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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 Royal Atlantic development project, located at 1001 NW 7 ST (old Miami News Building) was presented by Larry Cohen of Brito Cohan Architects; Lucia Dougherty and Gloria Velazquez of Greenberg Truing; Don Darrah of Roth, Rousso & Darrah, P.A., and the potential developer, Edwin Verdezoto, Royal Atlantic Developers, LLC.  The potential developer has a contract to purchase the site, subject to approval of the small scale comprehensive plan amendment, rezoning, and the presented Major Use Special Permit (MUSP).  The proposed mixed-use project consists of 610 residential units and 8,000 square feet of retail, planned in the following three building phases:

• Phase I – Located in the middle of the site, features 294 residential units.  Lucia Dougherty stated the original proposal for 34 stories has been reduced to 26 stories in response to the concerns of adjacent residents and City Planning comments.  The first five of the total 26 stories is a parking garage, facaded along the Miami River side with townhomes and 3,500 square feet of retail facing NW 7 ST.
• Phase II – Located on the eastern portion of the site, features 280 residential units.  Dougherty stated the original proposal for 29 stories has been reduced to 24 stories, again in response to the concerns of adjacent residents and City Planning comments.  As in Phase I, the first five of the total 24 stories is a parking garage, facaded along the Miami River side with townhomes and 4,500 square feet of retail facing NW 7 ST.
• Phase III – Located on the western side of the site, features 36 high-end 2-story loft units.  The first 4 floors of the total 12-story building will be a parking garage, decoratively facaded on all sides.

The MUSP application, scheduled for submittal to the City of Miami in October 2003, will include an amendment to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan from Industrial to restricted commercial and a zoning amendment from Marine Industrial (SD-4) to restricted commercial (C-1), which allows High Density Residential (R-4) and retail uses.  The development proposes a 10-foot boardwalk over the River, and is setback 40 feet from the existing shoreline.  The project proposes a publicly accessible section of the setback, consisting of a 10-15 foot wide riverwalk.

Dr Martin stated he shares the concern with other “middle river” (NW 7 ST to NW 22 Ave) residents about the height of the proposed development.  Martin stated the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan “middle river prototype” (Pg. 58) was for mid-rise density, while taller high-density buildings were in the “lower river prototype” (Biscayne Bay to NW 7 Ave).  Lawrence Ress and Judith Lamar, both “middle river” homeowners, agreed with Martin’s concern that the proposed development was to tall and therefore not in character with the surrounding mid-rise Little Havana neighborhood.

Jim Murley stated despite the properties current marine industrial zoning, the site has not had any maritime industrial uses for some time.  Murley noted the east side of the project (Phase II) faces Anchor Marine, with the parking garage as a buffer between the proposed residential building and the adjacent marine industrial business.  Murley noticed the western side of the project (Phase III) is surrounded by the Miami-Dade County General Administration Services building and the City of Miami fire station, and suggested the area be maintained as greenspace to buffer the adjacent public uses.  Mr. Cohan, architect for the project, agreed  with the recommendation and suggested the 36 units within Phase III be absorbed into Phases I and II.  Lavinia Freeman, Trust for Public Land (TPL), offered to meet with the developer to discuss the possibility of TPL purchasing the proposed greenspace area (western side) of the site for public park uses.  Brett Bibeau, MRC, cited the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan’s recommendations related to this development, including FDOT to study permitting left had turns onto NW 7 ST when traveling south over the NW 12 Ave bridge, providing better access to the site, and including a Water Taxi stop.  The potential developer agreed with the Infill Plan’s recommendations.

The subcommittees completed the attached Development technical review Form, and suggested the MRC recommend approval of the project to the City Commission, subject to the following conditions:

• A minimum 20-foot wide publicly accessible riverwalk be provided, pursuant to Miami River Greenway schematic designs.
• Cleats on the Riverwalk for recreational vessel tie-ups
• An on-road Greenway be provided along the sites perimeter, per the adopted Miami River Greenway Action Plan
• Phase III of the proposed development be re-planned to provide for the maximum accessible greenspace adjacent to the Miami River.

Bibeau stated the City of Miami had submitted additional information for the draft “5-year Integrated Budget”.  Bibeau will revise the draft “5-year Integrated Budget” and the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan’s  draft “1^st Annual Update” for review at the next UIWG meeting.

The next UIWG / Greenways subcommittee meeting was scheduled for August 25, 2003 (re-scheduled to August 28), 10 AM Lummus Park, 404 NW 3^rd ST.  The agenda will include the “Hurricane Cove Workshop” and a discussion of the City of Miami studying North and South River Drives, as thousands of new residential units are being proposed for the Drives.

The meeting adjourned.

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