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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReconsideration LettersLucia A. Dougherty (305) 579-0603 Direct Fax: (305) 961-5603 E-Mail: doughertyl@gtiaw.com September 26, 2006 VIA HAND DELIVERY Ms. Teresita Fernandez Clerk, Hearing Boards City of Miami 444 S.W. 2nd Avenue, 7th Floor Miami, FL 33130 Re: Avenue One Rezoning/Land Use Change/ MUSP (the "Project") — Motion for Reconsideration Dear Teresita: On behalf of A-1 Management Corporation, this letter conies to clarify the request and subsequent motion for reconsideration of the Avenue One Project heard by the City Commission on September 12, 2006. The above referenced matter(s) were originally heard before the City Commission on July 27, 2006. The above referenced rezoning and land use change items were heard in connection with the Avenue One MUSP filed on or about December 7, 2005. Our request for reconsideration incorrectly referenced the Project as being listed as agenda item PZ #6 on the City Commission agenda. There were, in fact, two items on the City Commission agenda for July 27, 2006 regarding the Project. Both items were to be requested for reconsideration, although the wrong item was listed in our request letter. The correct items, as listed on the City Commission agenda, regarding the Project were Item PZ #10 (comprehensive plan/ land use change) and PZ #11 (zoning change). Again, our intent was to request reconsideration of both of these items originally filed under the MUSP application for the Project. Please note these scrivener's errors by placing a copy of this letter in the hearing file for clarification purposes. request. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions in regard to this Sincefely, Lucia A. Dougherty Attorneys Greenberg Traurig Lucia A. Dougherty (305) 579-0603 Direct Fax: (305) 961-5603 E-Mail: dougherty(@gtlaw.cam September 12, 2006 VIA HAND DELIVERY Commissioner Michelle Spence -Jones District 5 City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 Re: Avenue One Rezoning/MUSP (the "Project") — Motion for Reconsideration Dear Commissioner Spence -Jones: On behalf of A-1 Management Corporation and pursuant to Section 62-2 of the Code of the City of Miami, this letter comes as a request for reconsideration of the above referenced rezoning item (Item PZ #6) heard before the City Commission on July 27, 2006. The above referenced rezoning item was heard in connection with the Avenue One MUSP filed on or about December 7, 2005. The proposed Avenue One project is located at approximately 1950 N.W. 1st Avenue. In support of this request for reconsideration, my clients would proffer the following modifications to the Project to be made as conditions by the City Commission assuming the passage of a motion for reconsideration and final approval of the rezoning, comprehensive plan amendment, and MUSP. 1. Four thousand (4,000) square feet of the proposed retail space will be set aside for a vocational training center for either culinary arts, performing arts, medical training, architecture, security/ law enforcement, beauty/cosmetics, physical training, computer literacy, or other similar type training facility. The City and developer shall seek such tenants and developer will set aside such space for up to two (2) years from the date the Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Developer will also explore the possibility of providing stipends to training participants° Developer will also hire a consultant to identify a suitable vocational school/ program to be housed on the ground floor on the West side of the project which is closer to the Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School. GreenbergTraurig, P.A. 1 Attorneys at Law ( 1221 arickell Avenue 1 Miami, EL 33131 1 Tel 305.579.0500 1 Fax 305.579.0717 1 www.gtiawcorn September 12, 2006 Page 2 2. A minimum of ten percent (10%) of the units will be designated affordable housing units. At developer's discretion, additional affordable units may be set aside for affordable housing sales/rentals. The City and the developer will work together to subsidize the cost of the units in order to reduce the purchase/ rental price of the units. The City will use existing programs or will otherwise reduce other fees in order to achieve the maximum affordability of the units. In the event no such program has been identified within two (2) years of the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for such units, they may be sold/rented at market rates. In addition, developer will hire a marketing consultant to assist with marketing the affordable units to Overtown residents, Developer will look to market affordable units to residents of Overtown first and thereafter to residents of District 5 of the City of Miami. 3. The height of the Project will be reduced to twelve (12) stories which may require the "bridge" height between the two towers to increase and the removal of the "wave" parapet design/structure on the roof. 4. The ground floor live -work units will be replaced with standard residential units. Additionally, all the display glass on the ground floor, formerly related to the live - work units, will be replaced with clearly visible doors and some minimal entrance feature/ornament. Developer will hold a workshop to seek further input regarding architectural aspects of the project and look to incorporate some native Overtown elements therein (Le. artwork, design elements, etc.) 5. The developer will require the contractor to hire from the Overtown community first and seek to purchase materials and/or supplies within Overtown, prior to purchasing the same from outside the Overtown area. 6. Work with the Planning Department staff to ensure the inclusion of the maximum amount of urban/pedestrian friendly elements as possible in order to make the Project as inviting as possible. 7 Prior to completion of the Avenue One project, the developer will establish a "Life Skills Center" which will provide educational assistance/ workshops to Overtown residents in regard to credit repair/ financial responsibility, first time home ownership/ mortgage obligations, computer literacy, etc. In addition, developer will help to advertise and promote the "Life Skills Center" to residents in the Overtown community. 8. Developer will explore the possibility of utilizing and contracting with community businesses in the service industry as needed (i.e. delivery services, dry cleaning, janitorial services, automobile detailing, etc.). Greenberg Traurig, P.A, September 12, 2006 Page 3 Developer will look to contribute to the rehabilitation of or "adopt" any one or combination of the following: Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School, Dorsey Park, or Dorsey Library. The City Code, pursuant to the requirements under Section 62-2, requires that the motion for reconsideration be made not later than the first regularly scheduled Commission meeting after the item was originally heard. As such, we would respectfully request that the motion for reconsideration be heard before the City Commission not later than September 12, 2006. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions in regard to this request. cc: Luis Dominguez Victor Labruzzo MIA-FS 111814937v©411 nccpO4_. DOC Lucia A. Dougherty Greenberg Traurig, P.A.