HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppeal LetterKatherine Korn
3304 Virginia Street, PH 1
Coconut Grove,,U 33133
305-310-3773
July 13, 2007
Teresita L. Fernaiez
Executive Secretary — Hearing Boards
444 SW 2t e
Miami, FL 33130-1910
Sent via fax 305416-2035 and via I`.IS Registered Mail
Ms Feinandez;� ,,._ _ ,
This letter serves:1'4,s a request for an appeal of a Zoning Board decision made at the July
9, 2007 Regular Meeting at Miami city Hall. The appeal concerns Item #10 of that
meeting which sacs for a special exemption "to allow a bar as per C-1" located at 3015
Grand Avenue, #320 and #410. The applic t is listed as Nancy Terminello, Esquire on
behalf of Club; °r,gement Investment G up, LLC.
1 request this a as a homeowner living in the Center Grove. The bases for my appeal
are:
1. A letter from Officer Thomas Braga, Neighborhood Resource Office of the Miami
Police Department, was not submitted to the board members as part of the packet of
informationtelati , to the issue. One board member even asked why the letter was not
included. It is unclear if every board member was aware of the letter or if everyone saw
it. The informs .'. -in Officer Braga's letter was essential to the complete overview of the
issues regarding - licenses for clubs in the Grove. He and other law enforcement
have a great deal.f experience with the clubs in the Grove, including the ones owned by
the applicant. In letter, he explains his concerns about many of the problems and
erimes that take 4 :e in the Grove between 4-6AM. He noticed that crime dropped
dramatically, - 'ally in Coco Walk, when the applicant came into compliance with his
existing license ; '` limits his hours of operation to 3AM. Because one month is not a
good indicator, �ce Braga requested a three-month study. This information was not
taken into cons'-=:s ion. Officer Braga has agreed to attend any appeal process to present
this informativaa part of the overall issue.
2. The applicant's been operating gut of iompliance and it was not made clear at the
meeting that the aiplicant is seeking special exemption in response to noncompliance,
Officer Braga haitexperience and history with the applicant that is important to weigh, as
it may not be in•ordance with the representation given at the meeting. Per Officer
Braga's letter, when the applicant came into compliance, crime numbers dropped. While
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this is certainly. -definitive, it spe to a different history than represented by the
applicant.
3. It is uncl
established
understanding
restaurants,
and Sunday
was granted
criteria will,
bought in the C
could be furthe
hat guidelines the special exemption was granted and if there are
will be used for future requests for this exemption. It is my
the area is governed under NCD-3 zoning ordinance which allows
ages to operate on weekdays and Saturdays from 7AM to 3AM
to 3AM. It was unclear under what circumstances this business
exemption to operate outside of those times and, again, what
future requests, One board member said that when residents
•Grove, they bought, in part. "to be ready for the party." Nothing
e truth, and this d not seem to be a rational or well-founded
approach to a decision that is important to the future of the Grove business diatuct as well
as to the ability„ -to livesafely in the Center Grove.
4_ There is a grei
bars now have
e
The appli
business. I am
understan
Grove. This i
number of
deal of confusion in the community about how many restaurants and
exemptions and how many are not in compliance with the codes,
ve misrepresented this number and the nature of the applicant's
rig with the NET office and other resources to have a clearer
number and types of licenses that are currently operating in the
on needs to be accurate and clear as consideration is given to the
emptions allowed under the current zoning ordinance.
For all of th; I request that an appeal be heard at which time Officer Braga will
present informati that is essential to this discussion and decision. As well, the
community.
established to c'Ie zoning ordinances allowing the special exemption for some
businesses to rem n o en and to serve alcohol until 5AM_
On behalf of
our appeal
any further
address on the
Sincet ly,
Katherine Komi"
305-310-3773
given the opportunity to hear what rational guidelines have been
embers of the Coconut Grove community, we hope that you hear
ore reasoned and logical overview can be presented. If you need
on, please feel free t ontact me at the address, phone, and/or email
of this request.
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