HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Silvia C. WongW
SILVIA C. WONG
Property and Business Owner
400 NE 67th Street
Miami, FL 33138
(Little River Business District)
September 4, 2009
City of Miami Commission
3500 Pan. American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
Dear City Commissioners:
SUBMITTED INTO THE'
PUBLIC RECORD FOR
'``a
ITEM—,,-,ONorq-cp, .
I am speaking today to be put on the record regarding Miami 21's contradiction of
the Parks Master Plan, written by the distinguished parks consultants, Goody
Clancy. The Parks Master Plan recommends mixed use development adjacent to
the two Little Haiti Park components (the Soccer Field and the Cultural Center.)
This recommendation is on Page 119 of the Parks Master Plan of December 15,
2006. Miami 21 contradicts the Parks Master Plan because there can be no "eyes
on the street" in most of the Little River Business District which surrounds the two
Little Haiti Park Components. That is because under Miami 21, most of this
Business District is proposed D2, which prohibits any residential component. The
next largest zoning classification is Dl, which allows only 9 dwelling units per
acre, BUT only one unit per folio.
Such low density makes it economically impossible to develop affordable housing
within the Little River Business District, making the recommended "eyes on the
street" unachievable. We need "eyes on the street" to reduce crime and encourage
commerce, especially around the state-of-the-art $40MIL Little Haiti Park.
I want to point out that at the September 2nd Planning Advisory Board meeting, the
Planning Director, Ana Gelabert, said that the City Comp Plan would permit up to
36 dwelling units per acre in the areas currently zoned Industrial (which are
proposed to be Dl and D2 in Miami 21.) However, she stated that the proposed
Miami 21 zoning code ONLY allows up to 9 dwelling units per acre in Dl.
Common sense tells us that the more dwelling units per acre results in more "eyes
on the street" and more opportunities for people to live, work, and play in the same
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neighborhood. Therefore, we respectfully request that D 1 be expanded to 24 units
per acre. And we also request that D2 be allowed 9 dwelling units per acre, subject
to the site not being within, or adjacent to, an H occupancy (meaning, a hazardous
or noxious type.) These amendments might go into Article IV (Art IV. 5, see Table
2, Density.)
Please note that these changes would benefit all areas currently zoned Industrial,
throughout the City, and not just the Little River Business District.
Under the current Code 11,000, the Business District zoning is Industrial, C-1
Restricted Commercial, and C-2 Restricted Commercial. The current land use and
zoning allows for as of right residential facilities of a density equal to R-3 (150
dwelling units per acre,) or higher.
When I consulted with a prominent land use attorney, he told me that interestingly,
an application was recently submitted for a hotel in the Little River Business
District (by the Wendy's on NE 62nd Street.) This is an indication of mixed use
development, as recommended by the Parks Master Plan for this area around the
Little Haiti Park.
In conclusion, many concerned citizens including myself want to know: Why was
this special meeting scheduled on a Friday before a holiday weekend? And the
notice to the public was published on August 25"', for this meeting on September
4th. That is less than 10 days notice. Why revisit Miami 21 so soon after the August
6 1 special meeting? Please remember: Miami 21 was conceived FIVE years ago, in
a VERY different economic and developmental climate. Therefore, half decade old
input and economic studies need to be revisited. Why rush through the process
now?
It is significant that at the PAB meeting of less than 48 hours ago, the Board voted
7-1 to DEFER for 60 days, and to revisit Miami 21 on November 18th- The
overwhelming majority of this advisory board used common sense and realized
that Miami 21 is not ready for approval.
Thank you very muc
Silvia C. Wong
Submitted into the public
record in connection with
item SPA, SP.2 & SP.3 on 09-04-09
Priscilla A. Thompson
City Clerk