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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

Helen Brown, Miami-Dade County Planning and Zoning Department and Gary Greenan provided the subcommittee with copies of the draft Marine Industrial Zoning Overlay Ordinance, which is an “implementation step” of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan.  The UIWG agreed that the secondary uses require limitations, and the draft ordinance should be placed on the October UIWG agenda. 

  I)       Review of Major Use Special Permit Application for “ River Place ”, 615 SW 2^nd Ave – Mr. Bernardo Fort-Brescia, Arquitectonica, presented the plans for “ River Place ”.  The Major Use Special Permit Application consists of a 42 story, 455 residential unit building facing the river with a restaurant on the first floor connecting to a 20-foot wide publicly accessible riverwalk, a office building fronting SW 7 ST with retail on the first floor, and the historic art deco building currently on the site will be moved to the corner of SW 2^nd Ave and SW 7 ST with retail uses.  The Phase I residential building is slightly setback above the parking garage, which is facaded facing the River with townhomes.  The residential building maintains the required 50-foot setback from the river, except for the eastern connection with a partially filled water slip and the riverwalk section planned in the approved “NEO Vertika” Major Use Special Permit.  The slip was presented as a potential water taxi stop.  Dr. Fran Bohnsack, Miami River Marine Group, suggested a historical marker on the riverwalk adjacent to the slip to note WWII PT boats were built at the site, and the potential developer agreed with the concept.  The Riverwalk beneath the new SW 2^nd Ave Bridge stops at the submerged land on the site’s western boundary, and the potential developer stated willingness to fill the small corner to connect the riverwalk sections.  The residential building maintains a three-story view corridor and public promenade through the center of the site connecting an on-road Greenway along SW 7 ST with the riverwalk.  Dr.  Martin recommended design compatibility between the connecting planned riverwalk sections at “ River Place ” and “Neo Vertika”, immediately east of the site.  Dr. Martin expressed support of the view corridor, public plaza, and riverwalk treatments and the Greenways subcommittee found the project to be consistent with the adopted Miami River Greenway Action Plan.  The Phase II, 22-story office building has retail space facing SW 7 ST and the lobby faces the interior pedestrian promenade.  The office buildings parking lots are fully facaded.  Kevin Reilly stated if the MUSP is approved, they might construct the two phases simultaneously.   

Brett Bibeau , MRC, noted the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan had recommended a zoning change for this “lower river” downtown site, located east of I-95, to be rezoned from marine industrial (SD-4), to SD-7 to allow for a residential/mixed use development.  The City Commission approved the zoning and land use amendments on March 27, 2003 .

Murley recommended the MRC assist in working with Florida Power and Light (FPL) to develop an aesthetic treatment of the large substation and landscape the parking lot directly across the River from the planned “ River Place ” and “Neo Vertika” sites, and immediately west of the “ River Village ” pending MUSP application.  Miller stated perhaps a portion of the FPL parking lot should be considered for a public use, such as an amphitheater.  The developer stated they were creating a rendering for the planned improvements.  Gilbert Pastoriza recommended the MRC contact Eloy Biasos , Florida Power and Light and Dana Nottingham, Downtown Development Authority, regarding aesthetic improvements to the substation.  Murley and the UIWG found the proposed “ River Place ” MUSP to be consistent with the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, and offered assistance and support in addressing the issues of providing aesthetic improvements to the FPL substation and connecting the proposed riverwalk to the existing riverwalk beneath the 2^nd Ave bridge.  The “River Place Development Technical Review Form” is attached.

II)    Review of Urban Infill Plan’s Revised Draft “Annual Report” and “Integrated
Five-Year Financial Plan”

 – Bibeau provided the UIWG with copies of revised draft “Annual Report” and “5-Year Integrated Budget”.  The UIWG agreed to provide the drafts to the MRC on October 6, 2003 , and bring them to the public in October via hosting workshops in the “lower”, “middle” and “upper” river sections, then return to the MRC in November for final consideration and adoption.  The UIWG noted the need to itemize allocated funding for river port security funding, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and additional Miami-Dade County allocated funding within the Miami River corridor.

III)  Discussion of N. & S. River Drive Re-Routing Study – The UIWG identified the need to find a Metropolitan Planning Organization member, which will champion this MRC recommended North and South River Drive study to include the following considerations:

1)      Impact of developments on North and South River Drives

2)      Impact of on-road Greenway along North and South River Drives

3)      Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan River Drive recommendations

4)      Continued need to access marine industrial sites

5)      Examination of North and South River Drive as a route for a dedicated transit loop

6)      Good signage directing people to the River

7)      Noise barriers / buffers

8)      Consider all other plans and projects for river transportation that impact North and South River Drives

The UIWG estimated the study might cost between $300,000-400,000.

The meeting adjourned.

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