Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s oft-maligned permit department is offering an olive branch of sorts to its critics in northeast county.

Starting Aug. 18, the department will operate a branch office in the Sunny Isles Beach Government Center on Tuesday afternoons. It'll be open to anyone seeking permits in northeast areas of the county, but services will be limited to:

* New construction/addition plans of less than 50,000 square feet;

* Interior alteration/repair plans under $100,000 in value;

* Kitchen hoods;

* Spray booths;

* Walk-in coolers;

* Minor life safety revisions totaling four pages or less.

Elizabeth Calzadilla-Fiallo, manager of MDFR’s Media and Public Relations Bureau, said the program is a pilot. If successful, it will move to the new fire station planned for 172^nd Street. 


The program came about after Sunny Isles Beach officials expressed their concerns during a meeting with the county fire chief.

Hours will be noon to 3:30 p.m. each Tuesday. The pilot program mirrors one MDFR is conducting in its headquarters at 9300 N.W. 41 St. on Wednesday mornings to support the City of Doral and surrounding municipalities and at its south satellite office -- 10700 Caribbean Blvd. Suite #306 -- on Tuesday mornings to support Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and the surrounding municipalities.