CONTACT US!
For more information, contact us via email at mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

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

This site
prepared and designed by
Mark Sell Communications, Inc. Public Relations

The City of Miami Police Department presented a revised plan to build horse stables in Sewell Park.  The new proposal has eliminated the marine patrol and K-9 units.  The Officers stated the Horse stables would have wooden facades and be built off the River’s shore, in the South East portion of the park.  Furthermore, the stables would be built in units, as to avoid the removal of existing trees, yet some may have to be transplanted.  Fernando Paiva, City of Miami Public Works Department, stated the proposed stable roofs would be beneath the tree canopy, a twenty-foot setback from the Lawrence Canal is provided to incorporate the Greenway, and the Police Department Horse unit would host interactive programs with students.  Paiva stated the existing bathrooms located in the proposed stable area would be replaced elsewhere within Sewell Park, and stated the proposal was still uncertain as to exactly how large and precisely what location the stables would be.  The Officers stated the project would be allocated from the City of Miami Police Department budget, and the horses would not conduct training in Sewell Park.  On June 23, the City Commission will hear an item regarding a $30,000 allocation for a topographical survey of Sewell Park.  The City representatives stated the proposed stables would require a zoning change from Parks and Recreation (PR) for 3 of 10 acres of existing PR zoning at Sewell Park, therefore requiring public hearings before the City of Miami Parks Advisory, Zoning Advisory, Planning Advisory, and Historic and Environmental Preservation Advisory boards.

Ms. Sallye Jude stated the City of Miami should seek a site for the Horse Stables not located within a public park.  Ms. Sandra Brooks, river resident, stated the proposed Miami River Greenway along the Lawrence Canal, and Sewell Park in general, are better without the stables or any new development whatsoever.  Mr. Christopher Stetser, river resident, stated strong opposition to the proposal, because the horse stables were to large of a development for the “pristine park, which Miami needs more of, not less.”  Dr. Martin suggested the Horse Units meet with Officer Clayton, whom the MRC is working with to beautify and make a recreation area in Overtown, beneath the intersection of I-95 and 395.  Martin suggested perhaps there was room in that large area for the stables as well.

The Greenways subcommittee unanimously approved a motion acknowledging the improvements to the Police Horse Stables in Sewell Park proposal, including setbacks from the Miami River and Lawrence Canal, using wood façade, not removing any trees, building beneath the tree canopy, yet expressed concern about this proposed use of public park space, and recommended the City explore alternate non-park sites.

Brett Bibeau provided the subcommittee with backup documents and the status of the Miami-Dade Transit Agency proposal to issue an Invitation for Bids to develop surface parking adjacent to the M-Path, on the River’s South shore, beneath Metro-Rail.  On February 11, 2002, The Greenways subcommittee passed the following resolution, “Provided a Greenway be maintained with public access, sufficient room for the proposed seating area be provided, and the draft RFP be presented to the Greenway subcommittee for review prior to release, the MDTA may continue considering leasing a portion of the right-of-way, adjacent to the Miami River’s South Shore, beneath Metro-Rail”, and the MDTA was provided the meetings minutes.  On May 17, 2002, the MDTA wrote Bibeau, “the fifty-foot setback from the river’s edge and retention of the bike path, or “M” path, have been incorporated into the IFB document…All reasonable recommendations will be included as conditions for the future lease agreement…The final plan will be presented to MRC for its review and comment and, upon satisfaction by both MDT and MRC that a responsive development is proposed the Lease Agreement will be executed.”  Subsequently, on May 21, 2002 the Board of County Commissioners approved the item to advertise an Invitation to Bid on the land beneath Metro-Rail on the River’s south shore for surface parking.  Carolyn Read, MDTA, stated the 50 foot setback form the river’s shore is preserved, and the existing pedestrian M-Path at the site would be replaced, within the parcel, with a standard path.  David Henderson, Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, stated the standard M-Path dimensions are a 10 foot wide clear path, with a minimum additional width of 2 feet of landscaping on both sides, for a total of 14 feet wide.  The Greenways subcommittee directed staff to accept Mr. Frank Talleda, MDTA, written invitation to participate in the June 26 Pre-Bid Conference, in order to include recommendations for inclusion in the final plan which, “will be presented to MRC for its review and comment and, upon satisfaction by both MDT and MRC that a responsible development is proposed, the lease agreement will be executed.”

Bibeau proposed, on behalf of the MRC, he would prepare a Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant application of $200,000 for the development of the Miami River Greenway.  The City is the only eligible applicant, so the completed application would be provided to the City for submittal by its due date, September 12, 2002.  Dianne Johnson, City of Miami, stated the City had a new policy regarding grant partnerships, requiring the MRC to write the City Manager to offer writing the application for the City to submit.  The Greenways subcommittee directed Bibeau to write the Manager the request, and will make a motion during the June 10 MRC meeting to authorize Bibeau to work with the City on the FDEP FRDAP application to fund a section of the Miami River Greenway.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the MRC’s Greenway subcommittee was confirmed for the second Monday of the month, July, 8, 2002, 9 am, Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Conference Room.

The meeting was adjourned.

   HOME   |     CALENDARS    |   ABOUT THE RIVER      |    ABOUT THE COMMISSION     |    DREDGING   |   GREENWAYS     
URBAN INFILL PLANS      |     STORMWATER RETROFITTING     |       MINUTES OF MEETINGS   |    LINKS