HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-78-0229FROM:
CITY OP MIAM1. FLORIDA
/N11:31.0FFIct NdiE .10RANDUM
Joseph R. Grassie
City Manager
Richard b. Fosmoen
Assistant City Manager
CATE.
MAR 3 0 1900
FILE•
siif:JE:i Parking Problem in Coconut Grove
OFf. 4ENCE9
Since 1972, when the Coconut Grove Master Plan was accepted in
principle by the City Commission, a number of changes have
occurred in the Village Center. An increase in the number of
restaurants and shops has stimulated additional visitor traffic.
Major developments such as Mayfair, while providing on site
parking, will attract additional visitors. The current zoning
ordinance requirements are that parking be provided within 500 feet
of the principal use. Experience indicates that this may not be
adequate to cover existing demand or may result in visitors parking
on properties reserved for exclusive use of a particular business
since it is closer to their destination.
The Miami Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan identified the Village
Center as an area in need of additional parking. Several conversa-
tions have been held with Off -Street Parking Authority on a possible
municipal ramp; however, adequate information is not available to
justify a revenue bond issue.
It is my recommendation that before the parking problem in the
Village Center becomes even more acute, the City undertake a compete
review and analysis of Grove parking needs This study should
produce a magnitude of need based on existing and projected develop-
ment activities, an analysis of potential locations for parking
facilities and a set of policies to govern future parking requirements
and location in the Grove. If the magnitude of need is such that
a municipal ramp seems justified, then our next step would be to
contract for a feasibility study for municipal parking with O.S.P.A.
in anticipation of a revenue bond issue.
Funding for a parking analysis for Village Center is an eligible
C.D. expense. I would anticipate a cost of between $10,000 and
$15,000 to accomplish this effort.
9
MAti t-tAtL S. ttA#i#HS
FLOOR DADS FEDERAL BUILDING
21 NORTHEAST FIRST AVENUE
FLort bA Gnt;1t
April 8, 1978
(Honorable Mayor Maurice Metre
City Ia11
Dinner Rey
Miami, rlorida
Dear Maurcet
I understand that one of the items to come before the City Commission
meeting this coming Thursday will be the possibility of hiring a
consultant to do a parking study of Coconut Grove. It is my under-
standing that the administration is contemplating hiring a
consulting firm which would study both the need and possible
solutions to the present parking dilemma in Coconut Grove.
Some months ago, I took a personal interest in that matter and
wrote Colonel Mitchell Wolfson about what I saw not as a parking
problem but as a potential community relations problem caused by
the fact that parking for the Coconut Grove business section was
sooner or later going to start infringing on the residential
sections around the Grove. As a result of that letter and later
conversations with Richard La Bow, I did a personal survey of the
available properties in the Grove and came to the conclusion that
there are limited solutions available but that a parking problem
does exist.
Based on the above, I would strongly recommend that you not
consider the hiring of consultants, who I think can do little
more than agree that there is a problem and probably suggest the
only two viable solutions that I saw. I am not suggesting I know
more than the consultants. My experience is that the consultants
would end up asking the people who are concerned about the Grove
their opinions, and since I have already done that, I think I
know what their conclusions would be.
In addition, if the consultants were not appointed, you would be
in a far better position to move rapidly towards the more attractive
potential solutions. In view of the rapidly escalating values in
the Grove area, it seems that the rapid movement by the City and
not the long drawn out process of a consultant's study, is the
most appropriate solution.
MSH: fg
cc: Mr. Kenneth Triester
Mr. Richard La Bow
Very cordially, yours,
Mars all S. Harris