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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up DocumentationCar -dependency drives young people away - 06/04/2014 I MiamiHerald.com http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/01/v-print/4149358/parking-drive... iThaini ieratt) Posted on Wed, Jun. 04, 2014 Car -dependency drives young people away By MALONE MATSON AND RAY FORT rfortnarquitectonica.com How appealing is Miami to young professionals? Sure, we have a booming nightlife and great weather. But just how easy is it for a young person with a burgeoning career and limited means to make it in this city? MCT and environmentally. As young professionals, we support this amendment because of its potential to attract people of our generation to Miami. Miami commissioners and city staff are considering whether to move forward with an amendment to Miami's zoning code that would eliminate parking requirements for buildings under 10,000 square Paul Schmid / MCT feet located within close proximity to public transit. There are several benefits to this change and they would positively affect Miami socially, economically Miami is hungry for forward -thinking millennials to join its workforce yet the city remains inhospitable to this demographic because of its lack of affordable housing and waikability. Required parking is a major contributor to these conditions. The cost of parking is higher than one might expect — a single parking space in a garage can cost more than $20,000 to construct. In Miami, the zoning code requires residential buildings to provide a whopping 1.5 parking spaces per unit despite such a steep price tag. Naturally, developers offset this cost through increased rent. Often, to reduce the number of required parking spaces, developers will build fewer, larger and more expensive luxury apartments instead of smaller, affordable apartments that would house significantly more tenants. Does it come as any surprise, then, that rent consumes 43 percent of the typical Miami household's income? Young professionals, eager to live in the city, who will never experience the Miami life. What baffles us most is why housing targeted to our generation should be required to have parking at all. Our grandparents' love affair with the car is outdated. We don't want to spend all our money buying and maintaining a car. We don't want the guilt of contributing to air pollution and energy consumption. We don't want to worry about having a designated driver. And we definitely don't want to grow old waiting in traffic. Look at the cities that are attracting young, brilliant minds: New York, San Francisco, Chicago. 1 of 2 6/12/2014 11:55 AM Car -dependency drives young people away - 06/04/20141MiamiHerald.com http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/06/01/v-print/4149358/parking-drive... None require owning a car. With such limited parking requirements, the hip neighborhoods of these cities are typified by brownstones and compact apartment buildings. The results of such density are quiet streets with gardens, cafes and cyclists riding past. Meanwhile, the street views of Brickell and downtown are dominated by faceless parking garages immersed in a sea of angry drivers. Who would pay extra for that? In the more sprawling areas of Miami where public transit is lacking, parking is a necessity. This amendment would only apply to buildings that are near transit hubs and corridors, which is exactly where young professionals want to live. This is a rare opportunity to make Miami life attractive and attainable to our and future generations. Malone Matson is a sustainability consultant and is working on a eco-friendly development in Costa Rica. Ray Fort is a designer at Arquitectonica. He also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Miami School of Architecture. © 2014 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved. http://www.miamiherald.com 2 of 2 6/12/2014 11:55 AM S . - i-site develop, Reif l t tAtf 1/1-V01Itirnt ilk stnila �t It.i ociti bot;hixtt1r, portttu itlrla #rwestruent}tyattt4lt wit -petty nwrier *, rt*AZT :6r arltictYsi by tin Elften overbuilect toning h;q1* Kenton 1- ininilnllrtt and„ 1they 'I atria can s:u ncatt to the c€rt1r.,1i ntortsviuthie11n l (srvxrti ;1: rlis#1Aa is parkltl,(;, which easy taf fit aft lar(tt .Kllal iini ld I lit € . ptaccs +€lrtislnatc 110rae*i s:e I8 1 new lilIJ>: itbet ion tats 'id µnil P lnnf; tc rsifllaii111n rg l: parkw (sr 4.Illi residenti,tl Il'11:Kft;.0 tatltil nitl*A tidIV °iare - rt hrsihrli*ymuttev' it'ltst dt mail ief i1:< netit°semis. mahout milady development - us other' tE4ers: 1 propeised 4.14iri4lIli!tiltiinl 1n1. i:sein s*F€trl. 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"This ;ndl skirl*Cnt iF. 010,ortior 01xsitiv111u0l kl1i.le'slrirh tl "#6i}18*118 Attila pro ei tl(•1111 ours.itic.ioul ut�i ltrettenrr1l desiis.'° Ito so mein n'n'.1n'.i atatv1hillfiiluit it11 11 alsn1n1111(srtlt'.eitytics<itvr 3n*411'4ieWily 4'4s(8',rt48*t o and form 11tit cdty SiCtr1111:0YNUS Qii1 i1111 lrtn1c r 4ti l3irstl on only largo, 3s.11e drs•rlopta a 1n iruptc4vti tl 1i vision from 4bri c." l t is d18 t13ina114 way we have hail n ctiii (F: 3euer ii ons, and Ow way MI Ow fzt..a18*irrc4 ;a111 gar irktnnc�;n4l of the utiflid( s11r1# a9 5'a:r*H" 4Csi Y011, F`i<titt4'.Cit11<i1;1c"t1a-11atioutub- ers lance been Wilt, 'Mr. 1tilrnnd4said, "`1 isittnendn14*111 #R ih1: (tt114413 to 861r1111u1C ilia k811, it( rinme is&k.rihrlt?, cnllnrailly ar1d 4nciuily r13411l nrittMtusht*0as, lx1%1ttV4. 1nt'tial< lout 418C rt©tanrn Mtrt*nl17 TRANSIT ACTION COMMITTEE April 28, 2014 Re: Support for Reduced Parking Requirements As our city grows and becomes denser, the requirement for additional parking continues to come up as an obstacle. Rather than continuing to accommodate more automobiles, our policymakers should be intent on creating an urban setting, as well as a transportation system, where trips by car are not the default. TrAC, or Transit Action Committee, is a political action committee in Miami in support of elected officials, policies and candidates that prioritize robust transit options for Miami -Dade. TrAC fully supports any measure that would eliminate the need for small-scale developments, 10,000 sq. ft. or less, to provide parking spaces near transit stations and corridors. Ensuring that a small building parking exemption moves forward will help build a livable and walkable community, increase economic/business activity, increase housing affordability and improve transit use. By creating new policies or revising existing ones that allow for the creation and realization of mix -use developments around our transit stations and corridors, we are paving the way for an economically vibrant, resilient, and attractive Miami. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, TrAC Miami TrAC is a non -partisan, poi ticai action cumin tree in support of elected officials, F oFi less and candidates that prioritize robust transit options for Miami. Dade. TrAC is registered vvith the Florida Division or Elections. www,tracrniamLorg trac tracmiami,org I Qiracmiarni I 7436--508-294.4 We Walk. We Ride, We Vote. LvY+o,...merivie C2,ltir iilavV, nhssfeorg May 6, 2014 City of Miami Commissioners, Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida endorses a small building parking exemption, specifically the text below. Our mission is to develop affordable, sustainable housing and to stabilize neighborhoods. We are dedicated to neighborhoods where development is driven by local property owners and businesses, not outside interests. The proposed small building parking exemption directly helps our mission. Many small property owners find it basically impossible to build new buildings or additions due to Miami's zoning requirements for parking. A small building parking exemption would: ■ Level the playing field for small property owners. ■ Let the market decide: Empower small owners to choose how many spaces to provide based on their property size and knowledge of local needs. • Investment without displacement: Allow small property owners to keep their property and develop it, thus participating in the revitalization of their own neighborhood. ■ Reduce housing costs: Required parking drives up construction costs and encourages larger, less -affordable units. • Spread the wealth: The gains from urban development should not be concentrated in a few large companies. • Facilitate investment in more urban neighborhoods: Not every neighborhood needs 40 stories, some just need 8 units but can't accomplish that due to required parking. • Compatible development: Small buildings are compatible with neighborhood character. • Grow world -class neighborhoods: The best urban neighborhoods are made up of many small, adaptable buildings. The small building parking exemption that is being advocated is as follows, short and simple, in CAPS: "Parking ratio may be reduced within 1/2 mile radius of TOD or within 1/4 mile radius of a Transit Corridor by thirty percent (30%) by process of Waiver, OR BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) FOR ANY STRUCTURE THAT HAS A FLOOR AREA OF TEN THOUSAND (10,000) SQUARE FEET OR LESS, except when site is within 500 feet of T3." Please vote for this exception. The future of Miami's urban neighborhoods depends on it. Best regards, Arden Shank President & CEO May 7, 2014 RE: Supporting Reduced Parking Requirements Miami is a city on the verge of embracing the realities of 21st Century sustainability. With increasing popularity of bicycling, transit, and alternative transportation, the city's impulse to prioritize the automobile is becoming outdated and inconsiderate of an increasing urban population. Miami is metropolitan, and, as most world -class American metro areas like New York, Chicago, or San Francisco suggest, people are more productive uses of space than cars. Our policy makers have a responsibility to the residents and the future of this region. City and county have expressed interest in expanding rail lines, providing widespread and efficient commuter services, and diminishing the strain on roadways by offering more options than personal cars. This requires changing zoning to better serve our urban space by reducing archaic regulations on installing parking spaces in new building projects. Emerge Miami is a network for community -minded advocates and organizations working to achieve common goals in seeing South Florida thrive as a sustainable region. Among our numerous activities are monthly weekend bicycle rides utilizing Metrorail stations as gathering places and visiting local small businesses and events to show our support for Miami's growth. We represent a number of individuals and organizations, that are eager to see restrictions lifted on small-scale developments mandating they install automobile parking spaces, thereby obstructing opportunities for infill development, increased transit, and bicycle use. We have an opportunity to revise standards for Miami's development pattern by taking our focus away from cars and aligning it toward healthy, active, and thriving citizenry. Emerge Miami would therefore willingly endorse any movement by our local representatives to do away with zoning requirements in South Florida which mandate small scale developments, such as those 10,000 square feet or less, install obligatory parking spaces. By encouraging alternative forms of transportation and limiting regulatory priorities for parking and automotive transportation, Miami can set a global standard for recognizing the qualities of a contemporary cosmopolitan metro area connected to its people, its economic prosperity, and its regional growth. Sincerely, Emerge Miami Emerge Miami is a collaboration of local professionals, organizations, and individuals interested in creatively achieving our common goals through community -building activities emergemiami.com @EmergeMiami emerge.miami@gmail.com Wynwood Business Improvement District 310 NW 26th Street # 1 Miami, Florida 33127 May 7, 2014 Dear City of Miami Commissioners: We are writing this letter on behalf of the Wynwood Business Improvement District's Board of Directors which represents over 400 Properties in the Wynwood Area. At the Boards,regularly scheduled meeting on May 15, 2014 a motion was approved to endorse a small building parking exemption for T4,T5 and T6. "Parking ratio may be reduced within 1/2 mile radius of TOD or within 1/4 mile radius of a Transit Corridor by thirty percent (30%) by process of Waiver, or by one hundred percent (10O%)for any structure that has a Floor Area of ten thousand (10,000)square feet or Tess, except when site is within 500 feet of T3." The Board feels that this proposed zoning change provides a first necessary and important step in the promotion of small scale infill development in the City of Miami. We urge you to support the Small Building Parking Exemption amendment, which will have significant benefits for the Clty's residents. David Polin.ky, PH Chair, Transportation/P1. • Committee Joe st Chair, y wood BID CC. Francisco Garcia, Director, Planning and Zoning City of Miami May 9, 2014 Dear Commissioners, By way of this letter, the Little Havana Merchant Alliance would like to express that we support the idea of a small building parking exemption in Transit -Oriented Development areas and along the Transit Corridor and we like this specific proposed text forT4, 5 & 6: "Parking ratio may be reduced within 1/2 mile radius of TOD or within 1/4 mile radius of a Transit Corridor by thirty percent (30%) by process of Waiver, or by one hundred percent (100%) for any Structure that has a Floor Area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet or less, except when site is within 500 feet of T3." We feel that this proposal will: 1. Level the playing field for small Miami property owners 2. Enable small steps toward more walkable urban neighborhoods. 3. Promote investment in Little Havana. We encourage you to vote for this proposal. Cordially, The Board of the Little Havana Merchant Alliance: Anneliese Morales, HAC Architects Bill Fuller, Barlington Group Raisa Fernandez, Brickell Kidz Bus Corinna Moebius, Little Havana Guide Alvaro Alvarez, Continental National Bank Carol Ann Taylor, Little Havana To Go Reine Price, Miami Dade College Marta Viciedo, Urban Impact Lab Suzanne Battle, Azucar Ice Cream Fernando Arencibia, RE/MAX Realty 1 1637 CALLE OCHO LITTLE HAVANA, MIAMI, FL 33135 (786) 255-4664 SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COALITION May 12, 2014 City of Miami Commissioners, The South Florida Community Development Coalition (SFCDC) endorses a small building parking exemption, specifically the text below. Our mission is to support community development efforts for low -to -moderate income families, We are dedicated to promoting neighborhood revitalization by building the capacity of local, community -based developers, property owners, and businesses. The proposed small building parking exemption directly supports the mission of the SFCDC and the members we serve. Many small property owners find it impossible to build new, affordable buildings or additions due to Miami's zoning requirements for parking. A small building parking exemption would: ■ Level the playing field for small property owners. ■ Let the market decide: Empower small owners to choose how many spaces to provide based on their property size and knowledge of local needs. ■ Investment without displacement: Allow small property owners to keep their property and develop it, thus participating in the revitalization of their own neighborhood. ■ Reduce housing costs: Required parking drives up construction costs and encourages larger, less -affordable units. ■ Spread the wealth: The gains from urban development should not be concentrated in a few large companies. ■ Facilitate investment in more urban neighborhoods: Not every neighborhood needs 40 stories, some just need 8 units but can't accomplish that due to required parking. ■ Compatible development: Small buildings are compatible with neighborhood character. ■ Grow world -class neighborhoods: The best urban neighborhoods are made up of many small, adaptable buildings. The small building parking exemption being advocated for is as follows: "Parking ratio may be reduced within 1/2 mile radius of TOD or within 1/4 mile radius of a Transit Corridor by thirty percent (30%) by process of Waiver, OR BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) FOR ANY STRUCTURE THAT HAS A FLOOR AREA OF TEN THOUSAND (10,000) SQUARE FEET OR LESS, except when site is within 500 feet of T3." Please vote for this exception and support a sustainable future for Miami's urban neighborhoods. Sincerely, David Halpern Interim Executive Director 300 NW 12TH AVENUE o MIAM:I, FLORIDA 33123 WWW. OUTHFLORIDACDC_ORP; 7tin-237-2125 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Arden Shank, President Jihad S. Rashid, Vice -President Oliver Gross, Treasurer Maria Coto, Secretary Evelyn Bruce Mario Artecona Elaine Black Myrna Sonora Sam Diller Doug Mayer Don Patterson 'At RI' Oevelrpmrwt..1,: Jihad S. Rashid Barbara Ibarra Barbara Romani Denis Russ Juan Rojas Arne an Plannino lt:5a::rht %r Florida Chapter Gold Coast C;r ar tOr munilier sicrt a n Executive Board OFFICERS Silvia Vargas, AICP, LEED AP Chair Maeve Desmond, AICP, Vice -Chair Professional Development Officer Lynda Kompelien Westin, AICP Treasurer Arcell Redila Secretary Karen D. Hamilton Immediate Past Chair DIRECTORS Maria Batista, AICP Jerry Bell, AICP Alex David, AICP Brian Gillis, AICP Martha Gonzalez Melissa Hege, AICP Sarah Ingle, AICP Edward Murray, AICP Alexis Pena Ralph Rosado, AICP Valerie Neilson, AICP Thomas Hastings, AICP May 15, 2014 City Commission City of Miami Re: Amendment to Miami 21 for Small Building Parking Exemption Honorable Commissioners: On behalf of the Gold Coast Section of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA FL), please accept this letter in support of an amendment to the City of Miami Code to create a small building parking exemption in Transit -Oriented Development areas and along the Transit Corridor. Specifically, our organization would favor an amendment to the present code language to relieve structures with a floor area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet or smaller from current parking requirements, as underlined in the following text: "Parking ratio may be reduced within % mile radius of TOD or within % mile radius of a Transit Corridor by thirty percent (30%) by process of Waiver, or by one hundred percent (100%) for any Structure that has a Floor Area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet or less, except when site is within 500 feet of T3." APA FL is the state affiliate of the American Planning Association, a non-profit organization formed to provide vision and leadership for the future development and redevelopment of Florida communities. The Gold Coast Section, a division of the Florida Chapter, includes nearly 200 hundred planning professionals, students and allied professionals in Miami - Dade and Monroe Counties. As planners, we believe the goal of our profession is to help create communities that offer better choices for where and how people live. Because of this belief, the APA FL Gold Coast Section supports the proposed amendment. This exemption will facilitate reinvestment in urban neighborhoods with good access to transit, where often small property sizes make it impossible to meet the current parking requirements on site. It will allow owners of small properties to keep their properties (rather than selling to developers for assembly) and pursue smaller projects that are more consistent with the existing character of their neighborhoods. In addition, the exemption will contribute to keep housing more affordable in those neighborhoods, since parking drives up construction costs, which in turn get passed on to residential buyers and renters. We urge you to support the Small Building Parking Exemption amendment, which will have significant benefits for the City's residents. Sincerely, Gold Coast Section APA FL Chapter Gold Coast Section, American Planning Association Florida Chapter • 100 Northeast 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33132 140 West Fiagler Street Suite 105 Miami, FL 33130 Telephone: 786-469-2060 Fax: 305-372-6337 info®miamihomeless,org Wtrwaniamihomeless.org BOARD OF DIRECTORS Monica Vigues-Pitan President Legal Services of Greater Miami Jason Pittman Vice -President Touching Miami with Love Maria Cristina Barros Secretaly NBCLinlversal, Telemun.do Vance Aloupis The Children's Movement of Florida Cleve Bell Riverside House Anthony Brunson Sharpton, Brunson & Company, P.A. Ana Castilla TO Bank Judge Cindy Lederman 11JudiciaI Circuit Court Barbara L. Romani Citibank Curtis Taylor Carrfour Supportive Housing May 15, 2014 Commissioner Francis Suarez City of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 Dear Commissioner Suarez, The Miami Coalition for the Homeless endorses progressive modifications to zoning and. code requirements that will decrease. construction costs and increase the stock of affordable rental housing for low-income households, According to a Center for Housing Policy study, moderate -income- renters in the Miami. metro area spend 38% of their household monthly income on housing costs. When transportation costs are combined with housing costs, the. percentage. of monthly household income consumed by renters increases to nearly 69%—the highest percentage in the country, This leaves moderate -income renters as well as lower - income households with limited .resources to afford essentials such as food, medication, and healthcare and makes households increasingly vulnerable to becoming homeless. Parking exemptions for small urban buildings near transit networks is a cost effective .approach to reduce housing and transportation costs. Eliminating —minimum parking requirements will. significantly reduce the cost of creating new housing in location - efficient areas by decreasing construction. costs and encouraging smaller, more affordable units, Increasing density near transit networks will also help to create more walkable communities and begin to offset the high costs of auto ownership. Furthermore, replacing parking with denser development will generate more property and sales tax for the city and county. The Miami Coalition for the Homeless strongly supports this effort because of its potential to successfully encourage the inclusion of affordable housing within the urban core, This is a fundamental component of our affordable housing initiative, Miami Homes for All®. This initiative seeks to establish a loan fund to finance the development of rental units affordable. to extremely low-income households within a mixed -income context. .Miami Homes for Alt® will greatly benefit .from the increased development of small, adaptable buildings, Thank you on behalf of Miami individuals and families struggling to make ends meet in this challenging economy, Barbara A. (B11)1e) Ibarxa, SPHR Executive. Director Gmail - Fwd: Small Building Parking Exemption https: //mail.google. com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=4ad232b828&view=pt&sea... 1 Andrew Frey <freyaa@gmail.com> Fwd: Small Building Parking Exemption Shannon Tracy <shannon@dpz.com> To: Andrew Frey <freyaa@gmail.com> From: Shannon Tracy <shannon@dpz.com> Subject: Fwd: Small Building Parking Exemption Date: May 21, 2014 at 1:46:55 PM EDT To: Andrew Frey <andrew.frey@akerman.com> Andrew, FYI: Lizz sent the following email to all of the commissioners separately. Thanks, Wed, May 21, 2014 at 1:47 PM 1 of 2 5/21/2014 1:48 PM Gmail - Fwd: Small Building Parking Exemption https://mail.google.comhnail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=4ad232b828&view=pt&sea... Shannon Tracy DPZ I Architects & Town Planners 1023 SW 25 Avenue, Miami FL 33135 shannon@dpz.com I D. 786 871 2188 J T. 305 644 1023 Begin forwarded message: From: Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk <lizz@dpz.com> Subject: Small Building Parking Exemption Date: May 15, 2014 at 5:01:36 PM EDT To: KHardemon@miamigov.com Dear Commissioner Hardemon, You have already received from Andrew Frey the suggestion that the zoning code be amended to allow buildings of up to 10,000SF in zones T-4 and up, and close to transit, to be built without off-stsreet parking. Andrew has asked me, as one of the consultants who helped the City produce the current zoning code, to comment on this proposal. am writing to encourage you to bring this change to the City Commission and to vote for it. It allows the redevelopment of small, often neglected, sites that have been left between the larger buildings in the high density areas of the city, and it encourages a scale of residential building that produces an amenable streetscape for pedestrians. Given the locations available for this type of infill building, it has little potential to affect single family neighborhoods with on -street parking. Ultimately it empowers the small property owner to have a greater choice of how to use his or her property. urge you to consider this proposal positively, and I would be happy to elaborate on it if you would find it useful. Sinerely yours, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk FAIA CNU LEED Partner I DPZ I Architects & Town Planners 1023 SW 25 Avenue, Miami FL 33135 lizz@dpz.com I C. 305 798 7393 I T. 305 644 1023 2 of 2 5/21/2014 1:48 PM Associate t tr and Contractor Florida East Coast Chapter 2014 Board of Directoro Chairmen George L Cueeta Cuoeta Construction Chairman Elect Janus Vazquez Facchine Construction of Florida, LLC. Immediate Pant Chairman Scott R. Moss Mose & Associates First Vice Chairman/Secretary/Treasurer Antonio ©bregon Formrite Construction, LLC Directors Dave Aiken CEMEX Carlos Artlavin Jr. Cambridge Construction Corporation John Bennett Coastal Construction Group Bill Bower Southeast Mechanical Contractors Tim Dumblaser The Everglades Group, LLC Charles Error Right Way Plumbing Co, Alberta Fernandez AN F Group, Inc, Cloy Fischer Woodland Conatnrotion Co, Inc, Clinton Claes Balfour Beatty Construction Chris Kennedy Suffolk Construction Co„ Inc, Randall Lebolo Lebofo Construction Management, Inc. Roy F. MacRobort Supermct Concrete and Superblock Russell P. Nash William R. Nash, Inc. Bill Parker In$ource, Inc. Richard Paul -Hue Hypower, Inc. Miami -Dada Councl! Chairman Scott Prince Suffolk Construction Co, Inc. Kemi Smith Baker Concrete Construction Space Coast Council Chairmen Marina/ H. Williams Sr. M H Williams Construction Croup, Inc. Brian A. Wolf Eeq. Smith, Currie & Hancock LLP President & CEO Pater M. Dyge, CAE ABC Florida Eant Coast Chapter 3730 Coconut Creek Pkwy., Suite 200 Coconut Creek, FL 33066 Phone 954.984,0075 Fax 954.984,4905 www.abceastflorida.com May 22, 2014 The Honorable Tomas Regalado 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 Dear Mayor Regalado, On behalf of Associated Builders and Contractors Florida East Coast Chapter I write in support of a small building parking exemption currently being considered by some in City Hall. ABC is the largest commercial construction association representing the largest and smallest contractors from Key West to Melbourne. We support this discussion because we know and see that there are areas where businesses would like to be but cannot because of current parking guidelines and because we also know there are neighborhoods where the residents would like there to be a larger business presence. This effort speaks to both of those issues. It is our belief that a small building parking exemption would: (1) Level the playing field for small property owners. (2) Let the market decide: Empower small owners to choose how many spaces to provide based on their property size and knowledge of local needs. (3) Investment without displacement: Allow small property owners to keep their property and develop it, thus participating in the revitalization of their own neighborhood. (4) Reduce housing costs: Required parking drives up construction costs and encourages larger, less -affordable units. (5) Spread the wealth: The gains from urban development should not be concentrated in a few large companies. (6) Facilitate investment in more urban neighborhoods: Not every neighborhood needs 40 stories, some just need 8 units but can't accomplish that due to required parking. (7) Compatible development: Small buildings are compatible with neighborhood character. (8) Grow world -class neighborhoods: The best urban neighborhoods are made up of many small, adaptable buildings. The small building parking exemption that bbeing advocated bas follows, short and simple, inCAPS: "Parking ratio may bereduced within 1/2mile radius ofTODorwithin 1/4mile radius ofaTransit Corridor by thirty percent (3O%)byprocess of Waiver, ORBY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) FOR ANY STRUCTURE THAT HAS AFLOOR AREA OFTEN THOUSAND (10,000) SQUARE FEET OR LESS, except when site is within 500 feet of T3." Please vote for this exception. The future of Miami's urban neighborhoods depends on I Bkly�m- PresidentofGovernment Affairs C HAITIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ITIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION June 2, 2014 " uffd ny 7-Tames, !ives, Suddini Community" Dear City of Miami Commissioners, The Haitian. American Community Development Corporation (HACDC) endorses modification to City of Miami zoning code requirements th.at will decrease the cost to buildmuch needed inill housing by reducing parking requirements for small properties zoned T4, T5 and T6. Reduced costs for housing and increased supply moves our community a long way towards addressing the growing need for affordable housing in the urban core. Providing affordable housing in the urban core where there is an abundance of small properties within walking distance to places of employment and essential services and amenities, and ready access to public transportation, also reduces the dependency on privately owned vehicles. For the majority of residents of Miarni housing and transportation costs combined consume close to 70% of total household income making Miami the most expensive city in the entire country in which to live. By providing small property owners near transit networks the opportunity to reduce the number of parking spaces has the potential to reduce both housing and transportation costs. The small building parking exemption that HACDC supports would allow for parking ratio to be reduced. within 1/2 mile radius of Transit Oriented Development areas or within 1/4 mile radius of a Transit Corridor by one hundred percent (100%) for any structure that has a floor area of ten thousand (10,000) square feet or less, except when site is within 500 feet of T3 zoned property. As a community development corporation we seek strategies that create sustainable, livable communities by utilizing community assets. Allowing small property owners the opportunity to more fully utilize the asset that is their property to meet the need for more affordable housing, while creating an increased tax base and revenue for the city, is in my mind a classic win -win situation for all. With best regards and hopes that this progressive modification to City of Miarni Code and Zoning be considered and supported. Sam Diller Executive Director 2014 Board of Directors President Gene N. Kluesner, AIA President Elect Tony Rosabal, AIA Vice Presidents Javier E. Cdrdova, AIA Jason R. Hagopian, AIA Secretary/Treasurer Neyda 5. Otero, AIA Chapter Directors Elizabeth G. Camargo, AIA Javier F. Salmon, AIA Jason Tapia, AIA State Directors Virgilio Campanerio, AIA Allan T. Shulman, FA1A Alejandro Silva, AIA Lourdes Solera, FAIA Associate Directors Michelle M. Bilbao, Assoc AIA Alejandro 8. Granger, Assoc AIA AIA Florida Secretary/Treasurer Martin Diaz-Yabor, FAIA Executive Vice President Cheryl H. Jacobs A Chapter of The American Institute of Architects July 2, 2014 The Honorable Tomas Regalado City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 RE: SMALL BUILDING PARKING EXEMPTION Dear Mayor Regalado: On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, 1 am writing to advise you of our support of 'a small building parking exemption, currently being considered. AIA Miami has over 700 members, many of whom work with small property owners on a regular basis. Many small property owners find it basically impossible to build new buildings or additions due to Miami's zoning requirements for parking. A small building parking exemption would: • Level the playing field for small property owners. • Let the market decide: Empower small owners to choose how many spaces to provide based on their property size and knowledge of local needs. • Provide more affordable housing in the urban core near transit reducing the dependency on private vehicles. • Investment without displacement: Allow small property owners to keep their property and develop it, thus participating in the revitalization of their own neighborhood. • Reduce housing costs: Required parking drives up construction costs and encourages larger, less -affordable units. • Facilitate investment in more urban neighborhoods: Not every neighborhood needs 40 stories, some just need 8 units but can't accomplish that due to required parking. • Compatible development: Small buildings are compatible with neighborhood character. • Grow world -class neighborhoods: The best urban neighborhoods are made up of many small, adaptable buildings. The small building parking exemption that is being advocated is as follows, short and simple, in CAPS: "Parking ratio may be reduced within 1/2 mile radius of TOD or within 1/4 mile radius of a Transit Corridor by thirty percent (30%) by process of Waiver, OR BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT (100%) FOR ANY STRUCTURE THAT HAS A FLOOR AREA OF TEN THOUSAND (10,000) SQUARE FEET OR LESS, except when site is within 500 feet of T3." We ask that you support this exemption. The future of Miami's urban neighborhoods depends on it. Best regards, AIA MIAMI 641go Cheryl H. Jacobs Executive Vice President 101 NE 1 Avenue Miami, FL 33132 Phone: 305.448.7488 Email: info@aiamiami.org www.alamiami.org ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH FLon DA Chair and City Commissioners City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33131 Dear Chairman Gort and City Commissioners: July 16, 2014 Re: Small Building Parking Exemption I am writing on behalf of the Miami -Dade Legislative Committee of the Builders Association of South Florida (BASF)_ Chapter about the above -referenced issue, which proposes an amendment to the City of Miami Code to create a small building parking exemption in Transit -Oriented Development areas and along Transit Corridors. It has been a source of discussion for the past several months, among our committee members, as well as within the community at large. The City of Miami has come to a mature point in its development such that this is an idea most worthy of exploring. Increasingly, the City is spending more capital dollars in building more transit -friendly facilities, including increasing the number of bike lanes, funding the Miami Trolley, and in general, promoting walkability within neighborhoods. Further, since the adoption of Miami 21, the City has strongly encouraged developers to plan their buildings (office and residential buildings) to make more or better use of existing mass transit facilities, including Metro Rail and Metro Mover among other facilities, through the zoning code. We continue to strongly support and endorse these incentives. The next step in this forward -thinking urban planning is the small building parking exemption. This concept, when added to all other existing incentives, will help make all programs even more successful. Finally, we respectfully submit that the City should adopt greater densities within and around these areas as well. While such efforts may have been thwarted in the past, perhaps now is the time for this change as well, to increase the efficacy of the small building parking exemption, too. Sincerely, Truly Burton, Executive/Government Affairs Director cc: Mayor Tomas Regalado Planning and Zoning Director Planning and Zoning Board 1:44<, tut,,,-.f .:>ff .nrnev.tir>nn.ts .. i"xl W 's'9'tLi Assocha' trir } 9.57.1 4°a,f ,oru" C'#§:33A7' e rsrook.trua ,Fc,55. .« ('.:L",: tD,wcx: 5Dc'v1:•fe,p,:r: W *7,3t,'.ral C<x,-r;:,wc ti <x t)y3%3, i-t 3ri.;,Y u,§.§' }taf'ti'} and *(o,'Fht w l xCaF l) , f .Y n Co1,1% ni,, x 1/,VA <;<, nr. nT "si Ill A chapter of Florida Atlantic Building Association www.myfaba.com_ 4601 Sheridan Street, #401, Hollywood, FL 33021 T: 954-399-9233 F: 954-639-7107