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I.
MRC Chairperson Report:
On
behalf of the
Miami River Commission
(MRC), Chairperson Irela Bagué welcomed Mr. Eric Buermann, whom has
been appointed as Governor Jeb Bush’s “Member at Large” MRC seat,
previously held by former Chairman Bob Parks. Chairperson Bagué stated
she looked forward to working with Mr. Buermann, and thanked Governor
Bush for making his appointment. Mr. Buermann thanked Chairperson Bagué.
Chairperson
Bagué asked to entertain a motion regarding the MRC’s
May 2, 2005
meeting minutes. Vice Chairman
Phil Everingham moved to approve the May 2, 2005 MRC meeting minutes,
the motion was seconded by Ms. Sallye Jude and unanimously adopted.
Chairperson Bagué
reminded board members and meeting attendees that everyone has been
invited to the Tuesday, June 7, 2005
Miami River
boat tour. The event, which recognizes the South Florida Water
Management District’s (SFWMD) support of the MRC, will debark from the
Hyatt Regency’s riverwalk,
400 SE 2nd Avenue
at
6 pm
and return at
8:15 pm
. She encouraged those who had yet to RSVP to do so by contacting MRC
staff.
Miami River
district elected officials from the Dade Congressional Delegation,
Florida Legislature,
Miami-Dade
County
, City of
Miami
, Waterfront Advisory Board and the Florida Inland Navigation District
would also be recognized for their support during the pleasant sunset
cruise, added Chairperson Bagué.
Chairperson Bagué
noted that the MRC’s regularly scheduled, publicly noticed meetings
are held on the first Monday of the month. Yet, since the next MRC
meeting falls on
Monday, July 4, 2005
, a national holiday, the meeting date has been rescheduled to the
following
Monday, July 11, 2005
,
noon
, Robert King High, 1401 NW 7 ST Chairperson
Bagué added that the MRC does not meet in August.
Chairperson Bagué
stated she was pleased to announce the 1,000 Friends of Florida, a
non-profit organization, is honoring the
Miami River Commission
with the 2005 “Better Communities Award” to recognize the creation
and implementation of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.
Chairperson Bagué noted the MRC’s Executive Committee has
placed the award presentation on the MRC’s
July 11, 2005
meeting agenda, and thanked MRC staff for their continued efforts in
updating and implementing the MRC’s adopted strategic plan of River
improvement initiatives.
Chairperson Bagué
stated the MRC’s tentatively scheduled retreat has been rescheduled to
a half-day on Friday, October 21, on FT Lauderdale’s Riverwalk,
followed by a full day on Friday, October 28, on the Miami River
Greenway. The retreat will
focus on the future role of the MRC, including the potential to
coordinate maintenance, security and special events for the Miami River
Greenway.
On behalf of the
MRC, Chairperson Bagué thanked
Miami-Dade
County
who is currently executing the MRC’s office lease agreement, which was
approved by the MRC’s Executive Committee on
May 25, 2005
. MRC staff is scheduled to
move into an office space in the Robert King High riverfront facility,
1407 NW 7 Street, on
July, 1, 2005
.
II.
Presentation of “
Havana
River
Lofts,” 528
NW 7 Ave.
Chairperson
Bagué opened discussion on the item by asking Mr. Reynaldo Borges,
Borges & Associates, to present “Havana River Lofts”, and noted
the subject property on an enlarged aerial photograph.
Mr. Borges stated the proposed loft-style residential development
located on the
Seybold
Canal
at 528 NW 7 Avenue, to the
northwest of the NW Fifth Street Bridge, and across from
Spring
Garden
’s
Point
Park
. Mr. Borges stated the property
is currently zoned Liberal Commercial (C-2), which allows a maximum
building height of 120 ft (10 stories) and 63 total units for the
subject property. Borges stated the project had been renamed “
Rio
Lofts” and will feature 28
units (7 stories, including the ground floor), therefore a land use and
zoning amendment will not be required. Given the project’s proposed
height and low density, Mr. Borges noted that the developer would be
applying for a Class II Special Permit, not a Major Use Special Permit (MUSP).
Mr. Borges explained the project’s right-of-way alignment along
NW 7th Avenue
is consistent with the Florida
Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) plans to replace the
NW 5th Street
Bridge. Mr. Borges stated the
proposed project’s plans have undergone and received the first round
of comments from the City of
Miami
’s Internal Design Review
Committee. Mr. Borges stated he would like to receive additional
comments from the MRC before submitting the project’s plans for the
second round of Internal Design Review. Mr. Borges noted the proposed
project will have beautiful views of
Point
Park
, the
Seybold
Canal
and the
Miami River
, and is located adjacent to a
commercial fishing business. Mr. Borges stated he and the project
developer had recently initiated conversations with the adjacent
business owner in order to combine the parcels for residential
development, yet no agreement was reached.
Borges stated it would be simple in the future to incorporate a
residential use at the existing commercial fishing business property,
located on the
Miami River
immediately west of the NW 5 ST
Bridge. Mr. Borges stated there still existed a possibility to combine
both properties in the future, but explained that the “Rio Lofts”
developer intended to advance with his project in the meantime.
Mr. Borges stated that a recreational boatyard currently resides
North of the proposed project, but to his understanding, the property
had recently been involved in a real estate transaction.
Ms. Sallye Jude, MRC, asked Mr. Borges for prices of the proposed
loft project units, and Mr. Borges responded that prices, as of yet, had
not been specifically defined but noted they would be affordable and
“price-sensitive.” Mr. Jeff Pappell, who introduced himself before
the MRC board as the project’s developer, stated that prices would not
go above $400,000.
Chairperson
Bagué asked Mr. Jim Murley, Chair of the MRC’s Urban Infill Working
Group (UIWG), to state his findings of the proposed project. Mr. Murley
referred to the UIWG’s May 19, 2005 minutes and “Technical Review
Report,” which state, The UIWG found the Miami
River Corridor Urban Infill Plan’s zoning and land use related
recommendations for this particular area, including creation of a new
ordinance to permit a “water-dependant commercial or industrial uses,
with associated mixed-use development”, which may include a
residential component, and the recommendation to designate a
Neighborhood Conservation District, which would include the “Havana
River Lofts” site, have not been approved by the City of Miami, and
“Rio Lofts” is consistent with the site’s existing C-2 zoning and
land use. Therefore, the
UIWG recommended the MRC work with the potential developers to ensure
the proposed “Havana River Lofts”
project is compatible within its surrounding area and determine whether
it is consistent with existing code, such as the Spring Garden Historic
District”, and consistent with the Miami
River Corridor Urban Infill Plan. Chairperson Bagué thanked Mr.
Murley.
Chairperson
Bagué asked Dr. Ernie Martin, Chair of the MRC’s Greenways
Subcommittee, to state his recommendation on the proposed “Rio
Lofts” project. Dr. Martin noted Mr. Borges had presented the proposed
project’s plans before the Greenways subcommittee on
June 2, 2005
. Dr. Martin explained
consistent with the Miami River
Greenway Action Plan all-previous new development cases have agreed
to provide a publicly accessible riverwalk and an on-road greenway, and
the Greenways subcommittee has never made an exception to that
recommendation. Though there is an on-road greenway planned and funded
by FDOT for
NW 7th Avenue
from the new NW 5 ST Bridge to
the “
Humpback
Bridge
” over the
Seybold
Canal
, the GSC determined the
proposed project to be inconsistent with the Miami River Greenway
Action Plan, because it does not provide a publicly accessible
Greenway along the waterfront.
Mr.
Charles Morton, noted that the proposed project was not actually located
on the River. Dr. Martin replied the subject property abuts the Miami
River Greenway as it proceeds north along NW 7 Ave, parallel to the
Seybold
Canal
, and according to the MRC
adopted Miami River Greenway Action Plan, any project abutting
the greenway and located on the waterfront is therefore part of the
greenway recommendations.
Mr.
Everingham, MRC, stated that during the May 19, 2005 UIWG meeting, he
had expressed concern about the ability for a pedestrian to return to
the on-road greenway along NW 7 AVE to proceed around the neighboring
marine industrial businesses then over the “humpback” bridge in
order to proceed west over the Seybold Canal. Dr. Martin noted that the
North and South sides of the development proposal have walkways and a
waterfront greenway area, yet they are only accessible to owners of the
residential units and not publicly accessible.
Dr. Martin noted although the proposed development’s greenway
and setback width were narrower than recommended in the Miami
River Greenway Action Plan, the Greenways subcommittee was only
asking for the currently planned greenway areas to be publicly
accessible. Mr. Everingham
asked if it would be possible for the developer to connect the
waterfront Greenway with the adjacent commercial fishing business, and
Dr. Martin responded that the possibility only existed if the commercial
business site were to be redeveloped.
Mr.
Morton asked if the project developer if he would consider extending the
greenway and providing public access in the future if the adjacent
parcels are redeveloped, and Mr. Borges responded that someday the
developer might consider the option.
Mr. Borges stated that the project developer is providing 4 feet
of internal path between the subject property and the recreational
boatyard to the North.
Mr.
Borges explained the project developer did not wish to provide public
access to his site because of security issues and concerns, but in the
future would “look at” the possibility of providing public
accessibility. Chairperson Bagué stated she would like the project
developer to pledge his commitment to provide public access to the River
in the
future. Mr. Papell explained that though he liked the concept of
increasing public accessibility to the waterfront, he currently would
not support the idea, given the “high-crime” nature of the area.
Chairperson Bagué noted that in some residential or commercial areas,
the public has been allowed to access the riverwalk, not on a “24-7”
basis,
but from “
Sunrise
to Sunset.”
Chairperson Bagué noted that she realized that “Rio Lofts”
was trying to attract a “working river” lifestyle, but asked if the
project developer
had
considered the noise and smell of the abutting marine industrial
properties and NW 5 ST Bridge. Mr. Papell stated he had indeed taken
those factors into consideration and noted he had worked towards a
partnership on the project with the adjacent commercial fishing business
owner Manny Prieguez, yet Mr. Prieguez’s father wants to maintain the
existing fishing business.
Dr.
Martin stated he would take his “hat off” as Chair of the MRC
Greenways Subcommittee in order to review the project from the
perspective of the MRC’s “Neighborhood Representative”.
Dr. Martin explained that the general consensus of the Spring
Garden Civic Association (SGCA) is that they wished to avoid the
encroachment of high-rises within single-family residential areas, a
situation once experienced along
Biscayne Boulevard
’s
Upper East Side
. Dr. Martin noted that on
Thursday, June 2, 2005
, the SGCA association
unanimously agreed with the Miami
River Corridor Urban Infill Plan’s recommendation for the City of
Miami
to designate a Spring Garden
Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD), and therefore felt the “Rio
Lofts” proposed development was inconsistent with the Plan.
Dr. Martin added that the SGCA agreed to attend any and all
future meetings related to the proposed project in order to express
their opposition.
Dr.
Martin asked if the 28 parking spaces the developers planned to provide
was sufficient to accommodate residents of the 28 proposed residential
units, and Mr. Borges responded he was currently discussing that issue
with the City’s Planning Department. Mr. Borges added that the
developer did not wish to create a bulky parking garage on site, nor did
he wish to maximize the density of the proposed project by requesting
additional parking spaces. Mr. Borges added that parking security would
be provided.
Dr. Martin noted that
Mr. Papell and Mr. Borges’ interpretations of crime within the subject
property’s neighborhood were rather skewed. According to recent crime
statistics compiled by a City of Miami Police Commander, crime is not a
recognized problem within that neighborhood, but merely a perception,
noted Dr. Martin. In fact, added Dr. Martin, the subject property is
located within one of the lowest crime areas of the City of
Miami
, and it currently boasts a
wonderful community-policing program.
Charles Morton asked if the potential developers were willing to
use the disclosure form in their unit sales closing documents notifying
purchasers they are buying property on the
Miami River
which has marine industrial
businesses, and therefore maybe subject to conditions such as noise and
smells, as was proffered in previous river corridor development
proposals. Mr. Pappel agreed
to include the working river disclosure in their unit sale closing
documents.
Chairperson
Bagué asked if the proposed project developers would commit to
providing public accessibility along their planned greenway areas if the
adjacent parcels are redeveloped with a riverwalk, and Mr. Papell
replied in that case he would provide public accessibility to the
Greenway areas on a limited basis.
Mr.
Roman Gastesi, MRC, asked how many boat slips the subject currently
provides, and Mr. Papell responded five. Mr. Papell stated he intended
to sell the boat slips to unit purchasers.
Mr.
Gastesi made a motion to find
“
Rio
Lofts” consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill
Plan, subject to the following conditions: The developer honors its
commitment to provide public access to the planned Greenway areas if the
neighboring parcels are redeveloped with a riverwalk and to include the
“working river” disclosure in the sales documents.
Ms. Megan Kelly seconded the motion.
Before the voting process was initiated, Dr. Martin stated he
would vote against the project, since its recommendation for approval
would not set a good precedent for the Miami River Greenway or its
surrounding neighborhoods. The motion passed 7-4.
III.
Presentation of Draft “Miami River Corridor Energy Efficiency and
Water Conservation Report”- Consistent
with the February 7, 2005 MRC’s unanimously approved amendment to the Miami
River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, contained in the 2nd
Annual Update to, ““encouraging developments to include alternate
sources of energy and water conservation, i.e. solar panels and low-flow
showerheads”, Chairperson Bagué stated that Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC
Assistant Managing Director, had created and distributed an excellent
draft Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Report. Ms. Jude
noted that Ms. Chase’s report was well executed, and recommended
summarizing the report into a brochure as well.
Chairperson Bagué noted the report would be distributed to all
Miami River
developers, upon the MRC’s approval. Chairperson Bagué added that the
MRC was considering hosting a Miami River Development Summit to educate
future developers on energy efficient products and water conservation
appliances, and encourage there use in the development of the thousands
of residential units planned along the Miami River. Vice
Chairman Phil Everingham moved to approve the Energy Efficiency and
Water Conservation Report, the motion was seconded by Ms. Sallye Jude
and unanimously adopted.
IV.
Presentation of Draft “
Miami River
Urban
Design
Center
Feasibility
Study” Chairperson
Bagué stated that Ms. Ashley Chase had created a draft “Miami River
Urban Design Center Feasibility Study” at the request of
Miami-Dade
County
, which had been recommended for approval by the MRC’s UIWG. Ms. Betty
Gutierrez stated that Commissioner Bruno Barreiro had met with the
County
Manager
earlier that morning to discuss the proposed site of the
Urban
Design
Center
. Ms. Gutierrez noted that the existing use of the property would need
to be relocated, and disclosed that the Commissioner, the
County
Manager
and GSA representatives would conduct a tour of the site within the next
two weeks to assess the property’s current conditions. Chairperson
Bagué thanked Ms. Gutierrez for Commissioner Barreiro and staff’s
support of the draft study.
Ms. Gutierrez noted a few changes needed to be made to the report before
its final submission:
Page
3 - The number of local direct jobs changed, noted Ms.
Gutierrez. Ms. Chase responded that the amount listed in the
June 2, 2005
draft report was accurate.
Page
5- List the awards the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan
has won.
Page
11- Limit the marine patrol use on the
Miami-Dade
County
owned site to the Miami-Dade County Marine Patrol. Ms. Gutierrez noted
potential additional marine patrol law enforcement agencies use of the
riverfront would be further discussed in the future.
Chairperson
Bagué noted the Miami River Urban Design Center Feasibility Study
outlines the proposed uses for the facility, including a publicly
accessible
Miami River
Historical
Museum
,
Urban
Design
Center
, community meeting boardrooms, MRC office space, and dockage for marine
patrol vessels. Mr.
Charles Morton moved to approve the amended draft Miami River Urban
Center Feasibility Study, the motion was seconded by Ms. Sallye Jude and
unanimously adopted.
V.
Committee Reports
A.
Dredging Working Group –
Chairperson Bagué noted
the SFWMD had prepared a brief update for the MRC, regarding the Florida
Inland Navigation District (FIND) cost- share of the
Miami River
maintenance-dredging project. Mr.
Evan Skornick, SFWMD, provided a report of the FIND grant process and
reported the first grant award from FIND was for $2.2 million. The
contract between the SFWMD and
Miami-Dade
County
, is scheduled to go before the SFWMD’s governing board for approval
on
Wednesday, June 8, 2005
. Mr. Skornick noted FIND had accepted the SFWMD’s second application
for $1.5 million a cost share of dredging within acceptance sections
9-11. Mr. Skornick stated that the SFWMD would make a presentation to
FIND on June 17,
Cocoa Beach
,
FL.
MRC
Managing Director Brett Bibeau stated that the new sediment processing
equipment is installed and operating. Mr. Bibeau noted that the Florida
Legislature included $3 million for the Miami River Maintenance Dredging
Project in their approved fiscal year 2006 Budget, which was recently
signed by Governor Jeb Bush. On behalf of the
Miami River Commission
, Mr. Bibeau stated he would once again like to thank the Dade
Delegation and Governor Bush for there continued strong support for the
project, and everyone who wrote letters in support of the
appropriations. Mr. Bibeau
stated that the City and County liaisons to the MRC’s Dredging
Subcommittee have restated and secured their committed local cost shares
for the project. Mr. Bibeau recognized that the County’s $17.7 million
Federal Fiscal Year 2006 appropriations request for the project is a
considerably large in an austere budget year. Mr. Bibeau, on behalf of
the
Miami River Commission
, thanked Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the Dade Delegation for
doing everything in their power to support the appropriation. Mr. Bibeau
noted that the Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to release
their budget version during the week of June 13. Therefore, stated
Bibeau, the MRC is encouraging everyone to reach out to Senators Nelson
and
Martinez
in support of the $17.7 million appropriation request, which is the
amount the dredgers have indicated is necessary to avoid a potential
temporary demobilization.
b. Miami
River Corridor Urban Infill Plan-
On behalf of the
Miami River Commission
, Mr. Bibeau thanked Commissioner Bruno Barreiro and the Board of County
Commissioners who approved the MRC recommended “Boat Slip Bank”
resolution on May 3, 2005. The resolution, explained Mr. Bibeau, directs
County staff to prepare a policy for the “Boat Slip Bank” concept,
which would be considered for adoption
by the Board of County Commissioners.
Mr. Bibeau noted that
the United States Coast Guard, Miami-Dade County Planning Department and
the MRC met last month to continue fine tuning the drafted Miami-Dade
County Marine Industrial Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Murley stated that
the Scope of Services for the MRC recommended “Miami River Corridor
Multi-Modal Transportation Study” has been drafted.
c. Greenways
subcommittee – Dr. Ernie
Martin, Chair of the MRC Greenways
subcommittee, thanked Mr. Bibeau and Ms. Chase for their
continued research on Greenway Governance, including maintenance,
security and special event management. Dr. Martin added that this issue
would be explored further during the MRC’s scheduled retreat. Mr.
Bibeau added sections of the publicly accessible Miami River Greenway
remain under construction.
d.
Stormwater Subcommittee – On
behalf of the
Miami River Commission
, Mr. Bibeau commended the City of
Miami
, which is currently installing solid waste interceptors for the
stormwater system, as recommended in the MRC Storm Water
Subcommittee’s Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report.
Mr. Bibeau
stated the Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department (WASD) continues
to conduct smoke testing within the Wagner Creek water basin, and have
detected several minor sanitary and storm water system defects, which
have since been repaired.
Mr. Bibeau
reported that the MRC endorsed “Scavenger 2000” de-pollution
vessel’s service contract with the City of Miami will expire at the
end of the 2005 fiscal year, and new funding is necessary to extend the
excellent services provided by the clean-up vessel.
Mr. Bibeau noted
at the recommendation of the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) the SSC continues to provide intergovernmental
coordination for the agencies involved in setting new water quality
parameters, known as Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for Wagner Creek,
followed by the
Miami River
. The TMDLs also require the creation of master plans outlining the
planned projects designed to achieve the new water quality parameters.
e.
Economic Development and Commerce (EDC) Subcommittee –Ms.
Megan Kelly, EDC Chair, stated the “Working Waterfronts” legislation
was adopted during the 2005
Florida
legislative session, which ended
May 6, 2005
. Ms. Kelly noted the passing of the “Working Waterfronts”
legislation was an “Action Item” identified during the MRC’s
September 27, 2004
Miami River Marine Industries Symposium.
Ms. Kelly added that the EDC is participating in a June 10 Miami
River Boat tour for 100 members of the Miami-Dade County Industrial
Association.
f.
Miami River
Safety Committee – Dr.
Fran Bohnsack, Executive Director of the Miami River Marine Group,
stated she was happy to report that “Access Control & Security
Systems” magazine had featured the
Miami River
as this month’s cover story in a
very positive article entitled, “Miami River Watch.” Dr. Bohnsack
stated that no drug seizures have occurred on the
Miami River
in nearly one year. Dr. Bohnsack noted
that Round 5 of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA)
grant appropriations had recently been released, and the Miami River
Marine Group had received “3 of 5,” which would significantly help
the City and County Marine Patrol. The MRMG has donated several
weatherized laptops to the City of
Miami
and Miami-Dade County Marine Patrols,
to remotely view the River’s shipping terminals newly installed video
camera live feeds. Dr.
Bohnsack added that the U.S. Coast Guard is currently conducting
inspections of the required Homeland Security measures, such as video
cameras, 24/7 security, fences, lighting, etc. as required for
re-certification of the Miami River’s international shipping
terminals.
VI.
New Business – Dr.
Fran Bohnsack requested the Miami River Marine Group be invited to all
future meetings regarding the draft Miami-Dade County Marine-Industrial
zoning ordinance. Mr. Bibeau stated he had previously informed Dr.
Bohnsack about the meeting regarding the
Miami River Commission
’s recommended revisions to the County’s draft ordinance, which the
Miami River Marine Group concurs with.
Bibeau noted he would invite the Miami River Marine Group recent
to all future meetings. Ms. Gutierrez stated
Miami-Dade
County
was close to presenting a finalized Marine Industrial Zoning Ordinance,
but the County is continuing to work out a compromise concerning
increased requirements for green space and walls/fences within marine
industrial properties.
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