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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-80-0173RESOLUTION NO, 8 0 - 1 7 3 • A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL IN PRINCIPAL OF THE COCONUT GROVE BUSINESS CENTER. PUBLIC • PARKING FACILITIES FEASIBILITY STUDY, AS PER THE ATTACHED, WHICH STUDY IS IN CONFORMITY WITH THE. MIAMI COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN. WHEREAS, the Mia.nii Planning Advisory Board, at its meeting of January 16, 1980, Item No. 2, following, an advertised hearing, adopted Resoltition No. PAT?, 5-.80 by a 7 to 0 vote recommending in principle the Coconut Grove Business Center Public.Parking Facilities Feasibility Study; and • WHEREAS, the City Commission deems it advisable and in the best interest of the general welfare of the City of Miami and its inhabitants to recommend said study; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE, C0lvNTISSIOT4 nr TPF CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The Coconut GroveBusiness Center Public Parking Facilities Feasibility Study, as per the attached, which study is inconformity with the Piiaini Coinlprehensive 1\leighborhood Plan, be and the same is hereb,r recommended in principle. v1 FEBRIJARY PASSED AND ADOPTED tl-tis • 28ay of •1980. MAURICE A. FERRE MAURICE A. FERRE, MA Y (") (/ F'.AL(Bli G. ONGIE CITY CLERK PREPARED AND APPROVED BY: / c 91/ J. MICHAEL HAYGOOD'v) // ASSISTANT CITY ATTO,.EY G CIT ITEM NO..__L_9 AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: PORTIVE FOLLOW" CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF FEB?, 8 980 8 0 - 1 7 3 RUOWTION NO *Ulna ••••••••• s'N Business Center Public Parking Facilities Feasibility Study To approve in principle the Coconut Grove Parking Study The City Commission, by Resolution 78-301; • April 22, 1978 directed that consultant services be sought for a public parking facilities feasibility study of the Coconut Grove Business Center. Consultant selection and contract negotiations with Joseph F. Rice consulting team by Resolution 78-666; Octo- ber 24, 1978. Contract execution was author- ized by Resolution 79-174; March 8, 1979 and the contract was signed March 23, 1979. Fund- ing was authorized from the third year Com- munity Development Block Grant. The purpose of the study was four -fold: a) to identify any parking deficiencies; b) t6 prove financial feasibility; c) to make better use of the existing parking supply, and d) to suggest any appropriate changes in the C-2A zoning district. The parking inventories were conducted in April and May, 1.979 with subsequent selected verification. Citizen meetings were held on May 15, July 12, and December 1.9, 1979 to discuss the study as it progressed. The study was also discussed before the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce on July 26, 1979. Tech- nical progress of the study was Tonitored by a Technical Review Committee comprised of representatives of the Planning, Public Works, and Off -Street Parking Departments. The study findings are as follows: 1. There is no deficiency in parking space in the C-2A area at this time. Existitig parking demand is not sufficient to amortize a revenue bond issue for a public parking garage. 3 PLANNING FACT SHEET APPLICANT City of Miami Planning Department:Dec. 17,1979 PETITION 2.Consideration of recommending approval, in principle, of the Coconut Grove REQUEST BACKGROIJND - • ANALYSIS "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" 8 0 1 7 3 RECOMMENDATION PLANNING DEPARTMENT 10 . 3. Thereis ••-to,Omnch..lotig•:.terM'•,(.4;•:.,hOUrS • -• • --•-:',••.'Or'mOre)•••Ctirb-,Parking..., utilization. • . • • • • - • _ -• • • • • --• •••, 4. • - • Existing. Parking lots need to be • -•.'- •-•,identified better. •••, • Development 1pressures will result in the. •replacement-,Of-SOme-i-.-exiStingi parking lots --With•••••neW• • . , • The immediate study recommendations are as follows: • Parking meters should be speedily re install.ed following the completion of the beautification project. Two hour parking meters should be in- stalled in all streets in tile C-2A zone. A parking validation system should be developed. Virginia Street, between Grand Avenue and Florida Avenue, should be designated a "Mini Transit Alan". Virginia ,Street, between. Grand-, Ave, nne and Florida -Avenue should - he designated One -Way ,northbound.- - • • • . „ • Peripheral off-street parking lots should be encouraged. for .employees., The Playhouse parking lot Should be -:used for low cost all day parking, Valet parking ispaCe-should he,.1.iipited to 50 .percent • of the Parking spaces in -7ew development. _ • • ▪ The:PlayhoUse lot §hOnicr• be up A "shuttle" or "tram" service .should be considered, connecting the '•Center with the parking lots at Dinner Ke ' •:-' • Other mid 'z111.1d1.;n;e11;,,,a;f!-7ecomni,:ndations are aiso made _SUPPORTIVE APPROVAL Y • DOCU• MENTS FOLLOW" 80-173 PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD Recommended January 16, 1980 by a 7-0 vote. "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" RESOLUTION:' NO. PAB RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. IN PRINCIPLE OF THE COCONUT GROVE BUSI- NESS CENTER PUBLIC PARKING FACILITIES` FEASIBILITY STUDY. "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" '80- 1'73 ugone Director Planning and Zoning Boards Administration Mayor and City Commission Attention: Mr. Joseph R. Grassie City of Miami, Florida re: STUDY - RECOMMEND /N PRINCIPLE The Coconut Grove Business Center Public Parking Facilities Feasibility Study Initiated by: Planning Department ur Gentlemen: The Miami Planning Advisory Board, at its meeting of January 16,1980, Item #2, following an advertised Hearing, adopted Resolution.No. PAB 5-80 by a 7 to 0 vote Recommending approval in PRINCIPLE of the Coconut Grove Business Center Public Parking Facilities Feasibility Study, as per the attached. A RESOLUTION to provide for this Study has been prepared by the.city Attorney's office and submitted for consideration -of -the City- CommIssi. on. Sincerely, cm cc:. Law Department planning Department Tentative City Commission date: F7bruary:28,198G: ' . "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" I 3 1 smossavammiggeSVIVVARMOS 2. CONSIDERATIONOF RECOMMENDING APPROVAL, IN PRINCIPLE, OF.THE COCONUT GROVE BUSINESS` CENTER PUBLIC PARKING FACILITIES FEASIBILITY STUDY. Secretaryfiled proof of publication of Legal Notice of Hearing. Oath was administered to all those testifying at this Hearing. PLANNING' DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION '. APPROVAL Mr. Joe McManus: I'm Joe 'McManus, Assistant Director of the Planning Department. The Coconut Grove Parking.; Study was initiated back in April of 1978 and the. actual studieswere done approximately later in April/May of 1979. The purpose of the study was basically fourfold to identify any parking deficiencies in the area; to prove any financial feasibility for constructing public parkin facilities; to make better use of the existing parking supplied, and to suggest any appropriate changes in the C-2A zoning` district which encompasses most of the business center in Coconut Grove. For thebenefit of the Board I would like to point out that we have been involved in extensive citizen participation. We have had citizens rneetings in May, July and December of this year. In addition, there was a'presentation :made 'before rthe Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce in July of this year. In eachone of these meetings the progress of the study to that particular point was presented to those present. In addition, there has, been a technical review committee comprised of representatives from the Planning Department and the Public Works Departmentand Off -Street Parking, to review this study again at various progress points. I would now like to turn the presentation over to Mr. Joe Rice, the consultant for the study and he will explain the':, principal inventory and analysis and recommendations of the study. Mr. _ Rice: My-- - --- - -- ---- Rice. theconsulting engineer ----- led the group_. that prepared this study I have offices at 1800 Coral Way in the City of Miami and practice thereas a consulting engineer. The other "members of the tearn, for the record, are: The First Research Corporation; our planner, Mr. Tad Dooney, an associate of mine and who is here tonight; the architectural firm of ." Martinez and Hope who gave us our graphics backup; Mr. Lou Forte, the construction en- gineer on whom we depended'; for certain elements who is not here tonight. As was pointed out, this study was originally to start late in '73 and "through a series of events it did not get under way until about April of '79. At that time the construction work was underway, as the Board knows, and as stated, in the report and because, of that we did some extra work which we felt would be helpful in evaluating and in maintaining the character of this study. I will keeD this short and answer any questions that you have later. Before you, you see in the grean area the outline of the project study area that we were "given by contract. The red ". area outlines the C-2A zone which is the zoning classification for most of the Coconut Grove business area and is the, end product of a zoning study that was first reported in 1973 and later modified in part in 1975. The out- growth is the zoning that is there now. This is the document. "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" -30-` January .16, 1980 `Item PAB 80-173 "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" That we did was look at the blocks in the Grove as census blocks. These lend themselves to some of the evaluations not only for our study but any future studies that might be desired as a follow-on or update and in particular, since the census occurs this year, we felt that this might be helpful in relating back any unique factors that we were not able to define. The pie shaped charts indicate the parking efficiency that is the total number of spaces in the area divided by the number of spaces that were occupied during the period of our checks. The arrow indicates the nuniber of spaces that are off-street and are in parking lots regardless of their classification and represent - if it were 100% utilized - the circle would be pink all the way around or red and that would represent 144 spaces that were utilized for at least 8 hours a day. The "C" indicates the number of spaces at the curb for that particular area and in this case the one for Lot 103 is 59 curb spaces. As you see, we've done this for each of the areas as I mentioned before and the efficiency index for the curb parking is represented by the smaller numbers just behind the curbs which represent, in percent, the number of curb parking spaces that were occupied during the evaluation period. For example, 98% occupancy is shown on the south side of Conunodore Plaza at the time of the basic study would represent that all of the parking spaces there during the 8-hour period, they were occupied 98% of the time. This chart indicates the space hours parked by time -period and the number of hours consumed in these categories. This is very important in the evaluation and the utilization of the space available and rep- resents, for example..., that in the category of cars that were parking for 51/2 hours just above the "D" in park, that there were approximately 100 hours of time consumed by vehicles that were parking 51/2 hours. By the same token, there were almost 400 hours used in the 30 minutes This indicates where the parking periods are by accumulation - accumulation being the total number of cars that are parked at these time periods for the hours beginning 7 :00 A.M.' , to 8 :00 P .M. , and show that the hour beginning 1:00 P.M. was the largest parking accumu- lation - that is, the largest number of cars that were parked in Coconut Grove during the day. This chart represents what we call commercial or public off-street parking lots and we define those as being the lots that are available for use without restriction. That is, you do not have to be an owner or an employee or a patron of some particular place of business in order to legally park in these lots. All you need is the money to pay a fee. The Playhouse lots constitutes two of them, the ones on each side and there are 131 spaces there. There are two Village Inn parking lots, totalling 54 spaces. What we call the Falenberg .lots running between Main and Grand compri.se.s 81 spaces and the Blue Water Marine lot comprises 133 parking spaces. These are those most central to the entire parking operation in Coconut Grove. The green lines on the charts represents what happened yesterday; that was the day of our last check on this. You can see where the peaks and valleys are, they still foll.ow the 11:00 to 3:00 routine basically. Playhouse lots peak on days of matinees. This chart sums up our parking conclusions and where we believe are some potential areas of relief in Coconut Grove. The areas bordered in red rer)resents Tahere Ipc....lieve the installation of parking meters would facilitate the availability of parking spaces to visitors and to customers and clients that are corning to Coconut Grove. And I stress those words. In surimation, basically there are four elements in Coconut Grove that can substantially i.rtiprove the availability of parkincj and the -31- January 16, 1980 Item 2 PAB parking operation as it relates to the community at large and certainly to the merchants there. One of them is remote site. Themain problem we found at the curb was that for reasons of safety, proximity,'„ diverse ones - people who didn't want to pay ` for parking or parking because the meters weren't installed yet. Remote site parking is one of the answers to the problem.; There are only two places where this might occur 'although `there is the potential of a third. One of them is the Playhouse lots which are on a corner `and ''this would qualify as remote parking.. The second is Dinner Hey parking out here. As government structures moves out of the Dinner 'Key`area, then where the ;temnorarvbuildings are now, Public Works, Zoning offices, Planning offices, some ofthat area I don't say all of it - but some of " that area could and should be made available for surface parking. Ultimately -it°could"be decked if necessary. This would require a shuttle or tram tye operation to completely serve the entire district of the C-2A area. Meters are in red where they ought to be installed. This is a commercial area C-2A, it's just like downtown exceptit's not in downtown. And there should be metersat the curb to ensure the turnover for all of the commercial area. Since the mstcrs do not now exist`and are not pre-empted for maintaining some of the financial: backing for the bond structure of the Off -Street Parking Department, that these be considered for establishing a trust fund to be used in the C-2A area for improvement of parking and for upgrading these operations throughout this area. Safety is an area that's nebulous; difficult to pin down and verify by tests , and by interviews. 1^le do believe it plays a part here in the Grove and if wecan get' cross -connections "through good; planning in, for instance, between Commodore Plaza - we get connecting :links into the area where <Thomas is now `=that this might provide improved; safety and movement. Validation is a tried and accepted plan in many areas. Its sponsor- ship should be commercial people ` in the private community. '- It can work but like everything else, it needs some work to make it work. I hit the nigh spots here but the hour is advancing and I think I hit on most probably everything except what we found and what we continue to find and that is long-term parking at the curb. It's vary difficult to say anything against this other than it tends to cut off the hand that feeds it. For people thatpark at the;, curb instead of leaving room for their customers, their customers can't find a place to park and they get concerned. That's why we have continuous emphasis on off -site parking; and on remote site parking. We feel that 30% of curb parking that exists now that is long-time parking which we define as 4 hours or longer. The average parker at .the curb where the meters exist is just under 2 hours. You get about a turnover of 5 utilizations or 5 users per parking meter space if they can get to it and use it. These are customers. I'll rest here, lime. Chairman, for your. questions. Mr. Milian: Mr. Rice, I was reading the letter you sent to Mr. Reid $50.00 per square foot and the.improvigh.:cost`of landin;Coconut Grove on January 9 1980 it says: 'The 11 ements to be obtained by better management of the parking resources would makeit impossible to defray the cost with current levelsof revenue.' Now I was looking at your feasibility study and theland cost that you're utilizing is about $32.00 per square foot. This variation fron $50.00 to $32.00 - would it make your evaluation different? i'ou1c1this study still be the same regardless? Am I understanding it wrong?. Mr. Rice: Like everything connected with Parking and especially` here in the Grove, it's dynamic. > It changes.` The $50.00 is based on recent information or recent advertised land sales prices which I can "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" January 16, 1930 Item 2 PAB 8 0 - 1 7 3 "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" parking operation as it re.lates to the community at large. and certainly to the merchants there. One of them is remote site. The main problem we found at the curb was that for reasons of safety, proximity, diverse ones - people echo didn't want to pay for parking - or parking because the meters weren't installed yct. Remote site parking is one of the answers to the probl.em. There are only two places where this might occur although there is the potential of a third. One of them is the Playhouse lots which are on a corner and this would qualify as remote The second is Dinner i:ey parking out here. As government structures moves out of the Dinner Key area, then where the temporary buildings are now, Public Works, Zoning offices, Planning offices, some of that area - I don't say all of it - but SOTtle of that area could and should be made available for surface parking. Ultimately it could be decked if necessary. This would require a shuttle or tram type operation to comole..tely serve the entire district of the C-2A area. Meters are in red where they ought to be installed. This is a commercial area - C-2A, it's just like downtown except it's not in downtown. And there should be meters at the curb to ensure the turnover for all of the commercial area. Since the meters do not now exist and are not nre-empted for maintaining some of the financial backing for the bond structure of the Off -Street Parking Department, that these be considered for establishing a trust fund to be used in the C-2A area for improvement of parking and for upgrading these operations throughout this area. Safety is an area that's nebulous; difficult to pin down and verify by tests and by interviews. We do believe it PlaYs a Part here in the Grove.. and if we can get cross-conne.ct.ions through good planning in, for instance, between Commodore Plaza - we get connecting links into the area where Thomas is now - that this might provide improved safety and movement. Validation is a tried and accepted plan in many areas. Its sponsor- ship should be commercial people in the private community. It can work but like everything else, it needs some work to maize it work. I hit the high spots here but the hour is advancing and I think I hit on most probably everything except what we found and what we continue to find and that is long-term parking at the curb. It's vary difficult to say anything against this other than it tends to cut off the hand that feeds it. For people that park at the curb instead of leaving room for their customers, their customers can't find a place to park and they get concerned. That's why we have continuous emphasis on off --site parking and on remote site parking. We feel that 30% of curb parking that exists now that is long -tine parking which we define as 4 hours or longer. The average parker at the curb where the meters exist is just under 2 hours. You get about a turnover of 5 utilizations or 5 users per parking meter space if can get to it and use it. _ , they These are customers. I'll rest here, Mine. Chairman, for your questions. Mr. Milian: Mr. Rice, I was reading the letter you sent to Mr. Reid on January 9, 1980 - it says: 'The high cost of land in Coconut Grove - $50.00 per square foot and the improvements to be obtained by better management of the parking resources would make it impossible to defray the cost with current levels of revenue.' Now I was looking at your feasibility study and the land cost that you're utilizing is about $32.00 per square foot. This variation from $50.00 to $32.00 - would it make your evaluation different? Would this study still be the same regardless? Am I understanding it wrong? Mr. Rice: Like everything connected with Parking and especially here in the Grove, it's dynarni.c. It changes. The $50.00 is based on recent information or recent advertised land sales prices which I can Item 2 January 16, 1980 -32- pio 80-17t3 furnish you if you wish, the $32.00 was based on a generalized one to answer your question, yes, it would make a difference but not enough to make off-street parking as such and development of an off street garage by the Miami Off -Street Parking Authority to meet the requirements of the C-2A zone feasible at this time. /irs. Lichtenstein: I read your study with great interest because I never can find a parking space in Coconut Grove. I love Coconut Grove but I can never find a parking space. Now you could maybe sneak into the Post Office parking lot, right? And we do sort of do that but I can't find a parking space. And in your study when you say people are willing to walk 5 blocks to go to a retail store, I wouldn't walk 5 blocks. I wouldn't walk 5 blocks to go into any store. I• 11 get in my car and go elsewhere. So I do not cluestion your figures, but I question the timing. You say in 1 to 3 years there will be a need for garage parking spaces. ,..7e built one in our City and in one year it's not big enough - it's under -capacity from the day they opened - like our new roads. I do still see the need despite your figures and I went through it all, page by page. I like your idea of reducing the parking time to a 2-hour limit. I think there's a need to extend the parking me.ters. I think Coconut Grove with the trams - you mentioned sponsors for the trams. It's a good point. Do you think it's feasible? Do you think people would pay to ride on someone's private train? Or could you even get sponsors? I don't know. Off -site parking - I think the idea is excellent.; to bring people in and let them park their cars. This has worked in other sections of the City. But I do see the need for parking in Coconut Grove and I do see it within the year. upgrading - I think that's a good point. Are you going to change your mind in March? P,ice: You asked about five or six questions and if I may I'll touch on each of them beginning with the. inability to find a parking Place. It's very difficult to find where the parking IS in Coconut Grove. We went through this in some detail with the Metro's Depart- ment of Traffic and Transportation and with the people in the Planning Department to be sure that aesthetically we don't violate anything here but there is absolutely a crying need for added signing to show where the parking lots are. It's my understanding that one of the reasons it's not there right now on the 16th is that it's being pro- duced as a part of the overall signing package for Coconut Grove. But that ought to come soon. Every time we checked, with the possibility of one hour on one Saturday afternoon, there has been available parking spaces in each of those off -site lots. The problem, of course, is that it's going to cost to park there and it's difficult to find them. And perhaps the difficulty of finding them is even more critical for some- one that really wants to park than the cost involved. All I can rest on is the fact that as we have found them over the last several months to be difficult to find. Your question on sponsors. This might be a candidate utilization for parkiner meter funds and the new parking area if this is kept in a trust fund for this kind of thing. It's done that way in some other areas. I don't know whether we would want to do it here. I do believe that if it's going to be clone, that it has to be done properly otherwise it will fall flat on its face. And if it's going to be done solely in the name of increased parking, then it has to have a frequency that's going to be fairly rapid - 20 minute headways maybe - private sponsorship would probably be the best possible way to go. If you have private sponsorship, you've got to at least break. even. You can't operate privately in the red unless it's subsidized by the merchant. community. What that means is a charge of some kind, either a modest one or a break even one; somewhere between 10 and 25G a ride most likely, at least e i 1)ased on experiencn other areas. "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" -33- January 16, 1930 Item 2 PAB 8 0 " 1 7 3 (comment from N1em)3 e r not audible) Mr. Rice: I've seen the vehicles that they've used, 1 did not know what its routs was earlier. Th3 value of the Dinner Key off -site parking coulrl very well be if employers would provide for their employees, at no cost to the employee, transportation to and from here and would see to it that they could safely get from their car to work and back to their car with reasonable assurance that their car would be safe, then this is one of those things that would uncover a lot of those parking meters. Mr. Rosichan: I have concerns putting remote site meters into the proposed parking at Dinner Key from which there would be transportation. If You did this. PeoPle would almost automatically detour to a shopping center where no such charge was imposed bscause as it is, they have to park at a remote site and be transported and now you're going to ask them to pay on top of that. I would imagine that would deter business rather than encourage it. Also, the matter of existing Parking lots in Coconut Grove- I'm never able to find space in a parking lot in Coconut Grove. I generally end up circling around the five points where there's a fast turnover of parking spaces and usually within five minutes, I can get something right near the corner. But I don't go to the Grove that often - Meters in the downtown Grove area are needed. 1 agree that the time should be shorter but shouldn't you provide for people that want to make use of PEACOCK PARK as we often have and other people I know have? Also, shouldn't vou make sure that no one has a short-term meter in front of his or her residence? Mr. Rice: The answer to most of your questions is yes. Certainly, you don't want a meter in front of your residence. If some of these red marks do get in front of residences, it's because of error in the Pen - because none were intended. The charge for parking and availability to Peacock Park - please note that our study area included McFarlane but we proposed that no change be made on the meters outside the C -2A area. And the meters on McFarlane that are 4-hour Parking meters at this time, are outside the C -2A areas. They would stay as is, down on the lower end of McFarlane. Now a lot of time there's vacant space there; not all the time, but a lot of times on the meters. But other than that, I don't think at least from our studies, that we could find space in the C -2A area that could be allocated even informallY to underwrite the recreational needs as they may evolve from Peacock Park. Again, that's a Saturday or Sunday rather than a week -day peak demand - that is for recreation in the Park anvway. Saturday matinees at the theaters do Pose some Peaking factors down on the southern part on Main but I don't think we would be affecting the Park any more than it is now. The increased space here at Dinner Key would probably be of more help to the Park because you could stroll along the shore eventually and get there. I don't know which lots you're referring to but the one that con- sistently gets full - and that's from about 11;30 to 1:30 or 2:00 is the one right next to the Village Inn. At least that's the only one in the months we've been checking this that that has occurred. Mr. Rosichan: What about meters at remote site parking? Mr- Rice: If this were set up primarily for business, you're correct it could - except that the merchants that were sponsoring the tram if this were the case, could agree to reimburse by virtue of small tokens to put in the parking meters or to give credit toward purchases for those that park there. I wouldn't anticipate this as being the big thing "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" -34- January 16, 1930 Item 2 PAI3 80-173 for customer parking.. Sightseeing yes - customers are going to get closer to where they are. You mentioned that after circling the block for up to 5 minutes, you founda place to park. Well, that's exactly what we found in our survey; that within 5 minutes you could find a place to park at the curb. � Mr. Rosi chan site parking? Mr. Rice: Only in a very general way. There was interest expressed in having added parking. There was no, indication that the, merchants would` be c11irious1y happy over having meters in the remote site parking. But then, "we didn't talk about it nrimarily as a customer thing. That is an openquestion. Mrs. Rockefeller: Are there any further questions Being` none, we will now go into the public hearing. AIr. Mobley: Mme Chairman and Members of the Board, my name is Alan Mobley. My office is at 3300"Rice ,Street which". I` believe is #31 on the chart. I'lljust give you the basis of my opinions and some of my observations. rly"family has been in business. in Coconut Grove' from 1946. I've lived here the entire time. I'm in Coconut Grove every day of the year with the exception of maybe, Christmas; various times "'of the day both driving, on foot and bicycle. I've `talked .with Mr. Rice quite', a bit during this study. I don't agree with so e of the conclusions and recommendations. I would concur with the Board Members the general observation of my tanants, their business invitees, quests.." and just. general people thatI"run into on the street as" 'Where "can ,I;.park my car?' rb There's'an obvious preference p to Dark in."a`free space; over space that is charging a fee. What this is resulting in, is a lot of conflict because you're having people; parking in spaces and going some- where ease. Tall: to the manager of the Qwik" Chek or go by there on any Saturday afternoon and; see the number of cars that are towed out of there. If you're unfortunate enough todrive to the Post Office any day of the week, not even during the Christmas season, there's no parking, space. If you ao into the Post Office, there's no one there. So the first study saying there is no deficiency of Parking space in the Grove is incorrect. _I think it wouid havebeen better to say there are ,parkingspaces but they're ;badly distributed. Board '.Members? Another conclusion which 1 think is correct - saying 'the.develop- ment pressures will result in the replacement of some existing parking lots with new buildings' - I think this is an inescapable conclusion and I would suggest that in the next three vears, some of these off- street parking lots - the 404 .spaces - will be developed into buildings with parking for their own internal use. So,I think thatwhat you're looking at is a worsening of the situation because given land values as Mr. Rice has expressed, and the current inflationary trend and the speculation inthe area, the property is only Going to get more valuable and more expensive. And if the governmental entity cannot even break evenon running a parking lot,;I thinkit's really stretching the`imagi- nation to think that in three Years, someone is going to convert one of these valuable parcels into a parking lot. If it is not feasible now, I don't think it's going to be feasible in the future. I realize this is a rather dim prospect but I think you are going to see :a"diminished amount of parking. Another thing that was not brought out in the survey because it is too new, is at least in my part of the Grove, we have our first mall. i refer to Mayfair. Now the principals involved in it, don't call it a shopping center. Personally, I don't care what the rent is or the cost of what's being sold in there, -I consider it a shopping center which, I think, is putting' a greater pressure for parking neecl in the "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" area. Mayfair has converted all the parking in its original building to valet parking which is a point I want to get to in Mr. Rice's recommendations. I think everyone here is aware of the barriers valet parking puts toward usage. People have a rather well-founded concern of turning the care and custody of their car over to a stranger. Even if the valet parking is free, there's an implied gratuity for the person parking their car. \ lot of times it isn't free. At Mayfair, I don't believe it is free. Third point is, there's a time element involved. People are in a hurry, they're impulsive they don't want to wait for someone to come park the car, or they don't want to wait to retrieve it. So I think that you should consider in your recommendations and in Mr. Rice's recommendations, that valet parking not be allowed in the. C -2A area. My empirical experience has been that it doesn't work. If people will not use a Oc nominal fee lot where they drive in, they're certainly not going to wait and pay $1.50 or $2.00 or $3.09 to have their car valet parked. The other observation is, I have found in the Past four or five years that the remote site parkina ordinance in the C -2A that has been in effect that there has been a development of restaurants and associated businesses that cater to automotively arrived traffic, so to speak, and beauty parlors. TheY've been allowed to go on a Parcel with no on -site parkina. They have what I refer to as oar Parking. They have allegedly, theoretically leased parking in one of these various lots, whether it's Ellenberg's lot or whatever and this is what theY use to comply with the Code. I think that however well-meaning the Planning Depart- ment was in drafting this ordinance, I know it has been amended several times, to try to bring the parking closer to the site of operation. It goes against human nature to think that - a specific case in point - a person going to a restaurant like Baccanalia, if they're not told they're leasing parking meace off of Virginia Street, they're going to park in the first space they find. This just adds to the problem. I think one of Mr. Rice's most valid observations was that the free curb -side parking is being utilized all day long. In the specific case of Mayfair where the employees, the lessees, the vendors et cetera are not allowed to park on the premises. I asked the Zoning Department many times - 'Where do you exPect these PeoPle to park?' One of their replies is 'Well, the bank parking lot is leased.' That's from the close of business hours which is approximately 5:00 P.M. I believe that in this sPecific case, the mall °Pens at 10:00 in the morning and the employees get there at 9:00 or 9:30 - where are they going to park in the interim? These are the Points I wanted to bring out and as I said, I don't think the Parking situation is going to get better just due to the fact that the land values - unfortunately the City did not have the foresight or the means or whatever to acauire some land for a garage at some previous point, now unfortunately, it's too late. With the value of the ProPertY in the Grove, I think it's reasonable to assume that in the future these large parcels that are possibly being used as single - level parking now, will go to maybe a mall or multi -store arrangement and then to meet the Code and hopefully to have enough business sense to provide excess parking, the owner -developers will have on -site parking either underground or partially covered for their exclusive use which will remove this supposed surplus or sufficient narking that we have now from the public domain. And as I said, I think the problem is going to get worse. Thank you for your consideration. Mr. Sorg: My name is Stuart Sorg. I live at 3091 Lucaya and I'm president of the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce. I agree structurally with the requirements and needs for a parking survey. I compliment Mr. nice and.his group for what they have done. I do take major issues "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" -36- January 16 1980 Item 2 PA13 80-173 1 two of them, at this particular time. First of all, the premise on which I feel this parking survey was authorized was that to locate or identify :-.A.ther existina or d.eficienci....s in parking and the second is to make some recommendations as far as a parking garage is concerned. The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, which now represents 175 members which we're very proud of, recommends any postponement - we do recom- mend a postponement of a consideration of a parkina survey at this particular 'time. We will undertake in the next 45 to 60 days a complete in-deoth parking survey where we will identify for you new traffic and parking recommendations; we will show also the requirement where im- mediately today a parking garage is needed, we will show where that location should be; how it should be purchased and how it should be utilized. As I say, this will be prepared and given to you in 45 to 60 days. We will also submit an in-depth survey which will cover the geographica-1 boundarie.s of Coconut Grove and add some more dimension to the study in itself. It's late right now and we'll make these recom- mendatic:ms to the. City Manager and also to the Planning Board. Thank you so much. Mr. Gibbs: My name is Tucker Gibbs and I'm president of the Coconut Grove Civic Club. I have two questions and a comment to make on this proposal. I' 11 direct it to th Chair and Mr. Ric. How many parking places in the Grove are actually designated in the public record as being countec.1 for required places of business? In other words, when Baccanali.a for example got the zoning for having a restaurant at that location, how many spaces were given to it in another parking lot that cannot be used for the general public? Do vou have that information? It ;las counted in this study then? Okay. Parking meters on Oak Avenue, Rice Street, Florida Avenue Ilary and Grand Avenue - how woulcl this affect the traffic flow.goi.ng into the Grove and throughout the. Grove? Mr. Rice: Specifically, the Baccanal.ia, the.ir off-street parking is in the ]3lue Water Marine. I don't have the exact number at my finaer - tips but we do have this for all 27 restaurants. The meter influence and its effect on traffic Patterns, the meter influence will simply provide added space and should reduce the circulation. You recall one of the previous comments was that You look and drive around for a space until you find one. This should substantially reduce the need to do that sort of thing because it will provide added turnover. Mr. Gibbs: In that case for example if you were travelling down Grand Avenue going toward the Village center, and somebody is backing into a space, the idea of off-street parking - I know when I drive into the Grove - I teach at Ransom-Everal.acles School and I drive from Ever- - glades campus on South Bayshore to the Ransom campus on the other side of the Village, and at the five points area People on Ilain Highway are constantly backing into their spaces and causinq traffic jams to the point where the traffic is all the way backed up into the center of that intersection - the light changes and here I am with a car aiming at my center. That's my question: I -low would the meters affect such traffic flow and jamming up traffic from one point where people are not looking for spaces? Mr. Rice: Wherever you get mano.euver on Main Highway where it's uo . . . close to the five points or back toward Commodore. plaza, it does in- fluence traffic. The alternative is to take the meters out. I think . this would be 13..ke offering someone a rusty knife and holding Inv neck up. The recent beautification projects have pretty much knocked out the potential for improvement if you did remove them because they've put these little knobs in there - or little islands - so that parling is now in a bay so to sPeak• The Parking You refer to could be the parking on both the vrest side and east side of Main itighway down right close to the the five points itself. fir. Gibbs: I'm referring to the parking on Grand Avenue, right here. "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS Fni 1 CA/" -37- January 16, 1980 Item 2 PAP, 8 0 - 1 7 x.,�..._...:.,..x, r� All the way up Mary Street down Oak Avenue Also on ,Matilda Flow will that affect the Mr. Rice: On. Oak, as Mr. Mobley mentioned earlier, up here you have parking bays now. They're there so I don't think that, that would adversely impact it. You do not have them on the north side:. Over here, if parking exists, it should be metered. If it's not to be per- rnitted"it should be enforced as not being permitted. But at the time we did this, there was a substantial amount of parking going on there. Down here (chart) same thing. The recent striping that's been going on, to delineate the roadway, does indicate that part of this may be involved in a moving lane. Over here, the parking has been there for some time. It just ought to be metered to break it up because they're staying there all ay and causing more problems than what they should. Up hero on Matilda right not, ' of course, you block 'Matilda between Florida and Oak during school periods. So there's nothing through' there. One of our specific conclusions was that in order to provide more pedestrian linkage through here, perhaps we ought to be considering a closure of part of .Matilda here to through traffic or to provide more narking at the curb. It's not all day only certain ;periods of the day. I didn't get into that because it was detailed in the final conclusions. me. Smith: I don't have the statistics to back up my feelings but it's my gut feeling thatthere is a need and demand for a parking garage in the Coconut Grove area. It appears that the merchants association and the people from the. Chamber of Commerce feel- likewise and they are in the process of trying to come up. with some plan to show there is a feasibility which might only be their opinion. .Because of this, I move that we postpone this hearing on this Item defer it - until March loth in order to give: them an opportunity to come up with their plans. Mr. Reid: I can make a recommendation to the Board because I. think :4r. Smith is responding to a very valid concern that's being raised here tonight. Number one, whether real or perceived therein a parking problem in the Grove as experienced by people and; as . evidenced and felt by the merchants. Number two, there are short-term options in terms of improving the existing parking problem that can be undertaken without the capital cost of a garage. The meters, the better :,.use of the space" we have now, the sicxnage, :"those kind of.. things. ,; I think we ought to go forward with this .report and do those things that we can now to immediately deal with the problem and leave the question." oven of whether the public or the garage can be oaicl for in the future. That cuestion depending on further information . from Mr. Sorg. " And ' I would hope Mr. Sorg's study would not only address" the need for a garage but how it might be paid for. My recommendation ;would be to accept the study in principle; to raise the concern about the validity of whether garages are needed and; to reconize that the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce is going to provide more definitive information, on that, and leave that question open. But; by all means, move: forward to take action in terms of the kinds of things that can be done now to alleviate the Problem. I think you ought to separate out the garage question from the short-term immediate .accomplishments that are suggested in the study. Mr. Luaces: Mr. " Smith, I think we can move forward with this, " taking into consideration the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Rockefeller I have a question for Mr.. Reid: Then, " would there be time assigned before_ this Board for the < Chamber. of Commerce to coma back with their plans and ideas, and if it does prove that this is not acceptable, then we could" look at it further'_ "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" (Mr. Reid responds but is not at microphone.) Mr. Smith: Mr. Reid, I withdraw the motion. It didn't get a second either. Mrs. Lichtenstein: If I understood Mr. Sorg, he said he could identify the financial responsib ility and how it would be financed. He said that he had ideas about the total parking in the Grove; not just the garage; that the people of Coconut Grove are requesting consideration from the City and from the Board - and if they're doing this at their expense and going through a total survey, I feel for one we surely should welcome their input. We just heard from people who say they have no input and these are people now in Coconut Grove - and they are not here tonight - that surprises me. Normally, when we have something on Coconut (rove, this entire Chamber is filled. I guess they felt there would be consideration for deferment until they could have their input. That is what they're asking for. I did hear Mr. Smith's motion, but because we have no microphones I could not second his motion quick (Mr. Reid makes statements but is not at microphone) Mrs. Lichtenstein: Mr. Reid, if I may, the improvements are on -going in Coconut. Grove right now for parking meters, for the streets and they have been long in the works. We do have them going on right now. Mr. Smith: The reason I 'withdrew the motion is simply because in this plan, it really doesn't commit itself to putting up any structures and if the Chamber decides they're going to put ue a structure which is going to be funded, I guess, by members of the Chamber because any structure funded by any government in the City of Miami is under the jurisdiction of the Off -Street Parking Authority. It's very difficult to get something out of them when they say 'not to anything. In thinking over my motion and adopting this plan would not preclude the people from Coconut Grove from coming in - if after theY've done their examination they decide that a structure needs to be built, and they can raise the funds to go ahead and to do that - it would be a private development. The meters pertaining to Dinner Key - they may be waiting for those buildings to be removed - those barracks - which the City may not even do. Mrs. Rockefeller: I think this is going to take care of the immedi- ate problem as well as it can be taken cars of until we hear from the Coconut Grove Civic Association. Mr. Mobley: Mme. Chairman and Members of the Board, I heartily concur with Mr. Reid's comments and I think it's gratifying to see that someone - you all want to move forward with this. I would say Mr. Sorg took a walk, I don't know. In all due respect, I think the Chamber of Commerce has been aware of the parking problem for a number of years. I can see nothing to be gained by delaying the adoption of this survey Mr. Rice, who has put a lot of work into it, has made. sneak with the concurrence of anproximately 42 to 43 of my tenants that are both businesses and offices. The Chamber of Commerce does not speak for everyone who is in business in Coconut Grove regardless of the number of members they have. There is also a Merchants Association. Like I say, I heartily concur with Mr. Reid's comments and Mr. Smith's and I think you should move forward and we should try to take whatever steps we can now that are well recommended in this. My own opinion is, part of the problem with the removal of meters is part of the program of beautification that was pushed by the Chamber of Commerce. So they are partially culnable for some of the problems on Main Highway and other areas, I think, because the meters were re- moved to put in the sidewalks and the lame :posts. -39- .January 16, 1980 Item 2 PAB "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" 8 0 - 173 INV Mr. Luaces: I would like to move to approve Item 2 of tonight's Mrs. Rockafellar: Is there anyone_ else wishing to sPealt on this Item? Bing none, we'll close the public hearing and go into discussion among the Board. Mrs. Lichtf-.3n.r.stein: fir. Rei.cl, did I understand you correctly that if we approve this in principle, this would not preclude the Chamber of Commerce in Coconut Grove from coming in with their study? It could be implemented with this study? You.see, the study recommends that we do not have a 13arl;incr garage in Coconut Grove. _ (nr. Reid makes certain statements not audible, not at microphone) i• Mrs. Lichtenstein: Yes, saying if we approve this n principle here tonight, which does say it does not recommend a parking garage, but now if they Coconut Grove Chamber of Conurterce comes in and says that there is a need and this Board sees it, what do we do then? They say perhaps in one to three years is their comment in the study. (I•ir. Reid responds but is not at microphone) Mrs. Lichtenstein: It would not preclude that being included in the future, you're saying?. We're only approving it in principle. Mr. Reid: That's correct. Mrs. Rock.afel1ar: Tir. Luaces offered a motion. Is there a second? Mr. t.lilian: I second it. Mrs. Rockafellar: There's a motion on the floor by Mr. Luaces and seconded by 14r. Milian. Is there any clisclissiori on the motion? Would you call the Ro13.. please. (PLEASE TURN TO P?GE 41 FOR RESOLUTION) January 1 1980 Item 2 PAB "SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS FOLLOW" Mr. Lorenzo Luaces offered the foliowing resolution and moved its adoption. RESOLUTION NO. PAB 5-80 RESOLUTION RECOMIIENDING APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE OF THE COCONUT GROVE BUSINESS CENTER PUBLIC PARKING FACILITIES FEASI13ILITy STUDY. Upon being seconded by Mr. Arsenio Milian, this resolution was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: mines. Lichtenstein, Rockafellar rilessrs. Cal.il, Correa, Luaces, Milian, Smith NAYS. • None Mr. Reid: Motion carries 7 0. January 16, 1980 Item 2 PAI3 „,oitJs 4