HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Charles TavaresSeptember 4, 2009.
VIA HAND DELIVERY
Mr. Chairman Commissioner Joe Sanchez
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Way
Miami FL 33133
RE: City of Miami Commission Hearing for Miami 21
Dear Mr. Chairman Joe Sanchez,
SUBMITTED INTO THE
PUBLIC RECORD FOR
ITEMscljsn�ON'i-v o
Good morning and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you fust and foremost, for the opportunity
to voice our concerns in regards to the proposed Miami 21 Planning of The City of Miami and mostly
important, the very serious concerns we have about the Democratic due process during more than 4 years
since Miami 21 was presented to The City of Miami and our Community.
As extensive documentation that has already been provided by us to The City of Miami and Miami 21's
Consultants, it clearly shows to all, that the Democratic System and its due process for fairness, truth and
appropriate disclosures in a timely and proper fashion have been completely disregarded by Miami 21's
Consultants in their relentlessly pursue to achieve their goals without regard for the legal and due process
that, we the people, are entitled to, as it clearly for them, the end justifies whatever means are needed to
achieve their objectives, without any regard for the Democratic and Due process.
The Consultants have deliberately and repeatedly, made hundreds of changes after the Boards were
presented the plans, reviewed and voted on them based on what was presented and then afterwards, every
single time, Miami 21 Consultants would make hundreds of material and significant changes to an
approved document. This is just like having The United States of America Constitution been presented,
reviewed and approved based on Articles presented and then later on, after the fact, have hundreds of very
substantial and material changes, with the addition of almost 50% of new Articles and very substantial and
material changes (Miami 21 has in just one single event, made an addition of 200 pages with hundreds of
substantial changes and material changes, new zoning designations, new districts, almost 100 pages
creating and depicting one single private project, called "Miami World Center" on a document presented in
a hearing, with around 300 pages and then added without any presentation, review or discussion! ) shoved
into the "Approved" document without any due process for the City and the Community.
The worst and most worrisome aspect of this, is that they have stand up in front of our City and
Community, on record, and said, "There were no material or substantial changes", thus claiming that the
Democratic and Due process was followed appropriately, reminding us of totalitarian systems where they
have Democratic and People's Bodies, like "The Soviet Union's Politburo, Hugo Chavez's Congress", just
to "Rubber stamp" decisions already made prior to presentations to "The People's Democratic bodies" by
powerful politicians and elite and calling this process "a very Democratic system and process"!
Please do not rubber stamp Miami 21.
As we have heard from Miami 21 Consultants, "nothing in life is perfect", as they have stated Miami 21 is
not perfect and "can be tweaked in the future, when it would be too late to save our City and the people
proposing Miami 21 will be long gone!
But what we have seen from Miami 21 for more than 4 years are insurmountable flaws and misguided
concepts and ultimately, the damage to our Democratic process that they have inflicted on our City and
Community in addition to taking away money and time spent in the process that should have been used
wisely.
Today in Miami, we are seeing, under the current 11.000 Code, Central Urban Core communities that have
evolved into "Live, Work, Shop & Play", which is one the fundamental principles of sustainability and
smart growth as well providing a healthier lifestyle to our Citizens by allowing walkability to take place, as
I can attest since I live, work, shop and play on BrickelI and I have got rid of my car and feeling much
happier and healthier thannever and which we are seen in many communities within Miami.
and deliberately by DPZ and its Miami 21 Consultants, which take away the legitimacy of the democratic
process due to us, Citizens of Miami, which are the ultimately and most extensive damage, in addition to a
failed job done by the Consultants after spending millions of our taxpayers dollars and put our City and
Community thru uncertainties and creating a "De Facto Moratorium", purposely or not.
We have heard that the Current 11.000 Code is broken and we all agree that after many years since its
inception and demographics, cultural and other changes, it needs to be fixed, but please remember that the
existing 11.000 Code has helped to create this beautiful City of ours that millions of people envy us for
having the blessing of calling Miami home_
With our Cities special and unique characteristics, rich cultural heritage and forward community, the things
that makes us special and unique are the reason we love Miami.
We are diverse and unique as we have the cultural richness of 1,ittle Havana, Coconut Grove's laid back
and historic flavor, Brickell's vibrant community, Miami Design's district forward and trendy, little Haiti's
cultural and people richness amongst other Communities that make what Miami is and why people from all
over the World love our City.
The diversity, uniqueness and cultural richness in our City has and must translate who we am as people, as
we have seen the building of' Miami happen based on that.
Sure, the current Code needs to be updated and improved as our City has evolved into becoming a World
Class City in the XXI Century and this must be done appropriately.
With the current Code fixed and improved, we can have more "Live, Work, Play & Shop" communities, we
can have a greener development concept with more sustainability as we have seen all the new major
projects been certified "Green", designated bike lanes and many other planning and concepts that make
sense far our Community and Environment.
Why embark on an experiment that has never been done in a City like ours and whereas it is not really
needed as we can see it! Do we want to have Miami looking like "Via del Corso" in Italy or Aix en
Provence, France, like what has been depicted on Miami 21's Code (Appendix D: Miami World Center,
Page D.71) ?
We are Miami because what we are as a people and community, reflected in our neighborhoods, dwellings
and landmark buildings and structures!
Therefore, I ask this Honorable Board to defer this matter, pending further studies and discussions as to
why and how these events have been allowed to take place in our City.
Thank you very much for devoting so much of your time for bettering our City and Community and please
continue to saleguard our Planning guidelines retlectin�o who we are and have been as a people by deterring
this matter until we can have a true picture and understanding the adventure we have been presented by
Miami 21's Consultants.
Sincerely.
Charles Tav
www.w vebrickell.com
Submitted into the public
record in connection with
item SPA, SP.2 & 513.3 on 09-04-09
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk
'MIAMI 21 APP77NDIX D: MIAMI WORLD CENTER
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Submitted into the public
record inconnection with
item n 09-04-09
Priscilla &Thompson
City Clerk
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Submitted into the public
record in connection with
item SPA, SP.2 & SP.3 on 09-04-09
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk
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106TH YEAR, N0. 325 2009 M i a m i H e ra I d. c o m FINAL EDITION
URBAN REVIVAL,
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Submitted into the public
record in connection with
item SP.1. SP.2 & SP.3 on 09-04-09
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk
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WORK AND PLAY: T`No saes Pla,.c .. t:.tet a walk outside a pet grpamirg bcsiii, _;.1 .r,
Biscayne Boulevard. Below •- it ;�ck-nts play a garne of basketball behind the
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Them is nndhlttg accidental about the urban
rebirth now convinciugiy altering a formerly
desolate 12 -block stretch of B,isciync [iaulevard
north of the Cunni,
in a city dealMed for cars, not peoplk% what
ruu we toJay un the Boulevard L, ;murthing
completely didirent: a +t kable, wurk»day
neighborhood of #hops and apartments, the
isisult 0(Xwd*W4zWtloned urban planning by.
yta; thea city of ItGaml
could the city's ambitious and eouisvversial
1 WMW 21 razor ing plan - to tk consk&ued by
' A ONCE -SEEDY AREA
OF BISCAYNE BOULEVARD
HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO
LIFE. COULD THE MIAMI 21
REZONING PLAN DO THE
SAME FOR TNF REST OF
THE CITY?
the City t:omnilssion Thursday aster years of
delay — replicate the LUtulevard's revival
across the ClW
"I'hat questitm is central to the debate over
the sweeping plats, which would toga out the
city's unwieldy, auto-c,riented zoning code for
a new, and o%te"bly simpler, set of rules runt.
tested along; this lenpth of the Boulevard.
7'hete is little magical or glamorous along
the 12 blocks, from Northeast 18th to 30th
strerta. It's two South Mach. But the success of
city pfmnerS Cttorts, using; F'rincil±les that
*TURN TO DEVELOPMENT, Lt
Submitted
into the public
record in connection with
item SPA, SP.2 & SP.3 on 09-04-09
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk