HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Johanna Brown-Letter of Support from John & Debbie DolsonSubmitted into tfie pu 1
recon?[1l- 1 C111(5) '
--j City Clerk
To: City Commissioners, Mayor and P/Z staff (January 12, 2017 City Hall meeting)
From: John and Debbie Dolson, 4205 Lennox Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida
In support of Williams Armbrister and others for this meeting.
We start 2017 with a sincere thank you for listening to all of us last year.
You promised and then ended, with leadership from Ken Russell, Francis Suarez,
and Francisco Garcia, the practice of developers building on a T -plat. Perhaps that
will solve the 'cement has been poured' issue in the future, even though some
remediation is needed on past violations.
We also appreciate the P/Z staffs willingness to work with us openly. We
are grateful that individuals from multiple groups, with Anthony Balzebre, are
working hard to strengthen and improve existing codes. Attachment 1 shows that
only 2-5% of the lots in our area are big enough to be reasonably split. is it worth
the effort to do so, eliminating green space and increasing density against the
spirit of the code?
It is clear that fixing the FAR (Foot Area Ratio) will be key to preserving
green space in 2017 and beyond, preventing over -crowding of smaller lots.
2017 could be an extraordinary year. The West Grove, in particular, is in
crisis mode (Attachment 2). It has been bought up, driven neighbors away,
created slum conditions, and left a frustrated, dispirited community.
Architecturally non-compliant 'box homes' have popped up in the middle of
streets designated historic!
We support Williams Armbrister and other groups in their efforts to get
solutions for this important and historic part of the Grove. We have good groups
to align with; Grove 2030, Ministerial Alliance, Urban Resurrection, Village
Council, HOTA and our newly formed Grove Watch Group. Please find a way to
work even more effectively with us in 2017. What we do this year will be a legacy
for generations to come.
John and Debbie Dolson
4205 Lennox Drive, Coconut Grove, Florida, 33133
1445-Su1�,1- J4klww, brNl\
-
Coconut Grove and "Vicinity Lot Sizes, January, 2017
(not classified by usage)
Submitted into the blie
lecon ordlrtu
L�) A
City Clerk
Messages:
*Large lots are a rarity (5,5%)
*Lots over 20,000 ft2 are rarer (2,5%)
*Why diminish size and increase
density with such a small remaining
number of large lots?
--code needs to protect property
rights but also stay firm on
splitting where not allowed
*For all lots, FAR should be increased to
preserve green space
Lot Sizes, Coconut Grove
2917 1143 1212
0 0.2 0.4 0.8 1 2 1.6
Miles
2017 Must be the year to fix the code, provide clarity for developers, protect our
canopy, encourage more green space and make Coconut Grove a showcase
of well run cities.
Undersized - Small Large
a Oversized
■ Estate
Lot sizes
Count Percent
Undersized
Less 5,6011
38189
32.58
Small
5,666-16,606
57212
61.74
{large10,000.20,000
2917
3.15
lover5lzed
20,600-03,560
1143.
1.23
Estate
Greater than 43,560
1212
1.31
Totallots
92673
Attachment 1. targe lots are a rarity, let us try to preserve them and the green space in them.
The West Grove is in crisis mode- Make this the year to fix it. Ressurect and re -think
the 2002 master plan with input from residents in mind. Solve affordable hpusing.
rD Vacant Lots!
0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4
Miles
Vacant Lots, slum lords,
displaced residents,
lack of enforcement
of NCD-2'bahamian
style'architecture.
Big problems
Big potential
Su6mittcd into the p ijc
record °r i °m(s)
O° �_- CityClcrk
Attachment 2. Cement your legacy in 2017. Fix long overdue problems in the West Grove. It is virtually up for
grabs, owned largely by developers and investors. Many people are here to help. Work to get viable solutions to
the issues and make this a showcase for affordable housing and preservation of a Bahamian heritage and
architecture.