Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #52 - Discussion ItemIwM"FrICff MKMORANDUM 179 *"w Cesar Odic, IDAM- 9-29-86 tee, City Manager suwacT: Post Office Plaza Joe Carollo 1�'" wrrawsress, Commissioner sNa.asuws� Please place on the October 7th agenda for discussion the Post Office Plaza project for the purpose of reconsideration. 0 a November 10, 1986 Members of the City Cannission City of Miami 3500 Pan Axerican Drive Miami, Fl. 33133 Re: Reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza Project. Attn: Mayor Xavier Suarez Vice -Mayor P4iller Dawkins Cam,issioner Joe Carollo Camtissioner Rosario Kennedy Camiissioner J. L. Plumper #J As the appellants in the Review of the Variances and Special Exception granted by the Zoning Board, we object to the City Camaission's discussion of reconsideration of its decisions to deny made on February 27, 1986. The Zoning Ordinance provides procedures for the handling of zoning n►3tters. These procedures have been followed to their conclusion. We request that you do not reconsider the Post Office Plaza applications. 31 Fl uC arlR. ldsmith 3150 Florida Avenue yGoldi�e Clan t Lawrence E. Sokol 3197 Florida Avenue 3124 Florida Avenue Walter Clarit ed Stahl 3197 Florida Avenue 120 Canmodore Plaza A� ' Tanya R.Jenard ��ZZ 3221Frow Avenue 04 FloAvenue ray 6 1D ins e 3201 Florida Avenue 3194 FloridA Avenue r Jn;T. Green Elishama it 3158 Florida Avenue 3200 Frow & 3340 McDonald Submitted into the public Michael Marmesh -- 3200 Grand Avenue record in connection ith ite2,-' e in —Z2 _ _ Can Matty HirCil City Clerk COCONUT GROVE HOMEOXNERS & TENANTS ASSN. 3621 Franklin Avenue, Miami, Florida _ 133 OFFICERS: "olen fvn"ey, Pre�i nt Louise $a4. Yip-f`nPAint Gr*d'y Lee Dinkins, Second Vice Rresident !tea Haiidit, Recording Secretary Mlgnn;t cofi'wr, Assistant Seoetary ina f "Vey, Corresponding Secretary rpowma withers, rinandai secretary Alston J. Scott. Treasurer Hattie Jackson, Parliamentarian Mayor and Commissioners City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, F1. 33133 Attn: Mayor Xavier Suarez Vice Mayor Miller Dawkins • Commissioner Joe Caro.11o Commissioner Rosario Kennedy Commissioner J. L. Plummer November 10, 1986 Submitted into the public record in connection with item _ Matty Hirai 1 City Clerk �— Subject: RECONSIDERATION OF POST OFFICE PLAZA PROJECT We were extremely disappointed and dismayed that discussion of man reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza Project was placed on the Commission agenda of October 23, 1986, and that the item was deferred to the November 13, 1986, meeting for additional discussion. This subject has been on the agenda four times since the Commission denied Mr. Fine's applications on February 27, 1986. We appreciated the Commission's decision as it was our membership's opinion that the proposed project would be an unwarrented and harmful intrusion into the residential neighborhood. We were, and continue to be, opposed to the location of the parking garage, loading facilities and post office on the residentially zoned lots on Florida Avenue. We believe that the commercially zoned property on Grand Avenue can be redeveloped without compromising the protections provided adjacent residential property owners by the zoning ordinance.' We have already been through the process prescribed by the zoning ordinance. In addition, we have been subjected throughout this year to the burden of a sustained effort to circumvent that process. Reconsideration will set a dangerous precedent for others expecting a second chance at the Commission -and will place an unfair and unwarrented burden on citizens with serious concerns and objections. We agree with the ordinance, passed on first reading at the October 23, 1986, meeting, which would limit reconsideration of Commission decisions to the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting. The persistant revisiting of the subject of Post Office Plaza is a prime example of the need for the ordinance. We respectfully urge and ask each of you to deny this reconsideration. COCONUT GROVE HOMEOWNERS & TENANTS ASSN, 3621 Franklin Avinue, Miami, Flori 133 OFFICERS: "0" R! "Ary, Pry Wem rprpdy 4to +M 5#cand Vka Pt*$W* et hugs "Sodh. Rftw" ry M6nn;* CQMW,14S n6 5*aftwy MAC V*, Cairn�S*amry Elishoma whhom Fieevaxfl S*0*t&ry AtMp J. Sc*M Trearmw 1i#it�flt.�ae, P�rt€aste��att�rs#n Miller J. Dawkins Vice Mayor City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Fl. 33133 July 16, 1986 Subject: RECONSIDERATION OF RON FINE'S REQUEST ON POST OFFICE PLAZA PROJECT Dear Miller: We are extremely disappointed by your request that reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza Project be placed on the Commission Agenda of July 24, 1986. We appreciated your prior support of our membership's opinion that the proposed project would be an unwarrented and harmful intrusion into the residential neighborhood. We were, and continue to be, opposed to the location of the parking garage, loading facilities and post office on the residentially zoned lots on Florida Avenue. We have already been through the process prescribed by the zoning ordinance. Reconsideration will set a dangerous precedent for others expecting a second chance at the Commission and will place an unfair and unwarrented burden on citizens with serious concerns and objections. We believe that the commercially zoned property on Grand Avenue can be redeveloped without compromising the protections provided adjacent residential property owners by the zoning ordinance. We respectfully urge and ask reconsideration of the Post Office Submitted into the public record in connection 'ta item .. . on // . ratty Hirai cc: Honorable Mayor & ity Olen: City Commission Members that you retract your request for Plaza Project by the Commission. For the Membe hip, Helen.Bentley President C000nut Grove Homeowners & Tenants Assn. HUM DELIVERED Lo November 10, 1986 Members of the City Comni.ssion City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Fl. 33133 Re: Reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza Project. Attn: Mayor Xavier Suarez* Vice -Mayor Miller Dawkins Ccm-n.issioner Joe Carollo Ccmnissioner Rosario Kennedy CaRmissioner J. L. Plummier As the appellants in the Review of the Variances and Special Exception granted by the Zoning Board, we object to the City Ccmnission's discussion of reconsideration of its decisions to deny made on February 27, 1986. The Zoning Ordinance provides procedures for the handling of zoning matters. These procedures have been followed to their conclusion. We request that you do not reconsider the Post Office Plaza applications Respectf ly Carl R. Boehm r 31150 Florida Avenue l Goldie Clarit 3197 Florida Avenue Walter Clarit ed Stahl 3197 Florida Avenue 120 Commodore Plaza Tanya R.mard ]�04 3 Marinier 3221 Frav Avenue Florida Avenue J GradkkQe 41D J�k� y64 3201 Florida Avenue 31 4 Florida.- nue rT Gr r, Elishama Withers 315rida Avenue 3200 Prow & 3340 McDonald Michael Marmesh 3200 Grand Avenue Lawrence E. Sokol 3124 Florida Avenue Submitted into the public record in connection 'th item on / . �6 . Matty Hirai �to ` City Clerk t-, John T. Green 3158 Florida Avenue Coconut Grove Miami, F1. 33133 November 11, 1986 City Commission City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Fl. 33133 Re: RECONSIDERATION AND POST OFFICE PLAZA Attention: Mayor Xavier Suarezle*'-- Vice Mayor Miller Dawkins Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Rosario Kennedy Commissioner J.L. Plummer 1 'EIVEI When the Commission on February 27, 1986, denied the Post Office Plaza applications for variances and the special exception for parking on our residentially zoned street, I knew that Mr. Fine could reapply one year after the decision. That is the law. I didn't know he could come back to the Commission again and again. The November 13, 1986,' Commission meeting will be the sixth time that reconsideration of Post Office Plaza has appeared on the agenda. The subject of reconsideration first appeared on the agenda on March 27, 1986, (placed on the agenda by Suarez, withdrawn) then on April loth (Suarez,withdrawn), July 24th (Dawkins,withdrawn), October 7th (Carollo,withdrawn) and October 23rd (Carollo, deferred to November 13th on motion by Plummer). The absence of finality of the Commission's decision has had a profoundly debilitating effect upon our neighborhood. Our trust in the system and our trust in the administration of our City government has been seriously eroded. Some of my neighbors have petitioned the Commission (at the meeting on September 25, 1986) seeking re -zoning of Florida Avenue. What more proof do you need that permitting commercial use, parking and loading on the residentially zoned and developed lots will destroy our neighborhood for residential use? I know you are aware of the frustrating effect the continued introduction and withdrawal of discussions of reconsideration has had. Your passage on first reading on October 23rd of an ordinance that would limit reconsideration to the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting is temple testimony. It is additionally frustrating that the second reading of the ordinance will not take glace. the NaveiQb r 25th Commission meeting when it could have tak AnWolic 13 th . record in connection with Nutty Hirai City Clerk I Reconsideration and Post Office Plaza Page 2 i There is no good reason to circumvent the legal procedures which control the handling of zoning matters in the City. As an appellant in the review of the Post Office Plaza applications for variances and a special exception by the Commission, I request that you affirm your decision of denial by refusing to reconsider. Respectfully, n T. Green 158 Florida Avenue Coconut Grove Miami, F1. 33133 Tel: 443-0359 cc: City Clerk City Commission Meeting of Nov. 13, 1986 Agenda Item # 79 = _:_'� COCONUT GRC?VE HQMEf;�{NERS &TENANTS ASSN. - 'i� \� 3621 Franklin �4venue, Miami, Floride s3933 C�FFiCERS: F4e#�rt l�rtflRyr PrFfidEflt L+�iff S�etMf. YiChf'tlfidlrtt �'sdy tea f)irtkirtx, SlCORet Viel:"rlfidlrli hai`a Nrf�dh, RE�rdirtg %lerttary IGarec9iE ca##ire. Afsistawt Slaftary 1�1R#9tlimirta I!lrrtlly, CArrlfpar.dirtg Slaftsry Qt#Ehartea Witfiln�, firt�ertciaal Sealtary /kFftart J. ScOtt, traasurle Hattif lackfon, RariiamFrttarian Mayor and Commissioners City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, F1. 33133 Attn: Mayor Xavier Suarez Vice Mayor Miller Dawkins � Commissioner Joe Caro,llo Commissioner Rosario Kennedy Commissioner J. L. Plummer ��:�;;. ''��>:> November 10, 1986 Subject: RECONSIDERATION OF POST OFFICE PLAZA PROJECT We were extremely disappointed and dismayed that discussion of reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza Project was placed on the Commission agenda of October 23, 1986, and that the item was deferred to the November 13, 1986, meeting for additional discussion. This subject has been on the agenda four times since the Commission denied Mr. Fine's applications on February 27, 1986. We appreciated the Commission's decision as it was our membership's opinion that the proposed project would be an unwarrented and harmful intrusion into the residential neighborhood. We were, and continue to be, opposed to the location of the parking garage, loading facilities and post office on the residentially zoned lots on Florida Avenue. We believe that the commercially zoned property on Grand Avenue can be redeveloped without compromising the protections provided adjacent residential property owners by the zoning ordinance. We have already been through the process prescribed by the zoning ordinance. In addition, we have been subjected throughout this year to the burden of a sustained effort to circumvent that process. Reconsideration will set a dangerous precedent for others expecting a second chance at the Commission •and will place an unfair and unwarrented burden on citizens with serious concerns and objections. We agree with the ordinance, passed on first reading at the October 23, 1986, meeting, which would limit reconsideration of Commission decisions to the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting. The persistent revisiting of the subject of Post Office Plaza is a prime example of the need for the ordinance. We respectfully urge and ask each of you to deny this reconsideration. _ Submitted into the public For the Membe sh' . record in cannec#ion 'vir� th � IteIn_,�On � � Helen Bentley President _- �Citt'�j' �lyC1i .. __ __ ��F�.___.___.... .w - �ti,_,: , _. _ � . �. _ „ , . �, .,,.. ... � ...:.:_ :. �r, . �,�., a.�� _.z.,,x,.r a: . Grady Lee Dinkins P.O. Box 331636 3201 Florida Avenue Miami, F1. 33133 November 7, 1986 City Commission City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Fl. 33133 Dear Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners: I am writing concerning the reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza on November 13, 1986, and the corner of Florida Avenue and McDonald Street. Due to the many changes taking place on the Rainbow Plaza site (3208 Florida Avenue) and McDonald Street, it seems highly impossible to reconsider one without reconsidering the other. While recognizing that a shopping plaza is an appropriate accessory for a community, I believe that with the two proposed shopping plazas, there is considerable likelihood for creating excessive nuisances for my neighborhood on Florida Avenue, including glaring lights at night, heavy traffic, noise and pollution from traffic and noise from loudspeakers in the Post Office Plaza theaters. Mr. Ron Fine says that a decorative wall will hide the neighborhood from the parking garage. He plans to get permission from the City Commission to plant trees around my property to hide my view from the parking lost entrance and loading docks. He also plans to ask the City Commission to make McDonald Street a four lane street. His proposals are unfair and unacceptable. His plans will destroy my property and drive me toward Dixie Highway. His plans will create excessive damages and nuisances that commercial property creates. The loading docks proposed for McDonald Street will be directly in front of my home. I am very sure that you are aware that trucks will have to turn around in the middle of McDonald Street and back in to load and unload. This is my retirement home and I have worked very hard and put my life's earnings in it. I do not have another place I care to move to. I am deeply concerned about the increase in property taxes and property insurance. I would appreciate a cleaner environment and a better quality of life for this area. The Rainbow Plaza site (Farmers Market) is adjacent to the Post Office Plaza site on the corner of Florida Avenue and McDonald Street. The developer of the Rainbow Plaza site talked with me in July, 1986, and explained he no longer had permission from the City of Miami to build the shopping plaza. fie wants permission to build a parking lot on the Florida Avenue side of the site. He did that he needed to make fast money. If Mr. Ron Fine is allowed t pi4gcipublic will you deny the Rainbow Plaza developer the ottinit tbuj.1d his? Yrod in Yonnoection with �� attY Hirai WNW age The Rainbow Plaza site is directly in front of my home and is an eyesore to Coconut Grove residents and very offensive for me to have to live near it. The site is filled with construction materials and the air is polluted and choking. The impact from heavy tractors and trucks loading and unloading every day shakes the windows and doors of my home. The dust and grit has destroyed my furniture and draperies. It is dangerous to walk out there because the trucks drive across the sidewalks all the time. The corner of Florida Avenue and McDonald is very hazardous with trucks, tractors, cars, strange people and loud noises. The commercial property owners are making it that way and permitting commercial development will make it worse. The developers are only concerned with making money. They don't care about how we have to live. Please help us keep our community a safe, clean, quiet and affordable place to live. Sincerely, Grad Y L Dinkins 3201 Florida Avenue Miami, Fl. 33133 OON coconut grove civic club po box 381 coconut grove florida 33133 November 10, 1986 Mayor and Commissioners City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Fl. 33133 Attn: Mayor Xavier Suarez ✓ Vice Mayor Miller Dawkins Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Rosario Kennedy Commissioner J. L. Plummer Re: Reconsideration of Post Office Plaza The issue before the commission on November 13, is not whether Mr. Fine has scaled down his project or whether or not that project will be an asset to Coconut Grove and the City of Miami. The issue is whether or not reconsideration is appropriate in zoning matters. The three months that Mr. Fine would have to wait in order to determine if his revised project is acceptible to the Community are a small price to pay to insure the integrity of the zoning process. The process has been set up for the good of everyone. Reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza applications nine months after the Commission turned them down constitutes special treatment that will inevitably lead to more requests for similar treatment by others. I agree with Mr. Huber Parson Jr.'s analysis in his letter of April 10, 1986, to Mayor Suarez which I have attached. I urge you to deny reconsideration of this project and to pass the ordinance which would limit reconsideration to the next regularly scheduled Commission meeting. Respectfully yours, James G. McMaster President Submitfed into the public t record in connec4ion affirai on � at City Clerk lli�ir�.it .tl'�IrtNit 1'.ttr�:rtN�;,.11t. April 10, 1986 The Honorable Xavier L. Suarez Mayor The City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Plorida 33133 rao VIA HAND DELIVERY URGENT Re: "Post Office Plaza"; Agenda of this date - Item No. 68 Dear Mayor Suarez: I write to urge you to vote against the reconsideration of Post office Plaza whether or not on appropriate re -application you ultimately determine that the same as materially scaled down is or is not in the public interest. The reasons for this are two -fold: First, this matter is not, and will not be for some considerable period of time for various reasons relating to the regular complexities and difficulties of re -design, the community input process, and the administrative evaluation process, ripe for evaluation, judgment, and decision. Second, and far more importantly, it appears as a policy matter to be considerably adverse to the interests of the City for previously turned -down land use issue matters to be decided on a "reconsideration" basis. An attachment is enclosed indicating the policy reasons supporting this latter item. In short, those reasons relate to: adherence to long-standing and reasoned policies of the City as expressed in the zoning ordinance relating to re -applications; uniformity of treatment and equality before the law of all; avoidance of liability to and litigation against the City; the encouragement of compliance with zoning ordinance requirements, citizen concerns, city administration concerns and board poncerns; avoidance of double Commission P&Z W_ The Honorable Xavier L. Suarez April 10, 1.986 Page 2 workloads; avoidance of loss of equitable and justifiable City revenues off -setting re -application costs and expenses; providing finality (and attendant municipal tranquility) in respect of Commission decisions; and not overburdening the citizenry. The foregoing reasons are bona fide, realistic, and put forward in good faith. As always, thank you for your consideration of this matter. With all good wishes, I am, C dially yours, Huber R. Parsons, J . Go 110I,1CY A(;A1N:i'I' 0T1LIZATION OF "IIECONSTDE.RATTONS" TN LAND USE MATTERS Traditionally, the "reconsideration" mechanic has not bean a1.1owed by the Commission to be utilized in "turned -down" land rise issue matters. What has traditionally occurred is that all applicants have been required to adhere to the time honored and reasoned provisions of the zoning ordinance which provide for. equal --- and not special -- treatment for all concerned, including the public. When the requirements of the zoning ordinance are imposed on all, there can be no liability to the City or lawsuits rightly grounded against the City; and there can be no complaint by either applicants or the citizenry as to "special treatment" or inequality before the law. If the "reconsideration" mechanic is only selectively or occasionally utilized, then there will be the potentially troublesome question raised by the public as to the why of the basis for such special treatment. Correspondingly, those applicants not obtaining a "reconsideration" will allege unequal treatment before the law. There will be no standards and, therefore, inconsistent decisions; there will be a lot of unhappy people, there will be a lot of litigation, and there will be some liability. X The effect of the system as imposed by zoning ordinance as it has generally worked has been to encourage applicants to seek reconciliation with interested neighbors, citizens, and community groups, to seek mutual accommodations with the policies and goals of the City and its departments, to make appropriate adjustments as informally requested or otherwise communicated by, as applicable, the Zoning Board and/or the Planning Advisory Board -- all to the end that a land use decision is nicely adjusted, developed, and inputted at the point that it is presented for decision to the Commission. I Lhe "ruc:onsiduraLion" mechanic is cu:,,t-rm;trily W:i 1 i zod, thon appl ic♦int:s, will. not be encouraged to present the best balanced request to the Commission since an applicant will know that there is at least one good second bite remaining at the zoning apple. That will lead to more aggressive zoning regoc sts. That will. lead to more turn -downs. That will lead to more "reconsiderations". The net work result for the Commission is that it will be further overloaded -- entirely unnecessarily -- by P&Z matters. Likewise, the departments of the administration which deal with these matters will correspondingly be further overloaded. As to the citizenry, the experience is that, even in applications to which there should be serious citizen concern and objection, only infrequently do citizens, neighborhoods, and community groups come forward to contest in a meaningful and sustained manner land use issues. The "reconsideration" mechanic will further allow, in consequence, powerful economic interests which have staying power to beat down the public at large. The "reconsideration" mechanic requires more or less double work and cost (e.g., professional analysis, advertising costs, and the like) to the City's administration yet no further application fees can be charged. Since application fees in material part support the administration's budget in respect of the costs and expenses of the P&Z process, this will result in a significant budgetary negative. 0 D 719 ` �yc �omm i �ss i o n Pan American Drive Miami, F1. 33133 3540 Florida Avenue Coconut Grove, F1. 33133 October 28, 1986 Honorable Mayor and Commissioners: _ a I am writing in regard to the reconsideration of the Post Office Plaza in Coconut Grove. _ Suppose that the developer has scaled down the project. As a resident of the area and one who is most familiar with the already crowded corner of Florida Avenue and McDonald Street, profit should not be allowed for one developer to completely destroy the residential neighborhood. Since turning Fines $25 million Mediterranean Village down in February, the homeowners have had to constantly go to City Hall to listen to discussions about this project. We cannot even take a vacation. _� It seems that Mr. Fine is only interested in dollar signs while we are fighting for quality of life, a clean, quiet, beautiful neighborhood and the ability to maintain our sanity. You are our elected officials and we must depend entirely upon you to protect us from the damages this project would do to this section of Coconut Grove. We do not need a parking lot next to our bedrooms where we sleep, u overcrowded land use and more heavy traffic. The appropriateness of this project is non -justifiable. It is out of scale with the community. Drug stores, 7-11 and Scotty type stores are fine. They are family oriented and represent the needs of this community. No individual dwelling, according to good architectural planning, should ever be considered apart from its environment. If this is true then the parking building would divide the neighborhood and it is very - unreasonable to impose it on the homeowners in the neighborhood. My wife and I have lived in Coconut Grove since 1926 and raised and educated five children. One was killed in action in the US Navy. The others live in Coconut Grove and make valuable contributions to this community. I hope they can continue to live in a good environment and raise their families. I am sure the parking lot, with the dirty loading docks, will serve no good purpose in the corner of Florida Avenue and McDonald Street. _ I at sure you will defend our neighborhood environment and will not approve parking in our neighborhood. 64mitted i4to the public Sincerely, record in connection Jtq 4temZ7_on v! Melvin Jackson atty Hirai City Clerk