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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-E-mail-Ron Nelsonr Page 1 of 4 Nelson, Ron From: mdawson@sasaki.com Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 5:29 PM To: Nelson, Ron Subject: Re: FW: Proposed Coconut Grove building faces new criticism Miami Herald 9-14-08 Attachments: GH PLANS III.PDF Ron We last reviewed the project with the Lima family well over a 1 1/2 years ago. It is our understanding at that time the facilities intended use was simply for Grove Harbor Marina customers only. As we said two years ago, as long as they comply with all land use and pertinent zoning ordinances, building setbacks etc and do not further encroach on the baywalk beyond the impacts of the existing facility (I believe built by the city) then as a matter right they could seek approval to do a new building to meet the needs of their Marina customers. We discussed the ability to design a building that should be responsive to maritime qualities in both scale and simplicity. We also understood Grove Harbor could not provide vehicular access to the building, but would shuttle customers from the parking lot in golf carts to the Dock Master facility. An issue we discussed as being less than desirable. Fast forward, one year later, given the evolution of the Master Plan and discussion regarding the Chart House with a lease expiring in 2012, the MP supports the idea of reposition this property. The future use will require vehicular access (drop-off, service etc) as would the proposed commercial fishing pier represented in the master plan. That being said we thought we could possibly solve direct access /drop-off for Chart House parcel and Grove Harbor shared driveway/drop-off configuration. It would require a collaborative design process with both sides participating. We know we can make a better 'Urban Place' and improve access for the Chart House site, commercial pier and Grove Harbor if done collaboratively. Again the most important aspect is not privatizing the waterfront, but promoting public access. If the plans do anything to prevent that from then it should be stopped. Talk soon - Mark Mark O. Dawson ASLA Principal t 617.923.7225 I c 617.620.7831 www.sasaki.com SASAKI "Nelson, Ron" <rnelson®miamigov.com> 09/15/2008 06:20 PM SUBMITTED INTO THE PUBLIC RECORD FOR ITEM. ON 1-as-De . To <mdawson@sasaki.com> cc Subject FW: Proposed Coconut Grove building faces new criticism Miami Herald 9- 14-08 Mark, As you know our office did ask about the placement of the new Grove Harbour office building on the Sasaki plan. We were concerned that a building that had not gone through the proper process being placed on the plan would appear as an endorsement. I als believe that you were as well concerned about an office building being placed 9/22/2008 07- 003`15-1C-SSbrni Ilal-C 0i i - [401 fe kcI- Page 2 of 4 directly on the waterfront, especially if it were to encroach into the baywalk, or add mass to the area the plan was trying to open up for the commercial pier. The thought was that retail and yacht brokers belonged upland by Bayshore Dr. Possibly where the proposed parking garage will be built. The developer has stated on record at public meetings that you favor this office building at its proposed location. Can you call our office on tomorrow to discuss? Brgds Ron Nelson Chief of Staff Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff City of Miami District 2 (305) 250-5333 Mobile (305) 281-2649 Submitted into the public record in connection with item PZ.9 on 09-25-08 Priscilla A. Thompson City Clerk From: info@thegrovefirst.com [mailto:info@thegrovefirst.com] Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2008 12:03 PM To: McConnell28@msn.com Subject: FW: Proposed Coconut Grove building faces new criticism Miami Herald 9-14-08 This issue should be on Commission Agenda for Thurs. Sept. 25th Proposed Coconut Grove building faces new criticism Grove Harbour Marina hopes to build a new dockmaster and administration office, but critics say the project would obstruct a public boardwalk and conflict with the Coconut Grove Waterfront Master Plan. BY DAVID SMILEY dsmily@MiamiHerald.com For years, the dockmaster and administration office building proposed by Grove Harbour Marina has been called too tall and too large. But now that the project has been downsized, it is facing a new criticism: the three-story building wasn't included in the recently approved Coconut Grove Waterfront Master Plan. Crafted with years of public input by consultant Sasaki Associates, the plan maps out a vision for the future development of binner Key. "They're upsetting the whole plan," activist Michael Butler said during Monday's Zoning Board hearing. ' ' The principals of Sasaki did not want a three-story building smack on the waterfront." Grove Harbour has proposed a 21,000-square-foot office and brokerage building about 22 feet from the water. The building would replace portable toilets with bathrooms and provide showers and lockers for Grove Harbour customers, said attorney Santiago Echemendia. 9/22/2008 Page 3 of 4 Plus, the bottom floor would include about 5,000 square feet of open space and would serve as a public promenade in which residents could stop for lunch or to relax on the water, Echemendia said. "There are a lot of folks clamoring for a place to eat your sandwich or food you bought from The Fresh Market," he said. Echemendia said the building was proposed years ago at 38,000 square feet but has been reduced in size twice after critics said it was too large. The biggest knock against the building has been that it is too close to the water, he said, but only the building's columns would impede on the boardwalk on the ground floor. He also noted that the city has proposed a new three-story Dinner Key dockmaster facility near the water. The Zoning Board voted 5-2 in favor of the project, and Tuesday the city's Waterfront Advisory Board voted unanimously in favor of the project. But before beginning construction, Grove Harbour must first secure the support of the Miami City Commission, where there is already one detractor. Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, who represents the Grove, said Wednesday that there is no need for the facility to be on the water and noted that much of what is proposed in the building would already be covered in a retail and parking garage on South Bayshore Drive proposed in the Sasaki plan. "I thought the idea behind the Sasaki plan was to design the waterfront," Sarnoff said. If it's not part of Sasaki plan, why isn't it a part of the Sasaki plan?'' The building was left out of the master plan because it was too large and would have obstructed the boardwalk, said Enrique Nunez, the city's chief of urban design. But now that Grove Harbour has reduced the scope of the building and added public access to the ground floor, Nunez said the project is no longer a problem. "At this point it does not negatively impact the principals of the overall Waterfront Master Plan,'' Nunez said. In fact, it enhances the waterfront, said Michelle Niemeyer, a waterfront activist and chairwoman of the Cocoanut Grove Village Council, which will weigh in on the matter Thursday. Niemeyer said Monday she expected to be against the project, but now supports the building because of Grove Harbour's commitment to allow the public to use the ground floor as a promenade. "It's a fantastic compromise," she said. 9/22/2008 item PZ.9 on 09-25-08 Page 4 of 4 Sue McConnell 305-442-9235 mcconnell28@msn.com 9/22/2008 Submitted into the public record in connection with item PZ.9 on 09-25-08 Priscilla A. Thompson City Clerk