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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-421-4850
Fax: 305-421-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

The Miami River Commission ’s (MRC) Urban Infill Working Group (UIWG) convened on Tuesday, August 24, 2004 , at 10:00 AM , in the Miami Riverside Center , 444 SW 2^nd Ave. , 8^th Floor conference room.  Mr. Jim Murley chaired the meeting, and the sign in sheet is enclosed.

A.     “Riverfront” Presentation, 90 SW 3 ST – Ms. Vicky Garcia-Toledo presented the “Riverfront” development, proposed on the Miami River’s North shore, immediately west of the South Miami Ave. Bridge, south of SW 3 Street, and west of metro-rail.  The proposal consists of two adjacent Major Use Special Permit (MUSP) applications.  The MRC found a previous MUSP application (aka Miami River Village and Miami River Renaissance) on the eastern half of the site to be consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, and the City Commission subsequently approved it.  The original MUSP has been modified, and the additional MUSP contains a land use and zoning amendment from Office to Commercial (SD-6).  The eastern MUSP features three buildings, while the western MUSP features four buildings, with a grand total of nearly 3,000 residential units.  The majority of the development features the City Charter required fifty-foot setback from the Miami River , with a publicly accessible riverwalk consisting of a minimum 16-foot wide unobstructed clear path, additional landscaping, benches, lighting and other amenities, with restaurants connecting to the riverwalk.  Ms. Toledo stated the developers were interested in providing dry-dock boat storage beneath the Metro-rail, on Miami-Dade County public right-of-way.

The UIWG found the project to be consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan and Miami River Greenway Action Plan’s recommendations for this large “lower river” site, which has been vacant in downtown Miami for decades, subject to widening the riverwalk adjacent to the South Miami Avenue bridge tenders tower to a minimum of 20 feet, and the developers connecting the publicly accessible riverwalk to the east beneath the bridge with existing riverwalk to the east of the bridge, and to the west beneath metro-rail, to provide connectivity with existing riverwalk sections to the west (please see attached Technical Review Form).  In addition, the UIWG recommended the riverwalk be developed in Phase I.  The UIWG noted the need to study traffic circulation at the intersection of SW 3 Street and S. Miami Ave , where there is a one-way street, no left turn, etc., and a traffic circle may be appropriate.  Ms. Toledo stated the developers agreed that traffic at this intersection needs to be addressed, and they have been meeting with Miami-Dade County on the issue.    Brett Bibeau , MRC Managing Director, stated the Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond Issue referendum has a line item for improvements to the Miami Ave Bridge .  The UIWG stated since the proposed dry-dock storage is not a part of the proposal on private property which is being presented, the UIWG would be willing to consider that component separately at later date, when that component is further designed.  The UIWG asked for “Riverfront” to be presented at the MRC’s September 13, 2004 meeting, and requested a package of back-up materials on the proposed project to be provided to MRC members and designee’s at least one week prior to the publicly noticed meeting. 

B. “Brisas del Rio ” Presentation (pending receipt of final City internal review approval and completed “Marine Study”) – Since the revised design is still being worked on with the City of Miami’s internal design review committee, and the Marine dockage study is still underway, the applicants deferred their presentation to the UIWG’s September meeting

II)  Planning Studies/Presentation

A. Informational Presentation on the Status of the Garcia Brothers Seafood Inc.’s Lease of City Owned Property Located at 236 SW North River Drive – Bibeau stated the MRC’s Executive Committee requested the UIWG to only receive an informational presentation on this issue, as they wanted to be sensitive to not overstep the City Commission’s request for MRC’s advisory recommendations on river related issues, as this is a private lease agreement of City owned property.  Mr. Peter Kendrick, City of Miami , stated the site, located on the Miami River ’s north shore, immediately west of I-95, has had a month-to-month lease agreement, which was never signed.  The City believes they may receive more than the $1,100 currently paid per month for rent on the 1-acre property.  If the lease is terminated, the City of Miami would request letters from parties interested in renting the site from the City for a short term, only for uses consistent with the existing marine industrial zoning and land use.

Mr. Estefan Garcia, Garcia Seafood Brothers, stated the commercial fishing business has been paying rent to the City of Miami on this property for 32 years.  The business operated during difficult times for the Miami River corridor, including the mariel boat lift, Hurricane Andrew, 2^nd Ave Bridge replacement, etc.  Mr. Garcia stated they never had issues with the City of Miami , and has paid their rent and taxes on time.  The commercial fishing business employees 20 local residents, whom fish for fresh grouper, lobster, stone crabs, etc.  The operation has all required permits and licenses, and includes 9 boats and 18,000 traps.  It is one of only two remaining commercial fishing businesses on the Miami River .  Mr. Garcia stated they tried to purchase the property from the City in the past, yet the negotiations fell through.  Garcia noted their property taxes increased 100% last year, when thy paid $21,000 in taxes.  Garcia stated the sites Lummus Park neighborhood was recently studied for historical designation, and his site and buildings are old enough for historic preservation.  Garcia stated he is willing to negotiate new lease terms, including a raise in rent, providing improvements to the site such as a public seafood market, etc., yet wants the business to remain at the site.

Brett Bibeau stated he would provide this information to the MRC’s Executive Board for further consideration.  Bibeau noted the City of Miami ’s Lummus Landing was under construction a couple blocks from the subject property, and was originally designed as a San Francisco like Fisherman’s Wharf area.  The Lummus Landing riverwalk includes a new sea-wall, moorings for approximately 19 vessels, and infrastructure (water and sanitary sewer hookup, electrical conduit, etc.) for three small out-parcels, which have yet to leased.  The MRC’s Greenways subcommittee has recommended commercial fishing businesses be considered for the Lummus Landing out parcels.  

B. Status of Miami River Corridor Transportation Study – Ms. Karen McGuire, Florida Department of Transportation, stated their consultants are preparing a “scope of the scope” for the project.  The UIWG stated they would like the FDOT, Metropolitan Planning Organization, City of Miami and Miami-Dade County to cost share and participate in the needed traffic study.

C.  MIC/FDOT Presentation – The item was deferred by the applicant to the next UIWG meeting.

D.  Status of Proposed Miami - Dade County Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay  Ms. Helen Brown and Nancy Rubin, Miami-Dade County Planning and Zoning Department, provided the UIWG with an amended version of the draft Marine Industrial Zoning district for the unincorporated Miami-Dade section of the “upper river” (west of 27 Ave).  The UIWG offered to provide additional feedback on the draft to the County by mid-September.  Dr. Bohnsack asked what the timeline was to create the zoning district, and Ms. Rubin replied 4 months from the time of submittal, therefore it was feasible to have the Board of County Commissioners final consideration in February 2005.  Rubin stated the new design guidelines are being developed now, which would be followed by a public hearing in the area.  The County representatives stated they would incorporate any additional comments and present a revise draft ordinance along with the design standards at the UIWG’s October 2004 meeting.

The meeting adjourned.

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