HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEPB Letter & Reso..•� SkS�bant�u.
November 24, 2009
HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION
c/o HEARING BOARDS
444 SW 2"d Avenue
Miami, Florida 33130
RE: MAJOR MODIFICATION TO THE MUSP FOR THE "VILLAGE CARVER"
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT
To the Honorable Chairman and Members of the City Commission:
I am writing in support of the application for a modification to a MUSP for an affordable housing
project in the northwestern part of the city. This project had been approved, and actually begun
when the developers encountered human remains and evidence of multiple burials. All
construction was stopped until such time as a proper study of the area was accomplished. The
Carlisle Group employed the renowned archaeologist Bob Carr to study the site.
The discoveries led to additional research accomplished by volunteers who "unearthed"
previously unknown identities of Lemon City -area African-American pioneers (Lemon City was a
settlement developed in the 1890s, as it provided access to a deep -water port and by 1896 had
its own railroad station.) Led by the intrepid Mrs. Enid Pinckney, community leaders, recognizing
the incalculable value of the "Lemon City Cemetery," approached the developers to dramatically
adjust their building plan in order to preserve the cemetery.
On November 3, 2009 the Historic and Environmental Preservation (HEP) Board unanimously
voted to designate the "Lemon City Cemetery" a local historic landmark. The board complimented
the efforts of the developer who has committed to preserve the site (there is one building on the
site which was under construction when the cemetery was discovered, and that building will
remain.) They further directed the staff to help facilitate the major modification to the MUSP, as
the changes were necessary in order to preserve the cemetery. (A copy of that resolution is
attached.)
This project demonstrates the unusual collaboration of the community and the developers. The
result, the preservation and recognition of the cemetery and the building of affordable housing, is
a remarkable example of cooperation between the parties, resulting in the "greater good".
On behalf of the HEP Board, I urge your support and approval of this project.
Sincerely,
c�
William E Hopper, Ph. D.
Chairman, Historic and Environmental Preservation Board
PLANNING DEPARTMENT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION
444 SW 2"" Avenue, 3"" Floor / Miami, FL. 33130
(305) 416-1400 phone / (305) 416-2156 fax
Mailing address: P.O. Box 330708 / Miami, FL 33233-0708
e-mail: preservation @d.mi<arni,fLus www.historic°preservationiniami.com
RESOLUTION NO. HEPB-2009-65
A RESOLUTION OF THE HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION BOARD
("HEPB") OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, FINDING THAT THE LEMON CITY
CEMETERY, LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 401 NW 71 STREET (SEE ATTACHED
SURVEY), APPEARS TO MEET, AT A MINIMUM, DESIGNATION CRITERIA 3 AND 8 AS
SET FORTH IN SECTION 234(a) OF THE MIAMI CITY CODE, AND BECAUSE OF THE
CIRCUMSTANCES AND HISTORY SURROUNDING THE LEMON CITY CEMETERY THAT IT
MEETS THE INTENT OF CRITERIA EXCEPTION (3) AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 23-4(b)OF
THE MIAMI CITY CODE, AND DIRECTING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO PREPARE A
DESIGNATION REPORT WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
That the staff work diligently with the Biscayne Housing Group and the Carlisle
Development Group in seeking approval for their substantial modification to a Major
Use Special Permit (MUSP); that modification directly a result of the company's
voluntary relocation of their development to the west, thereby clearing (with the
exception of the one building on the site that is under construction) the once -buildable
area for its conversion into a memorial park. Because of federal guidelines that set
strict timelines, the staff will be allowed to administratively approve site improvements
on the memorial park parcel, so that the construction of the Phase I affordable housing
can be completed, and a Certificate of Occupancy issued by March 10, 2010.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 6T" DAY OF OCTOBER, 2009.
ITEM NO. 6
VOTE: 8 TO 0
CHAIRMAN
I