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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

The UIWG discussed the upcoming Board of County Commissioners review of the Urban Infill Plan.  Helen Brown, Miami-Dade Planning and Zoning stated in late March she would forward the UIWG copies of County memos currently being drafted, regarding the Plan.  Brown stated the County had already drafted an ordinance to create the Marine Industrial overlay recommended in the Urban Infill Plan.  Brown stated she thought it would be feasible for the County to include an ordinance with a map amendment to their Comprehensive Plan, designating the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill boundary.  Brett Bibeau, Assistant MRC Managing Director, stated the County assigned MRC issues to the Transportation subcommittee, in coordination with Pete Hernandez.  Brown estimated the County subcommittee would hear the Plan in April or May 2003.

Peter Swartz and Caroline Weiss, Royal Bay Partners, presented their plans for a mixed- use development on the River’s north shore, between Flagler Bridge and I-95.  The project includes retail, restaurants, office and residential space.  Swartz stated they had submitted Class II permit applications to the City of Miami for phase I of the project.  They are scheduled to open their sales center in June 2003.  The project is broken into 4 phases of development, the first being the area between the Flagler and 1^st ST bridges.  Along the river shore, the proposal includes publicly accessible docks 5 feet into the river, a 11.5 foot setback (compliant with the City Charter for this narrow parcel) and commercial / restaurant uses.  Swartz is proposing a transfer of development rights from the narrow riverfront parcel, to the upland side of North River Drive, where he proposes the office and residential building.    Design is complete on the upland building and 90% complete on the commercial riverfront portion.  Ground breaking is estimated on the riverfront parcel in October 2003, and December 2003 for the upland parcel of phase I.  Swartz stated he is not requesting any variances, waivers or special exceptions, and is essentially building as of right.  Swartz expressed his desired for two-waying Flagler Street and under grounding FPL utility lines.  The UIWG passed a unanimous resolution, recommending the MRC support the development’s phase I Class II permit application, and requesting public officials to commence the Phase I development’s infrastructure needs as recommended in the Urban Infill Plan, including under-grounding FPL utility lines and two-waying Flagler Street.

The meeting adjourned.

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