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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

Ms. Helen Brown, Miami-Dade Planning and Zoning (MDPZ) Department, provided the subcommittees with copies of the 2004 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  The TIP projects within the Miami River Urban Infill boundary, will be included in the Infill Plan’s 5-year integrated financial plan.  Brown provided copies of a May 15, 2003 memo from Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department Director William Brandt, to Diane Quinn, Director of Planning and Zoning (WASD).  Brandt states, “WASD would work with the City to improve the appearance of the pump station” (located on N. River Drive, immediately east of Garcia’s Seafood restaurant).  In addition, Brown provided copies of a memo from Frank Baron, Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), responding to the Infill Plan’s transportation implementation steps related to the MPO.  Baron noted the completion of the following Urban Infill Plan Implementation steps:

• “Investment in the River #10, Request that the FDOT and Miami-Dade County Public Works invite the participation of City of Miami Planning and Zoning Department, Miami-Dade County Planning and Zoning Department and the public in the design of bridges relative to the aesthetics and pedestrian amenities.” - Completed with regards to the 5^th Street Bridge, and monthly publicly noticed meetings of the MPO’s Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee & Transportation Aesthetics Review Committee.
• “Transportation #10, Request that FDOT, Miami-Dade County and MPO analyze the viability of a tunnel as an alternative to a bridge for future high volume river crossings.” - Completed by the MRC’s tunnel study and the adopted Downtown Transportation Master Plan, which prioritizes a tunnel beneath the Miami River.

David Miller, MRC, noted that numerous Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan transportation implementation steps are priorities of the City approved Downtown Transportation Master Plan.  Brown noted the need for specific transportation projects to be brought before the County’s Transportation Committee, and recommended the MRC participate with the Miami Intermodal Center’s Steering Committee.  Brown stated the County is conducting an inventory of existing riverfront businesses in unincorporated Dade, prior to proceeding with the Marine Industrial zoning overlay recommended in the Urban Infill Plan.  In addition, Brown stated the additional Urban Infill Plan’s implementation steps submitted by MRC staff will be forwarded to the appropriate County Department Director for review.

The UIWG discussed the integrated 5-Year financial plan.  Murley cited an excellent 5-year integrated financial plan format at sfrestored.org.  Murley requested staff to combine the Urban Infill Plan’s required annual update document with the MRC’s annual report, in Fall 2003.  The annual update will contain a river aerial with development renderings.

Ms. Lucia Dougherty, Greenberg Trauig, and Mr. Ed Llorca, Mouriz Salazar & Associates, Inc., presented Hurricane Cove, a Major Use Special Permit Project located on the River’s north shore at 1884 NW North River Drive.  The potential owner, Tony Acosta, has a contract to purchase the site, pending approval of the required zoning and land use amendments from Marine Industrial (SD-4) to Commercial (C1).  The proposal is to maintain and repair the existing 130 slip commercial marina, and develop 4 sets of 26 story residential buildings, in four phases, with 280 residential units each (1,140 residential units total).  With the Civic Center’s 10,000 employees working a ½ mile from Hurricane Cove, the $145,000 - $300,000 units are marketed as an “affordable market rate” home ownership condominium project.  Dougherty explained that if the residential density is decreased, the individual unit price would increase, and make it unaffordable for most Civic Center employees.  Portions of the marina will be commercial, and not limited for the sole use of residential unit owners.  The zoning amendment from Marine Industrial to Commercial would only result in the loss of the “self-service” boatyard component of the existing use, which potentially leads to pollution in the River.  A riverwalk, consisting of a 12-foot boardwalk and additional 12-foot passive green space, would be accessible to the general public during daylight.  The on-road Greenway would proceed down the NW 18^th Court alley to the riverwalk, with a connecting restaurant, market and harbor master facility, and at the end of the private property the riverwalk would turn north, re-connecting with the on-road Greenway along North River Drive.  Gates would block the general public from the residential buildings and marina slips.  Phase I would consist of the western most residential building and the Riverwalk.  The parking garage is facaded with town homes.  Per city code, the project is scaled from 16 stories along North River Drive, to 26 stories on the Riverside.

Dr. Ernie Martin, Chair of the MRC’s Greenway subcommittee, commended the projects treatment of the riverwalk.  Martin encouraged the developers to work with the City of Miami in creating an on-road Greenway with widened sidewalks, landscaping and lighting, along N. River Drive in front of Hurricane Cove, in addition to the publicly accessible riverwalk.  Martin noted the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan’s questioning of high-density residential uses along the riverfront in this middle Allapattah section of the River.  Ms. Ann Fremont, River resident, stated she is concerned about the loss of the self-help boat-yard, because recreational vessels need locations for servicing, expressed concern about the loss of marine industrial riverfront, and does not like the height of the proposed development.  Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group, agreed and wants to protect marine industrial sites on the River because they must be located directly on the waterfront.  Bohnsack noted the projects beautiful aesthetic design, yet noted the recent loss of 5 marine industrial riverfront properties.  Ms. Sallye Jude asked the developers if they could incorporate a self-service boatyard within their project, and the developers responded they would consider it.  Dougherty noted to accommodate the self-help boatyard request, it must be made an allowable accessory use to the marina.    Tom Kierin, River resident, stated his support of preserving marine industrial uses along the River, and is concerned this may set a precedent for other marine industrial property owners to amend their zoning and land use for higher density uses in order to potentially sell their property at higher costs.  The UIWG completed the attached favorable “Development Technical Review Form” for the MRC’s consideration during the July 7, 2003 noon meeting at 3250 SW 3^rd Ave. 

Ms. Sallye Jude presented plans for “Henry and Julia’s”, a new riverfront restaurant located at 109 SW South River Drive, across the street from Jude’s Miami River Inn.  The restaurant complies with river setback requirements, and includes a publicly accessible riverwalk.  The UIWG completed the attached favorable “Development Technical Review Form” for the MRC’s consideration during the July 7, 2003 noon meeting at 3250 SW 3^rd Ave.

The UIWG’s next meeting is scheduled for July 22, 10 am in the Miami Riverside Center, 444 SW 2^nd Ave, 8^th Floor Conference Room.

The meeting adjourned.

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