HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal Power Point Presentation39th Street Investors Group, LLC
PZ.33 (05-01227)
Official Vacation
and Closure of a Private Alley
January 26, 2006
Introduction
Applicant and Presentation Team
• 39th Street Investors Group, LLC
— Thomas W. Fawell, Stephane Herman
VOA Architects
— Richard Fawell, Dean Huspen
Tew Cardenas, LLP
— Santiago Echemendia, Suzanne 1:01esu
•
Background
Tivoli Class II Approved on August 8, 2005
Settled with sole appellant (Bay Point
Homeowners Association)
Private Alley Vacation issue heard on
December 1.1 2005
Commission continued to allow additional
meeting between neighbors and Applicant
Central Issue: Private Alley Closure
Seeking vacation and closure of private
North/South alley in middle of property known
as Tivoli.
• Private Alley is 14 feet wide and has been closed
for 60 years.
Alley cannot be used by Fire Department/Life-
Safety due to nonconformance with Code.
• Recommended for approval by Staff, Plat
Committee, and Planning Advisory Board.
• T-Plat Approved by the County.
Central Issue (cont.)
� Alley is Private: does not deprive public
of any access or means of ingress/egress.
Public Benefit to closure: Applicant
providing extensive green space
improvements, including shade trees,
sidewalks, decorative lighting, and
benches in the public right-of-way.
Standard of Review
City Commission, as quasi-judicial board, can't ignore,
invalidate, or declare unenforceable the legislated
criteria they utilize in making their determinations.
• Decision can only be based on the local criteria enacted
to govern Commission's actions.
Miami -Dade County v. Orrrnipoint (863 So,Zd 375)
Four Criteria under Section 55-15
(1): Is it in the public interest, or would the
general public benefit from vacation of the
rights of way or easements?
Lourdes Slazyk: "...moving the easement for the
fire department and making it something that's usable
for circulation for fire was seen as a benefit. They
also included street trees and furniture and some
other things above and beyond the minimum
requirements by code, and those are the things that
were looked at and deemed to be in the public
interest." (Dec. 1, 2005, Hearing Transcript, p. 104)
Criteria under Section 55-15
(1) Is it in the public interest...(cont.)
- Applicant providing:
• Private Street Gardens
• Public Street Trees
• Public Benches
• Improved Public Sidewalks
• Pedestrian Walkway Lighting
• Street Planting In Parkways
Public Benefits 39th Street
1,11(1P SEj BUILDING
= FAOFOSED FENCING
NEN1RED MAPLE
STREET TREE
GRASS PARKWAY
PEDESTRIAN LIGHTS
BEND -ION CONCRETE PAT)
BRN:IT PAVED WALK
%1H STRE.CT
Section
NOTE RED MAPLES RAVE A FAST GROW I F{.RATE
API] CAN GROW IQ TO 17 IN 5 TO 7 YEARS
PUBLIC S TIFFITS
• PRIVATE STREET GARDENS
• PUBLIC STREET TREES
• PU5'k' 1C BENCNES
• IMPROVED PUBLIC SIDEWALKS
• PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY LIORTING
• STREET PLANT%G IN PARWAYS
NEN RED MAPLE
STP1fE 1 6it E
-
CONCRETE Y1All[
15HPR L FVF1
711 i1NFINGS
TE PAD
Criteria under Section 55-15
• (1) Is it in the public interest...(cont.)
- Applicant providing:
• Fire Access Improvements
• 12 inch water main serving 39th St. Neighborhood
• Removal of unsightly telephone / FP'L poles
• Underground utility service for Tivoli and Bay Point
• Landscap'ing for both sides of 39th Street:
•- streetscape amenities including decorative lighting,
benches, etc.
• New fire hydrants along the street
• New self-contained storm water management system
Criteria Under Section 55-15
2 Is the general public no longer using the rights of way or
ent, including public service vehicles such as trash and
ge trucks,police, fire and/or other emergency p 1 9 y vehicles?
Private alley NEVER used by general public, garbage trucks, police, fire, and/or
other emergency vehicles
• NEVER used for Fire/Life-Safety services
Closed for 60+ years
Lourdes Slazyk: "Fire Department cannot use the alley the way it exists today,
and moving the easement for the Fire Department and making it something
that's usable for circulation for Fire was seen as a benefit." (Dec. 1 2005, Hearing
Transcript, p. 104)
Criteria under Section 55-15
(3) Would there be no adverse effect on the ability to provide
police, fire or emergency services?
- Current alley cannot be used by any of the above services.
New circulation designed for maximum functionality with
approval and consultation of Fire Department.
(4) Would the vacation and closure of the rights -of way or
easements have a beneficial effect on pedestrian and vehicular
circulation in the area?
. Yes. Vehicular circulation is greatly enhanced for life safety.
Yes. Visual and structural improvements create greatly enhanced
pedestrian -friendly environment.
Closures of Public Alleys
previously approved by City (1)
• Paramount Bay (215t and Biscayne)
— Improvements along the bay: improved sea
wall, lights, benches, widened sidewalk
Applicant's Project
— Vast improvements along both sides of the
street: shade trees, decorative lighting,
benches, etc.
Closures of Public Alleys
previously approved by the City
i
Filling Station Lofts (NE 17th Sreet and NorthMiami
Avenue)
- Negative recommendation from Staff
— Landscaping
— Development of blighted area sufficient to satisfy public purpose
- Commission focus on real economic development in blighted
area.
• Applicant's Project
- Recommendation for Approval from Staff
— Revival of neighborhood, Public Benefits, improved life -safety
circulation
— Economic development
Photo of Blight
-
Closures of Public A11e s
previously approved by the City
(3)
NE 17th Street and North Miami Court
— Negative recommendation from Staff
— Landscaping provided
— City Commission focus was that M'USP (hike Class II in this case)
was already approved, so City Commission kn6w what was going
to be built on site. Historic policy concern being unable to
ascertain what would be built on the site.
Applicant's Project
— Recommendation for Approval from Staff.
— Class II already approved.
— City Commission knows what is going to be built on the site.
Vacations and Closures Approved
Today (1)
• Bh17gth1 Street LLC
— N.E. 2nd Ave. between 78th and 79Ith Streets
— Public Purpose was landscape park open to
the public and facility providing affordable
housing for the elderly, both of which are
inherent to the project.
• Applicant's Project
— Over and above code requirements
Vacations and Closures Approved
Today (2)
• ]ackson Residences, LLC
— N.W. 13th St. between 9th and lOth Avenues
— Public purpose was reparation of two
historical columns at N.W. 1lt St.
— Class II not yet approved
• Applicant's Project
— Class II approved
vacations and Closures Approved
Today (3)
North Miami Avenue, LLC
— N. Miami Ave between 34th and 35th Street
— Public Benefit was open green space at west end of
property
— Class II not yet approved
— Commission's concern was project may be out of
scale in light of Miami 21
• Applicant's Project
— Class II approved
— Public Benefits over and above code requirements
Opposition to Tivoli Project
Bay Point Owners' Association
Filed appeal of Class II, settled, and withdrew appeal.
v Settlement Agreement concessions include:
• 50 foot height limit
• Utilities to be buried underground
• Extensive high quality landscaping along abutting Bay Point
Parcels
Opposition to Tivoli Project
Individual Bay Point homeowners
•No standing to challenge alley closure
Claim under 1916 Second Arnended Plat
invalid; prior plat does not give rights to Bay
Point because they are not part of the plat.
Opposition to Tivoli Project
F
Magnolia Park Residents
Lost rights they may have had under plat in 1972:
* "As to all plats of subdivided Tots heretofore recorded in the
public records of each county, the holder of any interests in
any reversionary rights in streets in such plats, other than
the ownersof abuttinglots shall have one year from 1,
, a July,
1972, to institute in a court of competent jurisdiction in this
state to establish or enforce the right, and failure to institute
the action within the time shall bar any right, title, or
interest, and all right of forfeiture or reversion shall
thereupon cease and determine, and become
unenforceable." (Section 177.085, Florida Statutes).
What can be built as of right if closure
alley not approved (confirmed by Lourdes
Iazyk on December 1, 2005):
Property with SD-9 Overlay
Approximately 114 units; 95 foot Height; FAR of 1.72.
(City would have no say in design.)
R-3 Parcels separated by alley from water
71 units; 5 stories; 50 foot height.
(City would have no say in design.)
• R-3 Parcels between alley and water
r Class II required for 5 story, 70 unit building.
• Total number of units as of right: About 250
Conclusion
Vacation and Closure of unused Private
Ailey furthers significant public purpose
and benefit:
p Provides numerous public improvements
r Enhances fire/life-safety circulation
r Meets all Code criteria under Section 55-15
We therefore ask that you approve closure of
this private alley. Thank you. Reserve time for
rebuttal.