HomeMy WebLinkAboutIDRC Comments (5.9.06)0 F M 1 A
1' A N N IN i) A It T M I N
Pltk-A P I C A "1" I N .1) SIGN R 11; V I C 0 NI M N 'IS
MAJOR Utir, P1',ItN11 'r
CITY SQUARE TOWERS
425 NE 131 STREET
NET DISTRICT: DOWNTOWN
05-09-06
City of Miami Vision Statement: To Be cm rile ationa COI which Embodies Diversil:y, Economic Opportunity, Ejjectipe Customer
..rerince and a .1-1tedy Rated Puality of Life"
COMMENTS:
The following comments represent the .unified vision of the Pre -Application Design Review Committee, which consist
of all staff members in the Urban Design and Land Development Divisions. The City of Nliami strives to achieve diverse
pedestrian -friendly distinct neighborhoods, promote transit connections, and provide contextual, safe, and comfortable
buildings, blocks, streets, and parks that contribute to a prosperous city for all residents to enjoy.
Signage
• Confirm the use of the large-scale advertisement panels with the Zoning Department.
• The proposed Commercial Panels on the North and East elevations of the building are out of scale with the
context and are inappropriate. The precedent example (sheet A-3.08) depicts a panel that is around 20' high
and has a powerful impact on the pedestrian realm. The proposed panels in this project, however, will be
nearly 90' high will have an impact on the pedestrian realm that is inappropriate. Reduce the size of these
panels to be more in keeping with the human scale.
• The retail signage for the first floor (sheet A-3.05) is nearly a story high and is unacceptable. Reduce the size of
this signage to be more in keeping with the pedestrian scale. Meet with the zoning department to confirm the
size of this signage.
Parking Garage
• If internal loading is not possible, consider articulating the "staging area" as a public plaza, with continuous
pavers and removable bollards to buffer pedestrians from traffic during the day. All loading and staging
activities should be carried out at night so that these two uses will not conflict.
• The proposed seventeen -story parking garage, which provides 300 parking spaces over the minimum required,
in addition to 300 tandem spaces, is too bulky and has a negative impact on both the physical environment and
the traffic flow in the Entertainment District. The city envisions the Entertainment District as an area of active
street life, mixed -use, and ultimately less emphasis on the car. In light of this vision, reduce parking to the
minimum required for this site, or provide underground parking, as in the City Square portion of this project.
• Provide sightline diagrams indicating how much of the west facade of the parking garage will be visible from
Biscayne Boulevard above the Boulevard Shops.
• The \vest and north facades of the parking garage consist of fifteen stories of unarticulated metal mesh and
grille and are .unacceptable. Continue to develop these facades, introducing human scale elements and a wider
variety of materials, so that the mass of the parking garage is less dominant over the pedestrian realm.
Landscape
• All landscaping and streetscaping must conform to the Performing Arts Center and the Omni
streetscape guidelines, and should reflect the existing streetscape improvements that are located in
the right of way. The proposal to match. the pavings of the Performing Arts Center is unacceptable.
Please consult Mr. Frank Rollason (305) 679-6800, for more information.
• The committee does not recommend the use of Black Olives as shade trees in the public right of way. These
trees release tannins that will stain the concrete pavers of the sidewalk.
It is our intention with these comments to aid in expediting Special Permit applications with your
voluntary efforts in making the necessary changes; thereby, avoiding any preventable delays particularly
prior to a project's submission to the Large Scale Development Committee or the Urban Development
Review Board.
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The Planning Department reserves the right to comment further on the project as details or explanations are provided
and may revise previous comments based on this additional information. This package is currently considered
incomplete and comments are preliminary.
- Please note that the Planning Department reviews Special Permit proposals based on architectural design, site
planning and urban design. issues. The project still needs to be reviewed and comply with other requirements of the
other sections such as Building, Mecha.nical, Public Works, Zoning, etc.
It is our intention with these comments to aid in expediting Special Permit applications with your
voluntary efforts in making the necessary changes; thereby, avoiding any preventable delays particularly
prior to a project's submission to the Large Scale Development Committee or the Urban Development
Review Board.
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