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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
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The Miami River Commission ’s (MRC) Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) convened on Tuesday, January 12, 2005 , 10:00 AM , the Miami Riverside Center , 444 SW 2^nd Ave. , 8^th Floor conference room.  Mr. Jim Murley chaired the meeting, and the sign in sheet is enclosed.

I) Technical Project Reviews

A. Presentation Regarding Miami RiverTown, 1500 NW North River Drive ( Mahi Shrine Temple ) - Ms. Vicky Garcia-Toledo, Bilzin Sumberg, presented a proposed mixed-use development at the current “ Mahi-Shrine Temple ” property, which requires a land use and zoning amendment from Office to Restricted Commercial (C-1) with an SD-19 overlay to increase the proposed project’s Floor Area Ratio (FAR). Ms. Garcia-Toledo introduced Mr. Aris Garcia, project architect, Richard Rogers, landscape architect, Carlos J. Gimenez and Dylan Reingold of Bilzin Sumberg. The presented design was for Phases I, II and III of the development site, consisting of one 35 story (342 feet) and two- 34 story (352 feet) residential buildings with 985 units, retail, 40,000 square feet of office space, gazebos, two outdoor restaurants, riverwalk and 1,800 parking spaces (more than required for the 985 residential units) facaded by town homes. Mr. Garcia noted the project would be composed on two pieces of land (6.6 acres) west of 15^th Avenue . Phase III may include a 200-room hotel. Brett Bibeau, MRC’s Managing Director, asked if the Gross Lot Area bonus of 50 feet into the Miami River was calculated in the project, and Ms. Garcia-Toledo replied it was. Mr. Garcia explained that the residential towers would be slightly angled, cascading downward towards the street to maximize views of the river corridor. To animate the space, Mr. Garcia noted that he created a series of pedestrian corridors and public sidewalks running parallel to each residential building, thereby bringing people to the river’s edge. Ms. Garcia-Toledo noted that the gazebos, strategically placed near the river’s edge, would also create a great focal point for the river and generate a neighborhood feel. Ms. Garcia-Toledo stated the proposed development would provide housing opportunities for the 20,000 employees of the adjacent civic center area. Ms. Garcia-Toledo informed the UIWG that they would submit their Major Use Special Permit application to the City of Miami in March or April 2005. They expect to be issued their building permit by the end of 2006. Ms. Garcia-Toledo stated their desire to have a water taxi stop at the site, and are researching the history of dockage on the property in order to apply for dockage permits.

Mr. Murley explained the City Commission requested the MRC’s advisory recommendation, regarding river related agenda items.  Murley further explained the MRC’s process is for the UIWG to advise the full MRC on whether any item is consistent with the Miami River Greenway Action Plan and the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.  The MRC then places the item on their publicly noticed agenda, the presenters are provided an opportunity to address the MRC, which votes to determine if the proposal is consistent with the aforementioned plans.

Mr. Murley asked for the group to first consider the proposal’s consistency with the Miami River Greenway Action Plan.  Murley explained the plan was adopted by the MRC, City and County Commissions in 2001.  The plan calls for the publicly accessible riverwalk at all redevelopment sites. Mr. Garcia stated they would consider shifting the riverfront gazebo in order to avoid the unobstructed 16-foot-wide pedestrian path, and is willing to add cleats along the riverwalk for temporary recreational boat dockage. Mr. Bibeau mentioned he had recently attended a meeting with Mr. Rogers, Trust for Public Land and Ms. Sallye Jude about incorporating some appropriate flowering trees into the riverwalk design and asked if any flowering trees had been included in this designed segment. Mr. Rogers stated they would consider including flowering trees along this riverwalk section. The UIWG found the proposed development to be consistent with the Miami River Greenway Action Plan, because it featured a 50-foot setback, 16-foot-wide unobstructed pedestrian path, additional green spaces, cleats, and two restaurants connecting to the publicly accessible riverwalk (please see attached Technical Review).

Mr. Murley asked for the UIWG to consider whether the proposal is consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.  Murley asked Bibeau to cite the appropriate references in the Plan to this area of the Miami River .  Mr. Bibeau replied page 31 contains the following text about the general area of the subject property, “A potentially significant redevelopment opportunity in the Civic Center neighborhood focuses on the Mahi Shrine site. With the cooperation of Miami-Dade County , two County-owned surface parking lots located to the east of the Shrine site could be jointly developed in a public-private venture; such a partnership would result in creation of the Miami River ’s largest water development site. Commercial (including restaurants, cafes, bookstores, and shops), residential, office, and hotel uses could be linked to the water’s edge via a “Riverwalk”-type plaza and accessed both from the greenway as well as from the River itself.” In addition, page 32 is the “Mahi Shrine Site-Redevelopment Case Study.”

As the proposed mixed-use development includes residential, commercial and office uses, and a publicly accessible riverwalk, therefore it was found to be consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan (please see attached Technical Review Form).      

 Mr. Murley asked if it would be possible to create a joint plan with Miami-Dade County to develop the surface parking lot to the east of the project site. Ms. Garcia-Toledo said she had spoken to the County regarding taking an active role in this matter, but reminded that the issue was not part of the project’s Major Use Special Permit Application.

Mr. Murley recommended that the City and County work with surrounding landowners to address parking availability. Mr. Murley also asked if the developers would consider posting historic signs to remind visitors of the Mahi Shrine’s former location. Mr. Bibeau stated that he would send the Miami River Greenway Historical markers specs to Ms. Garcia-Toledo.

Mr. Murley asked Ms. Garcia-Toledo to mail out all information regarding the project to all MRC board members and designees by Monday, January 31, 2005 , a week prior to the MRC scheduled hearing on this item which will take place on February 7, 2005 , noon , United Way Ansin Building , 3250 SW 3^rd Avenue .

B. Presentation Regarding “Coastal” Development Proposal, 2215 NW 14 Street- Ms. Lucia Dougherty, Greenberg Traurig, presented a proposed residential development, which requires a land use and zoning amendment from Marine Industrial (SD-4) to Liberal Commercial (C-2). Ms. Dougherty introduced the potential developer, Mr. Tony Acosta, and Ed Llorca of Mouriz Salazar. Ms. Dougherty noted the site, located west of the 22^nd Avenue Bridge, had been vacant for over four years. Ms. Grizel Madruga, Dockside Marine Electronics, stated her marine industrial business currently operates at the site and has been in business there for years. The presented design called for filling one of the two existing water slips in order to accommodate an unmentioned number of residential units with a 120-feet height limitation, a result of the requested C-2 zoning classification, and consisted of a riverwalk around the entire parameter of the property.

Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Executive Director of the Miami River Marine Group, stated that a riverwalk around the parcel would neither be safe or appropriate for pedestrians, considering the number of industrial properties located around the project site, such as Florida Detroit Diesel, 2277 NW 14 Street.

Mr. Murley asked for the group to first consider the proposal’s consistency with the Miami River Greenway Action Plan. Mr. Llorca mentioned that the City of Miami had advised him to extend a sidewalk out to the street for public use and bring it back to the bridge to create a loop. Plans also called for the construction of a publicly accessible 8-foot riverwalk around the building. Mr. Llorca stated the proposed building is setback 16-25 feet form the Miami River .

As proposed, the UIWG found the project to be inconsistent with the Miami River Greenway Action Plan, which has the “on-road” greenway proceeding around this “upper river” marine industrial site. Furthermore, the proposed publicly accessible 8-foot-wide riverwalk is only half of the Plan’s recommended minimum 16-foot width. 

Mr. Murley asked for the UIWG to consider whether the proposal is consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.  Murley asked Bibeau to cite the appropriate references in the Plan to this area of the Miami River .  Mr. Bibeau replied page 59 contains the following text about the general area of the subject property, “The preservation and growth of the shipping industry (in the upper river) will require that the greenway be a continuous on road facility on South River Drive…The recommended zoning overlay for this area would allow for secondary uses above water-dependent industrial businesses.”

Mr. Bibeau noted that the proposed residential development is located in the “upper river,” which is considered the heart of the marine industry.

Therefore, the UIWG found the proposed residential development to be inconsistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan (please see attached Technical Review).

II.  Planning Studies / Presentations

A. Status of Miami River Corridor Transportation Study – Mr. Bibeau asked to defer this item, since there weren’t any representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in attendance.

B.  Discussion of Revised Draft “2^nd Annual Update” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan – The updated draft “2^nd Annual Update” to the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan was distributed and discussed by the UIWG. The UIWG noted the draft has now been presented at 6 public hearings, and unanimously recommended its adoption at the MRC’s February 7, 2005 meeting, noon , United Way Ansin Building , 3250 SW 3^rd Avenue . 

 C.  Status of Proposed Miami - Dade County Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay               

Ms. Helen Brown, Miami-Dade County Planning and Zoning Department, stated their Department had revised the open space and landscaping components of the draft Marine Industrial Zoning overlay district legislation, after hearing concerns expressed during the Urban Infill Working Group “ Upper River ” Workshop on January 10, 2005 . Ms. Brown provided the MRC with copies of the revised Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay District Ordinance. 

Dr. Fran Bohnsack, MRMG, questioned the landscape and wall requirements addressed in the ordinance. She believed the landscape and wall requirements could present a hazard within shipping terminals, in terms of moving equipment and obscuring view corridors, which is discouraged by the Federal Maritime Security Act. Since the requirements were inconsistent with the nature of Marine Industrial uses, she asked if they could be eliminated.

Mr. Murley stated the UIWG concurs with the recommendation to delete the landscaping and wall provisions form the draft marine Industrial Zoning Overlay ordinance. Mr. Joe McManus, Miami -Dade Planning and Zoning, stated they would consider deleting the provisions from the draft ordinance. The UIWG recommended extending the draft overlay district to include the north shore of the Tamiami Canal as well, which currently has marine industrial businesses, such as Bertram Yachts, and Mr. McManus and Ms. Brown agreed to the recommended expansion of the proposed district. The UIWG further recommended the County to develop a simple one-two page question and answer formatted fact sheet on the draft ordinance for widespread distribution. Brown and McManus agreed to present a revised draft Miami-Dade County marine Industrial Zoning ordinance during the UIWG’s February meeting.  

III. Presentation Regarding Tamiami Canal Swing Bridge PD&E- Ms. Dulce Rodriguez-Sirgapo, Miami Dade Public Works Department (MDPWD), explained that there were several problems with the Tamiami Canal Swing Bridge . She noted that the structure was in poor condition and it was narrowing the area of the Tamiami Canal . She noted that the South Florida Water Management District was very supportive of the MDPWD working towards replacing the bridge. She stated that FDOT had contracted EAC, an engineering firm, to perform a preliminary study of the bridge. Ms. Rodriguez-Sirgapo said Miami-Dade County was considering constructing a new bascule bridge with four lanes and was examining places to move the historic Swing Bridge . The UIWG recommended considering using it as a pedestrian bridge in the Miami River Rapids Park area or over the Seybold Canal into Point Park . She noted that the design stage of the project would probably take two years, and the construction would take another two years. Mr. Murley invited the bridge consultants to the MRC Urban Infill Working Group’s February meeting.

The meeting adjourned.

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