the board heard them loud and clear,” he said.
Residents in the Mid Beach neighborhood have come out strongly against the proposal. Among those joining their cause has been Mayor Steven Meiner, who expressed his disapproval in a social media post last month.
In a statement, Fontainebleau Development told the Herald that it sought a deferral because one of the seven board members was absent. Five votes are required to approve the project.
“The Fontainebleau team was fully prepared to present the proposal and welcomed the opportunity for dialogue, but requested a deferral so the full board could be present to consider the item during a future meeting this summer,” the statement said.
More than 100 “Miami Beach residents, community members, and hospitality leaders” were present in support of the proposal, according to the statement, “underscoring broad backing for a thoughtful plan focused solely on improving existing outdoor amenities.”
Supporters wore blue shirts reading, “Yes to Fontainebleau Community,” standing in contrast to the red signs brought by opponents.
“The Fontainebleau proposal is about reinvesting in one of Miami Beach’s most iconic landmarks in a way that honors its history while preparing it for the future — all while maintaining the property’s existing footprint, and without increasing density or adding traffic,” the Fontainebleau statement said.
Applicants can defer proposals one time without approval from the Historic Preservation Board if they agree to pay a fee of nearly $2,000. The soonest the item could return to the agenda would be May 12, though the Fontainebleau can choose to bring the item back in May or at a later time within one year.
The Fontainebleau’s application, which seeks several variances from city requirements and a general “certificate of appropriateness,” only requires approval from the appointed Historic Preservation Board, not the elected Miami Beach City Commission.
Alicia Casanova, president of the Blue Diamond and Green Diamond condo association and vice president of the Mid Beach Neighborhood Association, said she believes the Fontainebleau team “knew they couldn’t win today, so they just walked out.”
“Today, our voices were hopefully heard loud and clear,” she said.
READ MORE: Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau hotel is opening a water park with slides. See plans
Fontainebleau representatives have sought to publicly rebuff critics’ narratives and modified parts of their proposal ahead of Tuesday’s meeting after the Historic Preservation Board raised concerns during an initial discussion in November.
The water slides would now top out at 99 feet, not 131 feet, according to a presentation prepared for the board.
The presentation also stresses that the water slides and proposed additional cabanas would only be for hotel guests. Opponents say members of the public could simply buy day passes for the pool area, bringing more traffic to the congested Mid Beach area.
In January, the Fontainebleau commissioned a poll that found 60% support for the project among more than 300 likely Miami Beach voters.
The hotel has received backing from the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, whose leaders sent letters of support to the Historic Preservation Board.
“The vision and proposed upgrades represent a thoughtful reinvestment in the guest experience and align directly with Miami-Dade County’s tourism and economic development goals,” Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau President and CEO David Whitaker wrote.
Casanova said resistance to the project won’t die down — even though Fontainebleau representatives may be hopeful that a subsequent meeting in a few months, once snowbirds have left town for the summer, won’t bring the same raucous crowds that showed up Tuesday.
“We’re all gonna be here,” she said. “Everyone will fly back in, and it will be even worse.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 1:39 PM.
