HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1989-07-31 Minutes4
OF IWIN6 HELD ON JULY 31, 1989
(PLANNING & ZONING)
` r
MIX
StPUTR$ Or RIGULAR MRSTING
CITY COMMIS910M bF MIAMIi FLORIDA
JULY 31j 1989
ITIM SUBJECT LEGISLATION PAGE
NO. NO.
1. DISCUSS AND TEMPORARILY TABLE PROPOSED DISCUSSION 1-13
RESOLUTION CONCERNING VACATION AND 7/31/89
CLOSURE OF PORTION OF S.W. 30TH
AVENUE - south of southerly right-of-
way line of S.W. 28th Lane and north of
Metrorail right-of-way (Applicant:
Public Storage Properties XIX Ltd.)
(See label 9).
2.
GRANT SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT
R 89-743
13-19
DRIVE-IN FACILITY FOR TERRABANK - in
7/31/89
Madison Circle Office Building (3191
Coral Way) (Applicant Forte Properties,
Inc.)
3.
GRANT SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT
R 89-744
19-20
DRIVE -THROUGH FACILITY - providing 11
7/31/89
of 20 required off-street stacking
—
spaces - for Terrabank in Madison
Circle Office Building (3191 Coral Way)
(Applicant: Forte Properties, Inc.)
4.
APPEAL GRANTED: HERITAGE CONSERVATION
R 89-745
20-26
BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION OF
7/31/89
CBS WALL UPHELD - (with modifications)
at approximately 3918 Main Highway
(Applicant: Lavigne Properties, Inc.).
5.
BRIEF DISCUSSION CONCERNING SALARIES OF
DISCUSSION
27-29
CITY OFFICIALS.
7/31/89
ME
i
6.A
BRIEF COMMENTS FROM PLANNING DEPARTMENT
DISCUSSION
30
CONCERNING BOARD OF COUNTY
7/31/89
COMMISSIONERS' ACTION CONCERNING
PROPOSED KEY BISCAYNE AREAWIDE DRI.
6.B
DIRECT MANAGER TO DRAFT NEW ZONING
M 89-746
31-40
ORDINANCE - making it easier to
7/31/89
understand - Set public hearings.
7.
URGE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO NAME
R 89-747
.40-41
VALERIE HICKEY-PATTON, VICE MAYOR OF
7/31/89
CITY OF WEST MIAMI, AS RECIPIENT OF
1989 FLORIDA MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS OF THE
YEAR "E. HARRIS DREW AWARD".
$. REFER TO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY REQUEST FROM DIRECTOR
OF CAMILLUS HOUSE - for full-time
City staff person to assist with
their meals program.
R 89-748
7/31/89
southerly right -Of -WAY line of S.W. 28
Lance and north of Metrorail right-of-
way (Applicant: Public Storage
Properties XIX Ltd.) (See label 1)
1�.
ALLOCATE $5,000 TO SISTER CITY OF
M 89-150
48-49
BUENOS AIRES FOR SEMINAR IN APRIL 1990.
1/31/89
lY.
APPEAL DENIED, WITH MODIFICATIONS:
R 89-751
49r-17
'
Allow applicant (Nasser Adrisi, Sunny
7/31/89
Electronics, Inc.) to construct an 18-
unit apartment building at
_
approximately 2100 Brickell Avenue,
with certain provisos.
12
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend Future
DISCUSSION
77-88
Land Use Plan Map of 10544 (Miami
7/31/89
Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan 1989-
2000) - Change designation of property
at approximately 3490 & 3500 Main
Highway (PLAYHOUSE THEATER) from
Restricted Commercial and Single -Family
Residential to Major Public Facilities;
_
Transportation and Utilities
=
(Applicant: Board of Trustees, Internal
Improvement Fund, State of Florida,
-
Department of Natural Resources).
13.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend zoning
ORDINANCE
89
atlas - change zoning classification at
FIRST READING
_
approximately 3490 and 3500 Main
7/31/89
Highway (PLAYHOUSE THEATER) from SPI-2
and RS-2/2 to GU (Applicant: Board of
_
Trustees/Internal Improvement Fund,
State of Florida, Department of Natural
Resources).
13.1
BRIEF DISCUSSION CONCERNING PURCHASE OF
DISCUSSION
90
CAMILLUS HOUSE- direct City Manager to
7/31/89
=_
place issue on the September agenda.
(See label 8)
14.
FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend zoning
ORDINANCE
90-106
atlas - change zoning classification at
FIRST READING
approximately 2400 N.W. 14th Street
7/31/89
from PR to RG-2/6 (Applicant: City of
Miami Housing Conservation &
Development Agency).
15.
SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 -
ORDINANCE
106-107
amend Schedule of District Regulations,
10623
Residential -Office District, Principal
7/31/89
Uses and Structures - Permit RO-1
Residential Office Uses in RO-3
Districts - Change terms "drive-in" to
"drive -through" (Applicant: Planning
r
Department).
rryyaa
t
i
910MM READING ORDINANCEt Amend 9500
ORDINANCE
Provide that discontinuance of a
10624
Nonconforming Use in part of a
1/31/89
building, after a time certain, will
necessitate honing district conformance
for future uses - Provide for non-
acceptance of Variance applications
which alter prior grant of Special
Exception - Provide more specific time
limits for Planning Director's receipt
of Major Use Special Permit referral
comments - Provide Major' Use Special
Permits be effective for two years with
renewal periods (Applicant: Planning
Department).
li. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500
ORDINANCE
("major Use Special Permits; Intent:
10625
Determinations by City Commission;
7/31/89
Referrals") - Provide Planning Director
shall receive/make recommendations on
all applications for Major Use Special
Permits and Amendments and forward same
to Planning Advisory Board, etc.; and
defining substantial deviation
(Applicant: Planning Department).
18. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 -
ORDINANCE
Provide that concurring vote of 5
10626
members of Zoning Board be required to
7/31/89
reverse any decision of an
administrative officials or to decide
in favor of appellant (Applicant:
Planning Department).
19. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500
ORDINANCE
(SPI-8 Design Plaza Commercial
10627
Residential District, Section 1587,
7/31/89
Minimum Offstreet Parking) - Provide
conditional exception for restaurants
under 1800 square feet in floor area
(Applicant: Planning Department).
20. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 -
ORDINANCE
Limit effective date of Class C Special
10628
Permits to one year, subject to
7/31/89
renewals (Applicant: Planning
Department).
21. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500
ORDINANCE
("Community Based Residential
FIRST READING
Facilities") - Require Special
7/31/89
Exception with City Commission
approval, lower census tract cap on
client, increase distance separation
between facilities establish i t i
109
110
n er or
space standards, require
Special
Exception with City Commission
approval
for change
of ownership,
require
Commission
approval of
Special
Exception
for Community
Based
Residential
Facilities
(CBRF),
convalescent
homes, nursing homes
and
_
institutions
for the aged or infirm and
orphanages
(Applicant:
Planning
Department) .
F
S A`
�.,
22i MOT READING ORbINANC13s Amend
}
6de Settion 62-62 (a) - Provide
ft,r V&iver of appeal fear
'
ralativa to Claims C Special
Permits under certain
circuiaatant aa (Applicants
Planning Department).
23. DISCUSS AND DEFER FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION PROPOSED RESOLUTION
t
-APPROVING, IN PRINCIPLE, DOWNTOWN
MIAMI MASTER PLAN (MAY 1989) -
for development, redevelopment,
improvement, zoning and
infrastructure of downtown,
including Flagler Core, Omni and
—
Brickell areas, etc.
24. FIRST READING ORDINANCEs Amend Schedule
of District Regulations of 9500 -
Change unit density cap, delete
stories, General Residential - Add new
zoning district classifications "CON.
CONSERVATION", for environmentally
ORDINANCE
FIRST
READING
101/89
DISCUSSION
7/31/89
ORDINANCE
FIRST READING
7/31/89
123-138
MINUTES OF RECONVENED MEETING OF THE
CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
On the 31st day of July, 1989, the City Commission of Miami, Florida,
met at its regular meeting place in the City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive,
Miami, Florida in Special Session as a continuation of the Planning and Zoning
Commission meeting of July 27, 1989.
The meeting was called to order at 2:08 p.m. by Mayor Xavier Suarez with
the following members of the Commission found to be present:
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
ALSO PRESENT:
Walderman Lee, Assistant City Manager
Rafael Suarez Rivas, Assistant City Attorney
Matty Hirai, City Clerk
ABSENT: Cesar Odio, City Manager
Jorge L. Fernandez, City Attorney
Walter J. Foeman, Assistant City Clerk
An invocation was delivered by Mayor Suarez followed by a pledge of
allegiance to the flag.
1. DISCUSS AND TEMPORARILY TABLE PROPOSED RESOLUTION CONCERNING VACATION
AND CLOSURE OF PORTION OF S.W. 30TH AVENUE - south of southerly right-
of-way line of S.W. 28th Lane and north of Metrorail right-of-way
(Applicant: Public Storage Properties XIX Ltd.) (See label 9).
Mr. Plummer: ...not necessarily the latest owner. Not the owner of record of
today but the owner who, in fact, made that dedication is who the property had
to go back to. Now, I'm not asking in this particular case because we've
never followed it before, but I think the City better be getting an opinion
that if that could be right, that we've been doing some things wrong. So I'm
just merely asking that for the record, OK? Do you understand I said?
Mayor Suarez: I knew that I' had some concerns of my own but if you want to
restate them.
Mr. Plummer: No, I'm just asking them to come up in the future with an
opinion that if the property is vacated and turned back, not being used...
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. Plummer: ...that it has to go back to that person who dedicated the
property. It might have been a hundred years ago so I think that we'd better
be aware...
Mayor Suarez: I guess that is along the lines of what I was thinking about
because I was always wondering if there was any way that we could somehow
limit the amount of time by which the easement would be given or the property
would be passed over to the developer for - or property owner for use. Is
there anyway to put a limit on this in case we someday would want to have a
different traffic alignment or any...
a a�
Mr. Jim Kay: You're talking about maybe a separate legal instrument to that
effect. Yes, that could be done. I've discussed this with the Law
Department.
Mr. Plummer: OK, I'm merely bringing it up. Someone said that, you know,
you're doing things wrong down there and I said, what? And then they hit me
with this, and so I'm asking for the legal opinion.
Rafael Suarez -Rivas, Esq.: Well, the vehicle for what the Mayor spoke of
would be something like a reverter clause where, for example, the reasons for
the vacation were no longer necessary or apparent, the property would revert
to the City. The state statute we will - we're looking into, we're looking in
the index now and we'll get back to you after we locate it.
Mr. Plummer: There's only one...
Mayor Suarez: And I would understand in a situation like that that we would
want to compensate sort of like we do when we ask to end waterfront leases for
a percentage of the unamortized value of whatever the property owner has built
on there in reliance on our giving him the use of that street, but always
subject to our control. At this point, I don't think you've indicated,
counselor, that you have anything planned for there except parking maybe or...
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: I'll let Mr. Helfman...
Steve Helfman, Esq.: For the record, Steve Helfman with Fine Jacobson. To
answer your question, that is our plan for parking in the area and landscaping
In the area. But we're getting all sorts of ideas here and different about
where it goes and who's entitled to it...
Mr. Plummer: No, no, no, I'm asking for the future. I'm not asking in this
particular case.
Mr. Helfman: OK. I think the law provides that the property owner owns this
land and he dedicates it as a public easement for right-of-way for the public
to use for so long as they use it. At which time... and when they terminate
use, it's abandoned and you request that a vacation occur from the legislative
body. This item was deferred from the June 22nd meeting where there were two
objectors here. One of...
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, counselor, I'm not asking that this be deferred.
Mr. Helfman: No, I understand, it was...
Mayor Suarez: You may want to save yourself a complete presentation and hear
from the objectors and just keep as much of your time for rebuttal, if needed.
Mr. Plummer: Do for rebuttal.
Mr. Helfman: I'll be happy to do that...
Mayor Suarez: Because we all know the history of it pretty well now.
Mr. Helfman: I'll be happy to do that. For the record, one of the objectors,
Mr. Jackson, has submitted a letter to the Mayor. I have the original here as
well as all the Commissioners and very briefly, it says, "...I appreciate the
time and consideration given to me. I urge you to grant the applicant's
request."
Mr. Dawkins: Who owned the land?
Mr. Plummer: The City.
Mr. Dawkins: Who owned the land now?
Mr. Helfman: My clients own the land.
Mr. Dawkins: OK, who dedicated the land for... an easement?
Mr. Helfman: The property was dedicated by...
Mayor Suarez: Prior owner.
2 July 31, 1989
Mr. Helfman:
Our predecessors, prior owners, in 1927.
Mr. Dawkins:
Nineteen twenty-seven?
Mr. Helfman:
Yes.
Mr. Dawkins:
All right. And that easement went along with the sale for
the
dedication for the right-of-way.
Mr. Helfman:
The dedication of the right-of-way and the ownership to
the
underlying land goes with the ownership of the land as its conveyed down
the
line and, yes,
it did come to us.
Mr. Dawkins:
Now, the present owner wants to utilize the vacated land because
its no longer
being utilized as what it was dedicated for.
Mr. Helfman:
That's correct, it's never been utilized for that purpose.
Mr. Dawkins:
I'm not worried about never, it could be. You say never now
and
if you're going to say never, I'll say it will be or someday.
Mr. Helfman:
Well, that's when we're going to hear from...
Mr. Dawkins:
So now, well let's leave well enough alone.
Mayor Suarez:
At this point we're not.
Mr. Dawkins:
Let's leave well enough alone, OK?
Mayor Suarez:
At this point we're not, that's what he asked.
Mr. Helfman:
OK, I think that's what we're going to hear, Commissioner,
from
the objectors.
Mayor Suarez:
We'll hear from the objectors when the objectors speak.
Mr. Plummer:
I gave you a paper to bring back so I can read it into
the
record very quickly.
Mayor Suarez:
Yes, that should be introduced into the record.
Mr. Plummer: A memo from the Police Department, "...after reviewing item PZ-6
of the Commission agenda is the traffic unit recommendation not to oppose the
proposed closure of S.W. 30th Avenue south of 28th Lane. This portion is
presently closed not allowing traffic on south on 30th Avenue through to South
Dixie Highway." This is a memorandum dated July 25th from Lieutenant Eugene
Telez to Perry Anderson, for the record.
Mayor Suarez: Very good. I'll have it introduced into the record after the
Commissioners looked at it. Go ahead, sir; or whoever's opposing it. Ma'am,
I know you are on this item too, right? That's your husband.
Mr. Jim Confalone: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: He speaks for you.
Mr. Confalone: She speaks for...
Mayor Suarez: I'm sorry, swear in the... anyone else that intends to speak or
at least even potentially, because you might decide that he's already made
your presentation, but you may as well be sworn in just in case, please.
AT THIS POINT THE CITY CLERK ADMINISTERED REQUIRED OATH UNDER ORDINANCE NO.
10511 TO THOSE PERSONS GIVING TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE.
Mr. Confalone: My name is Jim Confalone and I'm the owner of much of that
property that's in red there, but not all of it. The part that's the triangle
piece up on the top, over the top of the blue, and over the top of the blue
piece on the left, that other red section on the other street. There's even
other properties there that are not even colored in. Not that this all makes
that much difference as to how much land that I own in the area there. But I
3 July 31, 1989
am definitely opposed to this closing of 30th Avenue for a couple of reasons.
As a matter of fact, we feel that if you foreclose, the opportunity of ever
opening that street to U.S. 1, that it's going to be foolhardy to give away a
piece of property for $5,000 that could be used at a later date as an access,
ingress/egress, to the rapid transit area. Now, this rapid transit station is
going to be developed someday. There's been an RFP put out on it already, a
request for proposal, and that was about five years ago, and it was shelved
because of some conflicting with permitting between the City and the County.
In that RFP, part of the criteria that was required of whoever won the RFP or
whoever the high bidder was, the criteria was that that party would have to
open 30th Avenue to U.S. 1 and install a traffic signal there. As a matter of
fact, I'd like to install in the record one point, one-two of this criteria
which was part of the RFP that Dade County put out that showed all the
different stipulations that the developer would have to abide by in order to
win the Coconut Grove station site development, standards and criteria. If I
could just read this one paragraph that's in that the developer would have to
provide, it was access road improvements. "Lessee, developer, shall pay to
Dade County an amount equal to the cost of design in the contract award for
constructing the extension of S.W. 30th Avenue from S.W. 27th Lane to So.
Dixie Highway. And, in addition, shall pay the County the full cost of
signalization for the intersection of S.W. 30th Avenue and South Dixie
Highway. The improvement of 30th Avenue and the signalization as described
shall, upon shall be completed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy
for the station site development." Now, earlier on, they were very much
interested in keeping this as an option for better access to this station
which is part of the Coconut... I should say the Dade County rapid transit
system which $1.3 billion dollars has been spent on. Without that, it would
be kind of - I think it wouldn't be very prudent for anybody to give away that
one particular piece of street there to anybody at this point in time, and I
say give away, well I understand they've offered $5,000. They want, and when
I say they, Dade County and this RFP initially, and I know that it's been
shelved up to now, but it will come back because...
Mr. Dawkins: What was the date the RFP was issued, sir?
Mr. Confalone: I believe it was in 1985, and I can't tell you exactly the
date. This particular document does not have a date on it, but this came from
Dade County.
Mr. Plummer: Was it even issued?
Mr. Confalone: And...
Mr. Dawkins: Well, was it ever put out?
Mr. Confalone: It was put out and it was shelved...
Mr. Dawkins: Was it ever brought in and say we're going to act on it.
Mr. Confalone: No, they never acted on it because of a permitting problem
that they...
Mr. Dawkins: Because of what, I didn't...
Mr. Confalone: Permitting...
Mr. Dawkins: Permitting.
Mr. Confalone: Permitting, the permit for the 200,000 square foot building
that they wanted built there with a 500 car parking garage, they wanted to do
the permitting at Dade County and City of Miami said that they thought that
they should, and then there was a little back and forth there, and they
finally pulled the RFP. Now, this RFP will come out again.
Mr. Dawkins: Are you sure? Who said so?
Mr. Confalone: Well, I'm not saying so, but I think that rapid transit is
trying to get as much development in and around these stations as possible,
like the Babcock at 37th Avenue, the Datran north and south of Dadeland.
But - and I'm not a - you know, I don't have a crystal ball here and I'm not
trying to say I do.
4 July 31, 1989
11
U
Mr. Dawkins: Oh, no, we're just trying to, you know, get both sides of it,
that's all.
Mr. Confalone: Sure. I understand. What I'm trying to say is that it would
make good business sense, and I think a lot of business people are here now,
who all have their businesses in that area, but we all want to see rapid
transit survive, or we all invested in and around that station there. In
order to get, you know, better ridership, I think that there's going to have
to be a lot of development in this area. Consequently, I've always banked on
it and I've banked on this RFP. It was in the proposal of Dade County's rapid
transit master plan that there was one day they were going to have a traffic
light at that intersection. Now, I understand Mr. Jim Kay saying that they do
close different streets which are abandoned, and I don't blame them for that,
but something with a potential like this that's sitting right there right due
west of that rapid transit station, it's the next exit or inlet that they
could open. I mean, to close that, you know, it doesn't even compare to the
other streets that he may be talking about on Natoma and all these others.
This requires something that I think in the long run, and the not too distant
future, they're building a 90,000 square foot building, Public Storage is,
right now. I sold them that property. I sold them that property with the
idea that they would become a catalyst in the area to start some building.
It's five story building that's going up there. And I'm not trying to hurt
Public Storage, I think they're great people, and I'd like to see them succeed
there, but I don't want their project to come in and foreclose the possibility
of more success in this area. I really appreciate your time and anything else
I can answer for you, I've spent an awful lot of time in this area, and I'm
very up in this area, and I think it's very important that you forever, you
know, and so five or six years from now you'll see that the development will
be great in that area and we may need to open this.
Mayor Suarez: I guess not to answer you specifically, but we can always take
back property, I suppose, by condemnation, at which time we have to pay the
fair market value of it.
Mr. Confalone: Well, if I can say something...
Mayor Suarez: We'll specify a price at this point. This is really kind of
what I was thinking of trying to build in some kind of mechanism where we
could take it back for something less than fair market value at that point.
Mr. Confalone: Sure, if I could mention, I sold them that land for $53.00 a
foot and that equates, that's 7,500 square feet that road.
Mayor Suarez: You may be needed as a witness at that point, but not right now
because we're not condemning it, we're trying to take input from general
public...
Mr. Confalone: OK.
Mayor Suarez: ...and I believe there's some other people that want to and in
fairness to them and to the other matters, I don't think we're going to...
unless anybody has a question for you, sir.
Mr. Confalone: I'f I could just mention the equation though, that's $400,000
worth of land there, right today at today's value.
Mayor Suarez: OK. Anyone else?
Mr. Confalone: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: The same, I guess, if you want to go up to the mike and give
your address and say that you basically support the same arguments, you're
welcome to do that. Give us a home address too, so we know how many City
residents we have involved in this and...
Mr. Berton Hufsey: OK, my name is Berton Hufsey. I own the property at 2900
S.W. 28th Lane. I am...
Mayor Suarez: Your home address, sir.
Mr. Hufsey: My home address is 7266 S.W. 61st Street. I am not a resident of
Miami, I am a property owner and I agree with what Mr. Confalone has said.
5 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: Anyone else?
Mr. Elmer Coombs: Yes, my name is Elmer Coombs and my address is 1750
Tigertail Avenue in Coconut Grove. I have interest in property at 3001 28th
Lane, and I have the same interest in it as Mr. Conf alone expressed. Thank
you.
Mr. Richard Barry: My name is Richard Barry, 15462 Kipford Court in Miami
Lakes and Mr. Confalone has expressed himself very well. Thank you.
Mr. Juan Dalla-Rizza: My name is Juan Dalla-Rizza. I reside at 3666 Bayhomes
Drive and basically we own property on 29th Avenue, 27th Street, 28th Street,
and 28th Lane. Basically, probably, about 10 lots. We have a business at
3011 S.W. 28th Lane. I feel that the Commission would be a little bit hasty
in granting the closure because it will limit the expanse or the future of the
area.
Mo. Therese McKitka: My name is Therese McKitka. I reside at 7160 S.W. 6th
Street and I'm a business owner at 30th Avenue and 28th Street and I do think
it would be hasty to close it off right now.
Mr. Emilio Martinez: My name is Emilio Martinez. My address is 1800 S.W. 7th
Street, Miami. I own and operate the Muscle Express gym on 28th Lane. Our
access is pretty difficult to my gym from U.S. 1, it's confusing, in other
words, and most people who call me for directions get lost and never show up.
I think that something like the future of 30th Avenue will really be a big
boost to my business. Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: Somewhere between what you had suggested, Mr. Vice Mayor, of a
fee being paid back if we ever needed that street of exactly the same amount
of the voluntary contribution and the fair market value which is what we'd
have to pay if we'd have to condemn it back because all of a sudden we found
that our traffic patterns are such that we ought to have it open, is what I
had suggested. I'm not sure if this isn't a bit late in the process to come
up with it but we've done it in other cases where we voluntarily lease or give
up to the private sector City land - now this is not clearly City land - this
is their land that's dedicated to our use, but in those situations what we do
is we require that part of the agreement be that if we ever need the property
back, we pay only the unamortized value of whatever improvements they have
built on it, keeping in mind that we have to approve any of those
improvements, so that, for example, there's a parking lot we could always take
it back without any major payment to them if we found that it was really
needed for traffic or whatever. That's what I was talking about. We also
retain the ability to at any time prohibit them building anything on it, but
I'm not sure that that is a very similar concept that what we're dealing with
here. Maybe someday, we can consider that.
Mr. De Yurre: When this was dedicated, back was in the '25, 126...
Mr. Helfman: Twenty-seven.
Mr. De Yurre: Twenty-seven. Did we pay anything for that dedication?
Mr. Plummer: Most likely not, we don't pay for dedication.
Mayor Suarez: It was probably done in conjunction with some platting, maybe,
or...
Mr. Kay: I can't say for certain. I doubt very seriously that we paid
anything for that at all. It was...
Mayor Suarez: Street lines or something....
Mr. Kay: It was dedicated by the owner then who created the plat.
Mr. Plummer: What happens is, the City holds people up with a gun because
they tell them, if you want to take out a permit of any kind, you can't do it
without making a dedication. I don't know that that's legal but they've been
very successful at it.
6 July 31, 1989
Mr. De Yurre: Because, you know, the thing is that my argument was I'd be
willing to give back the $5,000 if we ever needed that again. The Mayor's
making a point that he wants it to be somewhere between the five and what the
fair market value is. But if we're going to see ourselves in a situation
wherein we would have to pay more than what we're going to be getting now, I'd
rather just not vote for this at all, you know, unless we get a commitment
from the applicant saying, "Listen, you can have it back and if you ever need
it back...", and, in fact, they're not going to use it for any structure of
anything, you just want it for parking and landscaping and things of that
nature. So, you know, I don't see where the detriment would be to that.
Mayor Suarez: At least upon payment, maybe at least upon payment of any
improvements that you would make on that property which themselves would be
subject to our approval. Would that make any sense? In other words, we
wouldn't expect you to - if you had the use of it and had to build something
on it and we approved it and later to be able to throw you out without having
to pay you for those, but...
Mr. De Yurre: You're not planning to take that property then sell the whole
piece and build something there. You're not planning to do that, right?
Mr. Helfman: No, in fact, the structure is already out of the ground.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, so that doesn't hurt you, doesn't affect you at all one way
or another.
Mr. Helfman: Well, number one, one of my clients is here, the other is not
who owns the other half of the right -of way that's not public storage. Their
name is Roncalo. But aside from that, we're getting into a whole concept of
creating something that doesn't currently exist.
Mr. De Yurre: No, we're trying to have some vision here and trying to cover
ourselves.
Mr. Helfman: I understand. I think we need to have vision when it's
foreseeable that we're going to need the vision, and you've heard from the
opponents, and now I'd like an opportunity to tell you a little bit about this
right-of-way area and what the foreseeable future is for it. Then, we can
discuss what the best thing to do is. After the last hearing I did pretty
extensive research on this whole area. We also hired the firm of David Plumer
and Associates to review the traffic circulation in this area and they,
especially John Taylor who is going to speak in a minute, was involved in the
planning of this station. Just let me tell you briefly, it was dedicated in
1927. From everything we can tell, it is never been used to this date as
public right-of-way. In fact, it's barricaded right now. For the record, I'd
like to submit a copy of the plat from 1927 providing the dedication as well
as copies of aerials back as far as the county has them showing that the area
has never been used for public right-of-way purposes. In July 3rd, 1979, the
county did, and prior to that time, did studies of each of the Metrorail
station sites and the areas surrounding that. And what they did for the whole
Metrorail system is they determined what areas they would need for right-of-
way purposes around each station and they adopted rapid transit zones for each
location. This is a map entitled rapid transit zone, stage one, rapid transit
system. It was adopted by county ordinance 7959, July 3rd, '79. It shows the
area that t•he county felt was necessary around the station to reserve for
right-of-way purposes for future expansion and development of those sites. In
fact, they took 29th Avenue, which is the street one over, but there was
clearly - these lines are clear - that to go to 30th Avenue was not
contemplated. It's not in this plan, and so for the record, I'd like to
introduce rapid transit zone, stage one, rapid transit system map, adopted by
the county. We heard from the neighbors that there an RFP put out. We have
searched for days now, weeks now, to try to find this RFP. Everybody at the
county tells us that there was no such RFP. We have loads of letters, Public
Works Department, Parks...
Mayor Suarez: We figured if that was a major issue we would have heard from
the county or from somebody. I don't think anybody here thinks that's such a
big issue...
Mr. Helfman: Their - OK, there's ab...
7 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: ...the possibility that someday someone might want to use the
street is the only thing that concerns any of us at this point, I think.
Mr. Helfman: What I'm saying is that it's within the county's jurisdiction
and they have no plans, none, either in their short or long term plans to open
this roadway. In fact, they say that they have no plans even contemplated up
to 2010 under their traffic circulation plans. DOT has filed no objection to
this. It would open up on to their right-of-way, in fact, they say that that
would impede the orderly transition of traffic down U.S. 1. Your own Public
Works Department says no, your planners who were involved ten years ago in the
Metrorail stations, say that there is not RFP, there are no plans for it. I
think it's very clear that it's never been used for right-of-way, there is no
foreseeable uses right-of-way, they apparently have some draft language that
somebody thought up that they were going to open this, but none of it has been
substantiated. We think we've met the requirements. It's nice to create
these rules and thoughts about future expansion and what's going to happen.
Your code sets forth requirements. We believe we've met them, we have
recommendations of all of your departments as well as the Zoning Board, the
unanimous recommendation, and we would ask you to apply those rules in this
instance, and I think you'll find that the closure is justified.
Mr. Plummer: Is the public hearing closed?
Herbert Cohen, Esq.: If I may...
Mayor Suarez: We have really heard from both sides, bdt maybe you
misunderstood that we were going to hear from the opponents and then finish
that and then hear from.
Well, I tried to speak except you asked for Mr. Helfman.
Mayor Suarez: OK, well go ahead and in view of that but...
Mr. Cohen: My name is Herbert Cohen, lawyer with the firm of Cohen, Chase,
Heckerling and Tescher Troutman. I represent Mr. Confalone.
Mr. Plummer: Are you a paid lobbyist, sir?
Mr. Cohen: Yes, I am. Not a...
Mr. Plummer: Registered?
Mr. Cohen: Yes, I have.
Mr. Plummer: With the City?
Mr. Cohen: Yes, I have.
Mr. Plummer: You were sworn in?
Mr. Cohen: Yes, I was. The points made by Mr. Confalone, of course, don't
bear repeating. However, his reference to the Coconut Grove station site
development standards and criteria are apparently being indicated by both Mr.
Helfman and the board that these do not exist and never existed and I object
to that and want to introduce this into the record.
Mayor Suarez: Welcome to do so.
Mr. Cohen: The introduction to this says, "...all developmental activities on
Metrorail property, whether public or private in nature, shall conform without
exception to the Metrorail compendium of design criteria, volumes one through
seven, as well as those criteria listed below." I can't believe that a
thorough analysis by Mr. Helfman's client did not reveal that these were ever
published, and we didn't get these or make them up out of thin air.
Clearly....
Mr. Helfman: Sir, can you tell me the date of the publication of the RFP,
please?
Mr. Cohen: It does not have a date on it.
Mayor Suarez: If it doesn't have a date, we'll introduce it without a date.
8 July 31, 1989
Mr. Cohen: OK, with you if I may.
Mr. Helfman: And ere you testifying...
Mayor Suarez: Counselor, you're not directing this hearing.
Mr. Helfman: ...that that RFP was put out for publication?
Mr. Cohen: I'm testifying as to what it says.
Mayor Suarez: Counselor, you don't need to get involved in that, counselor,
you're not testifying at this hearing at this point, sir.
Mr. Cohen: Second thing that I'd like to point out - this is strictly from a
legal standpoint - I'm a little confused as to Mr. Helfman's position. His
position is that this - they're asking this be vacated because its been
abandoned. If its been abandoned, it goes to the property owners who own it
and you don't pay for it. I can't understand the idea of paying $5,000 for
something that they're requesting to be abandoned. Number three, and if I
may...
Mayor Suarez: That's just a voluntary contribution, City fund of some sort.
Mr. Cohen: It's not consistent with his position.
Mayor Suarez: No, that wouldn't - I guarantee that would not be his fault,
that would be our fault, if anybody's.
Mr. Cohen: OK, number three, Mr. Helfman said that they own that property.
However, my client deeded the property to them clearly omitting and accepting
out of the legal description that street. So they have no ownership rights
whatsoever other than an adjoining property owner. And the last point is the
courts have clearly held in the past that the vacating of a street by a
governmental authority has to take into consideration the property rights of
the adjoining property owners. There is no question but that with all the
property owners around, who have purchased their property on the basis of this
plat showing a street ultimately to be put in there, would have their property
rights damaged by this vacating of this street.
Mayor Suarez: Who's your client on this matter?
Mr. Cohen: Mr. Confalone.
Mayor Suarez: Same gentleman that spoke.
Mr. Cohen: Yes.
Mr. Helfman: Very briefly...
Mayor Suarez: Final rebuttal.
Mr. Helfman: ...in rebuttal to those. Number one, you cannot hold back
right-of-way as a matter of law from selling a tract of land. It goes
appurtenant to the sale, so if they did try to hold back the right-of-way that
we're trying to close, that was prohibited as a matter of law. Number two,
yes, you have to consider adjoining property owners under the City's
ordinance, but the Confalone's are not an adjoining property owner nor are any
of the other property owners. All the adjoining property owners have made
this application.
Mayor Suarez: OK, Commissioners. Anything further from the City?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, let me...
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: ...since the public hearing is closed, two points that I think
have been overlooked, and I'm not arguing for the applicant, but I think that
are very important in behalf of the street closure as recommended. Number
one, there is, in fact, an opening at 31st Avenue one block away and that's
right alongside of the Boys' Club. Number, two, God forbid that we should see
9 July 31, 1989
another street light on Dixie Highway at 30th Avenue when you have one at 27th
and one at 32nd. If anything, Dixie needs to be opened up, not closed and
another street light in that area would just impede traffic, in my estimation,
I don't care what Metro says about their computerization. Now, the only thing
that's been raised, Mr. Helfman, is $53.00 a square foot for 7,500 square
feet. I did a little math here and it's a long way from $5,000 which you
voluntarily contributed.
Mayor Suarez: What? -forty? Thirty-nine? Thirty-nine and six fifty. Just
about forty.
Mr. Kay: For the record, our calculations by staff were $6,650, slightly
less.
Mr. Plummer: I'll accept that.
Mr. Helfman: Firstly, let me say this. Number one, we did offer a voluntary
contribution and I'd like to tell you that - and this is obviously within your
discretion - it's come to our attention that there's a need for some of these
funds, if not all of them, for the Miami Northwest Express Track Team, and
apparently there is a Junior Olympics going on in Spokane, Washington and many
of you, of the Commissioners have been approached by this group. They're in
desperate need of funds, so if the contribution is accepted, we would suggest
that those funds be designated for that purpose. Of course, you can decide
where it should go.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, am I understanding you, the five thousand plus those
or included?
Mr. Helfman: I don't know what those expenses are.
Mr. Plummer: You better find out.
Mr. Helfman: If the contribution doesn't seem to be equitable, I'd be willing
to request, number one, for a deferral of this agenda, not to the next
meeting, just a continuation until I have an opportunity to talk to my client
about the contribution and get back to you before there's any vote.
Ms. Range: Mr. Mayor, just before we go with the...
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Range.
Ms. Range: ...with the vote on this. I'd like to address myself to
contributions and the clients or the persons who come before us offering
special or specific items for which the contributions should be used. I'm
sure we appreciate whatever contributions they are and even though I'm being
told now that it is voluntary, I think it would be a much better practice if
the Commission were to decide from among the many requests that we have rather
than giving it to any one specific item. I'm very afraid that even though it
might not be of any harm in this particular case, as we go along, many, many
items that are very, very needed in the community will go ungifted, if I might
use that word...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, create a special fund.
Ms. Range: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: I like that. And we get reports every so often as to what we
have in that fund. We never seem to know how much we have.
Ms. Range: Right.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Dawkins.
Mr. Dawkins: What does your client plan to do with the land?
Mr. Helfman: Their intention is to use - it's a 50 foot right-of-way. My
client gets 25, the other 25 goes to my other client Roncalo who's not...
Mr. Dawkins: What does the two clients plan to do with the land?
10 July 31, 1989
Mr. Helfman: Well, Public Storage intends to put parking and landscaping on
it, and I am uncertain what the Confalone's intend to do on the property.
Mr. Dawkins: I'm not interested in the Confalone's, I'm interested in your
client, OK.
Mr. Helfman: OK, my specific client intends to use it for parking and
landscaping.
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. City Attorney.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Sir?
Mr. Dawkins: Is it any way that I can say that whatever voluntary
contribution they offer, that in the event that a City Commission, no, not
this one because I probably wouldn't be here, but decides that this should be
opened up again, that the maximum you can pay them is what they voluntarily
offered us?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, you could certainly ask for an amendment to the
resolution, but I would be remiss if I didn't tell you that if they don't
agree to that in writing by some separate side agreement, it's simply a City
resolution expressing that as a requirement, but they could come along 30
years from now and say, "Well, we didn't sign that or...".
Mr. Dawkins: All right, then, Mr. Mayor, I go along with the request that
this be deferred until they can go get that in writing and bring it back. The
only way I plan, me, to vote for this is that whatever they offer as a
voluntary contribution, that that's what, in the event that in some maybe two
years from now, five years from now or ten years from now, it become evident
that this has to be opened, that that's all the owner, whomever it may be,
could get for that property.
Mr. Helfman: I think I have an even better solution. My clients have agreed
that if we need, in the next ten years, if the county opens the right-of-way
onto U.S. 1, the Metrorail right-of-way, onto U.S. 1, any time in the next ten
years, we will rededicate that property.
Mr. Dawkins: What about twenty years?
Mr. Helfman: No, I can't agree to twenty years. I think it's been...
Mr. Dawkins: Well, all right, then I can't agree with ten.
Mr. Helfman: I understand, but...
Mr. Dawkins: I can't agree with ten.
Mr. Helfman: I understand, but it's been since nine...
Mr. Dawkins: I can't agree with ten.
Mr. Helfman: I understand, but it's been since...
Mr. Dawkins: Well, let's split the ten, give it fifteen.
Mr. Helfman: I'll have to check. Let's go ahead with your deferral.
Mr. Dawkins: Oh, well, check then and let's see, OK? Give it fifteen, let's
split the ten. Go ahead, J. L.
Mr, Confalons: Excuse me, can I make a point? No?
Mr. Plummer: Let me just speak to the one point. The problem with that,
Commissioner, and I understand what you're trying to accomplish and I think
it's good for the City. The problems are that I have seen in most of the
street closures are that they want to use it for either their setback problems
or to build over or things of that nature, and once you do that, it's only -
you know, if it's left vacant land, there's no problem. But once you build a
building on top of it or you use that as your setback to meet the zoning
requirements, that's when you start really getting into a rub if you had to
buy it back.
11
July 31, 1989
a
Mayor Suareet in that scenario, there would be, within the years in question,
would be quite a risk for them because under that scenario, we could
conceivably want the property back. And by the way, if we ever did something
like this, I want to make sure it's not only the county or any other
appropriate governmental entity with jurisdiction, just in the case the City
ends up having jurisdiction over some of these transportation things in the
next ten or fifteen years.
Mr. Plummer: God forbid.
Mr. Helfman: I would just ask for the opportunity to meet with my client, to
make the appropriate telephone calls and to come back to you as soon as we're
ready to determine number one, the extent of the contribution and, two, the
time period for rededication.
Mr. Plummer: Ten percent sound good?
Mr. Confalone: Could I make a point?
Mr. Plummer: Surely, sir.
Mr. Confalone: Fine. I'm not sure if I am or not, but first of all, the
question was asked...
Mayor Suarez: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! What do you mean, first of all?
You're going to make a point, then you begin by telling us first of all.
Mr. Confalone: Well, how about one and a half points?
Mayor Suarez: No, no, really.
Mr. Confalone: OK.
Mayor Suarez: This is totally outside of our procedure, we're trying to
figure out how we're going to vote on this. The public hearing has been
closed. Make a quick point.
Mr. Confalone: One point. The question was - James Confalone - the question
was asked, what would the other parcel of property be used for if you split
that 50 feet and the answer to that is just exactly what it's being used for
right now in conjunction... it's a junkyard. So, we're going to take and
create 25 foot of junkyard there, and he's looking at me like it's a little
strange but it's called Southland Towing, and they have junk cars parked in
there, and they're all over the street there too. But it'll be fine because
we'll increase the size of that.
Mr. Helfman: Is that what they've told you they're going to use it for?
Mr. Confalone: That's what they're using it for right now and that's what
they're going to use it for also...
Mayor Suarez: OK, I don't think...
Mr. Confalone: ...Joe Crato will tell you.
Mr. Plummer: I thought Southland was at 24th Avenue.
Mayor Suarez: I don't think this has had all that much impact on the
Commissioners, but if anybody has questions...
Mr. De Yurre: Don't we have some representatives of Southland right here back
in the corner?
Mr. Plummer: No, you got the Golden Greek. I saw him. He's not Southland,
he's Coral Way Towing.
Mr. De Yurre: Nobody here from Southland? OK.
Mayor Suarez: OK, Commissioners, what's your pleasure? Are we...
12 July 31, 1989
Mr. Plummer: I think we ought to give him the time to go consult with his
owner.
Mayor Suarez: You can't do that while we have these hearings today?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, he will to come back this afternoon...
Mr. Helfman: Yes, yes, 1 can.
Mayor Suarez: Table the item then.
Mr. Helfman: And if I can't, I'll tell you.
Mayor Suarez: OK, yes, I hope so.
Mr. Plummer: Ten percent sound like a good number.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. GRANT SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT DRIVE-IN FACILITY FOR TERRABANK - in
Madison Circle Office Building (3191 Coral Way) (Applicant Forte
Properties, Inc.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Suarez: PZ-8.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: PZ-8 and nine are companion items...
Mayor Suarez: Nine are related.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...and this is a drive-in or drive through window for a
financial institution located at 3191 Coral Way. For the record, the Planning
Department recommended denial, the Zoning Board did recommend approval. This
is coming to you for two reasons. One...
Mayor Suarez: What's the financial institution?
Mr. Olmedillo: TerreBank. One, because they are providing fewer waiting
spaces, queueing spaces than they're required in the ordinance and the second,
because they are having a financial institution with a drive through window.
What they have is two windows. They come in from 21st Terrace and they come
in through the eastern side, eastern entrance. Then they open up into two
windows.
Mr. Plummer: Wait, where's Coral Way? What are you telling me?
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mr. Plummer: Be where?
Mr. Olmedillo: It's on the other side.
Mayor Suarez: It's one hell of a sketch you got there. It looks like a bunch
of marine flags...
Mr. Olmedillo: That represents the cars.
Mr. Plummer: That's Coral Way.
Mayor Suarez: Those are cars, right? The marine flags are cars, right?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, that...
Mr. Plummer: Is that in that parking garage?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: In the building itself.
Mr. Olmedillo: It's within the building itself. Now, we recommend denial
because they don't have the queueing spaces, you know, it's ten per window.
They have two windows, and we feel that there's a problem in the maneuvering
of the cars when they come in through a one entrance and then they have to
open up into two.
13 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarett Let me ask, if I may, Commissioner, if there's anyone here that
wishes to be heard on this item in opposition to it? Let the record reflect
that no one stepped forward.
Mr. Plummer: Is this... because I can't make it out. You tell me. Is the
way the flow of the traffic for the drive-in tellers different and separated
from the regular parking?
Mr. Olmedillo: It is from what we saw. It is not separated, however...
Mr. Plummer: Because as I remember, that damn ramp goes, I mean, like this.
I can't equate this, I'm sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Tony, why don't you give your name?
Mr. Plummer: You got to do it with a hand held mike.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: Because you're coming in the back of the building which is where
the church is.
Mr. Tony Jimenez: My name is Tony Jimenez with offices at 2000 So. Dixie
Highway. Commissioner, to answer your question, the ramp is right in the
middle here, OK? It would have nothing to do with the egress and ingress of
the drive-in teller. It's totally separated.
Mr. Plummer: How many cars, because I just truthfully, I can't see that damn
thing. How many cars would you be talking about could be stacked off the
street?
Mr. Olmedillo: Eleven.
Mr. Jimenez: Fifty.
Mr. Plummer: How much? Fifty?
Mr. Olmedillo: Eleven.
Mr. Jimenez: Fifteen. I have fifteen showing, they only count eleven because
of the counting that they do. But there will be 15 cars that will be stacked
there.
Ms. Range: What is the required amount of cars for stacking?
Mr. Plummer: Ten per window.
Mr. Olmedillo: Twenty.
Mr. Jimenez: Ten and ten; twenty.
Ms. Range: Twenty? I was given twenty, that's why I want to be certain?
Mr. Jimenez: Twenty.
Mr. Plummer: Well, that's two windows.
Ms. Range: For two windows.
Mr. Plummer: It's ten per window.
Mr. Jimenez: Correct.
Mr, Olmedillo: Right. The waiting space is a 22 foot space and that's the
way we have to count it by ordinance. You can cram cars in but the space
that's provided in the ordinance is 20 feet long.
Ms. Range: What is this going to do to your traffic as it comes out onto the
street?
Mr. Jimenez: Let me turn to the other page now.
14
■
MI
r
E�
Ms. Range: Aren't you going to have traffic backed up?
Mr. Jimenez: You would have two cars that would have... once they do the
transaction, they would be waiting here to turn into the rear street and then
from there, they would go on.
Ms. Range: They'll be waiting for the turn, did you say? -to come on to
street. How is the traff ic? How is the flowing traffic on that particular
street?
Mr. Jimenez: There's hardly any traffic by here. It's a secondary road,
there's a... let me show you what's back in there because that's one of the
arguments that the Planning Department is making that we're encroaching into a
neighborhood and really this back street, S.W. 21st Street, has Wiwi
Transmission at the corner, it has an auto storage which they bring in cars in
there to store them and there's an assembly hall at the corner here. The
Winn -Dixie is here and a gas station is over here in this S.W. 32nd Avenue.
There's a restaurant on this side and there's a residence here.
Ms. Range: Does your traffic increase, to any great extent, during peak
hours? I mean as far as the bank is concerned?
Mr. Jimenez: Well, the services that we would be providing would be the ones
that would be - the bank is offering right now to her tenants, just the
convenience of them not...
Ms. Range: And, of course, that would increase during the peak hours? Is
that right?
Mr. Jimenez: Well, the peak hours wouldn't be involved in the sense that the
drive-in tellers would only be open form 8:00 to 5:00 and...
Ms. Range: From 8:00 to 5:00.
Mr. Jimenez: ...and at 5:00 which would be the peak hour where most people
leave their work, it would be closed at that time.
Ms. Range: I see.
Tony O'Donnell, Esq.: Mr. Mayor, just for the record, my name is Tony
O'Donnell and I'm representing the applicant on this matter. We received the
recommendation of the Zoning Board, and we did discuss this with the nearby
residential owners and they have no objection to our proposal. The one
technical thing that the Zoning Board did raise which I think is important to
understand our application, is that the reason we need the variance is that
we've added one teller window. In fact, the addition of that teller window
makes it a better situation for purposes of getting cars through the
particular facility. In other words, if you had one less teller window, we
wouldn't need a variance, but the way ours comes in one lane and goes through,
the second teller actually helps the situation. So it's a technical variance
and it's actually an improvement over a normal situation with one teller in
the bank. The second thing is that it avoids taking it off site. It is a
relatively small bank, there's no way that people will have access into the
residential neighborhood from this site because there's no place to go that
way. We're dealing with the totally commercial area and yet there's very
little traffic in there except perhaps, as you say, at 5:00 o'clock when
people will be leaving the garage. So we would not be interfering with any
traffic patterns in that whole area. The alternative, you know, off site
facilities starts generating problems. It's one of the things you have when
you start encroaching into neighborhoods with off site drive-in facilities and
things like that. So the building owner, which we represent, thinks it's
something that will be a good addition. It will certainly serve the needs of
the TerreBank facility there, and that we will be responsible, obviously, as
owners, to manage it for the overall building. We really do meet the spirit
of the requirement for off street stacking, because we have over ten and we're
not adding an additional demand with an additional lane where people would be
stacking up with our second teller facility. So we think the Zoning Board,
when it considered those issues, and considered the neighborhood's support,
felt that really what we were proposing was reasonable and should be supported
for this particular facility.
15 July 31, 1989
Mr. Datkine: Thbee two care will be waiting on what street coming out of the
teller?
Mr. O'Donnelis bight here?
Mr. Dawkins: Yes. Where?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is 21st Street, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Twenty-first Street.
Mr. Dawkins: Twenty-first Street?
Mr. Olmedillo: Terrace.
Mr. O'Donnell: Terrace.
Mr. Olmedillo: Does that street have a median in the middle of it?
Mr. Plummers No.
Mr. O'Donnell: No.
Mr. Dawkins: How wide is it?
Mr. Olmedillo: It's a fifty foot street.
Mr. Dawkins: So, two cars turning in at the same time, what would it do to
traffic?
Mr. Olmedillo: Create a conflict to our understanding.
Mr. Dawkins: This is my applicant over here, let me talk to him a minute.
Mr. Olmedillo: It would create a conflict...
Mr. Dawkins: Why?
Mr. Olmedillo: ...in getting out. Because you have a two-way street which
has parking lanes on both sides...
Mr. Dawkins: OK.
Mr. Olmedillo: And then, if they try to make the same turn onto the street,
then you create a problem.
Mr. Dawkins: What now? Go ahead...
Mr. O'Donnell: All right, the way we've handled our on site traffic, coming
in...
Mr. Dawkins: No, no, no. See, the way you handle it, OK, you got to explain
it to him...
Mr. O'Donnell: Exactly. Exactly.
Mr. Dawkins: ...so that he knows that what you're handling is OK. See, your
handling it, and it's confusing to him, I'm not going to accept it...
Mr. O'Donnell: Right.
Wi Mr. Dawkins: So now, you have to clear him up.
Mr. O'Donnell: OK, what we've done, and I'll have Tony come back to explain
:W this, an architect. What we've done is to come into the facility, is only one
Ilane in. In other words, you don't have two cars coming in. It's striped in.
,T You come into the facility with one. {
M4yor Suarez: We got that. He was asking about coming out, Tony.
Is, Range: Coming out.
E�
14 July 310 1909
■a
Mr. O'bonnellt Pardon me?
Mayor Suarez: He was asking about coming out. Don't be too subtle hare.
Ms. Ranget Coming out.
Mr. O'Donnellt Right, when we come out, we have two card that could
theoretically line up at the same time.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. O'Donnell: Very unlikely that would ever happen. If it does happen, the
right lane is forced to go right and the left lane is forced to go left.
Mr. Plummer: If it works out that way.
Mr. O'Donnell: This is not a high traffic. If any of you have been on this
street, I have never seen a car using this street for any other purpose except
perhaps to get into this building. This is not a high trafficked street.
Ms. Range: But, even so, even though it is not a trafficked street, just in
the event, you do have cars coming in the opposite direction. The cars going
out to the left...
Mr. O'Donnell: Yes.
Ms. Range: ...could be subjected to having to begin stacking back into the
bank lanes. Let me ask you this question, air.
Mr. O'Donnell: Yes, ma'am
Ms. Range: Would a security guard or a traffic - I don't mean a police - but
a traffic attendant, would that help in any way?
Mr. Olmedillo: Traffic management has helped in other cases...
Ms. Range: Yes.
_ Mr. Olmedillo: ...and that has been the provision sometimes of the Commission
to require from the bank somebody to handle traffic so that whenever there's
excess people, cars, waiting to get in the facility, that they be directed to
either the parking, the main parking, or else where. But so that they don't
clog the street in any way.
Ms. Range: So, a security or traffic assistant could help in that instance,
is that correct?
Mr. Olmedillo: It does help, definitely. It does help.
Ms. Range: Right. Yes. Would you be willing...
Mr. O'Donnell: We would be... accept that as a mandatory condition.
Mr. Plummer: Are you ready for a motion?
Mr. O'Donnell: As a mandatory condition, we could accept that. We would meet
that requirement.
Ms. Range: Very good.
Mr. De Yurre: What is the requirement? Is it ten spaces per teller?
Mr. Plummer: Per window, per window.
Mr. Olmedillo: Per each teller.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, and we got two windows, right?
Mr. Plummer: No, they got one now and they want to open a second.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, so we're talking about twenty cars.
17
0
Mr. Plumnert 'What's correct:
Mr. De Yurre: Requirement. My concern is not the two cars leaving at the
same time, I figure they're going to come up with some solution, one goes
first or whatever. But my concern, if you talk theoretically about the twenty
cars, and they're coming in off of 32nd, you're going to have 15 cars into the
property, then you're going to have five cars lined up going backwards which
are going to be in front of and will prevent those two that are trying to get
out from getting out because they're stopped.
Ms. Range: That's why we need the security guard.
Mr. Plummer: It's true at...
Ms. Range: Or traffic attendant.
Mr. De Yurre: What?
Mr. Plummer: It's true at every bank drive-in teller. Same thing prevails.
The reason this came about was through...
Mr. De Yurre: What' I'm saying is, as opposed to, as the exit being on the
other side. They come in one way and they go out the other.
Mr. Plummer: Because on 7th Street and 27th Avenue, they were using the whole
City street to back up on. It was dangerous as hell.
Mr. O'Donnell: They're likely...
Mr. De Yurre: But here they're going into.
Mr. O'Donnell: They're likely to come this way though, frankly.
Mr. Plummer: You ready for a motion?
Mayor Suarez: Yes, I'm ready for a motion.
Mr. Plummer: I would make a motion, Mr. Mayor, that we pass PZ-8 with two
provisions. One, that at any time the windows are open a security guard must
be there to direct traffic on the private property and, two, that a one year
review.
Ms. Range: I'd second that.
Mayor Suarez: Moved and seconded. Any discussion? If not, call the roll,
with those provisos.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 89-743
A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE ZONING
BOARD AND GRANTING THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION AS LISTED IN
ORDINANCE 9500, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS,
CR-3 COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL (GENERAL) AND CR-1
COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL (NEIGHBORHOOD) PAGE 4 OF 6,
PRINCIPAL USES AND STRUCTURES, TO PERMIT A DRIVE -
THROUGH FACILITY WITH A TWO -TELLER WINDOW FOR
TERRABANK LOCATED IN THE MADISON CIRCLE OFFICE
BUILDING AT 3191 CORAL WAY (MORE PARTICULARLY
DESCRIBED HEREIN); AS PER PLANS ON FILE; ZONED CR-3/7
COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL (GENERAL), SAID SPECIAL
EXCEPTION HAVING A TIME LIMITATION OF TWELVE MONTHS IN
WHICH A BUILDING PERMIT MUST BE OBTAINED AND SUBJECT
TO CITY COMMISSION REVIEW.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on
file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
16
July
31,
1989'
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Range, the resolution *Aft passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
3. GRANT SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT DRIVE -THROUGH FACILITY - providing it
of 20 required off-street stacking spaces - for Terrabank in Madison
Circle Office Building (3191 Coral Way) (Applicant: Forte Properties,
Inc.)
Mr. Plummer: Same provisions on PZ-9, it attaches to the same property.
Mayor Suarez: I'll entertain a motion on PZ-9. Is that your motion?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: So moved.
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Ms. Range: Second.
Mr. Plummer: Same stipulations.
Mayor Suarez: Second that?
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Ms. Range: Yes, I did.
Mayor Suarez: Call the roll on PZ-9.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 89-744
A RESOLUTION AFFIRMING THE DECISION OF THE ZONING
BOARD AND GRANTING THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION AS LISTED IN
ORDINANCE 9500, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS,
CR-3 COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL (GENERAL) AND CR-1
COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL (NEIGHBORHOOD) PAGE 4 OF 6,
PRINCIPAL USES AND STRUCTURES, TO PERMIT A DRIVE -
THROUGH FACILITY PROVIDING 11 OF 20 REQUIRED OFF-
STREET STACKING SPACES FOR THE TERRABANK LOCATED IN
THE MADISON CIRCLE OFFICE BUILDING AT 3191 CORAL WAY
(MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN); AS PER PLANS ON
FILE; ZONED CR-3/7 COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL (GENERAL),
SAID SPECIAL EXCEPTION HAVING A TIME LIMITATION OF
C
AYZ§t C6missioner J. L. Plummer, 4r.
Ceissioner M. Athalie Mange
Coftisaioner Miller Hawkins
Mite Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavitr L. Suarez
NOHSf None.
AAS£NTs None.
Mr. O'Donnell: Thank you very much.
_.......----------------- —------ .r__------__-__..__�_�_�-..__.....
4. APPEAL GRANTED: HERITAGE CONSERVATION BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR CONSTRUCTION
OF CBS WALL UPHELD - (with modifications) at approximately 3918 Main
Highway (Applicant: Lavigne Properties, Inc.).
------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
Mayor Suarez: PZ-11.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: That was scheduled for 5:00 p.m., sir. So...
Mayor Suarez: Eleven's for...
Mr. Olmedillo: ...you'll be looking at PZ-12 next.
Mayor Suarez: PZ-12. Ten we did. Yes, that was that...
Mr. Dawkins: All right, eleven, it's 5:00 o'clock.
Mr. Plummer: What are we looking at now? Eleven?
Ms. Range: No, twelve.
Mayor Suarez: PZ-12 now.
Mr. Plummer: What happened to...?
Mayor Suarez: Eleven, thirteen and fourteen are for after five.
Mr. Plummer: Oh, ten has been taken out.
Mayor Suarez: Ten was done last time.
Mr. Plummer: OK.
Mayor Suarez: We did that.
Mr. De Yurre: Twelve now?
Ms. Sarah Eaton: PZ-12 is an appeal of the Heritage Conservation Board's
decision to approve a six foot wall along Main Highway as opposed to an eight
foot wall appealed - proposed by the applicant. The applicant is here to make
a presentation and then...
Ms. baton: Right. The zoning ordinance allows 8 foot walls. However, any
development activity along scenic transportation corridors are subject to
review by the Heritage Conservation Board and the development activity must be
in character with that particular corridor.
Mr. Plummer: What is accomplished by a six foot wall instead of an eight?
Mayor Suarez: Does anybody have any rationale for that? Do you have any idea
why they would have recommended six instead of eight?
Ms. Eaton: The board felt that a six foot wall would accomplish the same
purpose as an 8 foot wall.
Mr. Plummer: But why drop it two feet? That's my question. What does it
accomplish? Does it, I mean, they can't see in over a six foot wall and they
can't see in over an 8 foot wall.
Mayor Suarez: The Miami Heat players can but that's about it.
Mr. Plummer: Well, but even they're seven foot, six.
Ms. Range: Is the 8 foot wall...
Mayor Suarez: They can see over the six foot and not the eight.
Ms. Range: Is the 8 foot wall in character with the other walls along the...
Ms. Eaton: No, it's not. An eight foot has never been approved along Main
Highway.
Ms. Range: There are no 8 foot walls along...
Ms. Eaton: No. And the majority of walls along Main Highway are four foot.
Mayor Suarez: Wait, wait, wait, wait. That's not entirely correct when she
said - remember the question the Commissioner's asking. There are no eight
foot walls along Main Highway? You want to revise your answer to that?
Ms. Eaton: Approved. Or...
Mayor Suarez: There have not been any approved since this ordinance went into
effect...
Ms. Eaton: Correct.
Mayor Suarez: ... or whatever you want to say, but don't tell us there are no
eight foot walls along Main Highway. There's some a lot higher than eight
feet and eight feet. They've been there for - before I was born.
Mr. Dawkins: Around that Presbyterian - whatever that church is, that's
almost a ten foot wall.
Mr. Plummer: Plymouth Congregational is over eight foot. I don't know what
is accomplished by reducing it from eight foot to six foot. Nobody's said
what it does.
Ms. Eaton: It provides less of a barrier, a visual barrier to Main Highway.
Mr. Plummer: Six foot is a visual barrier.
Ms. Eaton: Yes, we would prefer to have a lower wall.
Mr. Plummer: For what? I mean, look, you're talking to somebody that hates 8
foot walls, but that's our ordinance. OK? I hate solid walls, to me they're
a concentration camp. But if a man wants to live behind it, God bless him.
You know, the Mayor and I, this Mayor and the former Mayor had a problem with
8 foot walls and everyone of them says, "Don't pass it until I get mine up."
Mayor Suarez: I want you to know mine is exactly 8 feet, not one inch higher,
not one inch lower. Except where it's six feet.
Mr, Plummer: Are you ready for a motion?
21
July 31, 1909
Mr. De Yurre: Go ahead.
Mr. Plummer: I move that this thing be approved and give him his 8 foot wall.
Mr. De Yurre: You move to deny the appeal.
Mr. Plummer: Move to deny the - no, to deny the appeal...
Mr. De Yurre: Is this an appeal from the Heritage Conservation Board?
Mr. Plummer: No, this is an appeal by the objector. Whatever it is, you give
me the terminology to give them the 8 foot wall. The hell with this noise, I
mean...
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Moved and seconded.
Mr. Plummer: Sir, you open your mouth, you're liable to lose.
Mayor Suarez: What's the correct expression of the motion that we're about to
pass?
Mr. Plummer: What's the terminology?
Mayor Suarez: So we have it in the record.
Mr. Plummer: Turn your microphone on and we can hear you.
Linda Kearson, Esq.: You should modify the HC board's approval. They
approved the certificate of appropriateness of approval.
Mr. Dawkins: Where do you come from?
Me. Kearson: Back there.
Mayor Suarez: The HC board, meaning...
Ms. Kearson: The HC board...
Mr. Plummer: Heritage Conservation...
Me. Kearson: ... Heritage Conservation Board approved the certificate of
approval, but for six feet. You should modify that to allow for an 8 foot...
Mayor Suarez: That's what the motion is.
Mr. Plummer: That's exactly what I said in my motion.
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Mr. Dawkins: And that's what you seconded.
Mr. De Yurre: That's what I seconded.
Mayor Suarez: Was second. Any discussion? At your risk.
Mayor Suarez: No, no, don't say fellas.
Mr. Plummer: What was the second part?
Mr. Lavigne: Coral rock facing where I asked for is CBS and the fact...
Mr. De Y'urre: What did you bring that up for? That's not part of the issue
right now.
Mr. Lavigne: Yes, sir, it is.
Mr. De Yurre: Well, it is now. Now, it is. Go ahead.
Mr. Lavigne: The thing is that the wall, I had to dedicate on one of those
questionable legal things Mr. Plummer was referring to. The front ten feet...
Mr. Plummer: It says here, the conditions - limestone facing, it doesn't say
coral rock.
Mr. Lavigne: Well, limestone. But the thing is, it's a hundred percent
hidden. You can't see the wall from Main Highway and that's seventy-two
hundred...
Mr. Plummer: But wait a minute. Let me ask this question. Are you saying 60
percent and 60 percent vegetation covered on above site? Now, is that the
whole - site, to me, is the whole piece of property.
Ms. Hirai: Excuse me, sir...
Mr. Plummer: Or are you talking about the wall?
Mr. Lavigne: The wall.
Mr. Plummer: And it's behind all of that?
Mr. Lavigne: It's seventy-five or eighty percent covered right now. I'm
going to fill in the rest. You can't see the wall so there's no point in
putting...
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but what happens if that shrubbery dies?
Mr. Lavigne: It's been there since 19 , about 1910.... I'm sorry, this
is the wall - this is the frontage that we're talking about. These trees are
tremendous trees, it's covered. I'm going to fill in the rest with trees. So
what I'm trying to do, is get eight feet CBS 100 percent invisible from Main
Highway.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, it's invisible to everything but the burglars.
Mr. Lavigne: To block the sound on a $600,000 house that's going right behind
it. Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: If we had passed the motion as it was stated, would we have
required the - what is it, the structure, that he was not willing to - the
coral or not, Madam City Attorney?
Ms. Kearson: The motion should include whatever structure he has to - you'd
like for him to...
Mayor Suarez: That's the best way to avoid a question is to come up with what
it should have had in the motion. But I said, if the motion...
Mr. Plummer: I move it. I move it.
Ms. Kearson: You only spoke to the height.
Mayor Suarez: Right, so what would have happened if we'd passed that motion
the way it was stated?
Ms. Kearson: You would not have dealt with the structure itself.
Mayor Suarez: Right, so we would have been in limbo. OK, thank you.
23 July 31, 1989
7P ,,. - �� :..
Adlk
—
Ms. Kearsont What's right.
Mayor Suarez: i thought we were in limbo anyhow. We're back to limbo. What
do you want to do, Commissioners?
-
Mr. Plummer: So I move it to include the eight foot wall, to put the regular
CBS with the proviso that it must be heavily landscaped so that the department
cannot see the CBS wall through the landscaping.
Ms. Eaton: Commissioner Plummer.
Ms. Range: And heavily landscaped at all times. I noticed a question was
asked, what if the foliage dies? Foliage need not necessarily die, but what -
_
if an act of nature comes along, we have a hurricane. How can we ensure...
Mr. Plummer: He'll have to put it back.
Mayor Suarez: We can enforce it by requiring them to provide it.
Ms. Range: How can we ensure in this motion that it be replanted immediately?
Because it would make an awfully ugly sight...
Mayor Suarez: It can be made a...
Ms. Range: ...an 8 foot wall with a...
Mayor Suarez: It can be made a requirement of the approval.
Ms. Eaton: Yes, it can.
Mayor Suarez: OK, well you just heard it in a motion and now...
He. Range: Then I'd like to put that in there now.
f!
Ms. Kearson: Ms. Eaton would like to address that.
_r
Me. Eaton: Yes, we would appreciate it if the landscape plan could be subject
to approval by the Planning Department.
j
t
Mr. Dawkins: No. No.
—i
Mr. Plummer: Well, I have no objection, but my colleague... I will respect my
=!
colleague's opinion.
Mr. Dawkins: No, but you see, all we're doing is jerking them back around
again. Why didn't they say all this...
Mr. Plummer: Well, no, all I said...
Mr. Dawkins: No, all they had to do was say this at first.
Mr. Plummer: Miller, all I said was that to them to verify for us that the
3
vegetation was one hundred percent where you couldn't see the wall.
Mr. Dawkins: OK. _
Mr. Plummer: I'm not going to go out and check it and I don't think you are,
but I think we have...
Mr. Dawkins: That's not what she said. She was that the plans that's already
there be approved by the Planning Department.
Mr. Plummer: But that was not in my motion?
Mr. Dawkins: That's what she was asking for.
id
5
Mr. Plummer: My motion spoke that the department would go in and make sure
that its a hundred percent so that, in fact, you cannot see the wall. A
hundred percent.
Me. Ranges And the addition to the most...
24 July 31, 1969
ak.
s
Mr. De Yurre: Let's be realistic, a hundred percent, that's a pretty high
percentage. I wean like...
Ms. Range: Well, if that's what he pants.
Mr. Dawkins: That's all right. That's what he said. He said that.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, I think it's substantial, no?
Mr. Plummer: I agree. I mean, I don't think we ought to go more than a
hundred percent.
Ms. Range: And we must be sure that any dying foliage, regardless to what the
reason, is replaced immediately.
Mr. Dawkins: OK, well I think what we need to do - I think, I don't - and if
I'm in error, J.L., maybe we need to amend it to say that if any time you can
see the wall, it has to come down. That's all.
Mr. Plummer: They'd either have to restore it to the hundred percent or the
wall would have to come down.
Mr. Dawkins: Or the wall come down, yes.
Mayor Suarez: That's built into the motion too.
Mr. Plummer: Fine.
Mayor Suarez: We have a motion and a second, right?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Before we vote, let me say, Sarah, one thing. What I think you
hear and correct me, Commissioners, if I'm wrong, is a Commission that is
obviously concerned with how Main Highway looks and how all kinds of parts of
the City look, but we're not that concerned to the point that we want our
j Planning Department to spend its time on the exact materials that are built
t
there. If people want to have that kind of a community, they could move to
—i Coral Gables...
Mr. Plummer: Or they would pay for it out of self -pride.
Mayor Suarez: Right, or pay for it out of self -pride, but our Planning
Department and our City is devoted, at this particular point, I think, under
these five Commissioners to try to improve areas of the City where this would
be just a magnificent thing to happen there. It concerns us, I think, to hear
the way you're getting into the details of the way people build things that
are not the kinds of concerns that we have up here. At least I don't, and I
think I speak for the rest of the Commission. OK, call the roll.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 89-745
A RESOLUTION MODIFYING THE DECISION OF THE HERITAGE
CONSERVATION BOARD AND GRANTING A CERTIFICATE OF
APPROVAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EIGHT FOOT CBS
WALL WITH NO TREE REMOVAL FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT
3918 MAIN HIGHWAY (3665 ST. GAUDENS ROAD), COCONUT
GROVE FLORIDA.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on
file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner De Yurre, the resolution was passed
and adopted by the following vote:
[a
AM: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mr. De Yurre: Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Suarez: The word that I was looking for was nit picking. That was the
word I was looking for. Commissioner, Vice Mayor...
Mr. De Yurre: Mr. Mayor, now that I'm looking at some of these pictures. You
know, one of the things that really I find that is totally out of place in the
Coconut Grove area is the unkempt green areas abutting the streets. For
example, that Poinciana and Main Highway, all the weeds and that kind of
thing. Who's supposed to take care of those things? Is it...
Mr. Plummer: Public right-of-way is supposed to be done by the City.
Mr. De Yurre: Well, I tell you, it's lacking to a great degree along Main
Highway.
Mr. Plummer: Victor, let me tell you something, two things real quickly.
One...
Mr. Dawkins: We're going to get out of here at 9:00 o'clock, OK, you two?
Mr. Plummer: I just came back from Vancouver and you ought to see how that
town is kept. It is beautiful. Second of all, the biggest thing I ever had
of a problem on Main Highway was the banyan tree in front of St. Hugh's
Church. That tree sticks out in the street. This City got sued and paid off
$100,000 claim and I said I would only vote to pay the claim to tear the tree
down. Buddy, you got paper airplanes on Chalk Airlines? I got banyan twigs
for months. It's amazing, they don't want to do anything about it.
Mr. De Yurre: Yes, but the City must keep the green area, at least cut the -
you know, all the stuff that's...
Mr. Plummer: Well, that's the tree trimmer with the two-way radio. Call him
on the radio and tell him to go down there.
Mr. De Yurre: Well, Wally, can you make sure that Main Highway gets addressed
and all along Douglas also.
Mr. Wally Lee: Yes, sir, I'll follow up on it.
Mr. De Yurre: Main and Douglas.
Mayor Suarez: Who's is the - as long as we're into that, who's is the
maintenance of what it looks like is sort of a sidewalk and also parkway along
U.S. 1 right next to the wall there on Dixie coming up into downtown? I don't
think there's any worse maintained area of Miami than that little sidewalk
parkway area between the wall...
Mr. Plummer: Vizcaya?
Mr. Olmedillo: That's a federal road.
Mayor Suarez: Well, all along there. All along up to 17th Avenue.
Mr. Olmedillo: That's a federal road.
Mayor Suarez: Ah. Could you do something to try to alert them to the fact
that all it takes is every once in a while to mow that or pick up the trash or
the garbage and it's one of the most viewed highways in the City.
26 July 31, 1989
orris -------- ----...r-...r-------------------------
S. BRIEF DISCUSSION CONCERNING SALARIES OF CITY OFFICIALS.
Mr. Dawkins: Mr. Mayor, since we seem to be going off on tangents here, for
five minutes, we got something that's been coming up for the longest and we've
never gotten to it. The City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk works for the
City of Miami and the City Clerk is desirous of giving a pay raise to the
Assistant City Clerk. We want to state your position so we can get through
with this?
Ms. Hirais Yes, sir, he has, by now, all the necessary experience and he's a
real value to our office and I thought it was only fair that his salary would
run parallel to Assistant Directors of other departments in the range area,
and who sets its...
Mayor Suarez: Why would this come before the Commission?
Ms. Hirais Because you approve both of our salaries.
Mr. Dawkins: Have to approve the budget.
Mayor Suarers And we don't do that as part of the budget process?
Ms. Hirai: I thought it would be. I was not aware that it was
Mr. Dawkins: For her, no her's come, but his
Mayor Suarez: Yes, your's is...
Mr. Dawkins: They both...
Mr. Plummer: Of all the three that we appoint and their sub -directors come
before this City Commission for approval. City Manager and his assistants,
the City Attorney and his assistant and...
Mr. De Yurre: When do we approve the Assistant City Managers?
Mr. Plummer: We do if they get a raise.
Mr. Dawkins: We don't.
Mayor Suarez: There's a provision...
Mr. Dawkins: No, you don't.
Mr. De Yurre: No, no, no, no.
Mr. Plummer: We did.
Mayor Suarez: Let me tell you, there's a provision in the charter, just so
you know.
Ms. Hirai: No.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me.
Mayor Suarez: There's a provision in the charter that says this Commission
approves the salaries of all directors too if you ever want to...
Mr. De Yurre; Well, I want, then I want...
Mr. Plummer; We approve all directors by virtue of budget.
Mayor Suarez: But, I mean, there's a provision in the charter specifically
refers to our approval of directors compensation.
Mr, De Yurre; But what about Assistant City Managers?
Mr. Plummer: Well, of course.
h
4 1
27
MY!
t �
f xl
May6t Outtmt All that:e part bf the budget protreaa.
Mt. be Tutre t But hot...
Mayor Suareat Not individually.
Mr. Plummer: But, Viotor, for Victor, if I'm not mistaken, the Assistant
t
City Managers have not got a pay raise for two years.
a_
Mayor Suarest but he's just looking at the procedure for approving.
Mr. De Yurre: In how long?
Mr. Dawkins: You want to bet?
Mr. Plummer: No, they got a bonus.
Mr. Dawkins: No, sir.
Mr. Plummer: They got a bonus, not a pay raise.
Mr. Dawkins: They got a pay raise.
Mr. Plummer: They got a bonus.
Mr. De Yurre: No, they've gotten pay raises.
Mr. Dawkins: What's that lady's name that's up there in his office? What's
her name?
i
Mayor Suarez: They got all kinds of things.
Mr. Dawkins:
What's that lady's name up here?
Mayor Suarez:
Whatever...
Mr. Plummer:
Angela?
Mr. Dawkins:
No, the other one.
Mr. Plummer:
Janet.
Mr. Dawkins:
Janet. She got...
Mr. Plummer:
She's not an Assistant City Manager.
Mr. Dawkins:
What is....?
Mr. Plummer:
She's an Assistant to.
Mr. De Yurre:
She's an assistant to the City Manager.
Mayor Suarez:
Assistant to the City Manager which is about the same thing as
far as I'm concerned.
Mr. Dawkins:
Well, what's the difference?
Me. Range: What's the difference?
Mr. Plummer:
About $40,000.
Mr. De Yurre:
No, no.
k Mayor Suarezc
We ought to really review in connection with
the budget...
Mr. Dawkins:
Well, why do you want to review it when I
bring this one up?
Why doalt you
review it after you put this one through?
i Mayor Suarez:
I don't think we can. I don't think we can.
20
Jul,y
3
r tmC`/ 4Z`'(' ' �}JEx' ♦
' ] _ .tl-. 1 .�a�.F+{ Pl ?._�'e
r
`,
Mrs 'i'wrraa 'dell, iet� s+amthitig klMpl6i Over the
last t#6 Y*Atlls
.$e
#ally, trlug the a breakdown of all the kalkistatit 'City Maaagarb and the pair
raises they renattodi
Mr. wally Leaf fifes, sir.
Mr. De Yurre: And the dates when they received them:
Mr. Lest Yes, sir.
Mr. Ds Yurre: OK? And we'll see.
Mayor Suarea: Madam City Clerk, it sounds like, assuming that
we can't act on
this today...
Mr. Dawkins: Yes, we'll do it with the budget. I don't have
any problem....
Mayor Suarez: It sounds like you have a pretty clear signal
that maybe there
should be some...
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mayor Suarez: Right and you maybe ought to have the Manager
reflect that in
the budget and, if not, you alert us to it.
Ms. Hirai: Mr. Mayor, I did not request the issue to come up today.
Mayor Suarez: Let me finish what I'm saying. Why does everybody interrupt me
all the time? Then you alert us to it at budget season.
Ms. Hirai: Yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Unless you don't want to alert us to it at budget season, in
which case we don't act on it even though, apparently, you agree that he
x3;
s
-. .. _ .. _ : _... �=.. �..rr..r.i.w.'i.wWirW.rii.rW�.WWrr--:-.—a►..`..rrr.W...a�.-rawer.irrrr.WrrwWrr.rWa.�rWW..... -: _. :.� � ...,,..:.. .:...
b . A BRIEF WINIENTS FROM PLANNING DEPARTMENT CONCERNING BOARD Or COUNTY -
COMMISSIONERS' ACTION CONCERNING PROPOSED KEY BISCAYNE AREAWIDE DRI.
Mayor Suarez: OK, we have the ability to do PZ-26 and 27, Commissioners. If
you want to do those real quick before we...
Mr. Plummer: What about 13 and 14?
Mayor Suarez: They're all scheduled for after 5:00 p.m.
Mr. Plummer: No, sir, that's scheduled for 2:00.
Mr. Olmedillo: The neighbors requested that these items be taken after five.
Mayor Suarez: That's one of ones we scheduled specially.
Mr. Plummer: Thirteen and fourteen?
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Item... what are you saying, Mr. Mayor?
Mr. Olmedillo: Twenty-six and twenty-seven.
Mayor Suarez: PZ-26 and 27, we can handle before 5:00 p.m. We may as get
those out of the way.
Mr. Olmedillo: There's no vote, there's no vote, there's no motion. This is
only a report to you.
Mayor Suarez: Discussion item. Proposed Key Biscayne areawide DRI. Who
wanted that to come back?
Mr. Plummer: We did.
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, you wanted a report after the County Commission meeting
of Tuesday.
Mr. Plummer: After the County acted.
Mr. Olmedillo: The County acted on it. And you want...
Mr. Plummer: And they acted rightly, that's why I commended Barbara Carey the
other day.
Mayor Suarez: They turned it down. Unless somebody else wants to report,
that's...
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, that's the report.
Mr. Plummer: They decided not to do the DRI.
Mr. Olmedillo: Decided not to.
Mayor Suarez: I don't remember asking this to be scheduled for a discussion
item, but anyhow. Anybody else want to hear anything on that?
idNil..rr :•`:�—.—'".... ,.. i�.w.�.W31ra��:'�aa'i�yiir r"r.ir.i'..rrW�i.�"—...�.�.ri:iu.�riwa.aGii:i+..r':ar_.rir'....• _' i�i+�...��i7�..
it ier to
6.B DIR$CT MANAGER TO JJMVT NSW ZONING ORDINANC$ - making eas
understand = Set public hearings.
------------------------ —------------------- ----- _:.----
�..�.. -- --
Mayor Suarez: OK, PZ-27.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: PZ-27, you have received...
Mayor Suarez: Proposed new zoning ordinance.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, air.
Mr. Plummer: Where is it?
Mr. Olmedillo: You have been asking... it was delivered to your offices the
day of past City Commission, Thursday, and I will run quickly through what
we're proposing to do with it. Not necessarily go into deep discussion, but
if you want to, of course, we can do that. But this is basically what we're
trying to do. We're trying to respond to the need of making this a simpler
ordinance, and what we're doing is that we're reducing the number of
districts. Right now, we have 52 districts times the number of intensity
factors that we have. So, conceivably, we have 468 districts in our ordinance
today.
Mayor Suarez: Now, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Mr. Olmedillo: We are...
Mayor Suarez: Wait a minute. We have 468 districts.
Mr. Olmedillo: Possible districts.
Mayor Suarez: What does that mean?
Mr. Olmedillo: We, well...
Mayor Suarez: Four hundred sixty eight different kinds of districts or 468
actual districts?
Mr. Olmedillo: We have 52 basic districts...
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...and then we have the intensity.
Mayor Suarez: Classifications, there's another way of saying districts there.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Olmedillo: And then we have nine...
Mayor Suarez: Variations of each one.
Mr. Olmedillo: Nine different sector numbers; from one through nine. Which
gives you the intensity of development, so you can have from...
Mr. Plummer: I thought we were doing away with that?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, we are.
Mr. Plummer: When?
Mayor Suarez: So he's telling us how bad things are.
Mr. Olmedillo; I'm giving you the draft.
31
Mr. Plummer: For two years you've been telling us you're going to do Away
with it.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, 1 turned in a draft. Last Thursday I delivered to your
offices a draft of the new ordinance. We...
Mayor Suarez: OK, how many classifications will we have there? We used to
have 460 some possible ones. How many was it?
Mr. Olmedillo: Four sixty eight.
Mayor Suarez: Four sixty eight.
Mr. Olmedillo: We're going for 27 now.
Mayor Suarez: Twenty-seven
Mr. Olmedillo: Twenty-seven.
Mayor Suarez: OK, how does that scheme work? How many basic and how many
variations?
Mr. Olmedillo: What we have is twelve basic and fifteen special ones.
Mayor Suarez: OK, how are the basic ones? How do they run?
Mr. Olmedillo: The basic ones will be like an R-1, R-2...
Mr. Plummer: Great.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...R-3, R-4. C-1, which is a commercial district; C-2, which
is a liberal commercial district. Then you have one industrial, then cutting
down...
Mayor Suarez: One industrial.
Mr. Olmedillo: One industrial. We have three industrials right now.
Mayor Suarez: Just wanted to make sure I heard what it was.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: How many business?
Mr. Olmedillo: And then...
Mayor Suarez: Or office?
Mr. Olmedillo: Office, one district and central business district only one.
Mayor Suarez: CBD is one.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, we have CBD-19, and we have...
Mr. Plummer: What about mixed? What used to be the old RC?
Mr. Olmedillo: The mixed will be the C-1. C-1 district will be a mixed use.
Mayor Suarez: It's accumulative zoning, so that anything is included in a C
that if OK in an R, or is that the idea?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, sir.
Mayor Suarez: I see, that's the true...
Mr. Plummer: Are you going to put in the height limitations and all of that
into the C-1?
Mr. Olmedillo: We will have height limitations in the districts themselves.
Mayor Suarez: OK, now what about the other 17? You gave us twelve. What
about the other seventeen?
32 July 31, 1989
s� r
Mr. Olmedillo: Then you have the HC district which now we have four, we're
reducing it to one.
Mayor Suarez: What is the HC?
Mr. Plummer: Heritage Conservation, special overlays.
Mr. Olmedillo: Heritage Conservation district. We got four, then we're going
to reduce it to one...
Mayor Suarez: To one.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...and then we have the SPIs. So far, we've eliminated four
SPIs. We would like to go for more, but at this point, we have had about 30
meetings with staff and 30 different organizations. Now, we want from here
from you is direction. You want us to go back to the public? We have a
committee which is called a 9500 committee. You want this to be taken back to
the public. We suggest that we have public meetings on this before we come
with a final version to you so that people are informed of what we're trying
to do.
Mr. Plummer: How about bringing it up this afternoon?
Mr. Olmedillo: We can do that.
Mr. Dawkins% Who is the 9500 committee?
Mr. Olmedillo: They are about 30 organization that we have invited...
Mr. Dawkins: Who are who? I don't care, I didn't say how many, I said who?
Mr. Olmedillo: I will list them to you, sir, if you bear with me just one
second.
Mayor Suarez: All the builders organizations...
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: Do we have neighborhood organizations too?
Mr. Dawkins: No.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, we have... I'll go down, yes, we have. Otis Pitts from
Miami -Dade Chamber of Commerce, Teresita Garcia...
Mr. Dawkins: Who?
Mr. Olmedillo: Otis Pitts. Then we have Teresita Garcia of Greater Miami
Chamber of Commerce; Luis Sabines, Latin Chamber of Commerce; Carlos Bertot,
National Association of Cuban Architects; Douglas McKinney, Allied
Contractors; Angel Saqui, AIA; Edmund Mazzei, Building Owners and Managers
Association of Greater Miami; Marjorie Douglas, Friends of the Everglades; we
have Beth Ann Brick, Sierra Club; we have Jens Henriksen, Dade County Chapter,
Florida State Department of Transportation; Terry Lunn, president, Florida
Engineering Society; Fernando Gomez -Pine, Association of Cuban Civil
Engineers; American Planning Association, Bill Kwalick; Manuel Moreles,
President, National Bankers Association; we have Larry Handfield, Black
Lawyers' Association; we have Johnnie Ridgely, Dade County Bar; we have Lou
Lawtin, Builders Association of South Florida.
Mayor Suarez: OK, we got an idea, we got an idea. You got most people that
might be interested. Anything else, Commissioner, on that?
Mr. Plummer: There's only one problem there. They have nobody of the real
general public. Who's going to speak for the public? These are vested
corporations who have an interest in this. Who have they got for the public?
Mayor Suarez: Well, you've got some from neighborhood associations, don't
you, you said?
Mr. Olmedillo: We do and we've
33 July 31, 1969
Mayor Suarees Who do you have from neighborhood associations?
Mr. Olmedillo: We've talked to the Coral Gate people specifically.
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, you talked to them or are they part of the
committee?
Mayor Suarez: Who do you have on the committee from the neighborhood
associations? Do you have any?
Mr. Olmedillo: Not on this committee because this...
Mr. Plummer: None.
Mayor Suarez: OK, well just say that.
Mr. Olmedillo: And what we have suggested...
Mayor Suarez: You're asking us, Guillermo, what we suggest by way of
workshops before we adopt this.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Mayor Suarez: The Commissioner's asking, do you have, in the committee,
members of neighborhood associations?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, sir.
Mayor Suarez: It's a very logical question given the other question you've
asked us to decide which is, what procedure we're going to follow before we
try to make this into law. Do we now have hearings and given the fact that
the committee doesn't have neighborhood associations, that may be one argument
for having the hearings.
Mr. Plummer: Should have some on it.
Mr. Olmedillo: OK, we'll...
Mayor Suarez: Sure. Or to have hearings now at which time they take their
input. Let me just show, Commissioners, the downtown master plan, for
example, which I was having a chance to look at because I think we're expected
to approve that today, has so many classifications on it, that it's just an
incredible hodgepodge of things, you know, that are so confusing. For
example, there's something here called the WF-1/7. What, in heaven's name, is
that?
Mr. Plummer: Waterfront.
Mr. Olmedillo: Waterfront industrial.
Mayor Suarez: All right. How is that going to be taken care of under the new
classifications?
Mr. Olmedillo: That'll be an industrial...
Mayor Suarez: Industrial.
Mr. Olmedillo: Industrial.
Mayor Suarez: All right, that makes a lot more sense than WF-1/7.
will just be CBD now?
Mr. Olmedillo: CBD, yes.
CBD-1/9
Mr. Plummer: See, they have to have all those classifications to justify all
those people working in the department because they - if we can't figure it
out, and they can't figure it out, they got to have more people.
Mayor Suarez: OK, we have a PDMU dash eight.
Mr. Olmedillo: Planned development for mixed use.
34
==-=l
July 31, 1909
Mr. Olmedillo: Same to you.
Al
Mr. Plummy r: With three shots of penicillin, you can rid of it.
Mr. Olmedillo: Planned development, mixed use as opposed to planned
development housing, or planned development...
s
Mayor Suarez: What are we going to do with these PDMUs now?
Mr. Plummer: Two shots.
Mr. Olmedillo: Instead of having three of them, we're just going to have one
PDMU.
Mayor Suarez: Couldn't we think of a name a little bit easier than PDMU?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, we are and if I can run...
Mayor Suarez: How about PD?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, planned development, that's it.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Mr. Plummer: Police Department.
Mr. Olmedillo: That's what we have.
Mayor Suarez: Could mean other things too, but - all right, we have here
something called PR.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, parks and recreation.
Mayor Suarez: What is that going to be now?
Mr. Olmedillo: Parks, P.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right.
Mr. Plummer: That isn't what Emilio Lopez says.
i
Mayor Suarez: We have here something called SPI-16.2. You're not going to
have any more SPI-16.21s, are you?
Mr. Olmedillo: We'll have it just the plain number. The SPI and the one
number, sir.
Mayor Suarez: OK, and each one of those SPI numbers will just mean an SPI
number because we have to list all the SPI's or because that number will mean
something as to density or anything else.
i
t
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, no, the number is because of an area of the City.
Mr. Plummer: It depends.
•
Mayor Suarez: OK, so, in other words, we'll just number them from one to
-
whatever - how many were there altogether?
'
Mr. Olmedillo: One through whatever. Right now, we're cutting it down to
fifteen instead of 19.
Mayor Suarez: OK, you can't eliminate the overlays?
Mr. Olmedillo: We're trying to do it, however that was done work with the
community directly and...
35 July 31, 1989
_
s
Mayor Suarez: I really would hope, and I think maybe I speak for the
Commission on this, if not, if you would express yourselves that we could come
up with a system that defines the classifications and what the zoning is going
to be without overlays.
Mr. Olmedillo: We'll try that, air. Yes, we'll try.
Mr. Plummer: That's going to be difficult.
Mr. Olmedillo: And if I can run very quickly through a list of concepts...
Mr. Plummer: It's going to be difficult.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...that we're using to fac...
Mr. Plummer: Well, it can be done, but it's going to be difficult because an
SPI in Coconut Grove is obviously going to be a lot different than an SPI in
downtown Miami, so you can't set a base of minimum requirements.
Mayor Suarez: Well, I'm just wondering about the whole reason for an SPI. I
mean, if you've got zoning, you could specify in area we want this and in this
area we want that without all these overlays.
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, it's a zoning district, instead of calling it SPI we can
call it something else, but for, I guess people that have been used to the
special district concept, and then to change it again, it may be confusing
again to go back, but if...
Mayor Suarez: OK, well maybe limit it to as few as you possibly can. They're
going to have numbers then from one to whatever number we have, and that's it.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Mayor Suarez: No decimal points and all of that.
Mr. Plummer: No less.
Mr. Olmedillo: No, no decimal points.
Mayor Suarez: Well, it sounds like we're headed in the right direction. GU
will be what?
Mr. Olmedillo: GU, it's governmental use so we're getting you just the G will
do for it.
Mayor Suarez: Are we going to make that industrial?
Mr. Plummer: No, that would stay, governmental use would stay.
Mayor Suarez: We'll keep that as G?
Mr. Plummer: Yes.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Olmedillo: An quick...
Mayor Suarez: By the way, that's important because if we have governmental
use for some property, like we did for the municipal justice building, you'd
wonder why you would have to go through a rezoning when you're going to offer
that for sale. I mean, you don't - you shouldn't have a rezoning, you should
have a zoning, really, is the determination of what the ideal zoning would be
for that area and that's it.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right.
Mr. Plummer: Compatible.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, compatible, not necessarily like a rezoning.
36
Mr. Olmedillo: If I may, if I run quickly through the con...
Mayor Suarez: I guess you lost a vote here regardless of what you bring back.
Mr. Dawkins: You don't have nobody on here that relates to... every time I
look down here, the people who come down here arguing about the zoning and
everything. You don't have them on here. You've got the people on here who
get paid to come down here and fight for their clients.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, sir. The way that we wanted to take this
through was to meet with staff many times, meet with these people many times,
the developer site, and then with a structure, meet with the community.
Mr. Dawkins: When do you plan to bring it back, 1992?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, sir.
Mr. Dawkins: You must do. Then you got to meet with the general public.
Mr. Olmedillo: We were planning to do so during the month of August and
September to be back to you before the end of the year.
Mr. Dawkins: No, unless you get some of those people who come in here arguing
about we violate their rights as citizens and we allow stuff just like we got
over here on Tigertail where that house sits right in the middle of the road.
These people who come here and complain about that needs to be on this.
Mr. Olmedillo: And we concur with you. However, we wanted to get something
structured so we can show it to these people.
Mr. Dawkins: See, but hold it - see, if I were Ms. Range, I could understand
it, OK? I've been here eight years and eight years I've been complaining
about 9500 and eight years you've been telling me you're going to correct it.
OK? Now, all of a sudden, you've got in two months you're going to do what we
haven't done in eight years. With these people who have a vested interest,
who get paid to argue against what we're supposed to be - all these people
here have a vested interest almost, you know.
Mr. Olmedillo: And we realize that, sir. And we want to...
Mr. De Yurre: Guillermo, you know what the problem is that once you structure
something, just what you're trying to do here, it's difficult to change it.
Because the people out there are not going to have the expertise to really,
you know...
Mayor Suarez: I got an idea. I got an idea.
Mr. De Yurre: ...make a dent into something that's already been structured.
You're going to be railroading it to a great degree over these people.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. Vice Mayor, why don't we set up a committee, since we're
going to set up the procedure by which it's going to reach us, of citizens and
neighborhood associations to whom this will be submitted and who will, in
fact, hold the workshops - we can, of course, bring our staff - and let them
make the recommendations to us.
Mr. De Yurre: Do we have a list here in the City as far as homeowners
associations? Are they registered where we have a list of all of these...
Mayor Suarez: We have an informal list.
Mr. Olmedillo: We do have a list in the Planning Department.
Mr. Plummer: Only if they've asked for agendas or...
Mayor Suarez: We have an informal list, yes.
Mr. Plummer: Only if they've asked for agendas to be on the mailing list.
Mr. De Yurre: Because what we could do, depending on how many there are, just
to invite them to present, you know, or nominate somebody from the
organization.
37 July 31, 1989
K,'
Mayor Suarez: Or we could have them hold the workshops and be a commnittee, an
advisory committee. And they make the recommendations to us.
Mr. Dawkins: And we take it to them.
Mayor Suarez: Do you want to do it?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, fine, and then let the vested interest go to that committee
and talk.
Mr. Olmedillo: We welcome that...
Mayor Suarez: That way, the vested interests are put in the situation of
having to appeal to the neighbors instead of the other way around.
Mr. Plummer: Fine.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, we welcome that.
Mayor Suarez: How many would you want on the committee, Commissioners, ten?
Mr. Plummer: A hundred and three.
Mayor Suarez: Fifteen? Try to keep it to a multiple of...
Mr. Plummer: Well, I think the answer to your question, Mr. Mayor, is how
many homeowners groups do we have?
Mayor Suarez: Well, I don't that we have an exact count, but I'd guess we're
awfully close to twenty or twenty-five.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, around thirty.
Mr. Plummer: Thirty?
Mr. Olmedillo: Around thirty that we...
Mr. Dawkins: Fifty, no fifty.
Mayor Suarez: I was wondering what you meant by that? I was ready to flash
back some at you because, you know, I see that stuff and I don't know what
you're talking about.
Mr. Plummer: What do you want?
Mayor Suarez: That means thirty?
Mr. Plummer: You want each of us to come up with three or four names? What
do you want?
Mayor Suarez: Yes, I was thinking that it'd make it fifteen and each one
appoint three.
Mr. Olmedillo: The thing that I may suggest, we have to narrow it down to a
group of five or six people who are going to work intensely with us. Then,
kind of expand it because if you get...
Mayor Suarez: OK, we'll do it one and two alternates who can come as
i observers. One and one.
Mr. Plummer: You know, excuse me, Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry. You know, these
committees are fine and all of this is fine, but it's a bunch of bull. What
this Commission wants is to go back to the old system that was so damn simple
to understand it was unreal. Why do you have to go through all this committee
malarky? Hey, we want an R one, two, three, four, and five. We want a C-1,
-2, -3, -4, and -5. You don't need a damn committee to do all of that. All
we're asking you to do is to not oversimplify, but simplify a system. You've
been two years in this Commission asking for that. Now, you're going to go to
more committees, more people and all we want is a simplified form that
everybody understands. Why all this committees? Now, if you all have it any
different, please tell me but in the old days, we worked under R one, two,
38 July 31, 1989
three, four and five. We worked under C-1, -2, -3, -4, and -5. We had two
industrial. We had a public and recreation. We had a waterfront and it was
to simple to understand.
Mayor Suarez: Well, we're headed towards that.
Mr. Plummer: That's all we want now. Why through all this committees and all
of this malarky?
t=
Mayor Suarez: Well, all right, here's where we are, here's the juncture we're
at. We have a proposal that does bring us back substantially to the old
system. We also have an indication from the Commissioners that we want to
have citizen input and from staff that we have to set the procedure by which
this will reach us. Do you want these citizens...
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, the reason we're doing this is, is that public are
demanding we do it.
Mayor Suarez: Do you want these hearings that would be had before this
ordinance comes back to us, whether you want any hearings to be had, or would
you want to have a committee...
Mr. Plummer: Let me short circuit it.
Mayor Suarez: ...acting on our behalf and take in input and then getting back
to us?
Mr. Plummer: Let me short circuit it. OK?
Mayor Suarez: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: Let's schedule it before this Commission on the September
meeting of zoning and let the people come here and speak to it. How simple
and how quick can you be?
Mayor Suarez: It's just that I want to make sure that we don't later have the
neighbors saying they didn't have enough input. That's fine with me.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Suarez: Because I think that they're going to be very...
Mr. Plummer: It's a public hearing.
Mayor Suarez: ...they're going to be very supportive of this.
Mr. Plummer: You have two public hearings.
Mayor Suarez: No more workshops.
Mr. Plummer: I don't see it.
Mayor Suarez: Just bring it back to the Commission what is it, the second
meeting in September?
Mr. Plummer: Schedule it as public hearings on September 28th, the first one
and the next zoning hearing, the second one...
Mayor Suarez: I'll tell you what, do a variation on that and send - do it
exactly that way, but send to all of the neighborhood associations that you
told us there was thirty of them - whatever those fingers that you flashed at
me meant - and send them each a courtesy copy of the zoning code with a little
letter saying the Commission would like input on these from you. Is that all
right?
Mr. Olmedillo: Will do, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Mr. Olmedillo: Thank you.
39 July 31, 1989
Mayor SuareA: Anything further, Commissioners, do we need to have � do we
need to...
Mr. Plumper: What time? We got to set a time.
Mayor Suarez: Do we need to trove that, Madam City Attorney?
Mr. Plutmrners Five, no, you got too much, put it at 2:00 o'clock.
touch at five.
You got too
Mayor Suarez: OK, do we need that in the form of a motion? That just...
Mr. Plummer: I so move.
DNIDENTIFIBD SPEAKER: No.
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Since she said no, let's go ahead and move it. Call the roll.
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 89-746
A MOTION DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO DRAFT A NEW
ZONING ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD BE SIMPLER AND EASIER TO
UNDERSTAND THAN THE ONE PRESENTLY IN EFFECT; FURTHER
REQUESTING THE CITY MANAGER TO SCHEDULE THE FIRST AND
SECOND PUBLIC HEARINGS ON SAID PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON
SEPTEMBER 28, 1989, AT 2 : 00 P.M. , AND ON OCTOBER 26,
1989; AND FURTHER DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO
FORWARD TO ALL INTERESTED NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS A
COURTESY COPY OF SAID PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE
REQUESTING THEIR INPUT AND COMMENTS CONCERNING SAME.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
---------------------------------------------------------
7. URGE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO NAME VALERIE HICKEY-PATTON, VICE MAYOR
OF CITY OF WEST MIAMI, AS RECIPIENT OF 1989 FLORIDA MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS
OF THE YEAR "E. HARRIS DREW AWARD".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Suarez: What happened on your item, so that we can recess until 5:00
here?
Mr. Plummer: I saw Steve out there somewhere.
Mr. Dawkins: Steve, Steve.
Mr. Plummer: Huh?
Mayor Suarers Apparently everything else has to be after five because it
either affects five percent of the City's land or was scheduled for after
five.
Mr. Plummers Mr. Mayor, can I bring this thing up.here because it's on a...'
40 July U , 1949
Maj6t Suited too, what was that, Commissioner?
Mr. Pluthlmer: Mr. Mayor, we're being asked to support one of Our fallow
colleagues in the City of Neat Miami for the B. Harris brew Award issued by
the State of Florida, Florida League of Cities, and I'd like to a6fninatt aired
forward to the Florida League of Cities, Commissioner 'Valerie Hickey Patton
that recommend.
Mayor Suarers Valerie Hickey Patton, OK. That's in the form of a motion?
Mr. Plummer: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: Second? Somebody.
Ms. Ranges Second.
Mayor Suarez: Second. If there's any discussion. You recommend her, you've
worked with her under League of Cities, right?
Mr. Plummer: Very definitely.
Mayor Suarez: Call the roll.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 89-747
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING THE
FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, INC. TO NOMINATE VALERIE
HICKEY-PATTON, VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF WEST MIAMI,
FLORIDA, AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE 1989 FLORIDA
MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR, "E. HARRIS DREW
AWARD."
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on
file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Range, the resolution was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
8. REFER TO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REQUEST FROM DIRECTOR OF
CAMILLUS HOUSE - for full-time City staff person to assist with their
meals program.
Mayor Suarers What's the story...
11
Mayor Suarez% Uh huh.
17J
Ms. Range It is in regard to the fact that the Arena apartments will be
opening very soon. There's some need for cooperation of the City of Miami,
the Downtown Development Authority, on behalf of the Southeastjbvertown
project are working diligently to coordinate and expedite the Camillus House
satellite meal program. Now, they're asking in this state, that in order to
meet our mutual goals, we are requesting that Mrs. Garcia, City of Miami
Homeless Project's coordinator, be assigned to assist and facilitate with
assessing the City and County sites that could be utilized for satellite
locations throughout the community. With her time and dedication together, we
can all work toward implementing the satellite meal program and discontinuing
our current practice of the daily meal line which sometimes is very, very
long.
Mayor Suarez: Wally is there... does the administration have any
recommendation how to handle this recommendation or this proposal to have....
Mr. Plummer: I thought, Mr. Mayor, I thought that was their responsibility
that they had "X" number of months, and now they're trying to get a City
parcel?
Mayor Suarez: I don't think so. I think they're going to pay...
Ms. Range: I don't know. This was just brought to my desk and I thought we'd
talk about it.
Mayor Suarez: I'll tell you what we'll do. I'll propose, Commissioners, if
with your approval, is to refer this to the Downtown Development Authority and
see if the DDA will not pick up what is not a current City salaried employee
who wants to...
Mr. Plummer: Isn't that the organization that's sunsetting October 1st?
Mayor Suarez: Do you want the DDA to consider footing the bill for this
employee or not, Commissioners? If not, I won't even take it back to DDA.
Mr. Dawkins: I don't.
Mayor Suarez: OK. Commissioner Range, I don't have any suggestions for you.
I'm sorry, I...
Ms. Range: You say you have no suggestions?
Mayor Suarez: Oh, I do, but apparently the rest of the Commissioners don't.
I'd very much like to....
Mr. Plummer: Take it out of Matthew Schwartz's $123,000 a year.
Mayor Suarez: That's precisely what I was proposing to do, Commissioner
Plummer.
Mr. De Yurre: Put it in the form of a motion.
Mr. Plummer: I make a motion that we refer this to the DDA.
Mayor Suarez: So moved.
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Seconded.
Mr. Dawkins: Under discussion.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Dawkins.
Mr. Dawkins: When are we going to have something definite and finished with
Camillus House?
Mr. De Yurre: I'm going to get into that now.
Mr. Dawkins: OK? Every time, first we gave them the money, they haven't
moved. They were supposed to have the satellite feeding places and they had
them identified and they were going around to churches and they were going to
have that, and now they come back, now they want a person to go do what
they're supposed to have done. I need to know when will this come to closure?
Mr. De Yurre: Let me say that...
Mr. Plummer: That was in the contract.
Mr. De Yurre: ...I got some...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, that's a requirement.
Mr. De Yurre: ...what I feel like, some alarming news Friday night over at
that Better Way Fundraising that we were at. It seems to me, and I don't want
to think that that's the way it's been handled, but that the approval of the
contract by the church which was supposed to come back in three months and
that was, I think, many weeks ago that it should have come back, if not months
ago. That they were kind of holding back, at least that's the impression I've
gotten, they were holding back on their approval of the contract because they
were trying to negotiate a number of things as far as parking was concerned
with the new site where they want to build on the corner of Third and Fifth.
If that is the case, you know, I don't take that too kindly. I don't think
that...
Mr. Plummer: Wasn't there a provision, Victor, in there...
Mr. De Yurre: That they were 90 days to come back.
Mr. Plummer: And then, if it did not come back in 90 days, the contract was
null and void. Wasn't that in there?
Mr. De Yurre: I don't know if we stated that or not, but I think it's time
that we started looking into it...
Mr. Plummer: I'm almost certain it was.
Mr. De Yurre: ...because I think that we've acted in good faith to work with
them, and we've given them all they've wanted.
Mr. Plummer: Well, they had... you negotiated the contract. Didn't they
have, as I recall, twelve months in which to vacate the property?
Mayor Suarez: From the point of closing, I think, and the closing...
Mr. Plummer: Was it twelve or eighteen months?
Mr. De Yurre: Eighteen.
Mr. Plummer: I know there was a stipulated time.
Mayor Suarez: Eighteen, I think.
Mr. De Yurre: The soup lines were going to be gone in twelve and they were
going to move out in eighteen.
Mr. Plummer: OK, I knew there was a stipulated time.
Ms. Range: Well, now, the...
Mr. De Yurre: OK? But the thing is, it's been like six months and we haven't
heard anything on the contract. It seems to me we're about - this happened
what? -January, maybe, February of this year?
Mr. Plummer: Somewhere around there.
Mr. De Yurre: OK. So, you know, I'd like to make some headway and find out
exactly what the status is, and also I've heard that the deal with the
satellite feeding places is not going the way it should, and that they're not
being - meeting with success the way they thought that they were. So there
may be some problems with that also, and I would like to find out exactly what
the status is on that.
43 July 31, 1989
Mr. Plummer- Well, if there's a time restraint of 90 days to close and they
didn't do it, then the contract is void. I mean, that's the normal situation.
Bob Clark, Esq.: I don't have the recollection, I...
Mr. Plummer: Because I don't remember giving any extension of time.
Mr. De Yurre: See if you can get that information by tonight sometime.
Mr. Clark: Will do.
Ms. Range: Yes, because what's going to happen, the Arena Towers is going to
be on our shoulders for the marketability of it.
Mr. Plummer: The what is?
Ms. Range: This is precisely what is being said in this letter.
Mr. De Yurre: When are the Towers?
Mayor Suarez: Arena Towers, Overtown/Park West.
Mr. Plummer: It's going to be on our shoulders?
Ms. Ranges Well, I mean the Park West construction company, Geraldo Levea, is
that correct?
Mr. Plummer: Well, my dear, let me make something very clear for you.
Anything I'm not putting on my shoulders when we give somebody $2 million
dollars for something that was appraised for a million, two...
Ms. Range: Um hum.
Mr. Plummer: No, no, no. I won't accept that on my shoulders.
Ms. Range: Well, I hope not, but this is what is being said in this letter
and that's why I brought it to the Commission because I think it's important
enough to try to work it out.
Mayor Suarez: The various groups that are interested in this, in downtown, do
have a way of putting all the responsibility on our shoulders...
■ Mr. Plummer: Yes, always.
Ms. Range: Yes, right.
Mayor Suarez: ...to get everything done, and they don't provide any financing
for it and that applies to the DMBA, DDA, the Overtown/Park West developers.
Mr. Plummer: All except the private residence of Brother Paul who is sworn to
poverty for $300,000 residence.
Mayor Suarez: But what they'd mentioned is a good point, Commissioner, of
course, that it would inure to the benefit of the City of have this matter
resolved and moving before we open.
Ms. Range: Well, what should we do? Should we refer this to the DDA?
Mayor Suarez: Yes, there's a motion to defer - to refer it to the DDA and,
hopefully, the DDA will - if they don't want to get disbanded, will see fit to
figure out a way to provide resources.
Ms. Range: Did anybody second that motion? I'm ready to second it.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, it was.
Mr. De Yurre: Yes, I seconded the motion.
Mr. Plummer: To do go DDA.
44 July 31, 1989
F.
Mr. De 'turret tut I also want Mr. Clark., to get that inforsation to Us leer
on today,
Mayor Suarez t btu.
Mr. Plummer: If in fact the contract is void, then there is nothing to tend
T
to the DDA, am I correct in that?
Mayor Suarezi The DDA motion is really to have possibility of the homeless
coordinator be on their staff at their expense, is what really the motion.,.
Call the roll the roll on that. -
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved
its adoption:
MOTION NO. 89-748
A MOTION REFERRING TO THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY A REQUEST RECEIVED FROM BROTHER HARRY
SOMERVILLE, DIRECTOR OF CAMILLUS HOUSE, FOR A FULL
TIME STAFF PERSON `MS. LIVIA GARCIA, CITY OF MIAMI
HOMELESS PROJECT COORDINATOR) TO ASSIST CAMILLUS HOUSE
IN LOCATING POTENTIAL SITES FOR SATELLITE LOCATIONS IN
CONNECTION WITH THEIR MEALS PROGRAM; FURTHER URGING
THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO TRY TO ASSIST
WITH THIS REQUEST.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner De Yurre, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
COMMENTS MADE DURING ROLL CALL:
Mr. Plummer: For clarification, Mr. Mayor, that's not just for them, solely
as their employee. That would be a homeless coordinator for anybody that
needed the services, but not just for Camillus House.
Mr. De Yurre: No, for the City.
Mayor Suarez: Right, right, it's for the whole...
Mr. Plummer: OK, just for clarification. I vote...
Mayor Suarez: For all the affected areas of downtown and...
Mr. Plummer: I vote yes.
45
.-----------........----------------------- ------ ------ —__-:� .- -
9. (Continued Discussion) VACATE AND CLOSE PORTION OF S.W. 30 AVENUE =
south of southerly right-of-way line of S.W. 28 Lane and north of
Metrorail right-of-way (Applicant: Public Storage Properties XIX Ltd.)
(See label 1)
Mayor Suarez: What was the deal? Do we have a deal? Do we have a proposal, do
we have anything?
Mr. Dawkins: Jim here say he give you $100,000 for the land.
Mr. Jim Confalone: Yes, I would like to purchase that for $100,000.
Mr. Plummer: You can't by law. You are not the contiguous owner, so you
can't do it.
Mayor Suarez: Jim, somebody, we're not negotiating any purchase or any sale
of land here. What is, if anything, proposal that we have before us? Wait,
wait, from staff first.
Mr. Kay: Well, the question is, you can't purchase right-of-way.
Mr. Plummer: All he's doing is trying to build up the prices.
Mr. Kay: You cannot purchase public right-of-way.
Mayor Suarez: I'm sorry?
Mr. Kay: We are not the fee simple owners. You can't purchase.
Mayor Suarez: That wasn't my question, Jim.
Mr. Kay: Oh, I'm sorry.
Mayor Suarez: We left the Commissions proceedings at a point at which we had
asked for basically the applicant and you to meet about the possibility of
either a reversible deal, which after a certain number of years we'd be able
to take the property back without having too pay anything for it, or some
other formula that you might devise. Do you have any such formula to
recommend to us?
Mr. Kay: The applicant has come up with a...
Mayor Suarez: He was going to try to get authority from his client, possibly,
for...
Mr. Stephen Helfman: I have authority and I will give you what I have
authority for, but I think it is very important to note that the main objector
here just told you he'll pay for that right-of-way for a hundred grand, having
nothing to do with the fact that it's got to be opened up, which is their
whole argument, that they needed to be opened up...
Mr. Dawkins: He might be opening it up. You don't know that he's not going to
open it up for one hundred thousand, Steve.
Mr. Helfman: ... which is their whole argument that they needed to be opened
up. Now it's just a function of dollars.
Mr. Confalone: I was going to donate it. I would donate it at the date that
it needs to be taken.
Mr. Dawkins: You don't know that he's not going to buy it and open it up, so
don't even get into that.
Mr. Confalone: I would donate it.
Mayor Suarez: Sir, please, please, please, you made your offer, which is
highly improper and out of order, but at least you made it, let him finish.
46 July 31, 1989
Mr. Helfman: We're prepared to make a voluntary contribution of $10,000 to
the City and a condition to the road closure that if in the next ten years it
is required for connection to U.S. 1, we will rededicate the property.
Mr. Dawkins: $15,000 or 15 years, it doesn't make any difference. I mean
15...
Mr. Plummer: Well, let me ask you this, let me clarify your statement. Are
you saying you are going to give us $10,000, that if in ten years it's needed
for reopening, you'll give it back free of charge?
Mayor Suarez: Or at the same...
Mr. Plummer: No, no, no.
Mr. Helfman: That is a voluntary contribution.
Mr. Plummer% In other words, you'll give it back to the City.
Mr. Helfman: We are not going to seek our contribution.
Mr. Plummer: If the City allows you to use it for ten years, OK...
Mayor Suarez: He said yes.
Mr. Plummer: OK? - and any time during that time the City requests it back
for public purpose, you'll give it back to us free of charge.
Mr. Helfman: The voluntary contribution is separate and apart from the road
closure. It's being given, we're not going to ask for the money back, but it
must be needed for connection to U.S. 1.
Mr. Plummer: Public purpose.
Mr. Helfman: Not just a public purpose. For a right-of-way connection to
U.S. 1.
Mr. Plummer: What other public purpose would there be?
Mr. Helfman: I don't know, a park? I don't know what anybody could come up
with.
Mr. Rafael Suarez Rivas: Any other municipal purpose that the Commission
might be able to make of that land.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I think the whole basis of any contention has been for the
opening, so I don't think that's anything.
Mr. Helfman: Public right-of-way, for the purpose of connecting to U.S. 1.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, the correct jurisdiction would have to want it for some
highway or transportation purposes.
Mr. Plummer: Steve, let's don't play games with each other. You're either
going to give him 15 years or $15,00. Now, which do you want? Or you lose.
Mr. Helfman: $15,000.
Mr. Plummer: OK, fine, $15,000 for ten years, OK? I'll move it.
Mayor Suarez: So moved with those provisions and voluntary proffers. Any
discussion? If not? Does it need an ordinance? Does it need a reading?
Ms. Hirai: It's a resolution, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Resolution, call the roll.
47
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plurm6r, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 89=749
A RESOLUTION CLOSING, VACATING, ABANDONING AND
DISCONTINUING THE PUBLIC USE OF THAT PORTION OF
SOUTHWEST 30 AVENUE LYING SOUTH OF THE SOUTHERLY
RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SOUTHWEST 28 LANE AND NORTH OF
THE METRORAIL RIGHT-OF-WAY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL
REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN, SAID REQUIREMENTS BEING
ESTABLISHED AS A CONDITION OF APPROVAL OF TENTATIVE
PLAT NO. 1347-A "L.R.G. SUBDIVISION".
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on
file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the resolution was passed
and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Mr. Mayor, just for clarification, Mr. Helfman, would you
send us a letter to that effect confirming those conditions?
Mr. Plummer: He'll send the letter collect.
THEREUPON THE CITY COMMISSION WENT INTO RECESS AT 3:46
P.M. AND RECONVENED AT 5:03 P.M., WITH ALL MEMBERS OF
THE CITY COMMISSION FOUND TO BE PRESENT WITH THE
EXCEPTION OF COMMISSIONER RANGE AND VICE MAYOR DE
YURRE.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. ALLOCATE $5,000 TO SISTER CITY OF BUENOS AIRES FOR SEMINAR IN APRIL
1990.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, one of our Sister Cities is Buenos Aires, which is
holding a seminar in April of next year. For the record, I cannot go under
any circumstances, but it is our Sister City and there is a balance in the
fund of Sister City International, which we the City have. I would move at
this time that $5,000 be allocated for that seminar for the purposes of our
Sister City to have a successful convention, I so move.
Mayor Suarez: So moved.
Mr. Dawkins: I second it. I'll be recommending... (INAUDIBLE)...
Mr. Plummer: My pleasure.
Ms. Hirai: Commissioner, your mike is off.
Mayor Suarez: OK, moved and seconded. Any discussion? If not, call the
roll.
48
The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who mowed
its adoption: -
MOTION NO. 89-750
A MOTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO ALLOCATE
$5,000 FROM THE SISTER CITY INTERNATIONAL FUND TO THE
SISTER CITY OF BUENOS AIRES FOR A SEMINAR IN APRIL
1990.
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the motion was passed and
adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Suarez: With inflation, by the time you get there, you might need twice
that amount.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, that's always the problem, or half.
11. APPEAL DENIED, WITH MODIFICATIONS: Allow applicant (Nasser Adrisi,
Sunny Electronics, Inc.) to construct an 18-unit apartment building at
approximately 2100 Brickell Avenue, with certain provisos.
Mayor Suarez: PZ-11.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: PZ-11, Mr. Mayor is an appeal to the Zoning Board's
decision to reverse the class C denial for 2100 Brickell. Usually, the
appellant speaks first, then we present the facts of the case.
Mayor Suarez: OK, let's proceed with the appellant. Who is the appellant,
Guillermo?
Mr. Troy Register, Jr. The appellant is here.
Mayor Suarez: The property owner represented by counsel?
Mr. Plummer: No, not the property owner.
Mr. Olmedillo: No, the neighbor.
Mr. Plummer: The neighbors.
Mr. Olmedillo: Next door neighbor is the appellant.
Mayor Suarez: OK, I'm sorry, all right. The appellant is the neighbors?
j Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, for the record... Guillermo, let me ask a question
because I have been told and I just want to ask this. For the record, I would
merely like to ask is there what I've been told, true. I was told that this
4 applicant made a request for a Class C permit that in fact, it was granted and
f then later was revoked. Is that a true statement?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct. There was a mistake discovered in the
issuance of the permit and the ordinance makes it obligatory to deny the
permit to...
Mr. Plummer: All right, my question then is, what was the time frame between
the time it was granted and the time it was revoked?
Mr. Olmedillo: Six days.
i
49 July 31, 1989
1
Mr. Plummer: Six days?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, air.
Mr. Plummer: All right, because I think we are going to hear the contention
that the applicant spent in excess of $75,000 for plans based on the granting
of the permit prior to it being revoked and I think that's going to weigh
very, very heavy, so I just wanted to make on the record that that in fact was
a true statement. I'm not asking you to attest to the $75,000, they'd have to
demonstrate that, but in fact, supposedly, if that's a true statement is what
I wanted on the record.
Mayor Suarez: What was the reason for the revocation then? If you can
explain the reason for the granting, might as well explain that, although it
sounds like it is unexplainable, from our perspective.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, the intent of the ordinance reads specifically that
district has a cap of 25 units per net acre. Having .41 acres, that piece of
property should have ten units as a maximum. Now, the Comprehensive
Neighborhood...
Mayor Suarez: Was this purely coincidental, those are the same figures we
heard for the project at 1890... whatever it was?
Mr. Olmedillo: The property is similar, but you had asked me, if you
remember, to address 2100 so that you could understand the differences between
them.
Mayor Suarez: Right, but the .41 is the same, .41 acre, same kind of layout,
the same general area, OK.
Mr. Olmedillo: The same, yes sir.
Mr. Plummer: But it's less property?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, it's exactly the same amount of property, it's 118,000
square feet per each one of those.
Mr. Plummer: But it's a different classification of zoning.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right now it is a different classification, although you
granted the zoning change to 1918, which is the one that you changed the
zoning last Thursday.
Mayor Suarez: So now both will have the same.
Mr. Olmedillo: Now both will have 30 days from last Thursday, they will be
the same.
Mayor Suarez: We made the other one conform with this one, OK.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right.
Mayor Suarez: All right, from the appellant.
Mr. Troy Register, Jr.: My name is Troy Register, Jr. I live at 2006
Brickell Avenue. I, along with three other members of the 2000...
Mayor Suarez: Can we swear anyone who will testify on this matter, please,
Madam City Clerk? Selma is standing up and eager to go.
(AT THIS POINT THE CITY CLERK ADMINISTERED REQUIRED OATH UNDER ORDINANCE NO.
10511 TO THOSE PERSONS GIVING TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE.)
Mayor Suarez: OK, proceed.
Mr. Register: I, along with three other members of the 2000 Condominium
Association, are the appellants in this matter and the issue before us is very
similar to what you heard the other night, 1918. Lot 1918 is the same size of
lot 2100, which is right next door to our complex.
50 July 31, 1989
Mayor 5uaraz: OK, we know that the configuration is similar.
Mr. Register: One hundred...
Mayor Suarez: We know that the zoning is now similar in the two cases. `We
just changed the other one to conform with this one, but we are here on a
special, or a class C permit, is it, right?
Mr. Register: Right.
Mayor Suarez: Which that other project did not apply for. I just don't want
to get too confused, when you say the two situations are similar.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me. Troy, excuse me, I'm still... they are appealing the
revoking of the permit?
Mr. Olmedillo: Right. What happened is, the permit was rescinded. It was
revoked, then that decision was appealed to the Zoning Board. The Zoning
Board reversed the decision of the Planning Department to revoke the permit.
Mayor Suarez: So as of now it is granted.
Mr. Olmedillo: Therefore...
Mr. Plummer: So in other words, as it stands now, the permit is valid.
Mr. Olmedillo: It's granted.
Mr. Plummer: OK, and they are appealing that...
Mr. Olmedillo: The Zoning Board's decision.
Mr. Plummer: So it's four steps instead of two.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes sir.
Mr. Plummer: OK, fine.
Mayor Suarez: OK, now, if we decide for whatever reason not to have the
permit granted, how many units could they build?
Mr. Olmedillo: They could build 10 units under the present zoning ordinance.
Mayor Suarez: And if we decided to grant the exception, how many units could
they build?
Mr. Olmedillo: Twenty is the one that they have already granted. The Zoning
Board granted 20.
Mr. Plummer: That's what they are asking for.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Mr. De Yurre: How many parking spaces do they have?
Mr. Olmedillo: They have 24 parking spaces, the last count that we did at the
plans.
Mr. De Yurre: How much are they, how many are they supposed to have?
Mr. Olmedillo: That's the Code, 1.2 per unit and they meet Code.
Mr. Dawkins: Can you bring back the 9500 is going to be out of that 1.2. It
will all be one parking space or no parking spaces, is that right?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, sir, that's...
Mr. Plummer: It ought to be two.
Mr. Dawkins: That's what I am saying, J.L., with one...
51 July 31, 1989
Mr. Plummer: Plus ten percent for guest parking.
Mr. Olmedillo: We've got whole numbers for all of that.
Mayor Suarez: If you do ten percent, let's clarify, to do ten percent, or
anything else, then you are going to have fractions, and I have no problem
with fractions, I just want to clarify that.
Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, you know, it's simple. You do one guest space
for every five units, or whatever.
Mr. Plummer: It's the same as .2. I think that the Commission is saying that
he has problems with fractions though.
Mr. Dawkins: I don't know how you are going to put a car on a fraction of a
parking space, I've been saying that ever since I've been here.
Mr. Plummer: You buy a Hyundai.
Mr. Dawkins: I agree.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Register: 2100 Brickell Avenue is a vacant lot with 100 feet fronting on
Brickell Avenue and it goes back 180 feet, has 18,000 square feet, 41 percent
of an acre. To the immediate... the lots on each side of 2100 Brickell Avenue
are the same size. Our lots, we're on the north side, is 100 by 180 feet and
we have four units in our complex. The complex on the south side of 2100 has
three units in that complex, the same size lot. Then to the north of our
complex, is another complex two -level complex with 14 units and to the...
Mr. Dawkins: What is the area for the 14 units?
Mr. Register: 190... 200 by 180.
Mr. Dawkins: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Register: And the Brickell Woods complex, which is to the south of the
lot adjoining on the southern portion of 2100 has 16 units in it and it also
has 200 frontage on Brickell Avenue and goes back 180 feet deep. So what we
have is, we go into some percentages, the proposed 20 units, which the Zoning
Board approved and we appealed from you... to you on that issue is 100 percent
more density than is intended under the current zoning regulation, 400 percent
more density than the property to the north, 567 percent more density than the
property to the south and 150 and 186 percent more density than the two story
developments that I've previously described, that is in the immediate
neighborhood. We consider parking one of the most serious problems involved
here, because in the last few years, there's been tremendous increase in
traffic on Brickell Avenue, both automobile, vehicles and pedestrians and with
our complex getting in and out of it, we've experienced a lot of trouble,
particularly trying to enter that complex with a high speed automobiles coming
in behind us, so if there is 20 units allowed in 2100 Brickell, they will have
at least 30 automobiles over there and there will be visitors there and I
don't know where they will park them. They'll have trouble getting in and out
of the complex. We will have the disadvantage of a lot of noise, a lot of
pollution, a lot of things that we have not been accustomed to, so we feel
that...
Mr. De Yurre: Excuse me, how many units in the apartment building where you
live?
Mr. Register: Four.
Mr. De Yurre: Four? And how many parking spaces do you have?
Mr. Register: We have eight in a garage. OK, four garages with parking in
the garages and when we have visitors in our complex, they have difficulty
getting in and out if we have a number of visitors.
Mr. De Yurre: So what do you do?
52 July 31, 1989
Mr. Register: In our complex.
Mr. De Yurre: So what do you do, then? Where do they park if you have
visitors?
Mr. Register: We park them in there and restrict the entrance and exit.
Mr. De Yurre: So they are in fact illegally parked in there, improperly
parked.
Mr. Register: Well, we leave an opening where they can get in and out, but
it's restricted.
Mr. De Yurre: Look, you have eight parking spaces...
Mr. Register: Eight parking spaces in garages.
Mr. De Yurre: Which none are guest parking.
Mr. Register: None are guest parking.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, so then they park somewhere else, which is not a parking
space.
Mr. Register: Yes, we still have space inside that we can park automobiles
and still be able to enter and to exit. We could park approximately eight
cars and still enter and exit.
Mr. De Yurre: OK.
Mayor Suarez: Hey, are you going to wrap up, because we have other people
that want to speak and I don't know that they are going to just confirm and...
Mr. Register: I want to go into one thing, if I may.
Mayor Suarez: ... affirm whatever you stated.
Mr. Register: I know we need to rush along here, but we strongly feel that
the decision of the Planning Director should be upheld because his decision is
in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance and is in accordance with the desires
of and in the best interests of the neighborhood and in addition to these
comments, we have petitions that have been signed by the 2000 Condominium
Association plus the following people, I will hand some folders to you at this
time. Brickell Place Condominium represents 552 members. Brickell Bay Club
represents 450 members, Brickell Forest represents 64 members, Brickell 25
Inc. represents 51 members, Brickell Biscayne Condominium represents 187
members, Brickell Townhouse represents 360 members and we also have, you will
note in the folders there, individual signatures not represented by the above,
that I've described from residents on both Brickell Avenue and Miami Avenue
totaling 37. There are other condominium associations and other individuals
that would probably concur, however, because of the shortness of time, we were
not able to reach all of the relevant parties.
Mayor Suarez: OK, if we were in a court of law we would call that hearsay and
it wouldn't be admissible.
Mr. Register: All right.
Mayor Suarez: But you are pretty sure you have other people also agreeing
with your posture. All right, anything further?
Mr. Register: We also have here today a number of people. I'd like for them
to stand up now, if they would.
Mayor Suarez: OK, most of the residents who are here are in fact residents of
the City and neighbors of this project?
Mr. Register: Right.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Register: Brickell Avenue and Miami...
53 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarozi And some South Miami, I think.
Mr. Register: Miami Avenue.
Mayor Suarez: Miami Avenue. OK.
Mr. Register: In summary, we urge you to reverse the Zoning board and uphold
the denial of the class C permit by the Planning Director and again we urge
you to restrict the number of units to ten and I'd like to reserve the rest of
my time as the spokesman and appellate for rebuttal purposes.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, can I ask...
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: ... a quick question of the Department. Does item PZ-25 in any
way affect this item?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, sir.
Mr. Plummer: The increase to 40 units per acre does not affect this item?
Mr. Olmedillo: Not this time that it's going to be brought before you.
Mr. Plummer: You are familiar with 25?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, sir, that's the rezoning citywide.
Mr. Plummer: OK, that does not affect this application?
Mr. Olmedillo: Let me check to make double sure.
Mayor Suarez: While you check that, Ma'am, would you go ahead and make your
presentation?
Ms. Kris Register: Yes, my name is Kris Register, also living at 2006
Brickell Avenue and I wanted to specifically address Commissioner De Yurre's
question about the parking and the visitors in our complex. There are only
four of us there. There is limited parking just with those units. We do have
a provision in the garage for eight. We do have some extra room in our
driveway that we can park a few cars when they visit. Because of that we are
all acutely aware of the not having a lot of visitors and with the small
number of units that we have, we can control that. With 20 units, you're
going to have less control. There is going to be constant visitors and not as
much consideration of the neighbors and they will be bringing the cars in or
they will be trying to find places in other facilities close by to park their
cars. They won't have the control that we have over it. I just wanted to
respond to that.
Ms. Selma Alexander: Good afternoon, or good evening, I should say. I'm Selma
Alexander of 2323 South Miami Avenue. Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission,
Ms. Range, whom I'm glad to see back. And J.L. who is pleased to see me
resurrected when they waived Brickell Avenue in front of me...
Mr. Plummer: Bad for my business, but for your health, I'm glad to see you
resurrected.
Ms. Alexander: Thanks. Thank you very much, I knew we'd get a laugh
somewhere. What's been said before is quite clear, the parking will be a
problem, but I'd like to take a little walk back into history. Historically,
starting with the Brickell Hammock Civic Association, which I was the
treasurer and Judge Dubbin was the president. We were very active in trying
to prevent inconsiderate zoning on Brickell Avenue. We realized it was going,
so R-5A developed on the bay, R-3A developed on the west side of Brickell
Avenue in order to lessen the impact of the high-rises on the bay, on the
residential community on South Miami Avenue and it's a stable viable living
residential area. Young people are coming in, they're raising children there.
We have descendents of children who were raised there, here as well and other
people are moving in and liking what they see. I was on the Planning Board
for six years and we worked very hard on the Comprehensive Plan, the City of
Miami and we thought we had this thing very well licked. Now, the biggest
54 July 31, 1989
_ problem was the impact upon the R-1 area on South Miami Avenue. Nov►, I don't
want to bore you with too many details, but let me say one thing, when
Brickell Forest got built, they were supposed to build only three stories.
Somehow, and I'm not going into that either, four stories got built and nobody
did anything about it, but nevertheless, they built a high wall, they had
French drains, supposedly to prevent their spill -over waters from spilling
into my property particularly, which sloped to the rear, because we kept our
hammock. We didn't bulldoze, we didn't fill, we kept the hammock and the
proudest day of our lives was when Dr. Fairchild, of the famous Dr. Fairchild
Gardens came to call on us and said, my, you have a miniature Fairchild Garden
here and we were very pleased at that, pleased that we could keep it. We had
a very bad rain after Brickell Forest was built and at that time...
Mayor Suarez: Selma, are you going to not tell us the whole botanical and
historical narrative of the area?
Ms. Alexander: No, I'm not, I'm going to tell you exactly what happened.
Mayor Suarez: You've got to try to focus in on the issue before us, please.
Ms. Alexander: It was post hurricane, post hurricane, and my property, I've
lived there since 141, we never had two inches of water and I've been through
so many hurricanes, I could...
Mayor Suarez: I have no idea what the inches of water has to do with this.
If you could relate it somehow to this, we would appreciate it.
Ms. Alexander: A five foot deep lake in my back yard because of the lack of
water drainage from the property that's been cemented over and the drains
don't hold and the storm sewers don't hold...
Mayor Suarez: But are you arguing that the difference here between they are
seeking and what would be...
Ms. Alexander: I think that the difference is...
Mayor Suarez: It would affect somehow the drainage?
Ms. Alexander It would affect the drainage for the people in back of them,
aside from anything else, aside from the parking and aside from the fact
that...
Mayor Suarez: I'm not sure how, but maybe our staff will be able to address
that.
Ms. Alexander: But the main thing is the Building Department gave then a go-
ahead for a permit that was not according to what was on the books in the
ordinance.
Mayor Suarez: But we're sort of past that. That was revoked and then they
appealed and then the Zoning Board...
Ms. Alexander: I know, but I don't think that we should be... we should
suffer, all of us in the area because the Building Department doesn't know its
business.
Mayor Suarez: We are going to get into why they granted, at least I want to
know for myself why it was first granted and then revoked.
Ms. Alexander: That flood cost us $11,000, if you want to talk about impact.
The insurance company paid and we now have a...
Mayor Suarez: I have no idea what relationship that has to this, but...
Ms. Alexander: I also was able to have my property values decreased on my
assessment by 25 percent because of the adverse impact of what the City of
Miami did to me. That's the most telling point. Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: What was... OK, well I won't even ask you. OK, counselor.
ji Mr. Al Cardenas: Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, for the
record, my name is Al Cardenas with offices at 1221 Brickell Avenue. I'm here
55 July 31, 1989
i
Y
on behalf of the project, the appellee, the Acropolis at Brickell and I'd like
to, if I may, while I give my brief presentation, hand out a proposed
rendering and site plan of the project in question. It may be noted that the
site plan and rendering that you are receiving, received an award from Florida
Architect, dated July -August 1989 edition and where the architect, Hervin
Romney was awarded for his design of this particular structure in the
statewide magazine. The sign that you have before you on the site plan
comports with every single code requirement other than number of units. It
comports with the FAR requirements, with open space requirements, with height
requirements, with parking requirements and with every single other Code
requirement imposed upon our client or any other developer by the City Code.
I presume that if the requirements for parking or anything else should be
different, I would respectfully suggest that perhaps we ought to revisit the
Code, but the client, relative to those particular standards, had a building
design that complied with each and every one of them except the units and let
me go into that, if I may, because that is the crux, obviously, of why the
City originally granted a permit and why the Zoning Board, after hearing
evidence, voted by a seven to two vote to do the same. I first want to go
into density, if I may, because we have heard the standard applied that were
we not to have prevailed at the Zoning Board, we would be entitled to build
ten units and I would give you a summary of what went on at the Zoning Board,
but basically counsel's argument at that time was very basic, and that is that
RG-2.1 and those of you who may be familiar know that this a very specific
section of the City designed to cover that area in West Brickell which is the
subject area in question and I don't want to likewise Mayor, bring in a lot of
past occurrences, but I recall, relative to the Green project and others, an
ongoing dialogue with the Planning Department which resulted in part in a
Comprehensive Plan that provides for forty unit per acre density in this
particular area. That 40 unit density, which the Comprehensive Plan that you
adopted here last year would permit, if my calculations are correct, at most,
16.4 units per acre.
Mayor Suarez: 16.4, that's still not 20, though.
Mr. Cardenas: That's correct. Now, here's where the 20 comes in and that is
based on equitable estoppel and I will share that information with you, if I
may. On August of 1988, the present owner, then a prospective buyer for the
property took the plans that you have before you to the City staff and met
with Teresita Fernandez and Juan Gonzales, two respected and well known
members of your staff and were presented with these plans and were
specifically asked whether these plans could be built on the site in question
and they indeed received an affirmative vote that they could do so. On
October of 1988 in reliance on this information from staff, our clients
acquired the subject property. In December, two months later, of '88, they
applied to the City for a class C permit. Now, let me if I may, read to you
the application for class C special permit what it says, because it's been
signed by the chief zoning inspector, the third gentleman in staff, Mr. Rafael
Rodriguez and it's dated December 23rd of '88.
Mr. Plummer: When was it filed?
Mr. Cardenas: That was filed in December of 1988. The plans were submitted
January 3rd of '89. The application for class C special permit was submitted
beforehand, Commissioner Plummer.
Mr. Plummer: I have 3rd day of January, 189. It's really immaterial. Go
ahead.
Mr. Olmedillo: If you allow me to explain, Commissioner, what happens is that
their complete application is considered complete when everything is in it, so
the drawings...
Mayor Suarez: No, I think what is more interesting, since you weren't asked
about that is to explain why it was initially granted and then revoked. That
would be helpful at some point.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, because also...
Mr. Cardenas: I'm going to get to that if I may.
Mayor Suarez: Well, we are going to get your version, but I want to see our
version too.
56 July 31, 1989
Mr. Plummer: Also, the way I've got it figured, unless my math is bad, from
the day that it was issued to the day it was revoked is 12 days, not six from
the 23rd day of March to the 4th day of April is 12 days. Go ahead, I'm sorry.
Mr. Olmedillo: Correct, besides...
Mr. Cardenas: OK, thank you. Here's what it reads. Any project requiring a
class C special permit must first be reviewed by the Building and Zoning
Department to insure that each project conforms to all zoning requirements,
therefore this form must be signed by the chief zoning inspector before the
project will be considered for final approval by the director of the Planning
Department. That is a statement that is affixed in the application, which I am
submitting a copy of for the record to the clerk. It was signed on December
23, 1988, so far, here is what's transpired. The client has personally
visited with two members of staff who assured him prior to closing that you
could build those plans that you have before you at this site. The client
closed and paid the purchase price asked based on that information and all of
you know, purchase price is based on the acquisition price per unit. Then
after he closes on the property and pays valuable consideration for the
property, in reliance on that information. He presents the plans and received
a signed copy by chief zoning inspector stating that he has met all the zoning
requirements.
Mr. De Yurre: Al, was that in writing?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir. The original opinion, no, sir. It's verbal, but I
have some case law on that.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, now, Juan Gonzales, what is his position with the City?
Mr. Cardenas: Chief zoning inspector.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, is he the type of person that you usually go to?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir.
Mr. De Yurre: You always go to him?
Mr. Cardenas: I would say he is certainly the right person to go to. There
may be another choice, but he's the appropriate person. Mr. Rodriguez is the
person that you must go to and apply for the class C special permit.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, so I can get my bearings straight, Guillermo, explain to me
the duties of Juan Gonzales.
Mr. Olmedillo: The chief zoning inspector is the one in charge of supervising
code violations. That's basically his role. Again, he also checks plans when
there's submissions for special permits like class A's, B's, C's, so he
reviews that. Also within his staff he's got Rafael Rodriguez who is a plan
checker who checks the plans to see if they are in compliance with the
ordinance.
Mr. De Yurre: So based on your opinion, Juan Gonzales was within his duties
when he gave you an opinion that...
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Mr. De Yurre: ... that Mr. Cardenas is alluding to.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, air.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, thank you.
Mr. Castaneda: Subsequent to that, if I may, the client proceeded to incur a
number of costs, one of course, was the purchase of the property. Cost number
two, was he paid $30,000 for the architectural plans subsequent to the closing
and after receiving the information that the plans were appropriate. He
spent...
Mrs. Range: This was for the 20 units?
57 July 31, 1989
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, Ma'am, the 20 units, the plans that you have in front of
you. On February 20, 1989, client spent $7,000 for tree removal. On March
27, 1989, the client spent $75,000, which was paid to the contractor pursuant
to a contract that he has entered into, a copy of which likewise I'll submit
for the record, in an amount exceeding $1,000,000. According to legal
counsel, the client of course, is obligated to the contractor and should there
be a lawsuit filed, which there probably would be, the contractor, as you all
well know, at the very least would probably be entitled to loss of profits,
which in a matter like this would exceed $100,000.
Mrs. Range: All of these expenditures were within the period of denial and...
Mr. Cardenas: All of these expenditures were incurred following Mr.
Rodriguez' finding in writing so that the plans met all of the zoning
requirements, but prior to the information that... that prior to the notice
being received of the attempt to suspend the permit, so all of these were
incurred after receiving written notice by the City that the plan had met all
zoning requirements and they were all incurred prior to receiving the notice
of intention to suspend the permit.
Mrs. Range: And just refresh me on how many days was that?
Mr. Cardenas: The final sum spent, the $75,000 were submitted to the
contractor on March 27, 1989, which is three days before the notice of intent
to suspend was issued. In addition to that of course, the client is now
obligated under the contract which was for $1,275,000, for at the very least,
loss of profits to the builder.
Mr. De Yurre: Could I see that contract?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir. In addition to that, there's a dry run building
permit, which was issued by the City after examining the plans. This is
another document upon which our clients relied. This dry run building permit,
I don't know if all of you know the terminology, but dry run means that prior
to their being a detailed review of the' working plans or drawings for a
particular contract, the City takes a review to make sure that all of the
basic information required for the issuance of a building permit has been
submitted and meets legal muster. This dry run permit was signed by Teresita
Fernandez on March 28th of 1989 and I have a copy here to submit to you for
the records as well. I would like to at this time quote to you the case of
City of Coral Gables vs. Puigross, which is the District Court of Appeals case
in Florida, of August 17, 1982. The facts of this case, where the client was
entitled to equitable relief, it was determined by the courts, were certainly
not as meritorious to our client as they were to this particular counsel's
client. In that case he had gone to the city and received a verbal statement
from staff that his house was situated between two lots and he received a
verbal assurance that he could demolish the home and build two separate houses
on these two lots which he had purchased. The man went ahead and demolished
the lot, demolished the house and proceeded to request this building permit,
which was subsequently denied on the grounds that you cannot build on that
basis. The man had incurred a total amount of cost of $3,000, went to court,
the court sided with the gentleman against the City of Coral Gables, saying
that his reliance on the word of staff and subsequent actions in reliance
equitably estopped the city from refusing to issue the appropriate
permit for him to build two homes on these two lots. I assure you after a
thorough review of the facts of the Puigross case that the facts of this case
are much more meritorious on the point on the doctrine of equitable estoppel.
Mayor Suarez: Counselor, yes, aside from the legal requirements that you're
imposing on us by our, presumably our prior actions and I think we have to ask
staff at some point to clarify if there is anything that you have misstated.
It sounds like you haven't jumped up and contradicted anything as to the facts
that would lead you to argue the estoppel argument. What about on policy
grounds? What would, if anything, lead us, if we had the freedom to do it, to
grant a permit to go from ten units, which are now permitted, to 20, except
you stated that the Comprehensive Master Plan calls for 16?
Mr. Cardenas: Forty units per acre, right. Now, the zoning board...
Mayor Suarez: Don't confuse with 40 per acre, we've got .41 acres and if we
stick to what it would permit, we might understand each other. 16 would be
basically allowed under...
58 July 31, 1989
Mr. Cardenas: Sixteen units would be allowed under the...
Mayor Suarez: Why would we ever want to go to 207
Mr. Cardenas: Why you would want to go from 16 to 20 is twofold.
Mayor Suarez: Or from ten to 20 for that matter.
Mr. Cardenas: Right, well, our position of course is 16 or 20. The reasons
are based on the findings of the Planning Department itself, in its
application for class C permit and here's what the Planning Director himself
said and I'd like to take the words right out of his mouth, if I may. Quote,
the proposed multifamily development blends with existing character of the
area, end of quote. May I add the following that that plan that you have
before you, if I could build what I have before you and call it 16 units
instead of 20 units, and comply in my opinion, with every requirement of the
City of Miami, the number of square footage that structure before you has of
construction is permitted by the City, the number of parking spaces, the
height, the density, the open space, everything that you have before you is
permitted by the City of Miami, with the exception that we are building 20
instead of 16 units, making the units smaller and more affordable so that more
people could live there, so in terms of the size of the structure...
Mayor Suarez: This is the most ingenious argument we have heard. We have
been now subjected to that in two Commission meetings in a row. It's sort of
the inverse size of the unit argument.
Mr. Cardenas: Inverse size of that, precisely Mayor, I couldn't have worded
it better and I would...
Mayor Suarez: Pick all the parts of the Code that would permit you to build
that many square feet and you divide that by the size of the units that you
propose, and you either get the number of units that you are seeking if they
are smaller, or a smaller number of units if the units are larger, and
somehow, somehow that's supposed to convince us.
Mr. Cardenas: Basically my comment is that very same size structure, the very
same way it looks to you for the 16 apartments that would built there and the
rational is good. We went over the whole theory of buffer zone to South Miami
Avenue. When the Green project was built, we crossed a threshold where we
reached a happy medium after a through discussion on the land use portion of
it and that's how the Comp Plan got to the sixteen units we talked about and
of course, that's how we got to where we are today. I think the structure
itself, as the Planning Director said, blends with the existing character of
the area. It's an award winning design. You are going to get something that
the community can certainly be pleased and proud of and in terms of the
equitable estoppel theory, I think obviously our client has now incurred at
the very least, $200,000 in direct expenditures, including having to make good
to the contractor in addition to having paid $200,000, perhaps more for the
property than he should have, had we gone back to the other number of units.
Mrs. Range: But sir, in going to the 20 units from the 16 that you could
possibly be allowed, what does that do for your parking? You still have the
parking problem.
Mr. Cardenas: We meet the Code requirements for a 20 unit structure with the
plans before you, yes Ma'am.
Mr. De Yurre: I just want to know if those costs included the attorney's fees
or not.
Mr. Cardenas: Unfortunately, they do not. I had kept those private, and I
haven't been authorized to disclose, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Is there anything about the presentation, unless the
Commissioners want to ask Mr. Cardenas questions, is there anything about the
presentation that he has made that is incorrect as to the legal issue? Do you
want to contradict anything, Mr. City Attorney?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: I'd only respond when any points of law that you all had.
I factually would defer to the department.
59 July 31, 1969
Mayor Suarez: But assumes the facts as stated and as the department has
related to you, we would be equitably estopped, very possibly to deny?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: That would in part turn on the facts, but there is a
section in our zoning ordinance, 3408 that says that a building permit or
certificate issued in error shall not confer any rights to construction or
occupancy and upon a finding that a permit has been so issued, it shall be
revoked providing actual construction has not been commenced.
Mayor Suarez: Which it had been in this case. Now, supposing the equitable
estoppel argument held, would that mean that we would have to allow up to what
the Comprehensive Master Plan provides, or...
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, if...
Mayor Suarez: ... never beyond that. Not... never the 20 units, even though
It was approved for 20.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Case law holds that you should not violate the
Comprehensive Plan, so presuming equitable estoppel under the facts, you would
be strongly persuaded to allow what the Comp Plan provides, 16 units.
Mayor Suarez: Up to that.
Mr. Cardenas: Mr. Mayor, just to clarify, counsel has quoted the section in
question. I would... I would...
Mr. Plummer: I hope you quit stuttering.
Mr. Cardenas: OK. Basically...
Mayor Suarez: You would disagree?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, I would... well no, I just recite what he said.
Mayor Suarez: Let me finish the sentence for you. You would disagree.
Mr. Cardenas: Right. Basically, what counsel has recited to you is correct
except that he himself said that unless, unless there has been, you know,
efforts undertaken or commenced, I think that's part of the...
Mayor Suarez: No, I think he said construction commenced.
Mr. Cardenas: Right, and I would respectfully suggest that the incurring of
the expenses in question, the execution of the construction contract and the
contractor having been paid monies for the first draw to commence work
certainly qualifies that statement.
Mayor Suarez: Certainly preliminary steps to construct...
Mr. Cardenas: Oh, and tree removal.
Mayor Suarez: Ah, the old tree removal argument)
Mr. Cardenas: Right, tree removal has always been a mainstay for attorneys in
construction commencement.
Mr. Register: Mr. Henry Taylor wants two minutes on rebuttal of my time, but
I've got some other things I want to comment that certain...
Mayor Suarez: OK, quickly please, because this obviously creates a double
problem for us of potential legal impediment to acting, accepting one way and
public policy arguments and we are going to have to just grapple with it and
decide. Yes air, go ahead.
Ms. Register: We'd like to make some comments.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, please.
Mr. Henry Taylor: Mr. Mayor and the Commission, I'll be brief. I've been
through this once before at the corner of 25th Road and Brickell Avenue.
60 July 31, 1989
Ixactly the same thing happened. They got a permit for about a 20 story
building, was issued by the City by mistake. We looked at the Code, we said,
look, you shouldn't have done this, the City said you are right, and it was
revoked.
Mayor Suarez: OK, now, do you know anything about that case? Wait sir, do
we know anything about that case, Guillermo, when you finish talking to the
counselor for the property owner? It would be nice to know if what he is
saying is correct or not. You know anything about the case that a permit was
improperly granted. What was the address, sir?
Mr. Taylor: 25th Road and Brickell Avenue and Gerald Richman represented it.
Mayor Suarez: Where?
Mr. Taylor: Before this Commission.
Mr. Olmedillo: There was no permit issued in that case. That case, we denied
the class C and it went all the way to the courts and our decision was upheld.
You upheld the same decision also, based on the number of units.
Mr. Taylor: Now here's what happened in this case. You heard what happened
at the Zoning Board, there's no record. Here's what happened in this case.
These people came to me and said, these are our homes, what can we do? I've
looked at the Code and said as counsel for the applicant said, this is a
violation of the Code. He called it a Code requirement and I told these
homeowners, you just get any architect and he'll go down to the City and they
will tell, the City will tell him that permit should not have been issued and
if anybody, the master architect had looked at the Code, if the owner, his
attorney, or anybody else, they would have seen that this was a clear
violation of the Code of the City of Miami and they should not be able to
desecrate this residential aged area and lose it as a premise that 25th Road
and Brickell Avenue, which is going to come again before this Commission.
Thank you very much. The equitable estoppel argument was made by Gerald
Richman firm and then Commission turned it down. Literally the permit hadn't
been issued.
Mayor Suarez: OK, remember that he has contradicted a little bit the fact of
that other case, but as to this case, we don't really know, I suppose we
should ask why the mistake was made, but as far as we know, it was an honest
mistake and you know, some planning and zoning directors occasionally do make
mistakes.
Mr. Register: I would like this Commission to take into consideration...
Mayor Suarez: Restate your name for the record, please.
Mr. Register: I would like...
Mayor Suarez: You are the appellant, right?
Mr. Register: Troy Register, you've heard me before. I would like this
Commission to take into consideration that the Planning Director is the final
one to make a decision on a class C permit and after the Planning Director
makes his decision, anyone that's involved, like we are, have 15 days to
appeal it.
Mayor Suarez: Let me ask about that, Troy. Mr. Planning Director, assistant
to the Planning Director, who is traveling on vacation, sir, what about the
argument that the Planning Director is the one that makes the ultimate
decision on the class C permit?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, unless it is appealed and what happens and
this I have to put on the record, is that once the class C is issued, there is
a 15 day appeal period, so in fact, it is like when you grant a rezoning...
Mayor Suarez:
It was not...
Mr. Olmedillo:
permit.
OK, in this case, who granted the permit, the building permit?
The dry run is not a building permit. There was no building
61 July 31, 1989
Mayor 8uareat What do you tall it? The what?
Mr. Olm6dillo: The dry run is not a building permit.
Mayor Suarez: The dry run.
Mr. Olmedillo: Dry run, yes. it's called a dry run because We a
preliminary review of the plans that are submitted.
Mayor Suarez: Preliminary, let's call it by that, please. Preliminary review
of the plans. OK, and do you think the people are on notice that that is not
the ultimate decision made by the City on whether you could build this on
there on not, Mr. City Attorney?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: I just want to point out that the form it says that
counsel, Al Cardenas referred to, therefore this form must be signed by the
chief zoning inspector before the project will be considered for final
approval by the director of the Planning Department, that is to say, class C's
are issued by the Planning Department director and no one else.
Mayor Suarez: All right...
Mr. Register: Yes, and we have 15 days after that to appeal and we did
appeal...
Mayor Suarez: You understand that? I was just trying to figure out who made
the final determination on the class C special permit and you...
Mr. Register: And if I may add this...
Mayor Suarez: I'm helping you out in your argument, but go ahead.
Mr. Register: I want to get the point across that these people came down and
had informal discussions with the people in the Planning Department and the
Zoning Department. They also later submitted some plans and a class C
application, although there is no date as to when that application was
actually submitted down there in City Hall, not City Hall, but downtown. We
couldn't find it in the files.
Mr. Cardenas: I'll make it easy for you. I have a copy of it right here,
that I received.
Mr. Register: You give me a copy and I'll take it.
Mayor Suarez: OK, please...
Mr. Register: But the point I want to make is that when they proceed to
continue to spend money when an appeal was underway, they were proceeding at
their own peril, at their own peril. Nobody was telling them to spend money.
An appeal was under way...
Mr. Cardenas: Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Suarez: That's an interesting point. I would think that from the point
that the appeal began, it would be a lot easier for us to win the argument
that any expenditures from that point forward is at their own peril. The
problem is apparently that they are arguing that they made a lot of these
expenditures before that point.
Mr. Cardenas: All of the expenditures.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, while you are saying all, yes, OK, all.
Ms. Register: Not all of the expenditures...
Mayor Suarez: OK, we are getting into a back and forth argument here that we
are not supposed to have. Now, finish your rebuttal and now the matter is
over and we have to decide.
Me. Register: All right, we'd like to address some of his points, as far as
tho harmony of the structure with the neighborhood...
62 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: Put your name in the record one more time.
Ms. Register: Kris Register. OR, you are speaking of the appearance of the
outside of the building, the five stories. That does not address the number
of units that are inside the building. OK, as far as the permit itself, it is
very clear in all of the sections, Article 23, Article 25 of your own :toning
ordinance, that the Planning Director has the final decision on the issuance
of a class C permit. I don't think that you can take the stand that you can
rely on verbal representations that were erroneous if they in fact...
Mayor Suarez: It wasn't verbal, they were in writing, but go ahead, but they
weren't the final one by the Planning Director.
Ms. Register: No, they are preliminary when they went before. They bought the
property with preliminary and it was erroneous, the representation they
received, I'm sorry about that.
Mayor Suarez: We all agree that they were erroneous.
Ms. Register: OK, but they made their decisions based on that and they knew
what the Code was they should have decided what they paid for the property
based on what they knew the Code was and not what they thought they could get.
Mayor Suarez: You make a very good argument for the court if this ever goes
to court.
Ms. Register: All right, but...
Mayor Suarez: How about public policy on the argument itself? Should we or
should be not allow more than ten units here?
Mr. Register: You shouldn't allow...
Ms. Register: You should not allow, but I do want to say, we did have, when
he granted the permit, OK? Even without his rescinding it, there was a 15 day
period in which any of us could have appealed and the $30,000, specifically
the $70,000 was spent on March 29th which was only seven days after he granted
it. Mind you it was before the but anything that they spent prior to
April 7, 1989, which was the day the 15 days expired was definitely at his own
risk and does not count here at all! OK?
Mayor Suarez: Well, I don't think you are technically entitled, if you want
to...
Mr. Cardenas: Thirty seconds to factually correct and that is that...
Mayor Suarez: I'm going to let you have a clarification, if you have any.
Mr. Cardenas: Right, as to the 20 unit reliance, the 20 unit reliance is
based on the statement by the chief zoning inspector that signed it stating
that we had met all zoning requirements. That includes number of units. Now,
what the Planning Director does in his review process is go beyond the zoning
requirements and that's why it's going to the Planning Director. Relative to
zoning requirements, meeting the direct, exact requirements of the Code, that
is the chief inspector who signed it, Mr. Rodriguez, who in writing stated
that we had a right to the 20 units.
Mayor Suarez: OK, that was... you were just entitled to clarification. Now,
Mr. City Attorney, what about the point that the functions of the Planning
Director are different from those of the zoning inspector as to the approval
of the class C special permit. Does that argument convince you at all?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: While, your honor, personally, I think that what the
Zoning Director's role as I best know it, is that it clarifies that the
application appears on its face to be in conformity with City rules,
regulations and laws, I personally, subject to clarification from the
department, do not think it's a substantive decision on this class C, that
only comes from the Planning Director.
Mayor Suarez: OK, so do you think then that we could withstand a challenge, a
legal challenge on this, if we denied the class C special permit application?
The ultimate question here, from what you've heard. You have to advise us
because otherwise we...
63 July 31, 1989
•
Mr. SuaresiRieraas If there is no actual .. yea, unless there is actual
expenditures in the very small period of time between issuance and the
revocation, and I mean actual expenditures, otherwise, yes.
Mayor Suares: I see, because that is the period of time that worries you is
between the moment it was issued and the moment it was revoked.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, that's correct, that's the only thing that concerns
one.
Mr. Plummer: Let me ask, what you are saying then, Mr. City Attorney, is that
presently under the Master Plan which we have today, that it is perfectly
legal without any request for 16 units.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: That is correct.
Mr. Plummer: And they don't need a hearing of any kind, so what we are...
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, the Comp Plan came in fact and has allowed that
density in that property, yes. OK, they applied for 20.
Mr. Plummer: But as of today, without any hearing, they could come in and get
16 units, is that correct?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, under the Comp...
Mayor Suarez: But they wouldn't have to go through the class C special permit
application?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: No, not for the amount allowed by the Comp Plan.
Mr. Plummer: So, what we are arguing about is the difference between 16 and
20 units, is that correct?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Right now...
Ms. Register: The Comp Plan is not set in gold.
Mr. Plummer: Whoa, whoa, Ma'am, please, unless you want to take his chair,
you might do a better job, but maybe not. My question to you again, what we
are arguing about is the difference between 16 and 20 units.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, because case law has held that the Comp Plan governs
over zoning ordinances of a local City insofar as they conflict.
Mr. Plummer: OK, then my question to the department, in the design of these
20 units, is it the same square footage as what would be in the 16 units if
designed?
Mr. Olmedillo: There is no difference in the square footage. The FAR remains
the same.
Mayor Suarez: Then the only thing that we are talking and the units different
between the 16 and the 20 is the size of the units.
Mr. Olmedillo: Number and size of the units.
Mr. Plummer: Well, of course, you'd have the same square footage and you'd
made more units. They've got to be smaller in size, is that correct?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Mr. Plummer: And from what I read here, if this is true and I want it on the
record, counselor, the minimum square footage is 725 square feet including the
balcony and the maximum is two floors, is that correct? It doesn't give me
the square footage except 1,435?
Mr. Olmedillo: I beg differ from that because the latest plans that we have
on record show units...
f
64 July 31, 1969
N
LK
i
f
1
Mr. Plumer: But what I have in front of me, from a minimum of
725 Square
feet, to the maximum, which I can't really come about because it
says, unit
TH-3, the lower floor is 10435...
Mayor Suarers What is the maximum, Guillermo, if you know it, so we don't go
through this. What is the maximum amount?
Mr. Olmedillo: 1,430, 1,435, that's the maximum.
Mayor Suarez: OK, from about 725 to about 1,400.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me now, I'm trying to get a clarification. That
says the
lower floor only. Now, what is the top floor? It doesn't give
any square
footage on that.
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, that's the total unit.
Mr. Plummer: Sir, now, OK, that's why I am asking you.
Mr. Olmedillo: If I...
Mr. Plummer: Unit TH-3, lower floor, 1,435 SF, including balcony.
The second
floor, upper floor unit TH-3, no square footage. Is it larger, or that both
floors? What I'm reading in the English language here is that the
lower floor
alone is 1,435. Do you see what I'm saying?
Mayor Suarez: Well, but he can...
Mr. Dawkins: All of us want...
Mayor Suarez: ... interpret for you and tell you what the maximum square
footage and minimum and just get on with the discussion. I don't see...
Mr. Olmedillo: I'm just going to have to differ with you...
Mr. Plummer: Don't differ with me, differ with this paper which has been
provided to me.
Mayor Suarez: OK, the paper has confused you. What is the maximum and
minimum square footage, please?
Mr. Olmedillo: The minimum that it's read in the plans that were submitted
with a permit is 550 square feet. That's the minimum size.
Mr. Plummer: Then how can I sit here and go through this document, supplied
by Mr. Cardenas...?
Mr. Olmedillo: That was supplied by Mr. Cardenas for your benefit. It was
not part of the class C permit.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, it's to be inferred that this is what you're building.
Well, he... Al, there is a discrepancy...
Mr. De Yurre: But does that matter in our decision making process here?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, it does to me, as to what kind of units you are putting on
Brickell Avenue. Yes, sir, it makes...
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, I will...
Mr. De Yurre: As to the size.
Mr. Plummer: Of course.
Mayor Suarez: What is the minimum now planned, Mr. Cardenas, so we don't have
to spend 15 minutes here, just going over the plans?
Mr. Cardenas: I'll read them quickly. One, 1,435; one, 1,300; five units -of
1,280; two units of 1,037; two units of 1,060; two units of 1,045; and seven
unl.ts of 725, which includes a balcony.
65
Mr. Plummer: OK, see, that's a lot different than what I got here.
Mr. Dawkins: See, the balcony has nothing to do with living space.
Mr. Plummer: OK, I'm not disputing what you've got there. I'm just saying
I'm asking if these are correct figures. That's it there.
Mr. Dawkins: That's 500. It's 500 square feet, J.L., when you add on the 225
feet for non -living space, that gives you 725.
Mayor Suarez: 725.
Mr. Cardenas: Right, I understand.
Mr. Plummer: That's correct, here is where I had the discrepancy. Here they
show as a lower floor, 1,435 and the upper floor they show nothing.
Mayor Suarez: I think what they measured, they put on the lower floor the
total amount.
Mr. Cardenas: OK. I have Jeff Wilmington, here, who is the architect, if you
like to ask him...
Mr. Plummer: For the record, Mr. Cardenas, without going through all this
rigmarole, the minimum square foot unit is 725, including the balcony.
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: And the maximum is 14... whatever it was. OK.
Mr. Cardenas: 1,435.
Mayor Suarez: 1,435. I think it is a kind of a misstatement there that said
lower floor the way it says. It should have meant both floors. It says lower
floor on it.
Mr. Cardenas: OK.
Ms. Register: I would like to quickly address the Comprehensive Plan issue if
we could?
Mayor Suarez: I don't think Ma'am that you are entitled to go back and forth.
We had clarification from the Commissioner. Unless the Commissioners have any
questions to ask anybody...
Ms. Register: You don't have clarification. The Comprehensive Plan was
adopted according to your own records furnished by the City of Miami on
February 9th of this year, was not effective until March 24th, the day after
he granted the permit to begin with and in fact, coming before you this
evening is a proposed amendment to change the district regulations to comply
with this Comprehensive Plan to increase the density, delete the story. It's
there for public opinion to try and convince you that that's not right.
Mayor Suarez: OK, Ma'am, I have to cut you off, I have to cut you off.
Mr. Register: Well, I cut you off too.
Mayor Suarez: Now, to clarify, Mr. Assistant Planning Director, we are not
going to hear from either side unless the Commission wants to ask a question
of anybody. Now, the Comprehensive Master Plan applies now, obviously?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Did it apply at any other or did it not apply at any other
relevant time to our determination tonight?
Mr. Olmedillo: Let me address that a little bit, because we requested a legal
opinion from Tallahassee, because there is a difference of opinion between the
Planning Department and the Law Department on that issue and we requested the
legal opinion from Tallahassee. We are of the position, the Planning
Department, that if you have range established by the Comprehensive Plan,
let's say, 100 units per net acre and you have different little ranges in a
66 July 31, 1989
ssi
Nay, you are always within the big range, so we are saying we're in compliaince
because 25 units per net acre is in compliance of the 40 units per net acres
It** within the range. Now, the Law Department has expressed to us that they
feel that the Comprehensive flan establishes not a maximum, but a given, so
when we say 40 units per net acre or 100 units per acre...
Mayor Suarez: So we have no discretion as to that, is what the Law Department
is saying.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right, that we...
Mayor Suarez: Now, as to the timing of it, she was attempting to make the
argument before I cut her off, that somehow the timing of our acceptance and
promulgation of the Comprehensive Master Plan affects this is some way or
another.
Mr. Olmedillo: The Comprehensive Plan was accepted, was approved by you,
February 9th, it was accepted by the State. It was accepted by everybody, so
that is in effect.
Mayor Suarez: Before us. Now, does the fact that they first went for the
building permit before that, does that mean anything to us at this point?
Mr. Olmedillo: Not, really, it shouldn't make any difference to you at this
point. The Comp Plan is there, the Zoning Ordinance is there.
Mr. Plummer: All right now, in reference to the times that we can amend the
Comprehensive Plan...
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes.
Mr. Dawkins: So what the hell, I'm going to ask something too. We may as
well stay on this. Hey, let me speak with the architect.
Mr. Plummer: Does that count as one if we amend this?
Mr. Olmedillo: If we have an amendment here, remember...
Mr. Dawkins: I mean, they said let's get rid of it and they keep asking
questions. Let me talk with the architect.
Mr. Olmedillo: May I answer Commissioner Plummer first? We already ran out
of 1989 amendments. We cannot run any more 1989 amendments. 1990 amendments
we will run one and this will count as one.
Mr. Dawkins: From the architects, sir. You got one of these books?
Mr. Hervin Romney: I'm not looking at one of those books right now. We
can... can get one of those books?
Mr. Plummer: Here, take mine, $5.00 a copy.
Mr. Dawkins: On the third page sir, where it says unit 1-B.
Mr. Romney: Yes.
Mr. Dawkins: Up at 725 square feet, how many of them is the balcony?
Mr. Romney: The actual enclosed air conditioned space of the unit is 550
square feet, 555, I'm sorry.
Mr. Dawkins: So, the living space is 525.
Mr. Romney: The minimum size of a one -bedroom unit is 550 square feet, you.
Mr. Dawkins: Sir, on unit 1-B, as the architect sir...
Mr. Romney: Yes.
Mr. Dawkins: ... you got 725 square feet.
67
•
Mr. Dawkins: ifteluding the balcony. Now, let's deduct the square footage
from the balcony and give me the total square foot of the unit.
Mr. Romnsyt it's 550, the unit.
Mr. Dawkins: Sir?
Mr. Romneyt The unit site is 550.
Mr. Dawkins% All right now, either you going to start them all at one thing,
or you are going to end them all at one. You will not start one at 505 and
give me one at 495 or 510. Nov, either they are going to start at 5... don't
me what they going to start at, tell me what they going to finish out at.
Mr. Romney: Excuse me, yes sir. The size of the unit that's listed here,
including the balcony, this was the balcony area, is the difference between
the 550 and 725 and all the units are the same size. In terms of the one
bedroom units, we have the same size, two bedroom units, and then you have the
two bed townhouses.
Mr. Dawkins: All right, two bedroom, you got 1037 square feet. What's the
balcony?
Mr. Romney: What page are you on, sir?
Mr. Dawkins: Let's see, 4, 5, 6, 7, unit 2-B3.
Mr. Romney: OK, 2-B3, that's a 725 square foot unit interior. We're dealing
off of the FAR (floor area ratio) sir. On the balcony size is not determined
on the FAR, it is internal space of the unit.
Mayor Suarez: He just wants to know what the square footage of the unit is,
minus when you take the balcony out, that's all.
Mr. Dawkins: I want, like J.L. ...
Mr. Romney: Three hundred square feet of the balcony.
Mr. Dawkins: That's right, 300 square foot for the balcony.
Mayor Suarez: So it leaves 737 net with the balcony.
Mr. Dawkins: For two bedrooms, a dining room and a living room for 700 square
feet.
Mayor Suarez: 37.
Mr. Dawkins: 737 square feet. What's the master bedroom?
Mr. Romney: Excuse me?
Mr. Dawkins: What is the footage of the master bedroom?
Mr. Romney: I can look it them better if I pull them off of the building
plan, sir.
Mr. Dawkins: Sir?
Mr. Romney: If I look at the building plans, I can tell you better.
Mr. Dawkins: Well, give it to me, sir, give it to me. Give me the master
bedroom, 10 by 10, 11 by 11, 5 by 5.
Mr. Plummer: Guillermo, what is the total living space?
Mr. Dawkins: The master bedroom. See, and the reason I'm getting into this
Al, I asked you guys, you know, what kind of footage you going to give me in
the building and you told me that I was going to have big rooms, big
apartments...
Mr, Romney: The room size of the master bedroom is 11 by 14.
E
E
Mr, Dawkins: 11 by 14, and the other bedroom?
Mayor Suarez: It is roughly 154 square feet.
Mr. Romney: The other one is roughly it by 13.
Mayor Suarez: 143 square feet.
Mr. Dawkins: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: OK, Commissioners.
Mr. De Yurre: I've a couple of questions.
Mayor Suarez: Vice Mayor.
Mr. De Yurre: First of all, I want to understand what the procedure is. We
have a Law Department that supposedly represents the Administration. You
know, I've been having problems comprehending this concept of the Planning
Department going their own way with their legal position and the Law
Department going their way with their legal position. It would seem to me
that if we have the attorney's office representing us, then we have we have to
abide by what the Attorney's office says, that's number one. Now, the
other...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, I'm glad you phrased it that way. It represents not the
Administration, it represents the City. It represents all of us.
Mr. De Yurre: All right, and that's what they are doing right now. So you
know, we can't go and have different departments having their own opinion and
the Legal Department having theirs and it being conflicting, that's number
one.
Mr. Plummer: You have it every day with the Police Department.
Mr. De Yurre: I'm not saying that it's right.
Mr. Plummer: I agree.
Mr. De Yurre: Now, the other thing is, can the owner of this property just
reapply now under the Comprehensive Plan and get their 16 units?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Mr. De Yurre: So, what we are looking at right here is at least they get
their 16, because they got to do is reapply and they get their 16 right now
and through the Comprehensive Plan, so dates don't matter, whether they did it
before it was adopted or was implemented because they can do it right now if
they so desire, so you know, I think it is irrelevant when they applied as far
as that point is concerned. I think we are looking at one way or another,
they are going to get their 16 units and I'd be in favor of granting those 16
units at this point in time.
Mayor Suarez: This plan here is for 20 units?
Mr. Plummer: Unless I'm mistaken, my calculations come out if you hold them
to the 16, I would rather see bigger units on Brickell, OK, but I don't think
it is realistic because of what I'm looking at, if you hold them to the 16
instead of the 20 units, you are only adding approximately 120, 25 feet of
livable space to the remaining units. I mean, there is just not...
Mayor Suarez: They're adding about...
Mr. Plummer: There is not a whole lot of difference.
Mr. De Yurre: My problem is the 20 units, where it came from.
Mr. Plummer: They're adding about 20 percent.
Mr, Plummer: If you cancel four units of 550 feet, you know, you are talking
about roughly 2,200 square feet.
69
July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: If you did it evenly across the board, it would be about 20
percent for each one more.
Mr. De Yurre: Al, what is your argument for us to give you 20 instead of 16,
you know...
Mr. Cardenas: Sixteen based on the Comp Plan and the rest based on the
doctrine of equitable estoppel because I feel strongly and unequivocally that
the case law in the State of Florida would provide us with a meritorious
judgment. We've met all the three requirements of equitable estoppel. We've
acted in good faith, we've relied on the information from the City, both
verbal and in writing, before and after the closing and we've actually...
Mr. De Yurre: What do you have in writing?
Mr. Cardenas: Excuse me?
Mr. De Yurre: What do you have in writing?
Mr. Cardenas: We have in writing two documents, the executed document on the
application for a class C permit by the chief zoning inspector stating that
we've met all zoning requirements and our...
Mr. De Yurre: For the 20 units?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir, which includes the 20 units as a number and number
two, you know, we have the... and as I said, the building permit pre, or dry
run and based on that, based on the fact the we incurred the expenditures in
February and in March before the intent to suspend the permit was issued, we
feel that we would be amply justified in court on the theory...
Mayor Suarez: OK, now you are arguing. Just give us...
Mr. Dawkins: That's right, Mr. De Yurre, the motivation is simply profit.
For 16 units you get less money than you get for 20 units, that's plain cut
and dry. I don't know why you stand over there and don't say that. That's
all it is!
Mr. Cardenas: People before us made a profit.
Mr. Plummer: Let me answer...
Mr. Dawkins: But now all I need to know is, I need to know one thing before I
could... I see this coming, OK? I hope your client does not need any other
variances, any changes, any thing, OK? - because I'm not going to vote for
them. See when you be inflexible like this and you demand that when errors
are made that you are inflexible and you don't want to give, then when you
come up here with this, you are going to adhere to whatever it is, I want that
understood now, OK? If you miss the light plane, you miss it, you go back and
you correct it, because all of us make mistakes and I can understand a mistake
being made, I'm willing to correct it, but when you come down here and be
inflexible and demand things which you are entitled to, then don't come back
and later on and expect for me to be on your side.
Mr. Plummer: Can I ask a dumb question? Maybe I'll get a dumb answer, maybe I
won't.
Mayor Suarez: You've asked a lot of them why not one more?
Mr. Plummer: Drop dead.
Mr. Dawkins: Hooray, congratulations!
Mr. Plummer: I'll get you in November. The complaint of the neighbors, as I
hear it, on their best complaint is parking. Is there any way on this project
that more parking could be included?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes.
Mrs. Range: How?
70 ,Tull► 31, 1989
Mr. Plummer: Am I not hearing that your major complaint is parking?
Mr. Register: Major Complaint!
Mrs. Register: Noise, traffic and swell area.
Mr. Register: Noise and parking.
Mr. Plummer: OK, Henry, I can't please everybody, but the things I've heard,
the major complaint is parking. My question is, is there an area of
compromise in which you could put in more parking than what you presently have
provided, maybe cost you a few more dollars and come up with some kind of a
compromise acceptable to both sides.
Mr. Cardenas: We can come up with some extra work with two additional parking
spots which again exceeds the Code requirements.
Mr. Plummer: I understand that Al, I understand that you are in compliance
with the 24.
Mr. Cardenas: We would provide two additional parking spaces.
Mayor Suarez: Let me state if I may, Commissioner, to help the deliberations,
what my position is so that I don't know what Commissioner Range feels, but
I... the most I would go would be 16 and I'm inclined to figure out a way to
try to hold you to ten, but the equitable estoppel argument doesn't convince
me. I think we can withstand any challenge on that. Sixteen is our
Comprehensive Master Plan, it's probably not a wise number of units for that
kind of a lot, for that area, but the most that I would vote would be 16, so I
don't know if you want to negotiate within that, unless Commissioner Range
states her position. You may not get a third vote for anything beyond 16.
Mrs. Range: You said just a moment ago when I asked a question about the
parking, you said that in your plans for 20 that you had ample parking.
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, I...
Mrs. Range: Now when you are asked a question as to what you could do as a
compromise, then you say you can provide two more parking spaces. Now, what
is the actual facts on the parking? Do you have sufficient parking or do you
need to provide two more? What is it?
Mr. Cardenas: We have fully met the Code parking requirements in the plans
presented to you, but in addition to that, even though we have met whatever
the City has required us to meet, Commissioner Plummer said that the neighbors
testified that there are parking problems in their projects and that they are
concerned about possibly having parking problems at ours, although at this
point in time, as you know, that is purely speculative. I have told the
Commissioner that we checked with the architect and they advised me that we
can put two parking spots on the premises in addition to what we already have
and what we already have already meets the City requirements.
Mayor Suarez: OK, Commissioners, let's decide here. We've got a legal
argument that is compelling to some. We have a public policy argument that
should be compelling to all of us and we have to decide. Have you moved the
16 units?
Mr. De Yurre: I'll move the 16 units, however, with the proviso that they add
the 24 parking spaces that they were going to add with the 20 units.
Mayor Suarez: The two parking spaces, no?
Mr. De Yurre: No, no, if they could squeeze in 24 parking spaces for 20
units...
Mr. Plummer: The 16 units would require less than 24.
Mr. De Yurre: I know, but I am asking...
Mayor Suarez: But keeping it with 24 parking spaces? OK, with that proviso
you move it? That gives them an additional 8 over and above one per unit,
Can we legally do that, Mr. City Attorney?
71 July 31, 1989
Mr. Suarez —Rivas: Yea.
Major Suarez: OK, I'll aeoond it.
Mr. D6 Yurre: Do you want to Chair!
Mr. Dawkins: Let J.L. do it. He's the oldie.
Mr. Plummer: What? Oh, oh, because I'm the old man, right?
Mr. De Yurre: The oldie goldie.
Mr. Plummer: All right, is the motion understood? Is there any further
discussion by the Commission? Hearing none, call the roll.
Mr. Dawkins: Hold it.
Mrs. Range: Will repeat that motion so that we are all clear on it?
Mr. Plummer: As I understand...
Mr. De Yurre: The motion is 16 units plus they have to provide the 24 parking
spaces that they were going to provide when they were asking for the 20 units.
Mr. Plummer: Oh, I've been offered a compromise. On the record, if you could
find and it's not my suggestion, you can find it in your heart to compromise
to 18 units, they would waive all rights to legal suits. I just offer that as
it was handed to me.
Mr. Dawkins: See there again, here you go threatening me, see, I mean, you
don't get nowhere when you threaten me.
Mr. Plummer: Sir, I'm not doing it.
Mr. Dawkins: Yes you are, yes, you aret
Mayor Suarez: Our City Attorney wants to save a little bit of work.
Mr. Plummer: OK, and...
Mayor Suarez: I know, I can tell a guilty face when I see one.
Mr. Dawkins: If you'd told me, said look, let's split the four units with
them and go from 16 to 18, I could understand it.
Mr. Plummer: Sir, I am not recommending this.
Mr. Dawkins: Yes you are!
Mayor Suarez: Can you provide each Commissioner with one unit, as long as you
are splitting units here?
Mr. Cardenas: Mr. Mayor, basically a compromise seems fair because the City
Attorney has advised you that without any action on your part, we would be
entitled to 16 units. In addition to that, we've already spent all this
money...
Mr. De Yurre: No, no, you'd have to go through the process of having to apply
and go through the whole nine yards again.
Mr. Cardenass Sir, the problem is that we have already bought the property
based on a price for 20, we've incurred all these expenses already and what we
are suggesting is, since we are already entitled, as per your City Attorney,
the 16 and as per our client's legal counsel, the 20, why don't we split it in
half and we waive all the legal rights to any further relief.
Mr. De Yurre: Let me ask you this, because attorney to attorney, OK? Who was
representing your client at the time that they relied verbally on a position?'
Mr. Cardenas: Another attorney.
72
Mr. be Yurre: Another attorney.
Mr. Cardenas: but I don't believe that attorney was with the clients when
they visited the City staff.
Mr. De Yurre: Yes, because you know, I find it hard to believe...
Mr. Cardenas: Let me put it this way, it was another law firm.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, because I find it hard to believe that people that are in
the business world would rely on a verbal opinion.
Mr. Cardenas: It was another law firm.
Mr. De Yurre: To go ahead and spend, you know, thousands upon thousands of
dollars, $200,000 on a verbal opinion, it doesn't make sense.
Mr. Cardenas: Well, it happens frequently, but I understand.
Mr. De Yurre: Well then that's what happens, they end up in this situation.
Mr. Plummer: The question of the Chair, Mr. De Yurre, or the maker of the
motion, there has been proffer of an amendment. Do you accept the amendment?
Mr. De Yurre: Well, but I leave it up to you now to, all these things you
acquire for City as other... As negotiator.
Mrs. Range: Just before we go any further with the negotiations, I think it
should be between the sides here to decide to come up with the compromise. I
don't think it should be the Commission to come up with this compromise of 18.
If the two sides could get together, then I'd bet willing to go along with
whatever they think is right, otherwise...
Mr. De Yurre: But are we going along with the parking?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir.
Mr. De Yurre: You go along with the 24 parking spaces?
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Let me ask you this. Mr. Register, if we get 18 units, no
lawsuits, with 26 parking spaces, would that in any satisfy you?
Mr. Register: I think you are compromising the entire process when you... I
think you...
Mr. Plummer: OK, I'm just... sir, I'm just asking. I'm just trying to get
the best of both worlds, OK? If you could get 18 units with 26...
Mr. Register: We are asking for ten units.
Mr. Plummer: Well, that you're not going to get, you've heard the motion.
Mr. Register: I know that now. I know that, but I also know that the
Comprehensive Plan calls for 16 units and I think if you are going to go
compromise out between 20 and 10, 16 is the number that you should go for.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. ...
Mr. De Yurre: Let's me realistic, 10 is out of the picture. It is either 16,
18, or 20 and we got to...
Mr. Register: 16.
Mrs. Register: May I ask the City Attorney a quick question. When you are
all saying that they are entitled to 16 no matter what, what is the purpose of
having the first reading of the proposed amendment to change it to 40? I
mean it's superfluous if the Comprehensive Plan is already going to take
effect without even the public the right to oppose it.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, I ask again is that first amendment item number 25?
73
July
31,
1909
aa .: Mr. 01ta6dillo: No, it is not included there and the explanation for that, if �.
- tray. i . - -
�a'
Mr. Plummer: OX, because I asked on the record, did that affect this
application and your answer was no and then she is arguing that it's yssj but
she doesn't know that it is not in the Rrickell Avenue area, OK?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: This Comp Plan amendment...
i
Mr. Plummer: That does affect...
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Yes, this particular parcel...
Mr. Plummer: South of here.
i
Mayor Suarez: Yes, if it did, we would really be going crazy because...
Mrs. Registers RG-2.1, which is our district, it's right there in your
paperwork.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Register, I'm not arguing with you, I'm just asking is there
an area of compromise? If there is not, the motion on the floor is very
clear.
Mayor Suarez: There is a motion on the floor and I just want to add one other
thing. If I remember correctly, Commissioners and particularly for Mrs.
Range, this property initially had what zoning, Guillermo?
Mr. Olmedillo: RG-2.1/3.3 and it went to a sector five.
Mayor Suarez: Which meant that we had an increase in the FAR.
S
1 Mr. Olmedillo: In the intensity of use, FAR 2.75.
Mayor Suarez: So already we have sort of bent over backwards to allow more
density of building on Brickell and then they come in and yes, maybe we made a
mistake, but we certainly have over the life span of this property and this
property owner been more than reasonable in our dealings with him, even with
this one mistake and I know, once again would ask that you hold the line at
what our City Attorney is telling us is the maximum allowed by our Comp Plan.
Mr. Plummer: Once again, the motion is clear on the floor, unless there is
amendments...
Mr. De Yurre: I'm going to ask one question of the City Attorney's office.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. De Yurre.
Mr. De Yurre: How much would it cost to defend a lawsuit of this nature?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: It would cost approximately, oh, I would say, 120 to 240
hours of an attorney's time and additionally, really just City staff and
perhaps a planning expert at best for one or two thou, so you are talking less
than five thou, I think, five thou or so.
Mr. Plummer: Less than what?
Mr. Dawkins: What?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: You are talking about five thou I think, is my guesstimate.
Mr. Dawkins: Five thousand what? _
Mr. Plummer: Five thou is $5,000?
a
Mr. Dawkins: No way.
Mr. Plummer; What attorney do you get for 200 hours at $5,000?
s
Mir. Suarez -Rivas: Well, we are cheaper than the private sector rate.
74 July 91, 1959
Mr. Plwaer: Yes, that`s Cohen and Cohen and Cohen and Abe make.
Mr. guaret-Rivas: We are not talking about going out and hiring that firm to
defand us. We are talking about doing it in-house.
Mr. Plummer: That's the attorneys we saw investigated on Channel 7 the other
night.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: We would see it as a major suit. You know, we don't see it
as a major suit.
Mr. be Yurre: Now I know why the Planning Department gets their own opinion.
Mr. Plummer: OK, just for the record before I call the roll, I probably...
Mr. be Yurre: I'll go ahead, we've got 26 parking spaces and no suit at
all... no, we are going up to 26 now, 26 parking spaces.
Mr. Cardenas: Yes, sir, 26.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: You should request a release, Vice Mayor, a release.
Mr. De Yurre: All right, he'll give us all that we...
Mr. Cardenas: 26, a general release.
Mr. De Yurre: A general release?
Mayor Suarez: Ma'am, he's trying to go up to try to get more parking spaces
so that it presumably would be less confusion and less disruption of the
neighborhood. That doesn't mean that I will vote for it, but...
Mr. Plummer: Mr. De Yurre...
Mr. De Yurre: I'll go with the 18 and the 26 parking spaces and your release.
Mr. Plummer: Does the seconder of the first motion concur?
Mayor Suarez: No, I'm sticking to 16.
Mr. Plummer: OK, now then we have to vote on De Yurre's ... can he make an
amend...
Mr. Dawkins: I'll second it.
Mr. Plummer: As a substitute motion.
Mrs. Range: What is that, 18 units?
Mr. Plummer: 18 with 26.
f Mr. De Yurre: We get about five more parking spaces than required.
Mr. Plummer: OK, now, then we vote on the substitute motion first. Is there
any further discussion on the substitute motion understood to be 18 units
with 26 parking spaces? Is there any further discussion on the substitute?
Mr. De Yurre: And the waiver, and the waiver.
Mr. Plummer: Of course the waiver as proffered by the attorney. The
substitute takes priority. Call the roll.
Mayor Suarez: It's really a new motion.
Mr. Plummer: Sir, the public discussion is over, I'm sorry, OK? Call the
i
d,—
f,
y
Mayor Suareet Yes, but he himself made the new motion, so it is his own
snot ion i #
Me. Hirai: Commissioner, the substitute, the mover.:,
Mr. Plummer: All right, well let's get legal, whatever. What's legal?
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: Excuse me, just for procedural clarification, you should
make the resolution if it is for over 16 units, subject to amendments of the
Comp Plan as required by law.
Mr. Plummer: Right, now the other legal question is, Mr. De Yurre made the
first :notion and he has made a second motion.
Mayor Suarez: it doesn't matter. He's in effect withdrawn his first motion to
make it a new one and I'm not seconding the new one, but it doesn't matter.
Mr. Plummer: But you didn't withdraw your second.
Mayor Suarez: Well, but I... all right, if you want to call it a substitute.
I don't know if he can substitute his own motion. It doesn't matter.
Mr. Plummer: All right, so there is no problem as far as calling the roll...
Mayor Suarez: Without withdrawing that. I think he withdraws it if he
substitutes it.
Mr. Plummer: ... on the compromise of 18 units with 26 parking spaces. That
is the motion before us. Further discussion? Call the roll.
The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner De Yurre, who
moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION NO. 89-751
A RESOLUTION DENYING THE APPEAL AND AFFIRMING WITH
MODIFICATIONS THE ZONING BOARD'S REVERSAL OF THE
PLANNING DIRECTOR'S DENIAL OF THE CLASS C SPECIAL
PERMIT (C-88-1130) FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EIGHTEEN
(18) UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED
AT 2100 BRICKELL AVENUE, MIAMI, FLORIDA (MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN); AND GRANTING, AS
MODIFIED, SAID CLASS C SPECIAL PERMIT (C-88-1130) FOR
AN EIGHTEEN (18) UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING; PROVIDING
FOR THE GRANTING OF THIS CLASS C SPECIAL PERMIT UPON
THE CONDITION THAT TWENTY-SIX (26) PARKING SPACES BE
PROVIDED BY THE APPLICANT AND UPON THE FURNISHING TO
THE CITY OF A GENERAL RELEASE BY THE APPLICANT.
(Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on
file in the Office of the City Clerk.)
Upon being seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the resolution was passed
and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
NOES: Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
ABSENT: None.
COMMENTS MADE DURING ROLL CALL:
Mr. Plummer: This is the time you don't want to be in the center chair. I
agree with the compromise. I think it is a good compromise, I think that it
gives us more parking spaces, the units would not be that much smaller or
larger and for that reason I vote with the compromise.
COMMENTS MADE AFTER ROLL CALL:
Mr. Register: Parking spaces would be there anyway.
76
11
Mayor Suareat OK, please.
•
Mr. Register: I said the parking spaces would be there anyway, whether there
are ib or 18. The 26 parking spaces would be there,
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I can't... I don't know that would be the case, sir.
_ 12. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend Future Land Use Plan Map of 10544 (Miami
Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan 1989-2000) - Change designation of
property at approximately 3490 & 3500 Main Highway (PLAYHOUSE THEATER)
from Restricted Commercial and Single -Family Residential to Major Public
Facilities; Transportation and Utilities (Applicant: Board of Trustees,
Internal Improvement Fund, State of Florida, Department of Natural
Resources).
Mayor Suarez: PZ-13.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: 13 and 14 are companion items. 13 is a plan
amendment and 14 is a zoning change for the playhouse property which is
located here on Main Highway. The Zoning Board, for the record, approved it
on a 9 to zero vote and the PAB approved it on a 7 to zero vote. The Planning
Department has recommended approval of the change to the GU.
Mr. Plummer: Anybody here in opposition?
Mayor Suarez: There were some people last time, are they not here? Is anyone
opposed to the application contained in PZ-13? Let the record reflect that no
one has stepped forward. Jack, does that mean that we have basic agreement
from the neighborhood? Is that a fair statement? Commissioners, I entertain
a motion on it.
Mr. Dawkins: Move it.
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Moved and seconded. Any discussion? If not, please read the
ordinance. Ms. Armbruster, were you going to oppose it?
Ms. Esther Mae Armbruster: I'm not opposed, I just want a good understanding
as to...
Mayor Suarez: OK, yes, let's get clarifications that you might want.
Ms. Armbruster: I want clarification. About three months ago, you promised
us that you would give us a covenant stating that you would never try to open
McDonald Avenue and come through there and acquire that property under no
circumstances.
Mayor Suarez: How about that? What guarantee do we have that there won't be
an opening?
Ms. Armbruster: You said you were going to give us a covenant.
Mr. Olmedillo: You made a motion...
Mayor Suarez: Is there going to be a covenant to that effect?
Mr. Olmedillo: You made a resolution some time ago that you, under this City
Commission, you will not approve the extension of McDonald, 32nd Avenue.
Mayor Suarez: OK, that's not a covenant, that's a...
Mr. Olmedillo: But this is...
Mr. Plummer: That's a policy.
77 ,July 31, 1989
W
I
•
Mayor Suarea: ii. sort of a, yet, !statement of policy. It's like a ooveagat
with the people or something.
Mr. Dawkins: Yes.
Mr. Olmedillo: I don't know if the applicant wants to submit this into the
record.
Mr. Dawkins: Hold it, hold it, wait a minute, say what now?
Mr. Olmedillos I don't know if the applicant wants to submit that as a... in
addition.
Mr. Dawkins: I withdraw my motion until you find out. I don't care who it
isl
Mr. Jack Mulvena: Commissioner, we, you know, we are one of two parties who
are you know, applying. The State of Florida is another. We certainly don't
have any objection to any particular covenant that relates to something that
is outside of our project.
Mr. Dawkins: This Commission said under no circumstances would you open up...
what street is that, honey?
Ms. Armbruster: That's McDonald and...
Mr. Dawkins: McDonald to disrupt this neighborhood, now we said that and it
was made clear and plain that was the stand of this Commission and under no
circumstances were you to open McDonald Street and destroy that residential
neighborhood. I don't care whether this is the federal government, let alone
the state government.
Mayor Suarez: OK, how do we do it so that it's more of a guarantee than just
a statement of purpose or something by this Commission? That's what you're
getting at, right?
Mr. Dawkins: Um hum.
Ms. Kathy Swanson: My name is Kathy Swanson. I'm with the Department of Off -
Street Parking. We have conceptual plans now, none of which include the...
Mr. Dawkins: All right, when you get the conception where I can see it, bring
it back.
Ms. Swanson: Yes, sir.
Mr. Jack Mulvena: No, we have it right here.
Mr. Dawkins: ....not conceptualized, it's not conception
Mayor Suarez: Well, can we... what he's saying is, can you build it into
something more specific like a covenant running with the land or something
that is...
Mr. Plummer: The State of Florida owns the land.
Ms. Swanson: If I could also review...
Mayor Suarez: State of Florida owns the land.
Mr. Dawkins: All right, well, then, well go back to the state of... I move
that this be continued until the State of Florida concedes that it is going•to
preserve that neighborhood over there and not go in and destroy it by putting
a street through there.
Ms. Swanson: Commissioner, if I could talk about the time line.
Mr. Dawkins No, ma'am, I'll tell you what you do, you get the State of
Florida - no, ma'am, you see you guys should have brought the State of Florida
in here. You were told at the very beginning it was made clear that this
Commission, under no circumstances, was going to allow that street to be open
and destroy that neighborhood.
78 July 31, 1989
Al
No, $waftowit Uhioh is why none of our plans included we have a Wday
review process with...
104 Dawkinst That you said you are for it but you don't know what the State
of Florida's doing.
Mayor Suarez: Let me see if there's another way we can work it out. Is there
any other..,
Mr. Dawkins: Come on, i mean, you're not... I have to understand what you're
saying, you understand what I'm saying.
Mayor Suarez: Mr. City Attorney...
Mr. Mulvena: Commissioner, what we're...
Mayor Suarez: Wait, Jack, Jack, Jack...
Mr. Mulvena: Oh, I'm sorry, yes.
Mayor Suarez: Would somebody, including yourself...
Mr. Mulvena: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: ...or the City Attorney or the Assistant City Manager;
somebody - Assistant Planning Director, anybody...
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Suarez: ...give us a tool or an instrument - Commissioner Plummer -
whoever, that we can make this legally enforceable to the satisfaction of
Commissioner Dawkins? Otherwise, we're going to have...
Mr. Plummer: Can I offer to my colleague...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, please.
Mr. Plummer: ...and I sit on that board.
Ms. Armbrister: I do too.
Mr. Plummer: Can if offer to my colleague that this is first reading. That
whatever requirements he has...
Mayor Suarez: Get a covenant....
Mr. Plummer: ...that there would not be a second reading until such time.
Their problem is raising the money and the time element is crucial.
Mr. Dawkins: But, you know, everytime...
Mr. Plummer: I understand what you're trying to accomplish.
Mr. Dawkins: But, no, no, no, but every time I get in these areas and in
these neighborhoods, it's always at the last minute and if we don't do this,
we're going to lose the money, J. L. I get tired of that. Didn't we tell
them this when we first sat down?
r
Mr. Plummer: Well, they knew the policy.
y
f,
Mr. Dawkins: Oh yes, well, that's right. So, I mean, you know, don't come
4 and tell me we're going - you know, every time it's in Coconut Grove, it's in
Liberty City, it's in West Little Havana. If you don't do this today, we're
going to lose the money tomorrow. You come down here every time with that.
Mayor Suarez: What enforceable instrument can anybody come up with that would
be...
Mr. Mulvena: You know, we feel very confident that we could provide•#
covenant for the second reading, Commissioner. You know, actually, if...
79 July 31, 1949
q
Mr, bawkihst Well, I'll make it an emergency at that reading when you bring
it back to me. t mean, that's me, I'm not going to vote on it.
Mr. Rafael Suarez -Rivas: You can't pass this particular ordinance as an
emergency ordinance.
Mr. Dawkinst Well, OK, let the say this. I'm voting no if it comes up for a
vote. Now, I don't know what anybody else up here is going to do but I get
tired of every time I tell you people about some areas in this town, that you
have to do something. You wait until the last minute and you come in and tell
me, "Miller, if you don't pass this, we're going to lose the money." And you
do it every damn time. Not you - I'm talking about all of you. I mean, I'm
just fed up with it.
Mr. Plummer: Well, let- me ask this question to the department. The area of
concern of Commissioner Dawkins is the area of, from what I would say, is
Williams over to Grand, OK? That's the area. Now that presently is privately
owned. Is that correct?
Mr. Mulvena: It is. It is, right.
Mr. Plummer: Really, Commissioner, I think what we're saying in reality is
that the covenant we want is from this City Commission that says we'll never
allow that property to be condemned for a street. So it's us, if anything,
that's giving a covenant saying we won't do it because they can't control the
private sector, they can't go in and buy that and turn it into a street. It's
this City is the only one - and, department, tell me if I'm wrong - you
understand what I'm saying?
Mr. Dawkins: Yes, and all I'm saying to you, Commissioner Plummer, is that
whoever, I don't care who it was...
Mr. Plummer: Well, it might be us.
Mr. Dawkins: Well, then, we should have done it - then we should have done
it.
Mayor Suarez: Then tell us a way...
Mr. Dawkins: No, no, no, then if it's us, we should have done it.
Mayor Suarez: Then tell us a way that we can, today...
Mr. Dawkins: I don't care who should have done it.
Mayor Suarez: ...bind ourselves in a way that the community will have
assurances that we won't - that a future Commission won't change its mind. If
there's any way of doing it.
Mr. Plummer: Guillermo, can you answer my question, please?
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: It is, indeed, private property. You cannot -
unless you condemned it - you cannot extend MacDonald up to the Playhouse.
And what I rely upon is what you've already stated that the...
Mayor Suarez: How about comprehensive plan change of some sort? That would
make it...
Mr. Olmedillo: That would not affect any...
Mayor Suarez: ...entirely more difficult for it to happen without changes to
the comprehensive plan.
Mr. Olmedillo: That would not affect it.
Mr. Plummer: Let me ask... let me play the other side for a minute. Would it
be within their right to buy that property and then come before this
Commission and ask for it to be turned into a street?
Mr. Olmedillo: They could do it. However, I think Jack will be the one
addressing that.
80 July 31, 1989 1 a
Mr. Plummer: Well, no, he wouldn't be addressing it. You answered thy
question, yes, they could do it. But, to me, it seen...
Mayor Suarez: You say, they, you mean the Off -Street Parking Authority or you
mean the State of Florida?
Mr. Plummer: Well, I'm saying the applicant, really.
Mayor Suarez: Internal improvement, whatever. The applicant, I guess, is -
who is the internal improvement fund? He doesn't sit on it, you just sit on
the board of the actual Playhouse, right, J. L.?
Mr. Plummer: Myself, yes.
Mr. Mulvena: It's the State of Florida, Department of Natural Resources, that
controls the Playhouse property of which the garage, surface lot, oh, the
entire footprint.
Mayor Suarez: Who is the internal improvement fund which, I guess,
technically, is the applicant?
Mr. Plummer: How much do we bind ourselves is what we're really saying?
Mr. Mulvena: It's the cabinet, Secretary of State.
Mayor Suarez: The cabinet, State cabinet?
Mr. Mulvena: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: We probably can get a covenant by second reading.
Mr. Mulvena: Yes, I think we could. In addition, I think, you know, Mrs.
Armbrister, would be the first to, I think, give the Commissioners some
confidence that we have provided no access at all to the neighborhood in this
project.
Ms. Range: Mr. Mayor...
Ms. Armbrister: I would like to say...
Ms. Range: Mr. Mayor, I'd like to hear from Mrs. Armbrister. Let me get her
views on this.
Ms. Armbrister: OK, we - I and Coconut Grove - we are in the process of
trying to put Coconut Grove in the historic district. That's number one.
Next year, the owner's house, the first house built in Dade County, will be
100 years old. We, in turn, we are trying to save that. We are also trying
to save the cemetery and save the whole thing because it is the first. We
will be one hundred years old in 1990. You were a hundred years old in 1973,
but we want ours in 1990. The plans that they have made so far - and by the
way, I'm on the advisory board - the traffic, they're trying to take care of
the traffic so we are going along with the way they're trying to take care of
the traffic. That is left up to you to see that it's carried out, the way the
traffic is going to be done in Coconut Grove after the parking lot has been
built.
Mayor Suarez: Miss Armbrister, then, if we move on first reading...
Mr. Plummer: We're all in concurrence.
Mayor Suarez: ...with the guarantee that by second reading, that we won't
move on second reading until we get the cabinet to guarantee by covenant that
they won't go. Would that seem acceptable to you?
Ms. Armbrister: That's acceptable as first.
Ms. Range: All right, just before we move it thought, I want to ask another
question. You heard Mrs. Armbrister's objections. How does your plan affect
what she has just said?
Mr. Mulvena: Well, Mrs. Armbrister is on our parking advisory group and has
been really with us through two years of this project that what we've been
81 July 31, 1989
MENEM
able to accomplish together is that no street will penetrate the neighborhood.
In other words, this project will be so designed that it will entrance and _
exit off of the Main Highway and not into the neighborhood and we're actually
forbidding entrance along Charles Street as a visual aid shows so we've
actually reconfigured the design over two years so that it really serves as a
buffer for the neighborhood and we haven't been as concerned about the back
street because we don't control it. But Mrs. Armbrister could very happily
j speak to that.
Ms. Armbrister: That is all right, but we do not take what you say as you say
It. We need something in black and white. What you're saying is fine.
Mr. Mulvena: Well, it's on the record. It's on the record, Mrs. Armbrister.
Ms. Armbrister: Just get it in black and white and then we'll hold you to it.
But unless we get we get it in black and white, anybody can come along and do
what they want to do. What you say is fine, Jack, but we need it in black and
white.
Mr. Mulvena: OK, we'll provide it.
Ms. Armbrister: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: Try with...
Mr. Plummer: Just for the clarification of the record, Mr. City Attorney. As
a member of the board, I have no conflict of voting.
Mr. Suarez -Rivas: No, air, you do not have any conflict voting.
Mr. Plummer: Thank you. Just putting it on the record.
Ms. Armbrister: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: OK, let's go...
Mr. De Yurre: Does he have free tickets?
Mr. Plummer: Oh, yes, I got hundreds of free tickets. They go with the forty
thousand dollars.
Ms. Armbrister: The one thousand too. Thank you.
Mr. Plummer: Of which you're a recipient. You'd better sit down.
Mayor Suarez: We have a motion and I guess we have a - only a motion now
because the second was withdrawn so if you want to second?
Mr. Plummer: I'll second it.
Mayor Suarez: On first reading, I think it's understood clearly that there
won't be a second reading or at least it won't be approved unless we have that
covenant from the state.
Ms. Joanne Hane: Excuse me, aren't we going to get a chance to speak?
Mayor Suarez: What else do you want to say? I asked before if there was any
objectors and...
He. Hane: I couldn't get through the crowd that were leaving.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, go ahead, Joanne.
Ms. Hane: I'm very sorry, we were trying to get in.
Mayor Suarez: Go ahead, Joanne.
Ms. Hane: I'm Joanne Hane. I live at 4230 Ingraham Highway. I am here
representing myself and a number of people, two of whom have left letters to
be read into the record. One from Mrs. William Stirrip, another from Mrs.
Betty Bollard. Father Fox could not be here, he has a wedding rehearsal. The
concern for the neighbors to put it briefly, I have discussed this with Kathy
82 July 31, 1909
And I will say it to all of you. The concern is much more than MacDonald, it
is MacDonald. They are very concerned about that. They're very concerned
about Charles being made one way. Kathy tells me that they would drop that.
They're very concerned about the impact on Franklin Avenue. What we're
dealing with, with a project of this size, is similar to what happens when we
have developers come in and they have a development that has a regional
impact. We're talking about the most precious 30-block area, I would assume,
that is clearly defined - from Main Highway to Douglas Road, from Grand Avenue
to Franklin and Marlowe, we have a clearly defined black neighborhood that
should be a black historic neighborhood. I hope that working towards that is
going to make it. But this plan needs to be so carefully drawn. The issue of
changing any residential property to GU is a very, very difficult one. The
residents need to be assured that this is it. They need to see the models,
they need to have the reassurance that you're not going to wait and the next
thing it's going to be two more. One of the real objections, I think, is that
there's going to be a parking garage, which, basically, turns a blank side to
the black area. Many years ago when I was writing for the Village Post, I
inflamed some woman because I wrote about them building the parking - I mean
the apartments - on Loquat. They're very charming apartments, beautiful
apartments. But they all had blank sides towards Hibiscus and towards Marlowe
and I wrote then, this is the way you shut people out is you build a blank
wall. What you're saying is, you're not fit to look at. Let's be sure that
this parking garage does not very, very specifically turn a blank side. Is
there no way to build in some amenities for the people who are going to have
to look at this structure everyday and I don't think any one of the five of
you sitting there - or four of you sitting and one of them standing - thank
you. Mr. De Yurre, you're standing, there are four sitting...
Mayor Suarez: Go ahead, go ahead, Joanne.
Ms. Hane: But I don't think any of you want a 36 - I'm sorry, whatever the
height is, right across the street from you to look at a blank wall. Whatever
you're going to put there, the people in the neighborhood need to hear this.
The people in the neighborhood need to be brought in more. Kathy has made
every attempt to do so. The fact that it hasn't produced more meetings that
have generated more comment, is a combination of things. Partly, that the
people didn't really quite understand what was being done at what stage. And
I go back, it's like the Dinner Key master plan. I fought that when Jack Luft
wouldn't even give me a written plan for it. And I think it's really
necessary that people see something, as Esther Mae was saying, they need to
see it in black and white. I'm sure that with as many attorneys as there are,
the Mayor and on the payroll for the City, there's a way to make sure that
MacDonald Street cannot come through there. What we're asking is that careful
consideration be given to the neighborhood as a whole, to what happens to that
neighborhood surrounding it so that there is something done there that is good
for all of the residents. Years ago, we talked to Mr. Frank Stark who's now
dead, about the possibility of housing one of his music collections in
f something that would go where they want to put a new theater. It's fine if
{ they want a little theater though I tend to believe, if they can't fill up
what they've got, it's a little bit airsy to come in here and want a second
theater. Maybe this needs to be a two stage plan. Maybe the Playhouse can
only generate so much money and if you got to have shops and offices to help
it out, maybe that's necessary. When Roger Carlton and Jack Luft first
approached the Civic Club board some years ago, this was a much smaller plan
and it was, I believe it was 200 and I think like 20 parking spaces. Now, we
got five hundred and something parking spaces and the residents really do need
time to talk about this, to think about this, to get together with the City
and for the City to proffer some amenities and some dead, right down the line,
guarantees to this. And I appreciate it very much. To whom shall I give
these letters?
Mayor Suarez: Please give them to the City Clerk, Joanne, to introduce into
the record,
Ms. Hane: Thank you very much.
Mr. Plummer: Question. How many parking spaces will be provided?
Ms. Swanson: Five hundred.
Mr. Plummer: Five hundred?
83 July 31, 1989
s
Ms4 SMabsone And the commercial has been reduced from sixty thousand4 wh1eh
was in the original plan, to thirty thousand.
Mayor Suarez: OK, anything further?
Ms. Armbrister: I just wanted to say that we have been meeting - I don't want
you to take all the blame, Jack, but we have been - and some of the people in
the community, have seen the plans. We have seen how they are going to do the
back of the parking area so it won't look like a parking area, if you know
what I mean, building. So, one thing we're worried about is getting that
covenant and doing what you want to do with the traffic, but keep it off of
Charles and Franklin. And whatever you do, that's up to you. And we have
been in touch with some of the.... FIU to help us to get historical
information that we need in order to put Coconut Grove...
Mayor Suarez: On the other aspects of the historical dedications.
Me. Armbrister: Yes. Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: OK, that's it? What are you doing hanging around there, Mr.
McMaster?
Mr. Jim McMaster: I'll be brief, if I can be. Jim McMaster, 2940 S.W. 30th
Court.
Mr. Dawkins: Jesus. Are you going to speak too? And you too?
Mr. McMaster: Pardon me, sir?
Mayor Suarez: And him too.
Mr. McMaster: I'll be very brief. Off -Street Parking has been saying, you
know, trust us. You know, I like what they're proposing if it's done
properly, but there are a lot of issues they need to address which I'd like to
address before they come for second reading. Will we or won't we have two
stories of artist housing behind this project? Where's the parking going to
be during construction? Tie up the one wing of Charles Avenue, as everyone
knows, the traffic study was approved a year and a half ago. I don't see why
you couldn't have moved on that before now. How wide is the alley going to be
on the right Commodore Plaza side of the building? The model shows four
loading bays on Charles Avenue. Now we find out there's three so what's the
fourth opening? You know, I'd just like to see a breakdown of how many
parking spaces does the project need? I'm not against this project, but I
want to know what we're getting. This project should be for the betterment of
the City of Miami and Coconut Grove and the community around it, so let's see
what we're getting and nail it down and then we can move ahead. Thank you.
Mr. Plummer: May I suggest, Jim, that you give him your questions in writing
so that he can answer them at the next hearing?
Ms. Swanson: We have his questions.
Mr. McMaster: Oh, OK.
Mr. Plummer: You have them?
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mr. Plummer: Fine.
Ms. Swanson: We've had in excess of 20 meetings on this project. We've also
notified everyone within three hundred and seventy...
Mr. Plummer: All I asked you to do was answer his questions.
Mayor Suarez: Why do we always get more than what we ask?
Mr. Ted Stahl: My name is Ted Stahl, 3120 Commodore Plaza. My property backs
up to the alley and I am on the Off -Street Parking Advisory Board and we have
been bringing up for two years, two items that I am very concerned about
before these plans are finalized is when the decision, several years ago, to
allow the alley that was a service alley behind Monty Trainer's area, when
84 July 31, 1989
4 -4
they built Fuddruekers they placed the pall of Fuddrucker's property directly
upon the line making that alley today unusable and now we have all the beer
trucks, laundry trucks, produce trucks, delivering during heights of time
during the daytime on Commodore which causes a very serious congestion
problems. The question here and it should be, we have been bringing this up
for two years, we have never seen any concrete plans, all we see is models.
That the alley that is now in consideration on the opposite side, Thomas
Avenue, which is that small alley going up there, that when this building is
designed that there be enough space left, even if we are approaching on the
Playhouse property, that alley does not become just a single delivery street
because it is impossible for anyone to use this. It's also a very important
fire lane. This is what has happened on the opposite side so now we have all
the congestion of delivery trucks on Commodore Plaza and if this alley is
shortened in width, we're going to have the same problem now on the opposite
side.
Mr. Plummer: What you want to be assured is, is stays the same width that it
is today; no less.
Mr. Stahl: No, it should be - it should be, no, more. It should be at least
four feet more. But the problem is - that's one major thing which we've asked
to discuss for two years now. The other things that's been brought up are the
tour buses. Now, we have brought this up several times, where are the tour
buses going to unload? In our last meeting, the tour buses was discussed, the
owner of the development said that they did not want the tour buses along Main
Highway in front of their operation, because of the outdoor restaurants that
are being built. That the gas fumes would approach on them. Two days after
that meeting, the Playhouse had a matinee, there were eight tour buses; four
of them take...
Mayor Suarez: Let me ask a question, Ted, on that issue so we don't spend too
much time on it because I initially asked if there was any objectors and
nobody stepped forward. We have plenty of police powers to regulate the tour
buses, do we not, Wally? Mr. Assistant City Manager?
Mr. Wally Lee: Yes, we do.
Mayor Suarez: OK, I think we can work with that. Anything else on....? OK,
Bob, final one.
Bob Fitzsimmons, Esq.: Yes, sir. My name is Bob Fitzsimmons. I live at 2512
Abaco Avenue. I'm the president of the Coconut Grove Civic Club. Four quick
points. One thing that seems to be going very quickly and through the board
is we're not just changing to GU, we're also rezoning three or two residential
lots back there. They keep telling us they're necessary for the project, that
they don't have final plans for the project. We brought this up at PAB, we
brought this up at Zoning Board. I don't know if the projects been hanging
around for three or four years, why they don't have final plans. It wouldn't
be as much opposition or even discussion if we had final plans. They keep
saying, "Wait till special exception, because that's required in GU." Well,
that brings us to our second point. We're concerned. They can build this _
project without it being GU. They could build it with existing zoning. Why -
do they want to change it to GU? You know, it has its own set of problems,
bring it in there. The problem that it has for us is all of a sudden, the
horse is out of the barn and you come here and there are zoning requirements.
They have to be similar to the next door neighbors. They don't have the same
restrictions. So I think that's basically the reason it's GU and we oppose
that. We think, why don't you just build it with an existing zoning? Next,
moving to the actual plan itself. I think we're going to have one, we have
30,000 square feet of retail. We, right now, have a government shopping
center and if you look at the design. If you look at the point on the right
there, that is the only access for 500 cars. We're building a government
shopping center that's going to be like the Miracle Center. It's only one
access on Main Highway.
Mr. Plummer: Thirty thousand square feet?
Mr. Fitzsimmons: Of retail space.
Mr. Plummer: How does that compare to the Miracle Center?
85 July 31, 1989
Mr. Fitzsimmons: No, I'm saying the parking access. There'* one entrants and
one exit...
Mr. Plummer: Oh.
Mr. Fitzsimmons., ...off Main Highway. We're going to have the same turning
problem, the same light problem. These are all problems we'd like to address.
We don't want to oppose this project. We do like the project somewhat. But
can we have plans and can we have plans before second reading? At least some
kind of tentative architectural drawing.
Mayor Suarez: Can we do that, Jack? Can we do that?
Ms. Swanson: We've provided...
Mayor Suarez: What do you have her answer the difficult ones, you answer the
easy ones? Is that the idea?
Ms. Swanson: On June 16th we provided the Coconut Grove Civic Club the draft
plans which do not show dimensions, but they show full layout of the 500
cars...
Mayor Suarez: All right, between first reading and second reading, you're
going to get them a lot more detail?
Ms. Swanson: We have them, yes.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Mr. Dawkins: OK, you got 500 parking spaces? How much square feet of
commercial?
Ms. Swanson: Thirty thousand.
Mr. Dawkins: Thirty thousand. How much office space?
Ms. Swanson: No office space.
Mr. Dawkins: No other commercial or nothing in here other than this
commercial 30,000 square feet?
Ms. Swanson: We also have the infrastructure for the Playhouse.
Mr. Dawkins: Ma'am?
Ms. Swanson: We have a mini -theater for the Playhouse, dressing rooms for the
Playhouse, property storage for the Playhouse.
Mr. Dawkins: OK, put that other schematic up there you had up there, please.
OK. Now, what are you going to do on Charles Street?
Ms. Swanson: On the very back lot that you see there, we're proposing to have
the dressing rooms, the property storage, which is currently on 836. We are
proposing to do that. It would be a total of two stories and it would be
landscaped. We went to...
Mr. Dawkins; That's the same historical district I keep telling you people I
don't want destroyed, OK? And that's why I'm against this project. You see,
all right, what are you going to do on Williams Avenue?
Mr. Mulvena: Commissioner, before you go to Williams Avenue, I need to share
with you that on Charles Street and we've worked with the neighborhood to make
sure that nothing exit...
Mr. Dawkins: I don't... you didn't work with... I'm talking about what I
want. You tell me about the neighborhood, OK? Don't tell me about the
neighbors. You can go in there and promise the neighborhoods, neighbors that
you're going to buy them a chocolate cake for Christmas and they'll buy it,
OK? You can't get me nothing for Christmas, OK?
Mr. Mulvena: But, you know...
86
Ki
Mr. Dawkins: All right, so now let... now don't tell me about you _
—_
with the neighbors. You're going and promise them you're going to do
-
everything for them and they forget about it. OK? They don't realise that
they get chocolate cake and the people on the other side don't get nothing.
All right, now what are you going to do on Williams Avenue?
Mr. Mulvena: Everything you see on Charles and Williams are all extensions of
the theater. That's the reason we're looking for this amendment. We could
have gone ahead and built the commercial and built the garage and never been
back here. But because we are concerned about...
Mr. Dawkins: No, you couldn't have because you needed certain variances.
Mr. Mulvena: No, no, we don't, Mister....
r
Mr. Dawkins: Well, then build it, well why don't you do that then?
Mr. Mulvena: Because we want the theater to go forward with this project.
That's the major reason we're out there.
Mr. Dawkins: All right, how much of the money that you're going to generate
from this development and the parking garage will go to the Playhouse?
Mr. Mulvena: All of the rental payments from the commercial space is —
earmarked for the theater. In addition, we're providing some infrastructure —_
support that has to come up close to the garage so the winner in this, by the
way, is the Coconut Grove Playhouse.
Mr. Dawkins: Well, just build a parking garage. I said it before and I'm
--Z
going to say it again. If you sincerely want to help the Playhouse, put a —
(
parking garage there. Forget about the commercial, OK? If you really want to
help the Playhouse.
Mr. Mulvena: The commercial helps the garage and the Playhouse. I mean,
that's the reason we have mixed used development, Commissioner. The days of
=1
building free standing garages like the one next to the City administration
building are far gone. You do not want to inherit that kind of deficit.
Mr. Dawkins: I have to agree with Tim and those. In two years you have not
shown me nothing concrete, you have not shown me anything that this is what
we're going to do so that I could go against it or with it and everything...
and then when the system, at the eleventh hour, when you need the money, then
�j
you come to Miller Dawkins and say, "Well, we got to have the money." You
didn't come back a year and a half ago when we started this where we could
have set down and ironed this out and I could have been happy and you could
have been happy and we knew what we were doing. But you come here today and
if we don't get the money, we're going to lose... you know, I get fed up with
you guys doing this to me. I mean, I do. And I resent it. But it doesn't do
any good because I keep telling you that and I lose on a four/one vote. I
don't care. But eventually, it's going to be one that I can win on without -
I'll have the winning vote on. And I hope it's a big one.
Mr. Mulvena: Commissioner, we do have some conceptuals we can share with you.
You know, I think if you polled, you know, the neighbors, the people we've met
with, they'll tell you that this is a positive project. The Coconut Grove
Playhouse will tell you it's a positive project. We'll tell you the only way
to afford to solve the parking problem is to have mixed use development.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Mulvena: And we're looking...
Ms. Hans: Excuse me, but I wish it would...
Mayor Suarez: Anything further?
Mr. Plummer: I only have one gripe with Mulvena and I've told him about it
before and when you come back on second reading, I want you to demonstrate to
me something that's going to alleviate the problem. The lot that you have
there presently, you got the little gate twenty feet from the sidewalk and all
of the stacking occurs on the street, OK? I recommend to you to move it
somewhere where you can do at least ten cars stacked off the street and I'm
87 July 31, 1989
hopeful that you`re going to be able to demonstrate to las when you come back,
the entrance into this garage is going to have somewhere to stack ears other
than on Main Highway. Because if you don't, you got a problem with me.
Mayor Suarez: I'd like to see some of that myself between first and second
reading.
Mr. Mulvena: Yes, its design has that in there, by the way. We took your
suggestion and have it, you know, further into the garage.
Me. Hans: Could I just may one more thing?
Mayor Suarez: Because we're ready to read the ordinance and call... do you
have anything that hasn't been said, Joanne? I can't imagine, because we've
handled...
Me. Hans: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: ...over four years, almost every aspect of this. Quick.
Ms. Hane: This is the first time I've commented on it. I'd just feel a lot
better if up there on the screen was the plan that's being shown to us so that
you all could see where the second theater is going to be and all the other
things. You're being... I know that's the outline of the property, but it
isn't what they want there. Not only that, I don't want to get in a contest
with Mr. Mulvena, with all due respect, but the residents in the neighborhood
do not all agree with this. The letter I gave don't and others don't.
Mayor Suarez: All right, and we obviously all want a lot more detail by the
second reading. We have a motion and a second. Read the ordinance. Call the
roll.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE, WITH ATTACHMENT, AMENDING THE FUTURE
LAND USE MAP OF ORDINANCE NO. 10544, AS AMENDED, THE
MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN 1989-2000, FOR
PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 3490 AND 3500 MAIN
HIGHWAY, MIAMI, FLORIDA (MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED
HEREIN), BY CHANGING THE DESIGNATION OF THE SUBJECT
PROPERTY FROM RESTRICTED COMMERCIAL AND SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL TO MAJOR PUBLIC FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION
AND UTILITIES; MAKING FINDINGS; INSTRUCTING THE CITY
CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS ORDINANCE TO THE
AFFECTED AGENCIES; AND PROVIDING A REPEALER
PROVISION, SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
Was introduced by Commissioner De Yurre and seconded by Commissioner
Plummer and was passed on its first reading by title by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: Commissioner Miller Dawkins.
ABSENT: None.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
n
.. .a, �...-gym L.._�-.... ..:..:.............,:.,,,.. _...riLLii. ••......:. c. .. ..:.-3.r�wr.f i.�r'.+:r'..a.ir.�r.�._.ii.r.r _ .. yf.fi�rt - - '
1J. FIRST ARADINO ORDIROCIt Amend zoning atlas = thing* ebning
classification at approximately 3490 and 3500 Main Highway (PLAYR01199
THRATIER) from SPI-2 and RS-2/2 to GU (Applicants board of
Trustees/internal Improvement Fund, State of Florida, Department of
Natural Resources).
Mr. De Yurre: Move fourteen.
Mayor Suarest Companion item, PZ-14. I'll entertain a motion on this.
Mr. De Yurre: Moved.
Mr. Plummer: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Moved and seconded. Any discussion? I£ not, read the
ordinance.
Mr. Plummer: For the record...
Mayor Suarez: All the same reservations that we've expressed on PZ-13 and
hopes and instructions by the second reading we will have obtained all the
assurances needed, prescribed.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mulvena, if you don't satisfy my colleague, Dawkins, don't
come back.
Mr. Mulvena: Agreed.
Mayor Suarez: Call the roll. Read the ordinance. Call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
NO. 9500, AS AMENDED, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION OF 3490 AND 3500 MAIN HIGHWAY, MIAMI,
FLORIDA (MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN), FROM
SPI-2 COCONUT GROVE CENTRAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AND
RS-2/2 ONE FAMILY DETACHED RESIDENTIAL TO GU
GOVERNMENT USE BY MAKING FINDINGS; AND BY MAKING ALL
THE NECESSARY CHANGES ON PAGE NO. 46 OF SAID ZONING
ATLAS MADE A PART OF ORDINANCE NO. 9500 BY REFERENCE
AND DESCRIPTION IN ARTICLE 3, SECTION 300, THEREOF;
CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION AND A SEVERABILITY
CLAUSE.
Was introduced by Commissioner De Yurre and seconded by Commissioner
Plummer and was passed on its first reading by title by the following votes
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: Commissioner Miller Dawkins.
ABSENT: None.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
13.1 BRIEF DISCUSSION CONCERNING PURCHASE OF CAMILLUS HOUSE- direct City
Manager to place issue on the September agenda. (See label 8)
Mr. De Yurre: Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, Mr. Vice Mayor.
Mr. De Yurre: Going back for a second to the Camillus House purchase. I have
a copy here of the contract and also the minutes of the February 23rd meeting.
Mr. Dawkins: Wait, J. L. isn't here, he's the one who's concerned about it.
Mr. De Yurre: Well, I'm the one that's concerned about it too.
Mr. Dawkins: No kidding?
Mr. De Yurre: Yes. And our understanding was, at least mine, that Camillus
House needed 90 days to get their approval from the Pope and whoever else they
needed to get it from. That was my understanding. Now, to date, we haven't
heard at all on that situation and we're going 60 days beyond what would have
been the original 90 day period, and if we haven't closed this by the end of
August, then I would like to have this put on the meeting, the September
meeting, because I'm right now, disposed to consider going the other way and
just rescinding the whole thing because I feel that...
Mayor Suarez: OK, is that pretty clear? Wally, the City has to have
completed the closing by the end of August or the item is going to be called
back for reconsideration and then, God knows what will happen at that point...
in the September, the first September hearing, otherwise Commissioner wants it
on there, the Vice Mayor.
Mr. De Yurre: Thank you.
14. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend zoning atlas - change zoning
classification at approximately 2400 N.W. 14th Street from PR to RG-2/6
(Applicant: City of Miami Housing Conservation & Development Agency).
Mayor Suarez: PZ-15. Is that the one that a lot of the folks are here on?
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: I believe so. PZ-15 is...
Mayor Suarez: Do we have people against the application contained in PZ-15?
OK, very good.
Mr. Olmedillo: Is what you have before you is an application for a zoning
change for property located at 2400 N.W. 14th Street to go from a duplex
zoning to a - excuse me, from a PR zoning to an RG-2/6 which is a multifamily
zoning district. The Planning Department recommends approval, the Planning
Advisory Board recommended denial on a seven to one basis. The Zoning Board -
excuse me, that's the votes, seven to one denial by the PAB. This is a
consequence of the comprehensive plan. As you may remember, back in February,
this is one of the properties which was changed in the land use designation
for multifamily housing and from then, this is why the application is before
you to become consistent to the comprehensive plan.
Mayor Suarez: How did the City come into ownership of this property?
Mr. Olmedillo: This was the Fern Isle Nursery and this has been in the hands
of the City for many, many years. This is part of the Fern Isle property
which comes down a triangular portion along the river.
Mayor Suarez: We used it as a nursery ourselves until we stopped...
Mr. Olmedillo:' That is correct, sir, and...
90
July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: ...making our own plants, I guess, growing our own plants.
OK...
Mr. Plummer: Just for the record, the property is not utilized by the City at
this time for any use. Is that correct?
Mr. Olmedillo: The nursery is still there in a way. There's a skeleton crew,
I think, one person only there and a few plants which are being given away
little by little. And there's some old fire trucks.
Mr. Plummer: Plus the fact this is where we found $25,000 to change the
plants at City Hall every week, as I recall. Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: OK, let's... I have a feeling that Orlando could ask for a show
of hands on all those who support that and we would get a lot of people who
support it. So, rather than go through all of that, let's hear from the
opponents and then we'll go back to anything that you might want to say,
Armando, Orlando or any of the supporters. The City's actually the applicant
so that's really kind of us. But we obviously if we think that it's
necessary, we'll want to hear from neighbors in support. And, do we have any
organization or anything so that we can have a spokesperson in any way? OK,
Madam City Clerk, limit to two minutes, please.
Mr. Dawkins: You got to swear them in.
Mayor Suarez: And, yes, please swear everyone in that's going to testify.
Madam City Clerk, do you want to swear them in?
AT THIS POINT THE CITY CLERK ADMINISTERED REQUIRED OATH UNDER ORDINANCE NO.
10511 TO THOSE PERSONS GIVING TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE.
Mayor Suarez: Swear in anyone on the pro side just in case that their
testimony is needed, please.
�t
AT THIS POINT THE CITY CLERK ADMINISTERED REQUIRED OATH UNDER ORDINANCE NO.
10511 TO THOSE PERSONS GIVING TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE.
Mayor Suarez: OK, go ahead, sir, proceed.
Mr. W. R. Hoppe: My name's W. R. Hoppe. I live at 2401 N.W. 14th Street
which is directly across the street from the City nursery.
Mayor Suarez: Is it one of the red properties up there?
Mr. Hoppe: Yes, sir, right it's right on the corner there.
Mayor Suarez: Anybody point that out to us?
Mr. De Yurre: Is there a house or duplex?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: It's a house. Right there.
Mr. Hoppe: Right there, that's it. All right, that house was built in 1950
by my dad. I lived in the house right behind that on 24th Avenue from the
time I was about eight years old with my grandmother. I've been in that
neighborhood this many years. Next week, I'll be 55 years old so I've been
there quite a long time. I have played in that neighborhood, I've watched
that neighborhood change. Fourteenth Street used to be you go off 27th
Avenue, you had to go on to 22nd Avenue and go south. They opened up 22nd
Avenue with the bridge that gave us a red light at 14th Street and 22nd Avenue
and a red light at 14th Street and 27th Avenue. In order to get across the
Miami River bridge, you have to use one of those two bridges or go way around.
This area right now is so impacted with traffic that there are times when
neither one of those two bridges was - normally the 27th Avenue bridge gets
stuck that every car comes past our house and 22nd Avenue red light holds them
until they've backed up from 22nd to 27th Avenue. You can actually go out
there and talk to people in automobiles and hold a conversation. They're
planning to put in something like 50 and 55 units of two different kinds;
townhouses as well as an apartment house complex. They intend to put it on
the back part of the lot is what they showed me when they came to my house to
see what they could sway me out of saying what I'm saying today. I showed
91 July 31, 1989
them, I said, it's beautiful, it's back on the back side of the lot. We've
got 32 eighty to ninety year old oak trees on the front of that lot. The lot
In well kept. They say there's only one man in there. Well, he does one hall
of a job because that's a beautiful piece of ground. It's the last piece of
ground we have in that area and, by the way, let's say one more thing, this is
not Allapattah. I want that firmly understood that this is not Allapattah,
this is...
Mayor Suarez: Not Allapattah.
Mr. Hoppe: It's Muse Isle, pardon me, because it's part of the tract that's
been there for years. But any...
Mayor Suarez: Muse Isle. What is comprehended by Muse Isle? I guess we've
heard that name before in regards to some...
Mr. Plummer: Muse Isle is an Indian village that used to be there and that's
where it derived its name from it. It was over on 24th and the river.
Mayor Suarez: Is there an actual. neighborhood that ever was described by that
with boundaries or anything like that? I guess we have the housing project
there.
Mr. Plummer: It was always known as Muse Isle when I was growing up.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Hoppe: When you grew up and through the Indian village, it was Muse Isle
then, wasn't it?
Mr. Plummer: Sure.
Mr. Hoppe: OK.
Mayor Suarez: There's probably some platting, is there some platting?
Mr. Plummer: Used to take the old boats out of Bayfront Park down to Muse
Isle and watch them fight the alligators.
Mr. Hoppe: Right.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, there's some lots that have that? Any subdivisions that
have that name?
Mr. Plummer: I don't know if it's a subdivision or not. Is it Muse Isle?
Mr. Hoppe: That's the way my taxes read. So I think they know where I'm at.
Mr. Plummer: I think it is.
Mayor Suarez: OK, I'm sorry, I took up a little bit of your time so go ahead
and complete.
Mr. Hoppe: Anyway, like I'm saying. We're impacted, there's only one way in
and out of that place and it's on 14th Street and if you were going to add two
automobiles per apartment and you're talking about 200 apartments, you're
talking about 400 automobiles. There's only one way they can get out of
there. They must come out onto 14th Street. There's no way around it, they
got to come onto 14th Street because on the back side, you've got 836 and
there's no way out of there. They have property at 27th Avenue and 28th
Street you've owned since 1984. You've got 8.5 acres up there that has been
zoned for exactly what you want to do here. More property, more way to get
out and yet you can leave a park for the people. We're talking about 1989
now. Give it 20 years, all right? I've got grandchildren now that like to
run. There's no where else around that neighborhood you can run. We've got
the Policemen Park down the street. That is private. You take your kids back
in there, you're just liable to get run off. All right, on the other side of
the street, you've got the diesel outfit all the way down the river. I don't
know how much land they own, but they've got problems down there too. We've
got traffic in and out of that place all day. In the morning at 7:30 when I
leave to go to work, it takes me five minutes to back out of my driveway so I
have clearance to drive away. I have a business at 22nd Avenue and N.W. 6th
92 July 31, 1989
s
M
Street. I've been there for 35 years. So, like I say, I know what's going on
In the neighborhood. i was in that house behind my property right there in
1942 when it was bought. I think that we need to keep a park.
Mr. De Yurre: Lot me ask something because I was given some information the
other day and want to verify it one way or another. The front of that piece
of property, has that been given to any, to a municipios or something like
that? I've heard something to that affect.
Mr. Olmedillo: La Casa Los Municipios is supposed to have a location there
with just the front portion of the property.
Mr. Plummer: What do you call the front? -14th Street or the expressway?
Mr. Olmedillo: Fourteenth Street. No, the 14th Street side.
Mr. De Yurre: And how big is that property? You know, how much of that
parcel is...
Mr. Olmedillo: That's about almost a half about, I would say, a good 40
percent - 2 acres are being pointed out.
Mr. De Yurre: Two acres?
Mr. Olmedillo: Two acres will be La Casa de los Municipios and the
remainder...
Mr. De Yurre: The front two acres.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Mr. De Yurre: So, you're telling me so that we understand each other here
then that the park concept has already been done away with because of prior
commitments by this City to give two acres worth of that frontage to La Casa
de los Municipios. Is that correct?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, yes, sir.
Mr. De Yurre: OK, I don't know if that was known or not. Where do we stand
with the Casa de los Municipios? When was the given to them?
Mr. Olmedillo: That must have been eight to ten months ago, at least and we
haven't seen any...
Mr. De Yurre: When?
Mr. Olmedillo: Eight to ten months at least.
Mayor Suarez: That's a use permit, is that what it was?
Mr. Plummer: No, we gave them a commitment so they could got to the state to
try to get money.
Mr. Olmedillo: No, there's no permit or anything. We haven't seen plans.
Mr. De Yurre: They what?
Mr. Olmedillo: We haven't seen the plans but...
Mr. De Yurre: Did they come here?
Mayor Suarez: It was that proposed use...
Mr. Plummer: Well, as I recall, we gave them permission to use that parcel to
go before the State of Florida to try to get funds is what we did.
Mayor Suarez: It was a revocable use permit form.
Mr. Plummer: No, we didn't even give a permit. We said that we would so
designate if they got the funds and if they did not, then there was - school
was out.
93
Mr. D6 Yurra: And where Lib that at?
Mr. Plummier: Excuse me?
Mr. Olmedillo: We don't know. It's anybody from Housing here maybe.
Mr. Plummer: Within the last year. First, we talked about Antonio Mace* mark
that they were going to go in there. That didn't work out and then they came
back and talked about this piece here.
Mr. Jose Fabregas: Commissioner, there is preliminary plan site that they
have done and that's as far as they have done. They presented it to the
Building and Zoning Department in which their site plan did not touch of the
existing trees but that's as far as they've gone. And it was...
Mayor Suarez: How about funding? Is, I think, what the Vice Mayor was
hinting at. Do they have the wherewithal?
Mr. Fabregas: The funding with that, they were trying to get, like
Commissioner Plummer said, they were trying to get some from the state.
Mayor Suarez: We know that. Have they gotten it or not from this legislative
session? The legislative session's over.
Mr. Fabregas: No, air.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. De Yurre: Because...
Mr. Plummer: Well, excuse me, I think they got what they were looking for
from the state. I think they got the hundred thousand from the state.
Mr. Fabregas: Right, but the construction of the...
Mr. Plummer: That's a lot more.
Mr. Fabregas: ...proposed unit, it's over a million.
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. De Yurre: Because, you know, my feelings are, right now, that we need to
find out exactly where they're at to see if it's feasible or not because if
we're going to - if we're considering doing this project, I think that
something that might alleviate the whole concept is leaving those front two
acres as, you know, with trees and green area as a mini -park of sorts. So
that is something that should be considered, but, again, we have to see where
we stand with La Casa de los Municipios as far as that commitment is concerned
and long we're going to hold it if we can, you know, if there's no funding
available or if they can't secure it by a time certain.
Mr. Plummer: How much land is left?
Mayor Suarez: It was eight...
Mr. Plummer: If, in fact, that...
Mayor Suarez: Eight and a half you said before?
Mr. Olmedillo: Three point four acres.
Mr. Plummer: Is left?
Mr. Olmedillo: In addition to - yes. Two...
Mr. Plummer: Are we talking about the project that is proposed of housing?
Can that go on the 3.27
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: So what, is my colleague, what would we be holding up for if
both projects are able to go on the site?
Mr. Olmedillo: You mean La Casa de los Municipios and the housing project?
Mr. Plummer: I'm asking, yes. Can they both, as proposed, go on the same
site?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, yes.
Mr. Plummer: OK, Victor was saying that we needed to, he thought, possibly
hold up to see whether or not that other project is a go or no go. Now, what
do we accomplish by holding up if both projects can go on the same site?
Mr. Olmedillo: The Planning Department is recommending approval based on the
comprehensive plan. We would say that the only thing that you accomplish will
be have more open space for the people around that area.
Mr. Plummer: Not necessarily.
Mr. Olmedillo: If La Casa de los Municipios is not...
Mr. Plummer: Not in my understanding the dealing with the people who are
proposing the housing is for 3.2. Correct?
Mr. Olmedillo: That's correct.
Mr. Plummer: Now, the City, at a later time, if the other one falls through,
the City could do whatever it wants with that additional two acres. We could
give it...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, or even...
Mr. Plummer: ...we could build more housing, we could turn it into a park.
There's a lot of things we could do with it.
Mr. Olmedillo: Oh, yes, you have options.
Mayor Suarez: We can even go back and figure out some other site for the
other use and not go back on our commitment to them, but just find another
site and end up leaving two acres open here for - as Vice Mayor was proposing.
Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, I think that you and I both agree that the
Municipals, good as their intentions are, to raise a million dollars is going
to take quite a while.
Mayor Suarez: Sure. And, also, we don't have to hold that offer available
forever and ever while they look for funds. We can tell them we'll find some
other location, if need be. OK.
Mr. George Warren: My name is George Warren, I'm here representing Mrs.
George Warren, owner of lot eleven, block two. That's 2351-53 N.W. 14th
Street. First of all, I wanted to say that the planning board voted to
approve it but the Planning Advisory Board recommended denial seven to one, a
vote of seven to one. And also the Zoning Board voted it down on June 13th,
six to two, something like that. Now, I've been all through this neighborhood
and I've spoken, door to door, to just about everybody who lives in that
neighborhood. No one really wants this zoning changed. The neighborhood
cannot really take any more people. The density problem is going to get to
us. I'd say over 90 percent of the people who live there now are against it
and they have signed their names to a petition that I've taken around. Sixty
names on the petition who are against this. We think that an impact study
would prove that higher density habitation would bring higher density traffic
and all the problems that would create and what we have now is Fourteenth
Street which only has one lane in each direction and we couldn't take any more
traffic than we already have. Because, as Mr. Hoppe said, a lot of people cut
across from 22nd to 27th Avenue and when one of the two bridges get stuck,
95 July 31, 1989
either the one on 22nd or the one on 27th Avenue, there's just no way traffic
_ can move on 14th Street. If you add more people on Fern Isle now, that'll
create more traffic than we already have. This is going to ruin the quality
of life for all who move into this neighborhood and for all who already live
there. And that would cause the devaluation of property in the whole area.
We believe that. Right now, the neighborhood it's a small little community
with a lot of people who have lived there for over 30 years. Between 21th
Avenue on the west and 23rd Court on the east, N.W. 16th Street Road on the
north and the south fork of the Miami River on the south, this highly wooded
area really resembles a nature preserve. If you've ever been back there,
you'll know what I mean with all the old oak trees. We all think that Fern
Isle really ought to be a park, a passive park. OR, thank you.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you for your statement being timely. You're the most
timely so far. Anyone else?
Mr. Plummer: I try to stay away from them.
Mayor Suarez: By the way, if I may, before they start, just clarify, how many
units are being proposed to be built?
Mr. Plummer: Let's not be forced today.
Mr. Armando Cazo: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, my name is Armando
Cazo.
Mayor Suarez: Just in concept. I'm sorry, before we even get to Armando,
does anybody know from Housing, City's Housing Department?
Mr. Fabregas: Yes, sir, it's fifty townhouse units.
Mayor Suarez: OR.
Mr. Fabregas: Sixty-two townhouse units? And fifty-five.
Mayor Suarez: And any elderly housing or anything else?
Mr. Fabregas: Fifty and sixty-two elderly housing.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes, my name's....
Mr. Plummer: Well, can I ask... let me ask a question. I question this is a
complete change of zoning, OK? And I'm assuming it's for the entire tract
from PR, public recreation, to RG-2/6. If, in fact, the municipal group, if
they wanted to use the front two acres, they don't need a change of zoning, do
they?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, they would need...
Mr. Plummer: So why are we even proposing in this application the change of
zoning of the front two acres?
(Applause)
Mr. Olmedillo: They would need a change...
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me.
Mr. Olmedillo: I believe they would need a change of zoning anyway from PR in
order to make that much of a change into the park... of the park.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but you see, look, unless I'm completely out of base. If
you left the front two acres as PR, as a park, I think it would be a lot more
pleasing to everybody, including the people of the Housing, OK?
Mr. Olmedillo: You can do that.
Mr. Plummer: Now, the only thing that you're talking about is whether or not
the Municipios - ahhhhh, can't roll my is - get their successful project or
not. Now, I just personally feel that leaving those front two acres would be
beneficial to everybody. The neighbors across 14th Street and if, in fact,
the housing went in, they've got a park also built in for them of 2 acres. So
96 July 31, 1989
is I
I, personally, would like to see from this application, taken out the front
two acres. It makes no sense to me at this particular time. The municipios
are not trying, in fact, to put in housing. Theirs is a community center as I
understand the concept so I, personally, think that the front two acres ought
to come out as far as a change of zoning is concerned. And I think the
neighbors would be, you know, even though it doesn't address the parking, I
think it addresses the fear that they have that might be used for more
housing. So, I'm giving you that on the record for what I feel.
Mayor Suarez: It makes a lot of sense.
Ms. Blanca Mason: My name is Blanca Mason and I live at 1836 S.W. 15th Street
and I'm here because although I think this is a commendable project and I
understand the goal of the City of Miami to provide low income housing and
affordable housing, I don't think this is the appropriate site. This is land
that has been designated park space, open space, has been with the City of
Miami since 1936 and it was decided the Fern Isle Nursery, which is the that
has provided trees for the citizens of all the City of Miami, and has been
used by many homeowners groups to beautify public rights -of -way and...
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, who are you representing?
Ms. Mason: I represent myself. I'm a taxpaying citizen.
Mr. Plummer: I mean, because you don't live in the immediate neighborhood.
Ms. Mason: No, no, I've used the site, the nursery site to use trees for the
Shenandoah Homeowners and we have used...
Mr. Plummer: You're arguing for the nursery, not necessarily anything else.
Ms. Mason: The nursery and the entire site, just as a taxpaying citizen of
the City, you know, this is my land and I think it belongs to all the City and
to give away this land is really to divest the rest of the citizens of their
park land. I think that you should retain the park concept, the green space.
There's not enough here and really, if you look at the application, the
surrounding area is one story duplexes. That site is medium density and part
of the housing, the elderly housing, would be 5 story which would stick out in
that neighborhood. It's totally inappropriate to the neighborhood. In fact,
this group has the Melrose Nursery site that can be developed in Allapattah.
There are alternative ways to provide affordable housing and low income
housing in the City of Miami. You can improve code enforcement. There are
many other sites in residential areas that need housing that would be a boost
to the neighborhood. This neighborhood is stable and you're giving away, this
sets a bad precedent to give away essential park land and green space that
belongs to everyone in the City. And...
Mr. Plummer: Just for the record, we're not giving it away.
Ms. Mason: Well, I think the land is valued at over a million dollars and
you're selling it for three hundred something thousand. Which is...
Mr. Plummer: OK, but we're not giving it away, I just don't want a concept
that it's a freebie.
Ms. Mason: Well, essentially, you're divesting the rest of the citizens, I
mean, you're not compensating the rest of the City of Miami with any more park
land and, in fact, sometimes you all appropriate money to buy park land.
Well, here you have land that's designated for that. There are other
appropriate sites for this project and right now, the Melrose Nursery site has
been sitting vacant for over two and a half years for a housing project and
the Allapattah Community Action Agency is also in charge of that. They really
should concentrate on what they have in that neighborhood and proceed there.
Regarding the Municipios, the ordinance that you all agreed on a year ago gave
the Municipios twelve months to acquire the funding for this and that was on
June 9th of 1988. It's been over twelve months so at this point, the City is
under no obligation regarding those front two acres which, by the way, on the
east side of this property, the three lots, according to your Planning
Department, are designated an environmentally - it's an environmentally
designated protection area because this whole area is in Oak Grove. So, by
all means, the Oak Grove and the Fern Isle Nursery, which is right behind the
Oak Grove should be preserved. I don't think this is an appropriate site and
sets a bad precedent to go ahead and do this. If the City's committed to...
97 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: You don't need to summarize...
Ms. Mason: OK.
Mayor Suarez: ...because your time is up anyhow, so it's just a matter of, if
you have anything further to say, go ahead and say it and finish up, please.
Me. Mason: Yes, I think that there's a public trust doctrine and the City
owns this in public trust for the rest of the citizens. Because it's
Inappropriate to the site because its park land, and they would cause
incredible problems of density in the neighborhood. It would divest the rest
of the citizens of their land and because this project is opposed by the
immediate neighborhood and has been recommended for denial by both the
Planning Advisory Board and the Zoning Advisory Board, two citizens boards
that are here to tell you essential, you know, what they have found, should be
done. You should not consider this project for this site.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you.
Ms. Mason: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: Anyone further?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, let me stand corrected. There was a revocable permit
issued by resolution 88-570 for two years. I hate to contradict the young
lady but reading here, it shall come up every two years; "....said permit to
come before the City Commission every two years for reconsideration and
revision."
Mayor Suarez: It's unusual that we would do it for two years, typically we do
it for one, I wonder if we...
Mr. Plummer: It's resolution 88-570 on June the 9th, 1988.
Ms. Mason: Based on the packet prepared for you, that's where I saw it. And
it...
Mr. Plummer: Well, I'm just reading from the resolution.
Mayor Suarez: He's just corrected the record, you're not contradicting
anything that he's saying, are you?
Mr. Plummer: No, she said a year.
Ms. Mason: No, I'm sorry, you know, I based it on the packet given to me.
Mayor Suarez: This has nothing to do with you, Miss. We had a discussion on
what kind of a permit we had given to the people that were applying for monies
from the state and he's just told us. Go ahead, sir.
Mr. Ed Navarro: My name is Ed Navarro and I live on 1385 N.W....
Mr. Dawkins: Pull the mike up, sir, please.
Mr. Navarro: I live in 1385 N.W. 23rd Court; right on 14th Street and 23rd, a
duplex that's there. I'd like to ditto what everybody said about high density
and everything else and it just came to mind you, yourselves, are putting
barricades all over the City to prevent traffic and preserve peoples' land and
safety. That's an area that before children could play all over in the street
and be supervised without any fear. On 14th Street which is a dead end
street, people zoom in and zoom out of there at 40-50 miles an hour. That
would be great revenue for the City just having a policeman there to pass out
tickets. And on like Friday, I wish one of you would have been there.
Between 22nd Avenue and 27th Avenue, you've got a banking center and stuff
there that people coming in and coming out between 22nd and 27th you can't
make it from there to 27th Avenue within 15 or 20 minutes like Mr. Hoppe said.
It's a real high density area. Furthermore, there - your zoning, they used to
be all homes there. Now they're making five and six unit complexes on 14th
Street. They're eyesores because you get all these people jammed in this
little space and all you see is like little mice and mazes running and running
out and insurance wise. Before you just go in now you've got to, in that
98 July 31, 1989
little area, it's so prone to accidents. If you would just sit there and look
at all of the potential accidents that are happening now because there is no
outlet between 22nd and 27th. It is a major damage and it will affect all our
quality of lives like the gentleman said. I think it's an area that should be
preserved and I think you should include a study. Go out there and talk to
the neighbors because no one knew - I mean, the memos that you sent, no one
knew about them till people received them. Everybody here knew about them. I
mean everybody here and people around the neighborhood, which are one and two
blocks away, they never received anything and yet this place is full from
kept telling the, this is fantastic plan. And, we, the people that
live there didn't even know about it. I think that's kind of unfair too.
That's all I have to say.
(Applause)
Mayor Suarez: Anything further?
Ms. Esteria Suarez: My name is Esteria Suarez. I live 1345 N.W. 23rd Court.
I don't want to add anything because they already said everything but we're
very crowded and we need a park because we all have kids. A lot of us they
don't understand English, that's why they cannot speak, but the people that
oppose, they're here, you know, and they want to talk.
Mayor Suarez: You're welcome to ask them in Spanish. If they want to raise
their hand if they're...
Ms. Suarez: Well, they want to say their own opinion in Spanish, that's what
I'm saying.
Mayor Suarez: Listen to me. You're welcome to ask them in Spanish if they
want to raise their hand if they're in opposition to this rezoning.
Ms. Suarez: OK. We have a couple peoples...
Mayor Suarez: You don't buy that. I'll translate what she says and put it on
the record.
Mr. Plummer: The ones' that have spoken spoke pretty good English that I
understood.
Mayor Suarez: (ASKED IN SPANISH FOR OPPONENTS TO RAISE THEIR HANDS.) OK,
that did it for you. I just asked those that are against this rezoning to
raise your hand. OK, ma'am, last statement.
Ms. Johnnie Hoppe: My name is Johnnie Hoppe and I live at 2401 and I also
have power of attorney for husband's uncle which is 1430 N.W. 24th Avenue.
Now, my problem with this is you're warehousing people. This area has natural
boundaries. It is naturally cut off, it is cut off by the river, it is cut
off by the expressway, 27th Avenue and 22nd Avenue, and we have been blessed
with a few things. I am not against housing for the elderly, I know it is
terribly important because, right now, I have his uncle getting ready to go
into a nursing home but I do think you ought to take a look at Muse Isle.
That thing is a total disgrace. It is falling apart. And here you're going
to build more housing, you haven't even taken care of what you've got there.
Somebody put over a big thing on 27th Avenue. It's going to be ten stories
with the penthouse and there is an entrance on to 27th Avenue from the parking
lot and there's just one way and this is right after you come over the bridge.
I'm waiting for the accidents to start on that one. There's also another
building that's gone up right behind that. My whole point is, the only way
out of these two pieces of property is onto llth Street which will feed out
onto 27th Avenue which will go down 14th Street or across 27th Avenue bridge
or down 27th Avenue. You intended to widen 27th Avenue, but the funding did
not happen from what I understand.
Mr. Plummer: It's Dade County, or State of Florida.
Ms. Hoppe: Dade County did, but, anyway, it did not happen. And until you
get this situation straightened out, you can't continue to impact people
because every piece of property in there that is sold is going into a duplex
and when you've got all existing property we have in there now going into
duplexes, and you add more than a hundred more units with no way in and out
except 14th Street, and the City trucks use this thing like an expressway,
99 July 31, 1989
.�.
like you Vould not believe. It It unbelievable and so do the County trucks.
And wb6n the - (hod love you guys - but when the police department holds
something at that park, you can forget it. We need policemen to polite the
policemen; it's disgusting. And they just don't do anything about it so
You've got to look at what you're doing before you do it and I don't think
they really did.
Mayor Suarez: OK, thank you, ma'am. All right, Commissioners.
Mr. Warren: Just, could I have one question? Could I just ask one question?
Mayor Suarez% Ask a question, please, quick.
Mr. Warren: How did the City come by getting this land and I heard that....
Mayor Suarez: Yes, I asked the question. I don't know that I ever got an
answer to that.
Mr. Warren: I don't know the history of it, but I heard that it was donated
and...
Mayor Suarez: I asked the question and I'm not sure I ever got an answer so
it might as well...
Mr. Fabregas: Mr. Mayor, this was...
Mayor Suarez: Or if I did, I forgot it already.
Mr. Fabregas: Yes, it was bought in 1936 on the court steps.
Mayor Suarez: Bought by the City?
Mr. Fabregas: By the City.
Mayor Suarez: Presumably for a...
Mr. Fabregas: Tax deed.
Mayor Suarez: But presumably to use as a nursery and...
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. Plummer: Well, let me make sure what we're doing here today. By changing
the zoning on this property less the two front acres which is the only thing I
would vote on, we are not locking in concrete any project on that property at
the present time. Is that correct?
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct, sir.
Mr. Plummer: OK. Now, the one thing - just to give me an example because I
don't see anything wrong with a high rise next to the expressway. I think it
would be a blessing if you want my truth. How f ar back would that be from
14th Street, approximately, because that thing looks deep to me? I'm look,"
g
at at least 700-800 feet from 14th Street.
Mr. Olmedillo: About 250 feet will be the first structure.
Mr. Plummer: No, no, the high rise structure, not the townhouse.
Mrs. Hoppe% That's the high rise.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, that's the high rise.
Mr. Plummer: About 250 feet.
Mr. Oimedillo: It's part of the nursery.
Mr. Plummert OK. =
Mr. Olmedillo: They, but there are the oaks right in the front of it.
Mr. Plummer: I understand, but it's not being used for a park or a playground
presently?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, sir.
Mr. Plummer: OK. I think that a lot of people would feel more comfortable
that if, in fact, the Municipios do not go through, that the City use that and
dedicate it as a park for the neighborhood, they would find it a lot more
accessible. And I don't see a thing wrong with that because, I mean, the
people in the back could use it, the people in the front could use it.
Mayor Suarez: The front two acres, you mean.
Mr. Plummer: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, and that follows in line with what the Vice Mayor was
saying before that maybe we can dedicate it as a mini -park.
Mr. Plummer: You know, there's other properties and...
Mayor Suarez: Make it more accessible than it actually is right now because
right now, I presume, it's a nursery of some sort. I don't know that people
are allowed to...
Mr. Plummer: And, Mr. Mayor, I'm sorry to harp on this but I've got to have -
make sure that the record is correct. Commissioner De Yurre showed me that
the young lady was right. That if they do not get the funding and start
construction in 12 months, that then they lose their right on this even though
it is a revocable permit for two years. So there's a discrepancy there.
Mayor Suarez: It's really got the one year cancellation provision.
Mr. Plummer: That's correct.
Mayor Suarez: Or...
Mr. Plummer: Just for the record, you were right and I was right. Maybe
we're both wrong. OK. You're right.
Mayor Suarez: Has the time expired? Now, she's saying something different.
Mr. Plummer: Twelve months by construction.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right, it has.
Mr. Plummer: Huh?
Mr. Olmedillo: It has expired.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, it has expired, by June the 9th it expired.
Mayor Suarez: So we could legally dispose of that at this point.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, in some other location.
Mayor Suarez: Right. Commissioners, what's your pleasure on this item?
Mr. De Yurre: Well, I think we're pretty much on the same wavelength. My
feeling is that if we can have that two acre buffer and keep it as a park area
for the neighborhood with the understanding that the applicants - or not the
applicants in this case - but the people that would develop that area would up
keep the park, I'd think that would be the best for all people concerned.
Mr. Plummer: Victor, I can't go along with that and let me tell you why I
can't, OK? First of all, you're talking about people of moderate income. You
know, I don't want to rely on a condominium kind of association. I would much
101 July 31, 1989
prefer to see the City take care of it, I don't think there's any other way it
can be dons. City park property is the City's problem, and as far as I'm
concerned, they've got to maintain it. To rely on a third party to do it, I
gust don't think it will be done. So I can't agree with that. The rest of it
— I agree with.
Ms. Masons I just want to suggest something...
Mayor Suarez: We're not taking any more input from the objectors, ma'am,
unless you've got a clarification which we'll allow, just out of courtesy to
you.
Ms. Masons OK, I just want to suggest, if you want somebody to manage it, why
don't you get the homeowners associations to manage this since they've used
the nursery and things like that?
Mayor Suarez: We've been trying to look at homeowners associations to manage
parks. We have yet to come up with one park that can be adopted by homeowners
association that won't, some how, require substantial City funds. The day we
find one, we'll be very, very pleased because then we'll start using that
system over and over again.
Mr. Plummer: Well, you going to make a motion?
Mr. De Yurre: OK, then I'll go along with that.
Mayor Suarez: Are you exempting the front two acres, is that what you're
doing?
Mr. De Yurre: The front two acres.
Mr. Plummer: I'm accepting the front two acres as a dedicated City park based
on no restrictions presently being held that the back be rezoned and that this
City Commission would, in fact, hold any and all approval over any development
on site, including ingress and egress to the rear portion of the property.
That I will second.
Mayor Suarez: Basically, that means that the front two acres are kept at PR.
Mr. De Yurre: We'd have to give them an easement any way.
Mr. Plummer: That is correct.
Mayor Suarez: He's carving out of the zoning change, the front two acres.
Mr. Plummer: Changing the zoning, less the front two acres. Now, I think
what you need to do so that nobody gets wool pulled over their eyes, give me
the dimensions of what the two acres are from the street back and across. OK?
And, you know, let's be honest, these people want to preserve the oak trees
and I think that's very...
Mr. Olmedillo: Can we do that on second reading so that we can give you an
accurate....
Mr. Dawkins: No.
Mr. Plummer: No. No, because...
Mayor Suarez: Well, give us an estimate now and then bring it exactly.
Mr. Plummer: You know how things work around here. The two acres will all be
down the left hand side.
Mr. De Yurre: Now, do we have to give any easement at this point in time as
far as ingress and egress? Because they're going to have to go through the
park to get in.
Mr. Plummer: Aye, that's a good question, is there an easement on PR for
driveways?
Mr. Olmedillo: There will have to be one and you would have to approve it by
special exception, not you but....
102 July 31, 1989
Mayor guarani You've got it along one side, the easement, you're showing it
On Ott side there.
Pit. De Turret Where is it now?
Mayor Suarez: 'That's an interesting, that's a very nice layout he's got
there. It seems to follow the... is that line that you see there, is that the
two acres, by any chance?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Well, let me suggest to you, my friend, when you come back, I
would strongly, and this is only one person talking - with this plan, I would
put ingress on one side and egress on the other. I think that you eliminate
the confusion that would be by the same entrance and exit at the same place.
i
Mr. Olmedillo: You may affect the oak trees there.
Mr. Plummer: Well, if it does that, then I withdraw my...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, you may be surrounding it with concrete if you do it.
Mr. Olmedillo: The dimensions, for the record, are 340 feet across and...
Mr. Plummer: The front...
Mr. Olmedillo: ...yes, and 250 feet deep.
Mr. Plummer: Let me see that - no, what he just had here.
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mayor Suarez: Up, up, up, yes.
Mr. Plummer: Yes.
Ms. Range: Are the front two acres facing the objectors right now, is that
where the oak trees are?
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKERS: Yes.
Ms. Range: I see.
Mr. Plummer: Well, you see... yes, but see, if I were doing it, I would -
we're not voting on that...
Ms. Range: They're on the opposite side of 14th Street.
Plummer: If I were to do it...
Mayor Suarez: They're over here, yes.
Mr. Plummer: I'd put the high rise here, townhouses up here. I would reverse
it because then, in effect....
Mayor Suarez: No, but she means the objectors -----
Ms. Range: Yes, that's on the opposite side of 14th Street.
Mr. Plummer: ...the high rise serves as a buffer to the expressway. Do you
follow what I'm saying? Is there any problem with reversing that? I mean, is
there any major problem? Well, we'll talk about that at the time. OK? But
if I was doing it, I would put the high rise at the expressway...
Me. Range: Right.
Mr. Plummer: ... the townhouses in the park which then it serves as a buffer
to the single family across the street.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, it's sort of a gradual...
103
Mr. plumamer: Ixactly.
Mayor Suaree: .,.going back to a purely residential type environment.
Mr, Flummer: Mr. Mayor, just for the record, even though we're not talking
about the project itself, I am told by staff that the trees in the front, In a
affect, are high enough to completely cover and close this off to the view of
the public.
UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKERS: Nol Nol Nol
Mr. Dawkins: No way, not five acres, not five...
Mayor Suarez: How many stories is the highest structure?
INAUDIBLE COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mayor Suarez: Go ahead, say it in the mike.
i
Ms. Hirai: Excuse me, we need.... yes.
Mr. Fabregas: It's a four story high, 36 feet in height. Therefore...
Mayor Suarez: Just 36 feet?
Mr. Fabregas: Just 36 feet. Most of the trees in that area are more than 40
feet.
i
Mr. Plummer: OK.
Mayor Suarez: You might want to have some - if we're going to have a second
reading, if you disagree with that, you might bring some pictures and if you
know... I'm sure you can allow access in there and if you want to take a
measuring yard and stick it up in the air 36 feet high and take pictures of
the trees, you can convince us otherwise.
1
Ms. Range: Are there going to be mixed structures?
1
Mayor Suarez: Thirty-six feet is pretty high trees. I don't know that
that's...
Ms. Range: No. Are there going to be mixed structures? Are you going to
have some one story buildings and others that you graduate up?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, the townhomes are lower than the...
Ms. Range: The townhouses are lower.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is correct.
Ms. Range: I see.
Mayor Suarez: We're not approving that at this point, but that would be the
recommended layout that he proposed.
Ms. Range: And that's what you're saying that you should bring the higher
places up near the expressway.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. Olmedillo: That is Commissioner Plummer's,
Ms. Range: By the way, is there an access road to that expressway?
Mr. Olmedillo: Not to the expressway. There is an existing connection to
14th Street.
`
Ms. Range: No, I didn't say exit, I said access. Is there an access road
�•
along the expressway?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, Commissioner.
:;.,
104 .Tally 31, 1989
Me. adage: Clone.
Mr. PluMers Note and you can*t do it.
Mayor Suarea: OX, we have a motion, do we have a second? bid we got a Motion
and a second?
Mr. be Yurre: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: Read the ordinance as modified, please.
THEREUPON, THE CITY ATTORNEY READ THE ORDINANCE INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD, BY
TITLE ONLY.
Mayor Suarez: Call the roil.
Mr. Plummer: No, excuse me. That's not acceptable to me.
1
Mr. Dawkins: J. L. put the - he put the foot in, he put the feet in.
Mr. Plummer: I want it spelled out on the footage. Not the front two acres,
I want - did you say three fifty by two fifty? Is that what it was?
-f
Mayor Suarez: The width by...
Mr. Plummer: The width, as I remember, was 350? Three forty by...
Mr. Olmedillo: Three forty by two fifty.
Mr. Plummer: By two fifty.
Mayor Suarez: In depth.
Mr. Plummer: Would you include that, please, in the ordinance to make it
definitive.
Adrienne Friesner, Esq.: Would you like me to reread it? —
Mayor Suarez: No, no, please. Just with that linear or area amendment
specified.
Ms. Friesner: So, less the northernmost two acres, 340 by 250.
Mayor Suarez: Very good. -
Mr. Plummer: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: OK, call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE
NO. 9500,
THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA,
AS AMENDED, BY CHANGING THE ZONING
CLASSIFICATION OF APPROXIMATELY 2400 NORTHWEST 14TH
STREET, LESS
THE NORTHERNMOST TWO ACRES (APPROXIMATELY
340 FEET
BY 250 FEET), MIAMI, FLORIDA, (MORE
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN) FROM PR PARKS AND
RECREATION
TO RG-2/6 GENERAL RESIDENTIAL; BY MAKING f`
FINDINGS;
AND BY MAKING ALL THE NECESSARY CHANGES ON
PAGE NO.
25 OF SAID ZONING ATLAS MADE A PART OF r
ORDINANCE
NO. 9500 BY REFERENCE AND DESCRIPTION IN
ARTICLE 3,
SECTION 300, THEREOF; CONTAINING A REPEALER
PROVISION,
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Was introduced
by Commissioner De Yurre and seconded by Commissioner_
Plummer and was passed
on its first reading by title by the following vote:
105 July 1, 1909
a<
t
-
A' St Con nissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
ftuftioaLofter Miller Dawkins
Vine Major Victor be Turre
Major Xavier L. Suarez
ROSS: None.
ABSENT: None.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
Mr. De Yurret Mr. Mayor, I would also like to instruct the administration to
start looking immediately and to come back at the first meeting in September
with an alternative for the Municipios in case that they avant to proceed with
their project.
Mayor Suarez: And you might want to ascertain in that process - I think it
makes sense, Mr. Vice Mayor, whether they're even in a position to even move
forward at all because if they're not, then all we have to be told is that.
In which case, we...
Mr. De Yurre: OR.
Mayor Suarez: Very good.
15. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 - amend Schedule of District
Regulations, Residential -Office District, Principal Uses and
Structures - Permit RO-1 Residential Office Uses in RO-3 Districts -
Change terms "drive-in" to "drive -through" (Applicant: Planning
Department).
Mr. Plummer: Sixteen.
Mayor Suarez: Second - PZ-16's companion item or is it not?
Mr. Plummer: No.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: No, PZ, no, it's not.
Mayor Suarez: OR.
Mr. Olmedillo: PZ-16 is the second reading.
Mr. Dawkins: Move it.
Mayor Suarez:
Moved, on second reading. Does anyone
wish to be heard on PZ-
16? Let the
record reflect no one stepped forward.
We have a motion, do we
have a second?
Mr. Dawkins:
Yes, he seconded it.
Mayor Suarez:
OR, seconded by the Vice Mayor. Read
the ordinance. Call the
roll, PZ-16...
Mr. Plummer:
Get the whip. For the record...
Mayor Suarez:
Yes, Commissioner Plummer.
Mr. Plummer:
For the record, we are voting only on an ordinance relating to 4
v.hle+ln not a
Lana&if in annlinatien. OR?
a
AN ORDINANCE
a
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 9500, AS AMENDED,
THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY
AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT REGULATIONS, PAGE 3,
RO-3, RESIDENTIAL -OFFICE DISTRICT, PRINCIPAL USES AND
STRUCTURES, TO PROVIDE THAT RO-1 RESIDENTIAL OFFICE
USES ARE PERMITTED OR PERMISSIBLE, AS THE CASE MAY BE,
IN RO-3 DISTRICTS; BY CHANGING THE TERM "DRIVE-IN" TO
"DRIVE -THROUGH"; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of May 25, 1989, was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner Dawkins, seconded by Commissioner De Yurre, the Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 10623.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
---------------- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------
16. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 - Provide that discontinuance of a
Nonconforming Use in part of a building, after a time certain, will
necessitate zoning district conformance for future uses - Provide for
non -acceptance of Variance applications which alter prior grant of
Special Exception - Provide more specific time limits for Planning
Director's receipt of Major Use Special Permit referral comments -
Provide Major Use Special Permits be effective for two years with
renewal periods (Applicant: Planning Department).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mayor Suarez: PZ-17.
Mr. Dawkins: Move it.
Mayor Suarez: Moved.
Adrienne Friesner, Esq.: An ordinance amending....
Mayor Suarez: No, wait, wait, wait. I like her though. She's really ahead
of the game, I mean, you know, the other City Attorney you got to satisfy all
these formalities and she dispenses with all of them. OK, does anyone wish to
be heard on this item? Let the record reflect no one stepped forward.
Mr. Plummer: Basically, what does this accomplish?
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: This defines the - in a nonconforming part of the
building that you cannot continue you that when the certificate of use has
been void for 180 days and then you cannot apply for a variance when you have
a special exception that's a loophole that we're catching with that,
establishing a time line for the major use special permit and limits the
special permit, the major use special permits to only two years. Right now,
it's open ended and, as you know, the DRI...
Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, three years?
Mr. Olmedillo: Two, two. One, two.
107
July 31, 1949
Mt. Plummer, that the spacial exception permmit?
Mr. Ol tedillot into, that's the major use special permit. The big :mess the
ones that are 900,000 square feet and beyond.
Mr. plummert A regional impact.
Mr. Olmedillot They're be no other regional impact, but it's the same kind 6f
thing although locally, we do it with a smaller threshold.
Mr. Plummere OX. Thank you.
Mayor Suareat Call the roil on PZ... oh, I'm sorry, we have a emotion and a
second. OK, read the ordinance madam fast, very fast, City Attorney. Call
the roll.
AN ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 9500., AS AMENDED,
THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
SUBSECTION 2104.6, BY PROVIDING THAT DISCONTINUANCE OF
A NONCONFORMING USE IN PART OF A BUILDING, AFTER A
TIME CERTAIN, WILL NECESSITATE ZONING DISTRICT
CONFORMANCE FOR FUTURE USES; ARTICLES 26 AND 31, TO
PROVIDE THAT VARIANCE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE
ACCEPTED WHICH WOULD ATTEMPT TO ALTER A PRIOR GRANT OF
SPECIAL EXCEPTION; SUBSECTIONS 2802.3 AND 2802.5 TO
PROVIDE MORE SPECIFIC TIME LIMITS FOR PLANNING
DIRECTOR'S RECEIPT OF MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMIT
REFERRAL COMMENTS AND TRANSMITTAL OF RECOMMENDATIONS;
SECTION 2803, TO PROVIDE THAT MAJOR USE SPECIAL
PERMITS SHALL BE EFFECTIVE FOR TWO YEARS, WITH TWO
YEAR RENEWAL PERIODS; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of May 25, 1989, was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner Dawkins, seconded by Commissioner De Yurre, the Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 10624.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
17. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 ("major Use Special permits;
Intents Determinations by City Commission; Referrals") - Provide
M Planning Director shall receive/make recommendations on all applications
for Major Use Special Permits and Amendments and forward same to
Planning Advisory Board, etc.; and defining substantial deviation
(Applicants Planning Department),
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: PZ-18 is a second reading again, an amendment to the
ordinance. This is to define substantial deviation the same way that the
state defines substantial deviation.
Mayor Suarez: OK, I'll entertain a motion on PZ-18.
Mr. Dawkins: Move it.
Mayor Suarez: Moved.
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Seconded. Does anyone wish to be heard against this item? Let
the record reflect no one stepped forward. Read the ordinance, Madam fast
City Attorney. Call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 9500, AS AMENDED,
THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY
AMENDING SUBSECTION 2301.5, ENTITLED "MAJOR USE
SPECIAL PERMITS; INTENT; DETERMINATIONS BY CITY
COMMISSION; REFERRALS," BY PROVIDING THAT THE PLANNING
DIRECTOR SHALL RECEIVE AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALL
APPLICATIONS FOR MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMITS AND
AMENDMENTS THERETO AND FORWARD SAME TO THE PLANNING
ADVISORY BOARD FOR RECOMMENDATIONS; BY AMENDING
SECTION 2806, ENTITLED "CHANGES IN APPROVED MAJOR USE
SPECIAL PERMIT," BY REFERENCING SUBSTANTIAL DEVIATIONS
FROM DEVELOPMENTS OF REGIONAL IMPACT PER SECTION
380.06, FLA. STAT., AND PROVIDING PROCEDURES FOR
REVIEWING SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES FROM PREVIOUSLY APPROVED
MAJOR USE SPECIAL PERMITS, AND BY PROVIDING FOR A
RECOMMENDATION ON SUCH CHANGES FROM THE PLANNING
ADVISORY BOARD, AT A PUBLIC HEARING, WITH ABBREVIATED
NOTICE; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 3515, ENTITLED
"REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING CHANGES IN ORIGINAL
APPLICATIONS AFTER PROCESSING BEGINS," BY DEFINING
"SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE," AND PROVIDING CRITERIA AND
METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING SUCH CHANGES.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of May 25, 1989, was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner Dawkins, seconded by Commissioner De Yurre, the Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
• `i
I
gK ItUbING ORDINANCIt Amend 9500 - Provide that concurring vote of 5
o mbers of Zoning board be required to reverse any decision of a$
administrative officials or to decide in favor of appellant (Applicants
Planning Department).
......-......----- ------
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo:
the ordinance...
Mr. De Yurre: Move it.
PZ-19 is the second reading again, an amendment to
Mayor Suarez: Moved by the Vice Mayor.
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Seconded. Does anyone wish to be heard on PZ-197 Let
the
record reflect no one stepped forward. Madam City Attorney, read
the
ordinance. Ah, she lost... she was going so well. Call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 3006 OF ORDINANCE NO.
9500, THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
{
FLORIDA, TO PROVIDE THAT A CONCURRING VOTE OF FIVE (5)
MEMBERS OF THE ZONING BOARD SHALL BE REQUIRED TO
REVERSE ANY DECISION OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL OR
TO DECIDE IN FAVOR OF THE APPELLANT IN ANY MATTER
BEFORE SAID BOARD.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of May 25, 1989,
was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner De Yurre, seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the Ordinance
was 3
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and adopted -
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
a.
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
;t
t
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 10626.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record
and
announced that copies were
available to the members of the City Commission
and
to the public.
T
'f�',.
lYv'a�i� :-+,d,.7 li it �� 4. ,e 7 L.
1 ,h �:_. l 3 , �• {�:.
,.�
�
R
1'1Q July Al''
1909.
5
•y -
'':j
19. SECOND READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 (SPI-8 Design Plaza Commercial
Residential District, Section 1587, Minimum Offstreet Parking) - Providb
conditional exception for restaurants under 1800 square feet in flour
area (Applicant: Planning Department).
r—L' d.Laa..r.nr—__aa__iaW__i.r—i.------.__a—__----rar_------ .r__waa_i�ar.+._w.....W.�
Mayor Suarez: PZ-20.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillos PZ-20 is another amendment to the SPI district...
Mr. Dawkins: Move it.
Mayor Suarez: Moved.
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Seconded. Any discussion? Does anyone wish to be heard on
this item? Let the record reflect no one stepped forward. Read the
ordinance. Call the roll.
— Mr. Plummer: Wait a minute, I had a problem with this one.
Mr. Olmedillo: This is the amended version. You wanted the restaurants.
We'll have one per 200 instead of one per, I think it was 600.
— Mr. Plummer: This corrects that?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, this is correcting the...
Mr. Plummer: Thank you.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...the way you want it.
Mr. Plummer: Thank you.
Mayor Suarez: Call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 9500, AS AMENDED,
THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA,
RELATING TO SPI-8 DESIGN PLAZA COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL
DISTRICT, SECTION 1587, MINIMUM OFFSTREET PARKING, BY
ADDING NEW PARAGRAPH 3 PROVIDING A CONDITIONAL
EXCEPTION FOR RESTAURANTS UNDER 1800 SQUARE FEET IN
FLOOR AREA; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION,
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND EFFECTIVE DATE.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of May 25, 1989, was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner Dawkins, seconded by Commissioner De Yurre, the Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 10627.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
111 July 31, 1989
20. SICOND RBADINO ORDIMANCOI: Amend 9500 - Limit effective date of Glass C
— Special permits to one year, subject to renewals (Applicants Planning
Department).
i.. _ �N...__-__...... _._..----------- --------_ ._.... _w__��..... _�. ..
Mayor Suarez: PZ-21. --
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: P2-21 establishing second reading again, limit the =
effective date of a class C to one year.
Mr. De Yurre: Move it.
Mayor Suarez: Moved by the Vice Mayor.
Mr. Dawkina: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Seconded by the...
Mr. Plummer: Well, wait a minute, do we really...
Mayor Suarez: ...Commissioner Dawkins.
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, do we really want to do that? You're talking about a
special permit that they don't utilize within one year. Do we want to just
continue or allow this thing to go on infinitum?
Mayor Suarez: I guess this limits them to one year.
Mr. Plummer: Or do we want to review it at the...
Mayor Suarez: Before we had no limitation. What do you want to make it, if
not one year?
Mr. Olmedillo: This is what we're doing right now. We're limiting to one
year.
Mr. Plummer: Well, you're not. It says the effective date of a Class C
special permits to one year subject to renewals. Do we want renewals?
Mayor Suarez: Oh, you want to take renewals out?
... Mr. Dawkins: Yes, take renewal out.
Mayor Suarez: Take renewals out.
Mr. Plummer: That's the question. We have enough trouble with those
buildings that have development orders and building permits and don't get
started within a year not to have this now and some that don't get temporary
COs extended and...
Mr. Dawkins: Take out the "subject to renewal".
Mayor Suarez: Take out Steve Helfman too while you're at it.
Mr. Plummer: Just subject to renewal. Remove that wording.
Mayor Suarez: Chris Korge, get them all out of here.
Mr. Dawkins: Hmmmm?
Mr. Plummer: Subject to renewal, remove that wording.
`+ - - ----W& A..k k-
ii iiawkinet tf w doa't do it in he year; it,* ditieolved+ w..
MA76t §uarett US just tid tubjett to renewal. It just..
Mr. bawkitfat That's right, no subject to review.
Mayor Suaretrt Right.
Mr. Pluft ort One year, basically they don't do it then tells us they didn't
want to do it in the first place.
Mayor Suarezt They got to start over again. They got to start over again; it
lapses. OK, with those modifications, read the ordinance.
Adrienne Friesner, Esq.t Let me just clarify this. There's no renewal.
Correct? Now, no renewal.
Mr. Dawkinat No renewal.
Mr. Plummert That's it.
Mayor Suarez: It's clear as it can be. Call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 9500, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY ADDING
SUBSECTION 2503.5 TO LIMIT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CLASS
C SPECIAL PERMITS TO ONE YEAR; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Passed on its first reading by title at the meeting of May 25, 1989, was
taken up for its second and final reading by title and adoption. On motion of
Commissioner De Yurre, seconded by Commissioner Dawkins, the Ordinance was
thereupon given its second and final reading by title and passed and adopted
by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
THE ORDINANCE WAS DESIGNATED ORDINANCE NO. 10628.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
b f th Cit Commission and
announced that copies were available to the mein era o e y
to the public.
t 4_
rwrar------- ----------------ter.---------.r—r�ar.'r
21. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend 9500 ("Community Based Residential
Facilities") - Require Special Exception with City Con nission approval,
lower census tract cap on client, increase distance separation between
facilities, establish interior space standards, require Special
Exception with City Commission approval for change of ownership, require
Commission approval of Special Exception for Community Based Residential
Facilities (CBRF), convalescent homes, nursing homes and institutions
for the aged or infirm and orphanages (Applicant: Planning Department).
Mayor Suarez: PZ-22.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: PZ-22 is the one that we call the CBRF limitations.
As you remember, we want to make it more strict. However, meanwhile, the
state has gone its own way. We could... we wanted to leave it on the agenda
to see if you wanted to move portions of this but at the end, in October lot,
the new state law will click into...
Mayor Suarez: Go into effect.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...into effect. Therefore, we would have to come back to you
with a ....
Mayor Suarez: Are you saying you want to withdraw the item?
Mr. Olmedillo: I would suggest that we withdraw it, but we wanted to present
it to you anyway to see if...
Mr. Plummer: Well, this is the one that the northeast people came here an
masse.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right. And this is the way we prepared it. However, you may
pass it on first reading. This is first reading. We have to come back to you
in October with amendments again. You may pass it...
Mr. Plummer: Well, I think we ought to do that.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...I'm not saying, don't pass it, but...
Mayor Suarez: Pass it on first reading and might limit the number of phone
calls we'll get about it.
Mr. Plummer: I'll move it on first reading.
Mr. De Yurre: Second.
Mayor Suarez: Moved and seconded
to be heard against this item?
Any discussion? If not, does anyone wish
Mr. Plummer: Because I'd like it to be more restrictive than what it is.
Mayor Suarez: Let the record reflect no one came forward. Read the
ordinance.
AT THIS POINT, THE CITY ATTORNEY READ THE ORDINANCE INTO THE PUBLIC
RECORD BY TITLE ONLY.
Mayor Suarez: Call the roll.
Ms. Ranges Just before we call the roll.
Mayor Suarez: Commissioner Range.
Ms. Range: I notice that this does not have - this does not address the drug
or alcohol rehabilitation facilities. What are we going to do about that?
Mayor Suarez: Guillermo?
Mr. Dawkins: Community based...
114 July 31, 1909
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, the one you have before you does address it. What
happens is that the difference is that the one in the state does not address
it so, in effect, we may be more restrictive in the ones that are not - that
are alcohol rehab and drug rehab. So that's why maybe it's a good idea to
pass it on first reading. We can probably reshape it and bring it to you on
second...
Ms. Range: All right, now just before we pass it on first reading. What
about the localities? Does this ordinance speak to the localities or do we
have to come back for another reading on the localities or another ordinance?
Mr. Olmedillo: On this one we have a distance separation of 2500 feet which
is more than the state has.
Ms. Range: No, no, I don't have that in mine, not the distances, localities.
We find that most of these facilities are placed in special areas.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, typically in the northeast and so on.
Mr. Olmedillo: In the northeast.
Ms. Range: Right.
Mayor Suarez: How are we addressing that? The fact that we have such a huge
density in certain areas of the City already that we somehow would like to
undo history, are we...?
Ms. Range: We continue to crowd them in.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right. The future ones would have to comply with a two
percent cap and population of the planning district - or the census tract.
So...
Ms. Range: When does the future one go into effect?
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, this one will provide that...
Mayor Suarez: Let me try this. I think - I remember now, Commissioner - I
think the idea is that by defining these distance requirements, certain will
already have de facto moratorium. They won't be able to have a single one
added, because they're already beyond the limits of this five...
Ms. Range: Good.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right, and also the population cap for the district.
Mayor Suarez: Right, well that's what I mean.
Ms. Range: All right.
Mayor Suarez: Aren't some of them already such that once this is passed,
there won't be a way to put another additional one there?
Mr. Olmedillo: Some are beyond the cap.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I just got to enter in, you know, my comments that I've
made for a couple of years and I have no problem with these kind of
facilities, but I do believe that there is a responsibility for the other 27
municipalities in this community to bear their share of the load. You cannot
convince me that in some of these halfway houses and narcotics whatever they
are, that some of those kids don't come from Coral Gables and Miami Shores and
E1 Portal. Yet, you don't find one of these kind of facilities in those
municipalities. And, you know, my recommendation has always been and it will
continue to be that we don't allow one more in the City of Miami until the
other municipalities pick up and share the load with us and then once they do
that, we go ahead and forward it. I just...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, the...
115 July 31, 1989
AL L aWrYQi i iQY, VY4 wain Y♦ . ♦ ,wa waaww wuaa.. aa.3 s raaawr u,� oww.�... awe awaww
what the state has Passed, don't you'd
Mayor Suarers Hoar is the state...T
f
Mr. Plummets The state has said, more or less, you can go anywhere the hell s=
you want.
Mr. Olmedillo: On less than six clients. Then you can be anywhere as long as
you're within a thousand feet of...
Mayor Suarez: OK, but we're more restrictive than that, right? And we're
allowed to be more restrictive than that.
r
Mr. Plummer: No, we're less.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, well not...
Mr. Plummer: Much less.
Mr. Olmedillo: No, let me...
Ms. Range: I happen to have a copy of the house and senate bill on this.
Mr. Plummer: You mean the recent one?
Ms. Range: Yes, the one that was just passed and it's very, very liberal.
You...
Mr. Olmedillo: It is, I agree with you.
Ms. Range: Yes, yes, you may go anywhere and...
Mr. Plummer: Just open the door anywhere.
Ms. Range: Unfortunately, it seems that everybody ends up on N.W. 61st Street
and 17th Avenue. -
Mr. Olmedillo: The one thing that we have going for us in the City is that
the definition of a resident is very specific and it does not include alcohol
rehab and drug rehab.
Mayor Suarez: I think the one the Commissioner Range is talking about are
sort of de facto rehabilitation centers where people don't really have
licenses to have those there; just sort of where people live and need
rehabilitation.
Ms. Range: But we've been to the... many, many years ago, I led a fight to go
to the State Department on this and absolutely nothing was done and they
continued to open.
Mayor Suarez: You are going to bring us, on second reading then, once the
state one goes into effect, the most - any other suggestions on any other ways
that we can further restrict these, right?
Mr. Olmedillo: We shall do that, yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: OK. Have we moved it, Madam City Clerk?
Mayor Suarez: That's interesting so we can restrict them to City residents,
OX, call the roll then.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED=
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 9500, AS AMENDED, THE
ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY
AMENDING SECTION 2034 "COMMUNITY BASED RESIDENTIAL
FACILITIES" TO CLARIFY; TO REQUIRE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION
WITH CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL, TO LOWER THE CENSUS
TRACT CAP ON CLIENTS, TO INCREASE THE DISTANCE
SEPARATION BETWEEN FACILITIES, TO ESTABLISH INTERIOR
SPACE STANDARDS AND TO REQUIRE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION
WITH CITY COMMISSION APPROVAL OF A CHANGE OF
OWNERSHIP; AND AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF DISTRICT
REGULATIONS, PAGES 1 THROUGH 4, BY AMENDING COLUMNS
ENTITLED "PRINCIPAL USES AND STRUCTURES", RS-1, RS-2
ONE -FAMILY DETACHED RESIDENTIAL; RG-2 GENERAL
RESIDENTIAL; RG-2.1 GENERAL RESIDENTIAL; RG-3 GENERAL
RESIDENTIAL; 0-I OFFICE INSTITUTIONAL; CR-1 COMMERCIAL
RESIDENTIAL (NEIGHBORHOOD), TO REQUIRE CITY COMMISSION
APPROVAL OF A SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR COMMUNITY BASED
RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, CONVALESCENT HOMES, NURSING
HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS FOR THE AGED OR INFIRM AND
ORPHANAGES; CONTAINING A REPEALER PROVISION,
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner De
Yurre and was passed on its first reading by title by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
22. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend Code Section 62-62(a) - Provide for
waiver of appeal fees relative to Class C Special Permits under certain
circumstances (Applicant: Planning Department).
Mayor Suarez: PZ-23.
Mr. Guillermo Olmedillo: PZ-23 is the first reading code amendment to waive
the appeal fee for the Class C when the majority of the neighbors are applying
for...
Mayor Suarez: OK, I'll entertain a motion on it.
Mr. Olmedillo: ...for the appeal.
Mr. Plummer: Wait, wait, wait. What constitutes the majority?
Mr. Olmedillo: You have different Class Cs because you have the ones that you
notify the abutting neighbors only; that is the adjoining neighbors.
Mr. Plummer: My understanding is we had it once before was ten percent.
Mr. Olmedillo: Of the 375.
117
July 31, 1969
SIN
Mr. Piumtner: Of the 3151 if ten percent of them get together, thara is no
fas. but what we were trying to stop was one guy who thought he was the
martyr of the neighborhood continuously using that as a process to slow down
every stoning application. Now, what does this contain? Is it ten percent?
Mr. Olmedillo: The way it reads is, "...providing, however, if a majority of N
owners in fact of property either directly abutting or across an alley which
has been granted a Class C special permit shall, in writing, request review _
within the time limits set out, then no review fee shall be charged." They're
talking about the abutting neighbors and the ones across the street. And
let...
Mr. Plummer: Well, you see, let me tell you what you're encouraging. Well,
that's what I would like to do. I'd like to make it ten percent of the 375
feet of the subject property. You know, I stand well behind no fees for the
ten percent or more.
Mayor Suarez: You might want to go to - it's now 50 percent?
Mr. Plummer: No.
Mr. Olmedillo: No. Right now, it's the majority of the abutting neighbors,
the ones that are actually touching with the property, and you have usually
you would have four.
Mayor Suarez: To me, it's 50 percent.
Mr. Plummer: You're not denying the others, Mr. Mayor, from coming in but
they would have to pay the fee.
Mayor Suarez: Right, so now...
Mr. Plummer: OK.
Mayor Suarez: ...the proposed ordinance has 50 percent. He's talking about
ten percent.
Mr. Plummer: Of the abutting.
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Mr. Plummer: I'm talking ten percent of the 375 feet...
Mr. Olmedillo: Three seventy-five.
Mr. Plummer: ...which we take in every classification.
Mayor Suarez: OK, however you want. However you think it makes sense.
You've been around here long.
Mr. Plummer: I would insert the words, "ten percent."
Mr. De Yurre: How many homes usually do we have, properties do you have under
the 375 feet?
Mr. Olmedillo: Three seventy-five, well, it depends on the... area, because if
it's Brickell, you've got a thousand people. If it's single family, you
probably have 12 families, 15.
Mr. Plummer: And if it's Woodlawn Cemetery, there's 10,000.
Mr. Dawkins: What do you know?
Mayor Suarez: What cases are you trying to cover, Commissioner Plummer?
Mr. Olmedillo: Remember this came...
Mayor Suarez: The one where you have the just single families in the
neighborhood or the ones where you have high-rise.
Mr. Plummer: No, I'm trying to cover the, you know, no one or two people can
get together and continuously slow down the process and that's why ten percent
I thought was a fair representation.
Mayor Suarest: Ten percent within 315 feet.
Mr. Plummer: That's correct, air.
Mayor Suarez: Because you may have a high-rise with a thousand people within
315 feet in which ten percent is, might be...
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but does one high-rise in the 375 feet have the right to
call the shots for the entire area is what it would be saying.
Mayor Suarez: Well, if you make it ten percent, they will in effect with
30... if it is 100 people with ten...
Mr. Olmedillo: Typically when you have 375 feet around that, you'd have about
30 properties, so you are talking about three people.
Mayor Suarez: Thirty properties so three people could do it.
Mr. Olmedillo: Thirty properties, so you are talking about three people if
they file concurrently.
Mr. Plummer: OK, no less than ten percent is what I would say.
Mr. Olmedillo: OK, with those amendments, the Law Department, don't know if
they...
Mr. Plummer: No less than 20 percent. Hey, I'm, you know!
Mayor Suarez: To waive the fee?
Mr. Dawkins: Yes, no less than 20 percent.
Mr. Plummer: OK, fine with me.
Mayor Suarez: Twenty percent within 375 feet.
Mr. Plummer: We're not denying them the right of appeal. We're just saying
any group under that is got to pay for it.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, you've got to have a substantial number of people,
otherwise... now, we have a major argument going on here in our Planning and
Building and Zoning. It's been resolved.
Mr. De Yurre: Is that a motion, J.L.?
Mr. Plummer: Yes, that's fine, I move it.
Mr. De Yurre: I'll second.
Mayor Suarez: Moved and seconded, with the modifications. Is it an
ordinance? Resolution.
Mr. Plummer: Ordinance.
Mayor Suarez: Read the ordinance.
THEREUPON, THE CITY ATTORNEY READ THE ORDINANCE INTO THE PUBLIC
RECORD, BY TITLE ONLY.
Mr. Dawkins: Did you put the 20 percent in there?
Mr. Plummer: No less than 20 percent.
Ms. Adrienne L. Friesner: The twenty percent will be included in the body of
the ordinance. In the title of the ordinance you said that for the waiver of
appeal fees relative to class C special permits under certain circumstances.
Mayor Suarez: You might want to say, with the provisions of the motion.
Ms. Friesner: With the provisions of the motion.
119
July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarea: Call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA, SECTION 62-62(a) BY PROVIDING FOR THE WAIVER
OF APPEAL FEES RELATIVE TO CLASS C SPECIAL PERMITS
UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; AND PROVIDING A REPEALER
PROVISION, SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner De
Yurre and was passed on its first reading by title by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
23. DISCUSS AND DEFER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PROPOSED RESOLUTION APPROVING,
IN PRINCIPLE, DOWNTOWN MIAMI MASTER PLAN (MAY 1989) - for development,
redevelopment, improvement, zoning and infrastructure of downtown,
including Flagler Core, Omni and Brickell areas, etc.
Mayor Suarez: PZ-24, Downtown Master Plan, we have counsel here on behalf of
at least one property owner, right?
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, may I suggest if it's possible, I think everybody is
here on that, is that correct?
Mayor Suarez: No, they are here on 25.
Mr. Plummer: You are here on... OK.
Mayor Suarez: We've only got two items left and they've got some argument on
24 and then we've got quite a bit of argument on 25, I guess. You are the
only attorney, or party that's here on PZ-24?
Mr. Olmedillo: That shows a lot of satisfaction with the plan.
Mayor Suarez: Who asked you?
Mr. Plummer: Either that, or total confusion.
Mayor Suarez: Who asked you? Swear in... why don't we swearing him in?
That's what the Vice Mayor wanted to do a while ago, swear in any members of
the public who are attorneys who want to be heard on PZ-24.
(AT THIS POINT THE CITY CLERK ADMINISTERED REQUIRED OATH UNDER ORDINANCE NO.
10511 TO THOSE PERSONS GIVING TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE.)
Mayor Suarez: Are you on the matter that I got a letter from A. Quinton,
Jr.? - A.E. Quinton, Quinton, Lummus, Dunwody & Adams, PA? Is there anyone
from the law firm here? OK, so we are going to hear from more than one,
possibly, then.
i
Mr. Olmedillo: If may make a very brief presentation, this was authorized by
{ the Commission in 1985 in conjunction with the DRI. This is an effort with
( the DDA staff and the Planning Department and the private sector. Downtown
Master Plan remember, is a broad policy plan and it sets on an agenda. It is
120 July 31, 1989
■
not the same, it is not as binding as the Comprehensive Plan is. This is a
more flexible tool.
Mayor Suarez: OK, now let me give you all the things that I am aware will
impact on any property owner who wants to build in this area, thanks to you
and thanks to the State and thanks to all the other wise people that tell us
how to run our City. You've got the Comprehensive Plan, this is not part of
it, you are telling us, right? This is a totally different plan, so now we
have the Downtown Master Plan, whatever that is. We have the Development of
Regional Impact, the umbrella one for Overtown/Park West and another one for
downtown, that's three. We have growth management legislation. We have our
zoning code, because these all have zoning classifications in addition to
having this very nice Master Plan. Are you telling me that we need this to
foster development in areas of the City that we need to have development, or
is another impediment to development? - because I want your statement on the
record as an Assistant Planning Director, you should have had the Planning
Director here to hear this before I vote on it.
Mr. Olmedillo: We believe it will foster development and it will organize
development. This is our firm belief, professionally.
Mayor Suarez: I bet. Go ahead.
Mr. Plummer: You could bet me. Here they are, keeping more jobs, more people
because they have to sit around and interpret this damn thing.
Mayor Suarez: And I am sorry, this is not required by State law, by the
Growth Management legislation or by Development of Regional Impact or anything
else. It's your own concoction.
Mr. Olmedillo: It is not really a requirement, but when we came up with the
DRI, we requested from you an authorization to go ahead and do the planning.
Mr. Plummer: For how much money?
Mr. Olmedillo: Both DRI and Master Plan will be $600,000, mas-o-menos, as
Commissioner Plummer...
Mayor Suarez: And you know we need our planning staff for the City of Miami
to be involved in developing those areas of the City that need development
that are deteriorating, that are in need of the kinds of things that we have
had Commissioner Range do here, since she's only been here a short time ago,
and Commissioners Plummer and Dawkins for many, many years and I for the short
span of three and one-half years and Vice Mayor De Yurre a little less than
that and instead you spend all your time planning us to death. This is five
different plans of development for the area covered, some of the areas
covered. I'm telling youl
Mr. Plummer: I just want to ask one brief question. What does this ton of
paper, OK? - what does this accomplish above and beyond what all the rest of
the studies did? What's different of... no, no, no, I want the one grinning
from ear to ear, that told us about the $600,000. What does this do that
benefits our City taxpayers to the tune of $600,000, up and beyond what the
other plans already in place have accomplished?
Mr. Olmedillo: It just creates an organized plan of action, then we would
have to follow with the...
Mr, Plummer: The DRI doesn't do that?
Mr. Olmedillo: In a way it does, but it doesn't do it for the entire area for
one thing and it doesn't do it for every use that we have in the downtown
area.
Mr. Plummer: Six - hundred - thousand - dollarsl
Mayor Suarez: I, maybe only speaking for myself, but I don't think we need
this and that's just the way I feel about it.
Mr. Plummer: Why don't we defer it and give more study?
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
121 July 31, 1989
Mayor guarest Are you going to speak against it?
Vaidentified Speaker: We have concerns about a number of items.
Mr. Plummer: Good, that pill give you time to talk about your concerns with
the departatnt.
Mayor Suarez: And this only covers the area known as downtown?
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, it comes from Omni area all the May to $rickell.
Mayor Suarez: Roughly the boundaries of the Downtown Development Authority? W
or exactly the boundaries of the Downtown Development Authority?
Mr. Plummer: No, it doesn't go as far north.
Mayor Suarez: A little bit less from the north side.
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: Which has been planned to death, worked to death, we spend all
of our time meeting with potential developers, hoping to build it to death, so
that we have a higher tax base in our City.
Mr. Olmedillo: We have some...
Mr. Plummer: Are you speaking to the motion?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, sir.
Mr. Plummer: OK, they speak...
Mayor Suarez: Does anyone wish to be heard against the motion to defer?
You're deferring indefinitely?
Mr. Plummer: Right, sir. Well, continue it for further information and once
I have it I'll let you know and come back and give you a date to set.
Mayor Suarez: So you are deferring it indefinitely?
Mr. Olmedillo: Date certain?
Mr. Plummer: Date certain is when I get the information I want, I'll so
notify the Mayor.
Mr. Olmedillo: I think that has to be deferred then.
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me?
Mayor Suarez: Yes, why don't you just move to defer indefinitely?
Mr. Plummer: Move to defer.
Mr. Dawkins: Second.
Mayor Suarez: OK, is that everyone who would object is satisfied? - is
satisfied with that motion or wish to be heard against that motion? OK, I
guess you'll have another shot at that in spite of you.
Mr. Plummer: No, I'm going to give them the opportunity to come and beat my
head soft and tell me why I need to implement this thing. As a matter of
fact, you know, when you come to beat my head soft, bring a hammer that says, .
hey, we are going to encourage people in the downtown area, not discourage
people in the downtown area.
Mayor Suarez: Thank you, I wanted to hear that.
Mr. Plummer: I'll get you in November.
Mr, Dawkins: Call the roll.
122
Mayor Suareaa Cell the roll.
MOTION TO DEFER
UPON MOTION DULY MADE BY COMMISSIONER PLUMMER AND SECONDED BY
COMMISSIONER DAWKINS, PZ-24 (PROPOSED MASTER PLAN FOR DOWNTOWN)
WAS DEFERRED INDEFINITELY FOR MORE STUDY AND FURTHER INFORMATION
REGARDING THE PLAN TO BE SUPPLIED TO COMMISSIONER PLUMMER BY THE
FOLLOWING VOTE OF THE COMMISSION:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner M. Athalie Range
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
24. FIRST READING ORDINANCE: Amend Schedule of District Regulations of
9500 - Change unit density cap, delete stories, General Residential -
Add new zoning district classification: "CON. CONSERVATION", for
environmentally sensitive areas - Amend zoning atlas - Change zoning
classifications affecting approximately 15% of total area of City land
to achieve compliance with Miami Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan 1989-
2000. (TRAILERS, MOBILE HOMES)
--------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Mayor Suarez: Now PZ-25. We have objections, I think, from a group of
residents of a trailer park. Is there anything that we can propose to change
in PZ-25 that would take care of those objections or is this going to become a
controversial issue? I've a feeling that there is no real controversy, is
there? - that we want to be able to retain this use there?
Mr. Olmedillo: The key word for PZ-25 is consistency. As you know, we have
one year from September last year to have all our zoning instruments, all our
land development instruments consistent with the Comprehensive Plan approved.
Mayor Suarez: OK, how can we make a modification that would adjust for this
trailer park where they are located so that this doesn't affect their
continued viability as the trailer park?
Mr. Olmedillo: We feel that it is not a...
Mayor Suarez: If we are disposed to do that. We may not be, I see...
Mr. Olmedillo: We feel that it is not...
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, haven't we already rezoned the trailer park?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, this will be the action to rezone it. It's included here.
We feel, the Planning Department feels that we are not affecting these people
with a rezoning because this is not a action to evict, therefore...
Mayor Suarez: So they get grandfathered in, is what you are saying.
Mr. Olmedillo: So they are nonconforming today.
Mayor Suarez: OK, which means that they are already grandfathered in and they
continue to be grandfathered in.
Mr. Olmedillo: They are already grand... and they will continue the same
status.
Mayor Suarez: What if somebody files suit?
Mr. Olmedillo: They may very well do so, but back in 163, the ordinance
excluded mobile home parks in the City and it was declared nonconforming.
123 July 31, 1989
Since then, 9500 picked up on the same idea and today they are nonconforming
so that's why I can state on the record that by this action there is no... the
people are not affected in an eviction type of decision.
_ Mr. Plummer: Yes, but here again, under the State law relating to mobile
homes or to trailer parks, the owner at any time can give them an eviction
notice today, even though it takes a year to evict, so changing of the zoning
has no predicate on that at the present time, is my understanding.
Mr. Olmedillo: I agree with you, yes, sir.
Mr. Plummer: I mean, leaving it as it is, the zoning as it is, the owner of
the property can give eviction notices which I understand take a year to
evict, so they have the room to find something else, so what is this basically
here doing?
Mr. Olmedillo: This is doing the rezoning so that the zoning atlas is
consistent to the Comprehensive Plan, which as I repeated, it was approved by
this Commission on February 9th and it was accepted by the State.
Mr. Plummer: What is the present zoning?
Mr. Olmedillo: The present zoning is a mixed zoning in there because you have
commercial in the frontage of 8th Street, then you have residential -
multifamily and then you have duplex to the southern portion of the property.
Mr. Plummer: And you're saying make it consistent?
Mr. Olmedillo: To the Comprehensive Plan which is a commercial designation,
limited commercial designation.
Mr. Plummer: I guess what bothers me is that the City is the applicant rather
than the owner. He's the one that stands to benefit.
Mr. Olmedillo: But we are obligated by State law to come into compliance
within a year of submittal of the plan which was back in September of 188, so
after a year, we have to come into compliance.
Mayor Suarez: Or to change the...
Mr. Olmedillo: Or amend the plan.
Mayor Suarez: Or amend the plan as to this particular area, for example, if
it makes sense to amend it.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I guess my problem, as I say, is the fact that the City is
the applicant rather than the owner of the property. By virtue of this, he's
going to benefit.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right, but we are obligated, and I, you know, I agree with
you, but...
Mr. Plummer: I understand what you are saying.
Mayor Suarez: By our prior action.
Mr. Olmedillo: But we have to bring all this before you so that we can try to
be consistent with the plan.
Mr. Plummer: I understand what you are saying.
Mr. Olmedillo: Just for the record and in addition, these items that I'm
passing out to you have to be pulled because of problems that we have with
the advertisement, there's seven items and one includes the nursery that you
looked at before, because that is going in as a private or as a separate
application by the City, we wanted to exclude it from this list that is
submitted to you and then there is...
Mayor Suarez: It's not in real good shape as it reaches us, is it?
Mr. Olmedillo: There's also...
124 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: We got pulled items, we got errors, we got...
Mr. Plummer: They wasted all their time on the Master Plan.
Mr. Olmedillo: You have to realize we're affecting about 8,000 properties and
you have five errors which were minor errors and you have items that you have
to pull because there are inconsistencies in the advertising.
Mayor Suarez: OK, let me ask a question. Counselor, are you about to
disagree with their posture, whatever? You don't know yet?
Mr. Stephen Helfman: I'm not sure, I'm waiting to hear.
Mayor Suarez: OK, well let's hear then from the objectors. Sir, if you want
to make a statement, you can step up to the mike. As long as we've heard, at
least I heard him, he's asking about a map, why don't you go over there and
talk to them and they'll provide you with a map. In fact, there's a map on
the overhead, right there, projector. Not necessarily the most comprehensible
map, but there it is. Counselor, go ahead.
Mr. Robert A. Godoy: My name is Robert A. Godoy, my law office is...
Mayor Suarez: Has he been sworn in, Madam City Clerk? Please, and anyone
that might be heard against them, Steve, you'd better...
(AT THIS POINT THE CITY CLERK ADMINISTERED REQUIRED OATH UNDER ORDINANCE NO.
10511 TO THOSE PERSONS GIVING TESTIMONY ON THIS ISSUE.)
Mr. Plummer: Have you registered as a lobbyist, Mr. Godoy?
Mr. Godoy: Yes, sir, I registered as a lobbyist last Thursday.
Mr. Plummer: Thank you, sir.
Mr. Godoy: My name is Robert A. Godoy, I am an attorney. My law office is at
701 NW Le Jeune Road, Suite 427. I am here as an attorney that I represent
Tamiami Trailer Park Homeowners' Association Inc. Before I start talking, I
want to introduce the president of the association.
Mr. Raymond Pons: My name is Raymond Pons, I live at 3024 SW 8th Street, Lot
126, the Tamiami Trailer Park Homeowners Association, Inc. Please stand, all
members to this. I want to let the lawyer to...
Mayor Suarez: You can tell them to sit down, if they'd like. Sientense, por
favor.
Mr. Godoy: We have an association there that we... the association is formed,
we have in the trailer park, 154 families. We represent over two-thirds of
those who are members and we are going to have in this week, the hall, all the
members of the association. We are already...
Mayor Suarez: How many trailers?
Mr. Godoy: 154 trailers.
Mayor Suarez: Let me ask a question, if I may, counselor. Guillermo, how does
the ordinance affect the trailer directly? How does the provision of the
ordinance affect it?
Mr. Olmedillo: This particular ordinance, I'm going to state again, it
doesn't affect them because this was declared...
Mayor Suarez: Because of grandfathering in or nonconforming use, but how does
it affect the use? Is it because of the density or because it is just not
supposed to happen, that kind of activity is not supposed to happen there?
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, it becomes a commercial district, as opposed to, a
residential district that is...
Mayor Suarez: Now, in the proposed new Code, I thought that residential
activities would be permitted within commercial districts.
125 July 31, 1989
Mr. blmedillos They are, that is correct. The only thing is that trailer
parks per as were excluded from the ordinance before not by this action, 9500
did it, 6871 did it, to it is not by this action that you are changing the
statue.
Mr. Plummer: Well, we argued this point during the Comprehensive Plan, I
remember, we argued extensively. What this in effect does, Mr. Mayor, the
only way that it affects the trailers, that if in fact this zoning is not made
in compliance with the Comprehensive zone, it would allow the man who wants to
build on that property to build with no problem, and in effect, they feel that
it would be a way to slow down the project and circumvent their removal, which
I'm saying is, I don't believe is the case, because the owner of the property
at any time can give eviction notices and it takes one year.
Mayor Suarez: What kind of zoning is a trailer park permitted in?
Mr. Plummer: Mixed.
Mr. Olmedillo: None.
Mr. Plummer: No, it's in mixed.
Mayor Suarez: None in the City?
Mr. Plummer: Not in the City anymore.
Mr. Olmedillo: None in the City.
Mayor Suarez: Ah.
Mr. Olmedillo: So it is nonconforming anyway.
Mayor Suarez: I see, and even with our new Zoning Code, that will be the
case.
Mr. Olmedillo: Right, that's correct.
Mayor Suarez: I see.
Mr. Plummer: Yes, but you understand what is being proposed here would
facilitate for the person who wants to build the super grocery store there,
and that's what they are in opposition to, I'm sure.
Mayor Suarez: I'm not sure there is any relief we could possibly give you
even if we wanted to, but go ahead, counselor.
Mr. Godoy: OK, I don't agree with you, you read the statute, Commissioner, in
specific, the Chapter 723.083, the Florida Statute specifically says that no
agency or municipality, local, County or State government should approve any
application for rezoning or take any other official action that be the case,
which would result in the removal or relocation of mobile homeowner who
resides in a mobile home park without first determining that...
Mayor Suarez: OK, we see that here and it very clearly spelled out and I
think we ought to get an answer from our City Attorney.
Mr. Plummer: It has nothing to do with it, it is not affecting the removal.
Mayor Suarez: Well, but he has read the wording which says, no agency of
municipal, local, County or State government shall approve any application for
rezoning or take any other official action including this one which would
result in the removal or relocation of mobile homeowners residing in a mobile
home without first determining that adequate mobile home parks or other
suitable facilities exist for relocation of the mobile homeowners. Why are we
not in violation of that State ordinance, Madam City Attorney?
Ms. Adriene Friesner: OK, it's the opinion of the Law Department that section
does not apply to the rezoning that is before you today, because the...
Mayor Suarez: Is it because of what J.L. is saying, that we are not...
126 July 31, 1989
Ms. Friesner: Exactly, because the rezoning that would take place will in no
way...
Mayor Suarez: Result in the removal or relocation.
Ms. Friesner: ... result in the removal or relocation.
Mayor Suarez: Even though it does sort of increase the chances that they will
be removed or relocated, doesn't it?
Ms. Friesner: And they, however, if I could bring up one other point. In the
same chapter under Section 723.061, which deals with when the property owner
wants to evict these tenants, that section specifically says that if the
property owner wants to evict these tenants because of a change of use, number
one, they'd have to give them a year's notice, like you've already heard; two,
they'd have to either pay for the relocation cost, or purchase their mobile
home, the unit and the most important part it says is that Section 723.083,
the one dealing with the City Commission making the determination, that is not
applicable, if in fact, the property owner evicts them for change of use.
Mayor Suarez: OK, now the action that we would be expected to take today,
does it increase the ability, or enhance the ability in any way of the
property owner to in fact, evict them or not, in view of the two sections you
just read?
Ms. Friesner: No, I do not believe it does, no. You can go ahead, it's the
Law Department's opinion that you can go ahead and pass this and you do not
need to make a determination that...
Mayor Suarez: No, that's not my question, that's not my question. I'm not
saying that we, violating the law, or running afoul of the law, I'm asking,
does our action today in fact, by your estimation or maybe Planning, or
somebody, increase, or enhance the opportunity, or the legal right, or
whatever, of the property owner, to in fact, evict them.
Ms. Friesner: No.
Mr. Dawkins: I think we are really trying to interpret what the owner of the
property would do.
Ms. Friesner: Correct.
Mr. Olmedillo: Again I have to go to the fact that it is a nonconforming use.
1
It will be a nonconforming use under the different zoning category, so by that
j
change, you are not changing anything. They are nonconforming, they will be
_{
nonconforming. The ordinance does not provide a district in which mobile
s
'i
homes can be located.
3
Mayor Suarez: What is it now zoned? What is the area now zoned?
Mr. Olmedillo: It's mixed use because you have a multifamily, a duplex and a
{
'i
commercial district throughout the property.
Mayor Suarez: And in all of those, the trailer park is nonconforming?
Mr. Olmedillo: Yes, sir.
Mayor Suarez: OK, counselor.
Mr. Godoy: If I can give you the opinion of the Dade County attorney in 1985
something about, I would like you to see the opinion of the attorney to see if
she disagrees with the opinion of the County attorney.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, this is a preemption argument, that we are preempted from
taking any action that might affect the legal rights of mobile home owners?
Mr. Plummer: We're not. We're not taking any action to prevent their legal
<'
rights.
Mr. Godoy: Commissioners can argue. They are using these today to make
the... you know, they have a letter that they sent to Gloria Fox, Chief
'wd
Hearing Board Division. In their letter, this is the letter from the
�k
127 July 31, 1989
C 0
attorney, the other attorney, where they may at the present time, the City
through its Comprehensive Plan process has determined that mobile home parks
no longer a desirable use in the neighborhood and they are taking major
property for restricted commercial use. This is application is also part of a
larger approval process, including an application, they are talking about it
today, for a larger, including an application for major use special permit and
rezoning thinking to permit the development for a community shopping
center on this site and they withdraw two applications that they have waiting
for what happened here today to doing, these are two applications that they
are waiting right now...
Mr. Plummer: Mr. Godoy, sir, would you understand or agree, that if we do
nothing on this today, that the owner of that property has to right to evict
the tenants with one year notice?
Mr. Godoy: Sir, according to the regulations...
Mr. Plummer: Do you agree or disagree to that, sir?
Mr. Godoy: If you let me explain, I will disagree.
Mr. Plummer: OK, you disagree?
Mr. Godoy: Yes, disagree, because right now, this is the law, they have, that
they could do it a month ago. Now, they cannot do it because they have a
homeowners' association formed by two-thirds, more than two-thirds of the
members, that means that before they can sell the property, they need to offer
that property first to the homeowners' association and before... this is
specific law about the trailer park, they need to find a place where these
people can go.
Mayor Suarez: I'll say this, unless you've got a better handle on this than I
do, I see a preemption argument here. Madam City Attorney, the State has
acted in this area, meaning that we cannot act as to mobile homeowners, is
what I see here, I might be wrong.
Mr. Dawkins: It says that if you are going to move them, OK? State law says
if you plan to move them. Nobody plans to move them. They can stay there
from now until day one.
Mr. Plummer: Not by action of this before us application.
Mr. Dawkins: Of this Commission.
Mayor Suarez: But that is not the preemption argument. The preemption
argument says that taking any action, including enactment of rules,
regulations or ordinances with respect to the matters preempted to the State.
In order words, within that area of State regulation, we cannot act, is what
their argument is. I'm not saying it is correct.
Mr. Dawkins: And those are the matters and things relating to the landlord
tenant relationship. This has nothing... we are not the landlord and we are
not the tenant.
Mr. Plummer: The owner can still evict them.
Mr. Dawkins: I mean, that has to do with the landlord, where they stay, and
who owns it.
Mr. Plummer: I'm saying that we do nothing...
Mr. Dawkins: OK, I don't care what you... let's go home.
Mr. Plummer: ... the owner has the right to give them eviction notices. If
we do nothing)
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Godoy: Yes, but they are using this change, then they have the
application for across the street. They have another application to change
the zoning.
128
July 31, 1989
1
Mr. Plummer: That is not before us, Mr. Godoy.
Mr. Godoy: No, but they are using this now, because the next step,
Commissioner Plummer, the next step, they are going to say, the planning
already changed. This is the thing and they say in their letter, they
withdraw. Look, this is in the record and the Planning Department, they have
this letter in the record for...
Mayor Suarez: Well, I am interested in that. What proposed change of zoning
are you talking about, other than what we are doing today?
Mr. Olmedillo: One and the same in the sense that they are the same quality.
What happened is that the applicant, the owner had applied for it knowing that
the City has to go through with this. I guess they... you know, they sat back
down and said well, let the City do it.
Mayor Suarez: Let the City do it, I mean, we're doing it today.
Mr. Plummer: That's what I questioned before, that we were the applicants.
Mayor Suarez: And the reason that... the answer the City Attorney gave on the
preemption argument is that the general area regulated by State law here is
more having to do with rents paid. Is that the answer? Where's Bob Clark,
now he disappeared on me, or do you... please come up to the mike and state
that. I want to make sure that we are not preempted, if that's what this
letter was supposed to mean, according to counsel"s argument.
Mr. Robert Clark: The paragraph that you are referring to is a paragraph in
connection with rents...
Mayor Suarez: With rents, OK.
Mr. Clark: ... the landlord tenant relationship and that's the action that's
prohibited, with respect to and preempted to the State.
Mr. Godoy: They are talking anything and I read this again, because that was
the discussion that I had in the City. They were telling me for rezoning. I
say no, or taking any other official action and here I am going to show the
letter, I only have one copy. This is the letter by the attorney of the
owner.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, you can put that into the record, I think you read it
already, you made reference to it.
Mr. Godoy: This letter to this...
Mayor Suarez: What is the gist of that one? - and we'll put it into the
record.
} Mr. Godoy: It is a letter from attorney Carter N. McDowell to Ms. Gloria Fox,
Chief, Hearing Board Division. "Dear Ms. Fox" - they are talking about
already, they don't talk about the Tamiami Trailer Park, they talk already
Tamiami Shopping Center. The record in the City is not the Tamiami Trailer
Park. Right now they have Tamiami Shopping Center, variance and road closure
i applications. "Dear Ms. Fox, as you know, we represent the owner of the
property currently being platted as the Tamiami Shopping Center. On June 8th,
1989, we followed rezoning and road closure application on their behalf. The
? purpose of this letter is to request that you don't schedule those two
applications for public hearing until such time that we can jointly schedule
the major use special permit which have been filed for the same property at
' the same time."
s
Mayor Suarez: OK, I got you, what you are saying there,
that the intent to
rezone and proceed to build
some kind of a shopping center
is fairly clear
from that correspondence and
I guess that we take notice of
that.
Mr. Plummer: I think the
City Attorney needs to read
something into the
record.
Ms. Friesner: I'd just like
to re...
Y
129
July 91, 1989
Mrs. Range: Oh, I'm sorry. Just before the City Attorney reads into the
record. You have in the final paragraph of your letter asking the Commission,
we request that Chapter 723.083 F.S. be enforced. What is that chapter, can
you explain that?
Mr. Godoy: Yes, I put in the top of the letter, they talk about Chapter
723.083.
Mrs. Range: Where is that? Oh, I'm sorry, I overlooked that.
Mr. Godoy: In 1985 or 1986, the same question came in front of the County
Commissioners and that was the opinion too, of the County Commissioners'
attorney. This is not only my opinion.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, what our City Attorney is telling us is that section does
not apply because we are not taking action that would result, I guess is the
wording, right, in the relocation or...
Mr. De Yurre: You know, I think either, if we are not sure what we are doing,
that we defer this, or if we go by our City Attorney's opinion, then we've got
to move on and vote and...
Mayor Suarez: Yes, I understand.
Mr. Dawkins: Read whatever you are going to read in the minutes, please, Mr.
Mayor, let her read...
Ms. Friesner: OK, I just wanted to bring to your attention again that under
Section 723.061, that deals with if the property owner evicts because of a
land use change, that section says that the provisions of section of 723.083
shall not be applicable to any park where the provisions of this subsection
apply; therefore, if they were evicted because of a land use change, the
Chapter says that the government section saying that you have to determine
whether or not there's, let's see, suitable facilities, that this section does
not apply.
Mayor Suarez: OK, now, let's go to a public policy argument. What, in view
of the fact that State seems to be trying to do something to protect owners or
residents of mobile homes, what can we, as a Commission, do, if anything, and
what have you in your infinite, or not so infinite wisdom concocted or
conceived, Mr. Assistant City Manager, as to what we might do to protect them
so that they won't be evicted without some relief?
Mr. Olmedillo: If I may address it, Mr. Mayor...
Mayor Suarez: Oh, now we got the Planning Department telling us. Usually the
Planning Department is trying to put all kinds of regulations and things so
you can't build anything. Now let's see how you solve some social problems.
Go ahead, I'm interested in this.
Mr. Olmedillo: Only a suggestion. If you don't want to change the status,
you can delete this portion of the ordinance and then change everything else,
we'll put us substantially in compliance and then leave this one out for
future reading for future public hearing.
Mayor Suarez: I like that.
Mr. Godoy: I agree with that. That is the only thing that we are asking.
Mayor Suarez: Why shouldn't we do that, Mr. Helfman? Because you want to put
a shopping center there real quick!
Mr. Stephen Helfman: For the record, Steve Helfman with Fine Jacobson at One
Centrust Financial Plaza. There's a couple things. Number one, this is one
of hundreds of zoning changes that are required by the State to be consistent
with your already approved Comprehensive Plan.
Mayor Suarez: Don't argue about the other ones, because we just had an idea
of carving this one out and leaving all the other ones in and we would be in
full compliance with the State law, according to our Planning...
Mr. Helfman: Mr. Mayor, I don't think you would be if you do not...
130 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: OK, well, tell us why you don't think so, even though our
Planning Director supposedly would be.
Mr. Helfman: As with every one of those, you have the same obligation with
ours to bring our zoning in compliance with the plan designation. To single
out one property owner and say we are not going to put you in compliance in
the plan, but we are going to take everybody else and make them in compliance
with the plan, that's certainly unfair, but more importantly, these people are
concerned...
Mayor Suarez: I thought you were going to say illegal, but you said unfair,
OK, so you are arguing public policy.
Mr. Helfman: OK, they are concerned that they are going to be evicted and
rightly so. The intention of the developer is to use this property for a
shopping center. They are adequately protected. They have more protection
than any renter in this entire City. There are extensive provisions in the
Florida statutes which say exactly what you have to do if you want to evict
them for the purpose of changing the land use. You have to give them a year's
notice, you have to buy their unit, you have to relocate them, there is a list
of innumerable protections for these people.
Mayor Suarez: For the purpose of changing the land use.
Mr. Helfman: Yes, if we...
Mayor Suarez: Not the land use zoning, but the land use.
Mr. Helfman: No, the land use. If we determine that instead of the trailer
park...
Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, excuse me, Steve, you are defeating your own
argument. If you want to evict them for any reason...
Mr. Helfman: We can give them notice today for any reason. What you are
doing today does nothing to cause an eviction here, nothing at all.
Mayor Suarez: I am not particularly interested in it, but if you puts a
hurdle on your way, I would do it. Now, tell me what you are required to do
by law to evict them. That's what J.L. was trying to specify and you figured
out a way around his point.
Mr. Helfman: OK, in the event eviction for change of land use, homeowners
must object to the change in land use by petitioning for administrative... it
goes on... remedies within 90 days, excuse me, I jumped ahead of myself. We
have go give them one year's notice. Within 90 days from the time we give the
one year notice, we shall notify the homeowner of his election to either buy
the mobile home, relocate the mobile home to another park owned by the park
owner, or pay...
Mayor Suarez: It's all of that relief that J.L. was referring to before, you
must grant them before you are able to evict them, is that what you are
saying, regardless of what we do today?
Mr. Helfman: Regardless, regardless.
Mr. Plummer: Wait minute, now wait a minute. There's one thing that's been
brought up that I didn't... I'm not aware of. Is there a provision, as he
said that an association, they have to be given the right of refusal to buy?
Mr. Helfman: To buy their...
Mr. Plummer: To buy the property.
Mr. Helfman: No, that is not true.
Mr. Godoy: Counselor, you are completely wrong. Read the law again. They
say if the association have, like we have now, two-thirds, and we raise it
with the Clerk of the Court, you need to give us the first choice. If you
don't know that, I'm sorry to say you are wrong.
131 July 31, 1989
Mr. Helfman: Well, if you...
Mayor Suarez: OK, counsel, wait, wait, we don't have to resolve that
question. Hopefully, they do have that right and hopefully they will have the
money and hopefully they will be able to exercise the right of first refusal,
I'm not sure how and then they will own it. There's nothing wrong with that,
but that, we don't have to decide that here today, I guarantee you that.
Mr. Helfman: OK, if in fact, they have that right, which I don't believe they
do, they'll be able to exercise it. More important...
Mr. Plummer: Well, wait a minute, wait a minute. Then here comes the other
play. The other play is if we rezone this to a commercial location...
Mr. Helfman: Yes.
Mr. Plummer: ... then the price of that property in court is going to be
justifiably higher.
Mayor Suarez: To a commercial classification, let me just so that, so that we
don't get a location involved in this.
Mr. Godoy: Mr. Plummer, if I can say something.
Mayor Suarez: Wait, wait, that's a good point. That increases the value of
the land, does it not?
Mr. Olmedillo: It certainly does.
Mayor Suarez: And that would mean that the right of first refusal if existed
would have to be exercised for a higher amount.
Mr. De Yurre: You're assuming that there is going to be a sale. There is no
sale here involved that I know of. Nobody is going to sell.
Mayor Suarez: Is the right of first refusal involved only in sale or does it
involve their right to purchase as against their proposed use?
Ms. Friesner: It only involves if the owner wanted to sell the property.
Then the homeowner association would have the right on first refusal.
Mayor Suarez: So if the owner himself was going forward with plans to develop
it in a different way, he would only have to satisfy the other requirements,
but there would not be a right of first refusal in any event.
Ms. Friesner: Correct.
Mr. Helfman: Which we have no intention of doing.
Mayor Suarez: You have no intention of doing what?
Mr. Helfman: Selling the property.
Mayor Suarez: So I don't know why you got so upset about his supposed right
of first refusal if you are not going to sell anyhow.
Mr. Helfman: Well, because it is one of several comments that he's made that
are not exactly accurate. The other thing is, this Commission and predecessor
Commissions determined a long time ago, almost 30 years ago, that mobile homes
is not something that you want to continue to have in the City of Miami. Your
ordinance declared them to be nonconforming uses with the intention to try to
amortize them out of existence. Here, at least some of you are searching for
a way to continue to have them in the City when your ordinances specifically
say that they are not a permitted use in any district anymore. It's a type of
use that you don't want in the City.
Mr. Godoy: Mayor and counsel, this is a law that protects at the owner's
trailer park, before 1987, this was not the law to protect specific the
legislation passed this law in 1987 and this was modified to make more strong
a position to help the people in the trailer park. If you now eliminate the
change of zoning , of course they are going to have the right to buy the
property, but why are they going to buy if they cannot use it for a trailer
132 July 31, 1989
park. I mean, in a sense, you eliminate their right they have and in specific
they say here, before you make a decision, before you come to discussion on
this point, what the Planning Department, what they need to do is to bring to
you to say we have this place where these people can go before and it say
specifically here, before you do this, you need to have the place. The only
thing that we ask is...
Mr. Plummer: Steve, is the present owner going to do the developing? It's
immaterial. There is no sale of the property. In this particular case, from
what I understand, the present owner of the property is the one who is going
to develop the property. If it is offered for sale, you are right, you have
the right to buy it. It is not being offered for sale. The man who owns the
property is going to be the developer. There is no sale.
Mr. Godoy: Yes, but everything that they do, they present already. They
already are making the determination that is a shopping center. Everything in
the Planning Department, they are not talking about trailer park. The are
only talking about shopping center, it's more. They are supposed to notify
the people before they start this thing. They notified the people June 6th, I
think, or June 8th and they started already because I have here the letter
from the Planning Department in March. That means that already they are
against the law. This is what they are going to bring. You know, a suit from
the homeowners' association to the owners, why to create that?
Mayor Suarez: OK, we've had the same arguments over and over again. We have
to make a decision. Mr. Vice Mayor, you are were going to make a motion.
Mr. Godoy: The only thing that we are asking to delete this, we are not
talking about the general...
Mayor Suarez: Sir, oh we understand that the rest of it we fully intend to
pass, regardless of what we do with this particular objection, unless there is
anyone that wants to be heard on any part of the zoning.
INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mayor Suarez: So we are still talking about the area affected only where the
trailer park is, is that the area you are interested in?
Mr. Stan Lapodi: Well, no, I want it to be known there are some additional...
Mayor Suarez: OK.
Mr. Lapodi: ... Lots besides that.
Mayor Suarez: All right, we will get to that right after this vote,
presumably. Well, I don't know what your motion is going to be. Oh, OK, he
was going to move the whole thing, so why not put it on the table?
Mr. De Yurre: Well, he has something to say.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, we'll take him up.
Mr. De Yurre: Well, let's take him up now.
Mayor Suarez: All right, the Vice Mayor is going to move to approve the whole
scheme, or the whole rezoning, so you may as well make your statement.
Mr. Lapodi: I wanted to make sure that...
Mayor Suarez: Give us name and address and everything else that...
Mr. Stan Lapodi: Excuse me, my name is Stan Lapodi, my address is 3038 SW 8th
Street. I'm a resident of the Tamiami Trailer Park. I do oppose the zoning
change. I have other reasons opposing it.
Mayor Suarez: Well, OK, you do oppose the same issue, but for different
reasons. What are the reasons? You have to either take your mike with you,
or speak from the other mike.
Mr. Lapodi: (OFF MIKE - INAUDIBLE).
133 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suarez: All this high paid City help, somebody help the gentleman, I
can't get out here and explain to him how it works. You either got to speak
on this mike here, or take the other one with you.
Mr. Lapodi: There are some additional lots that I question being commercial
property and this is what I want to know, whether you've seen the complete
area being affected and not just this property at the trailer park.
Mr. Plummer: The answer to that, sir, is yes, we saw that back at the time
when this was argued in the changes of the Comprehensive Plan and as I said
previously in the record, there was a great deal of discussion about this
particular piece of property, back a year ago when we changed... you see, all
we are doing now, hope you understand, is making in compliance the action
which we took almost a year ago, so yes sir, we know, because we approved it
almost a year ago, that this was part of the plan and it was discussed
extensively, this locale and all we are doing today is by the Planning -
Department, making that in compliance with what we did a year ago.
Mr. Lapodi: I'm aware of that and you have answered my question. My other
reason for opposing it would be it's kind of funny, you just had 80 or 90
people in here crying about low income housing, affordable housing and here
you have 150 units of non -subsidized low income housing which you are pretty
much, and you know that by changing the zoning to commercial, you are pretty
much evicting the tenants from those low income housings, whether you put it
that way or not, that would be the effect.
Mr. Plummer: That's the best argument I've heard so far. That's a good
argument.
Mr. Lapodi: And this is my main reason for opposing it. It has been, whether
you have called it residential use, it has been used residentially for 25 and
30 years and I think that establishes a residential use. My only other reason
would be item M, this change would not constitute a grant of special privilege
to an individual owner. It's contrasted with protection of the general
welfare. I think it is pretty obvious that it does contrast with protection
of the public welfare. We have 150 units of low income housing...
Mayor Suarez:
OK, let me try this... I am sufficiently concerned about the
wording of 723.083,
where it says, which would result in removal or relocation
£j of mobile home owners. I know it wouldn't directly result that I would at
i this point move to exclude the area covered by this trailer park from the
operation of
the ordinance being proposed and I so move.
Mr. De Yurre:
Do we have a second?
Mr. Helfman:
May I briefly be heard? Very briefly.
Mayor Suarez:
Wait, there's no... there may not be a second.
Mr. De Yurre:
Do we have a second on this motion? —
Mr. Plummer:
Well, could I see the... do we have a map just of that
particular location?
Mr. De Yurre:
Well, let's see if we have a second.
Mr. Plummer:
Mr. Godoy, let's see what they have, it's probably a little bit
bigger and my
eyes and my age... were is SW 8th Street?
Mr. De Yurre:
Motion dies for lack of a second.
i Mr. Plummer:
All right now, that area that is only occupied at the present
time by the trailer parks, is that just the yellow? Just the red? The red,
well most of
that yellow is commercial. You got a car lot up there, you got a
restaurant up
there...
Mr. Olmedillo: It's basically the red colored properties, sir.
Mr. Plummer: Well, I think the problem, I know what the Mayor is trying to
accomplish, but I think that if you did that, you are going to... you are
still into a hodgepodge, as I see it. Is this first reading?
134 July 31, 1989
:t
ILI
E
Mr, Olmedillo: That is correct, sir.
Mr. Plummer: See, Mr. Mayor, there is only one way that you can take at this
particular point and that is to amend the Comprehensive Plan. That's the only
way that you can stop this from proceeding as we have already... you know,
the argument was a year ago, so that we can get out of here tonight and you
know, have everybody in this Commission have the opportunity to go look at it.
I would move it on first reading, reserving my right to not do it on second
reading if anybody wants to go look at it.
_( Mr. Dawkins: OK, stop talking so we can go home then.
i
Mr. Plummer: Well then you make a motion, dummyl
Mr. Dawkins: No, I'm not going to make a motion, sir.
j Mayor Suarez: We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion?
Ma'am, were you going to argue?
Mr. Dawkins: Did you second the motion? You second the motion?
Mayor Suarez: No, now it is to the whole ordinance, right?
4
Mr. Plummer: I'm saying, just to get us out of here tonight, to the ordinance
as presented on first reading, yes sir.
Mayor Suarez: Right, but it is the whole ordinance, obviously. Yes, Ma'am,
you wanted to address that from some issue other than the trailer park?
Ms. Gisela Datko: Hello, I am Gisela Datko, I live at...
Mayor Suarez: You have been waiting here all day and your last name is Datko,
Gisela, right?
Ms. Datko: Yes.
Mayor Suarez: No? That's it and you live at 2950 SW 23rd Street. What do you
want to tell us about this?
Ms. Datko: I saw this in the paper and my daughter went to look at things,
there was nothing at the Hearing Board Division.
Mayor Suarez: At the where?
Ms. Datko: At the Hearing Board Division. It tells you here that you can get
copies of the proposed ordinances.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, they didn't give you copies of the proposed ordinance?
Ms. Datko: There was nothing there.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, you got five Commissioners here, ready to give you our
copies. We'd love to get rid of it.
Ms. Datko: No, no, my daughter got the information. We are interested in C-
11. That's fifth blocks from 22nd Avenue to 29th you want to rezone to
apartments. Now, I would like...
Mayor Suarez: Do you know what areas she's talking about? Does anyone from
staff know what areas she's talking about?
Mr. Olmedillo: It's going from general residential, which is a duplex zoning
to more intense density.
Ms. Datko: Why?
Mayor Suarez: Where? Where, somebody is pointing there. Is that... I see a
pen there. Is that Gloria back there? What area is that? What streets are
we talking about, roughly?
Mr. Olmedillo: We are going to show you in the bigger map, that position.
is
135 July 31, 1989
Mayor S'uaraae Show me anywhere, bigger smaller map, anywhere. What area* are
ve talking about? Can anybody describe them, avenues streets, whatever?
No. Datko: Yes, from 21th Avenue to 29th Avenue.
Mayor Suarez: 27th to 29th Avenue? What streets?
Me. Datko: 23rd and 22nd Terrace. It's the...
Mayor Suarez: We are talking all southwest, right?
Mr. Plummer: By Publix?
Me. Datko: Yes, Publix and Eckerd's the whole block. Now, we would.,.
Mr. Plummer: Which block are you talking about now? Are you talking about on
27th Avenue?
Me. Datko: No, on... (INAUDIBLE)
E
Mr. Plummer: Is that behind the lumber yard?
i
4 INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mr. Plummer: Well, Westview Hardware? - Westlake Hardware?
INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTS NOT ENTERED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD.
Mr. Plummer: OK. And where is her property that is in question? Behind
Publix? And what is her question?
Ms. Datko: The question is...
Mr. Plummer: Why?
Mr. Olmedillo: The intensity of use in that area, in that block...
Mr. Plummer: There is no other place that I know of in there that says more
than duplex. Behind Publix? It's all duplex.
Mr. Olmedillo: You are correct, but this is... Yes, but remember the zoning
right across the street, and remember the zoning of the...
Mr. Plummer: But I don't know of any other multifamily in that neighborhood.
Mr. Olmedillo: You are right, you are right.
Mr. Plummer: So why would we do it here?
Ms. Datko: That's the question.
Mr. Olmedillo: Because of the location. It's right next to commercial on one
side and...
Mr. Plummer: Is that one lot?
Mr. Olmedillo: No, that's more than one lot, sir.
Mr. Plummer: How many lots involved?
Ms. Datko: At least 10, I would think. Ten or twelve.
Mayor Suarez: Really? And what is her concern, is anybody...
Mr. Plummer: They are proposing to change that blue square there behind
Publix from duplexes to multifamily and her question is, she doesn't want it.
Mr. Olmedillo: Twelve lots, sir.
Mo. Datko: No, a just minute, I didn't say that yet.
136 July 31, 1989
Mayor Suares: Why are we doing that? Is anybody here requesting that? Can we
leave that out of this?
Mr. Olmedillo: Well, we have it in the Comprehensive Plan and we thought it
was technically appropriate to rezone that property to multifamily to serve as
a buffer to the single family in duplex district. It is the blue area that is
in the map that is...
Mayor Suarez: I would suggest leaving that out. There is no one here that
wishes for us to do it, so why don't we just leave it out?
Mr. Plummer: Ma'am, you are opposed to it, correct?
Mr. Datko: You don't... no, I'm not that You don't pull this out of
your hat, you know. You must have ideas for what you want to do there.
Mayor Suarez: No, no, we don't have any... we don't own any property there,
so we just think that it would have made a good buffer, but if you want to
leave it out, we can...
Mr. Plummer: Exclude that from the change.
Mr. Olmedillo: It can be deleted from the ordinance and then we can come back
with a Comp Plan amendment and...
Mayor Suarez: Right, thank you.
Mr. Plummer: That's fine.
Mr. Dawkins: Call the roll.
Ms. Datko: No, let me finish what I was going to say, Mr. Plummer.
Mayor Suarez: We are going to do what you want, unless you keep talking.
Ms. Datko: I keep talking.
Mayor Suarez: But then we are not going to do what you want.
Ms. Datko: I changed my mind.
Mayor Suarez: Put it back int
Ms. Datko: No, no, the point is that I listened to all the people from
Brickell and I listened to all the people from 14th Street, was it?
Mayor Suarez: Right.
Ms. Datko: And I've had it up to here and I saw all the little ladies with
their little signs here. They don't understand a word of what is being said
here but they sat there, holding the signs.
Mayor Suarez: Oh, but they understood the results.
Ms. Datko: If you want to build public housing or a project there, help
yourself. I don't care, if it turns into a slum, so be it, I'll be back and
complain.
Mayor Suarez: But we are going to do what you wanted us to, we are not going
to change that.
Mo. Datko: You're going to take it off?
Mayor Suarez: Yes, there we go.
Mr. Plummer: You wonl You won, Ma'am.
Mr. Datko: People have to live someplace.
Mayor Suarez; Don't keep arguing, we might change our minds. With that
proviso, the movant accepts it, does the second accept it? Who seconded?
137 July 31, 1989
E;
1
Mr. Plummer: i don't know.
Mr. Dawkins: Victor. I accept it for him.
Mayor Suarez: All right, read the ordinance.
u
Ms. Friesner: (READS TITLE OF ORDINANCE, THEN CONTINUES)... and by deleting
those items that are listed in the memo dated July 21th from Sergio Rodriguez
to Cesar H. Odio on items requested to be pulled and deleting those items
listed in the memo dated July 27, 1989 from Sergio Rodriguez to Cesar H. Odio
in the erratum sheet, and including that property located at... described as
C-11.
Mayor Suarez: Call the roll.
AN ORDINANCE ENTITLED -
AN ORDINANCE WITH ATTACHMENT, AMENDING THE SCHEDULE OF
DISTRICT REGULATIONS OF ORDINANCE NO. 9500, THE ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED,
BY CHANGING THE UNIT DENSITY CAP UP TO 40 UNITS PER
NET ACRE AND DELETING STORIES ON PAGE 2, RG-2, GENERAL
RESIDENTIAL; BY ADDING A NEW ZONING DISTRICT
CLASSIFICATION OF "CON. CONSERVATION" ON PAGE 6 TO BE
RESERVED FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS; AND BY
AMENDING THE ZONING ATLAS OF ORDINANCE NO. 9500, THE
ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS
AMENDED, BY CHANGING ZONING CLASSIFICATIONS WHICH
AFFECT APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN PERCENT OF THE TOTAL LAND
AREA OF THE CITY, IN ORDER TO BRING SAID ORDINANCE
INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN 1989-2000, PURSUANT TO SECTION
163.3203(1), FLORIDA STATUTES, (1987), SAID CHANGES
BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED HEREIN; BY MAKING
FINDINGS; AND BY MAKING ALL THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO
AFFECTED PAGES OF SAID ZONING ATLAS; CONTAINING A
REPEALER PROVISION, SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Was introduced by Commissioner Plummer and seconded by Commissioner De
Yurre and was passed on its first reading by title by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr.
Commissioner Miller J. Dawkins
Mayor Xavier L. Suarez
NOES: Commissioner M. Athalie Range
ABSENT: Vice Mayor Victor De Yurre *
*NOTE: Although absent at roll call, Vice Mayor De Yurre later asked of the
Clerk to be shown voting with the motion.
COMMENTS MADE DURING ROLL CALL:
Mrs. Range: NO, I am going to vote against this, I think these people deserve
a better chance than having to be put out of the property.
Mayor Suarez: Yes, I have to vote yes, because it is the whole comprehensive
plan. I mean it for the whole zoning change for the whole City.
The City Attorney read the ordinance into the public record and
announced that copies were available to the members of the City Commission and
to the public.
138 July 31, 1989
= 25. BRIBr COMMENTS: City Commissioners request of Administration information
concerning individual arrested in Kennedy Park after closing hours -
Direct Manager to install signs informing residents of park closing
times.
Mayor Suarez: We are adjourned unless there is an emergency matter.
Mr. Plummer: To the City Attorney and the Administration, I have in my
office, a man was arrested in Kennedy Park. As you are aware and I am aware,
the bicycle path goes through Kennedy Park, all right? This man was on his
bicycle, riding through the bicycle path and was arrested by the City of Miami
Police Department because he was in the park after hours. He said he was on
the bicycle path which you have designated as a bicycle path. At the end of
it was standing a policeman who arrested him for being in the park after
hours. He is more your neighbor than mine. May I strongly suggest to the
Administration, either you mark that bicycle path closed after dark or make it
outside of the park, because I don't think it is our intent to have good law-
abiding citizens riding their bicycle to in fact be arrested because he went
through the bicycle path. I've got all those... Wally, I've got all the
particulars in my office.
Unidentified Speaker: No, no, that's not fair.
Mr. Plummer: It's ridiculous.
THERE BRING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE CITT
COMMISSION, TE STING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:55 P.M.
Xavier L. Suarez
N A 7 0 R
ATTEST:
Natty Hirai
14
40
139
CITY OF MIAMI
1
DOCUMENT INDEI
Mt��t
ET JULY 31, 1989
pom NO: 1 Of 1
GRANT SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT DRIVE-IN FACILITY FOR
TERRABANK - IN MADISON CIRCLE OFFICE BUILDING (3191 CORAL
WAY) APPLICANT FORTE PROPERTIES, INC.)
GRANT SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO PERMIT DRIVE -THROUGH FACILITY -
PROVIDING 11 OF 20 REQUIRED OFF-STREET STACKING SPACES
FOR TERRABANK IN MADISON CIRCLE OFFICE BUILDING (3191 CORAL
WAY) (APPLICANT: FORTE PROPERTIES, INC.)
APPEAL GRANTED: HERITAGE CONSERVATION BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF CBS WALL UPHELD - (WITH MODIFICATIONS) AT
APPROXIMATELY 3918 MAIN HIGHWAY (APPLICANT: LAVIGNE PROPERTIES,
INC.)
URGE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES TO NAME VALERIE HICKEY-PATTON,
VICE -MAYOR OF CITY OF WEST MIAMI, AS RECIPIENT OF 1989
FLORIDA MUNICIPAL OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR "E", HARRIS DREW AWARD.
REFER TO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY REQUEST FROM DIRECTOR
OF CAMILLUS HOUSE - FOR FULL-TIME CITY STAFF PERSON TO ASSIST
WITH THEIR MEALS PROGRAM.
VACATE AND CLOSE PORTION OF S.W. 30TH AVENUE - SOUTH OF SOUTH-
THERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF S.W. 28TH. LANE AND NORTH OF
METRORAIL RIGHT-OF-WAY. (APPLICANT: PUBLIC STORAGE PROPERTIES
XIX LTD.)
APPEAL DENIED, WITH MODIFICATIONS : ALLOW APPLICANT (NASSER
ADRISI, SUNNY ELECTRONICS) TO CONSTRUCT AN 18 UNIT APARTMENT
BUILDING AT APPROXIMATELY 2100 BRICKELL AVENUE, WITH CERTAIN
PROVISOS.
RETREV 4 No -
(RESOLUTIONS)
89-743
89-744
89-745
89-747
89-748
89-749
89-751