I. CHAIRS REPORT:

Mr. Phil Everingham called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone to the July 2003 meeting.  Phil introduced and welcomed a new MRC member, Ms. Irela Bague of the SFWMD.  She has replaced Jerry Fernandez as the SFWMD representative.  He stated that there was a quorum present and asked for approval of the June 2003 minutes.  Janet McAliley made the motion to approve the June minutes.  Cleve Jones seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 

Phil discussed the Miami River Fund, Inc (MRFI), which is the funding arm of the MRC and also is a not-for-profit corporation.   The MRFI Board is working diligently to develop a fund raising campaign.  The Board hired Mr. Henry (Hank) Lione and Phil introduced Mr. Lione to the members of the MRC.  Hank expressed his delight to be working with the MRC members on such a worthwhile project of improving the Miami River .

II.        Downtown Transportation Master Plan

Phil Everingham introduced Mr. Clark Turner, City of Miami Transportation Coordinator .  Clark advised the MRC that Commissioner Winton wanted to have a tunnel under the river in the downtown section of the city to reduce traffic congestion.  This eventually led to the formation of the Downtown Transportation Master Plan Committee with Co-Chairman, Commission Winton and Commissioner Barreiro.  The objectives of the committee were to improve downtown transportation, community cohesion, quality of life, and economic vitality.  Clark provided an Executive Summary of the plan for each MRC member.  Community outreach provided additional feedback and notably the need to make downtown more pedestrian friendly.  Clark explained that in order to complete a transportation plan for the future, the group needed to understand employment and housing growth in the downtown area over the next 20 years.  This evolved into a baseline, enhanced and visionary growth for the downtown area as follows:

Baseline – 15,000 dwellings and 18,000 jobs;

Enhanced – 23,000 dwellings and 30,000 jobs;

Visionary – 33,600 dwellings and 48,000 jobs

Clark pointed out that we are already two thirds of the way to the baseline figures in the first three years, so it is expected that these numbers maybe conservative.  Clark also advised that 15,000 new dwellings in the city of Miami would increase the tax revenues by approximately $15,000,000.  A computer model was developed by the consultants that can show all the roadways, intersections, lights, bridges, etc. and traffic.  Traffic levels can be based on real traffic surveys or have artificial traffic levels inserted.  This model can be used to test roadway changes and determine the success or failure before implementing real changes.  Bridge openings can be inserted into the model to test changes in bridge management or times of openings.  The Plan has multiple solutions, but the main focus shifted from the roadway network to improvements in transit, pedestrian environment, etc.  The plan recommends the following transportation improvements:  provide a tunnel under the river near SW 1^st Avenue; develop pedestrian corridors, including the Miami River Greenway Plan; create a transit free zone; convert one-way streets to two-way streets; improve bicycle routes and facilities; provide shuttle systems, provide tunnel to seaport; provide water taxi linking downtown with Watson Island and Brickell Key and use Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to help with bridge openings and traffic management at major events.  Discussion ensued and Clark responded to various questions.  Phil Everingham thanked Clark for his informative presentation.

III.       Henry and Julia’s Restaurant

Mr. Frank Martinez provided an overview and drawings of a proposed new restaurant located on the banks of the river at 109 SW South River Drive .  An orange blossom weather vane is prominent on the roof of the structure to commemorate the history of Julia Tuttle sending Henry Flagler orange blossoms to encourage him to bring his railroad to Miami .  Renditions of the proposed restaurant were provided and Mr. Martinez explained that the project would meet the setback requirements from the river and incorporate a section of publicly accessible riverwalk.  Mr. Martinez stated that the property is zoned for a restaurant and does not require a zoning or land use change.  (Note:  Property is zoned C1 with a historical preservation overlay, per the owner.)  He explained the layout of the restaurant and access.  Jim Murley advised the MRC members that the Urban Infill Working Group reviewed the proposed development and found it to be in compliance with the greenway and urban infill plans.  Janet McAliley made a motion to accept the report of the proposed development.  Cleve Jones seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 

Jim Murley suggested that the Hurricane Cove Development be discussed next on the agenda as many residents were in attendance for that specific project.

IV.       Hurricane Cove Development

            Ms. Lucia Dougherty started the presentation and introduced the principles of the project, Mr. Tony Acosta and the architect, Mr. Ed Llorca, with the firm Mouriz Salazar & Associates Inc.  Lucia advised that this project would include four residential towers, a riverwalk and beautiful green space park open to the public during daylight hours along the river.  Also the greenway along the roadway, as depicted in the Greenways Plan, is included.  The riverwalk and park area that will be open to the public during daylight hours exceeds the Greenway Plan requirements and is provided as a community amenity.  Additionally, there will be a small marine store and restaurant.  The developers will keep the marina and improve the dockage but residential buildings will replace the “self-help” boatyard.  The marina slips will be offered to the residents first and then the general public.  Lucia explained that they are seeking a Major Use Special Permit (MUSP) and re-zoning from SD-4, marine industrial, to C1, restricted commercial, to allow for the marina, restaurant and marine store.  She stated the condominiums would be priced from $135,000 to $300,000.  They expect to provide reasonably affordable housing for Civic Center employees.  Ed Llorca then explained the project location and its convenience to downtown, I-95 and the Civic Center .  This is one of the first large projects to be built in Allapatah.  There will be four residential towers 20 stories tall with approximately 268 units each for a total of 1048 units.  Janet McAliley expressed her concern about the density of having over 1000 units and the impact to local traffic.  Lucia explained that the developers must complete a traffic analysis for the city to review and approve.  She emphasized that this project should reduce traffic as many of the expected buyers work in the Civic Center but commute long distances.  Commissioner Barreiro asked about the riverwalk section and Ed Llorca explained it would be a 12-foot wide boardwalk and another 12 feet of greenspace in front of the building making a 24-foot open area.  Also they plan to create a triangular park area where residents and visitors can enjoy the open area and view the river and marina.  MRC members and the attending public asked numerous questions.  One item that specifically was discussed was the need to stair-step the building down towards the river, instead of on the roadway side.  (Stair-step down means the highest section of the building should be on the road side and lower structures terraced or stair-stepped down towards the river creating better river views for owners and the building is more appealing when viewed from the riverside.  This is also a recommendation in the Urban Infill Plan.)  Lucia explained that the building step down towards the roadside was a city requirement.  Jim Murley stated that the Urban Infill Committee was pleased with the enhanced public access for the park area and riverwalk and that the marina would be improved.  The Committee was concerned about the loss of the “self-help” boatyard and questions the high density of the project, but found it generally consistent with the Urban Infill Plan and that it exceeds the Greenway Plan.  Numerous residents commented on the project with the general theme being the loss of the self-help boatyard, high density and mass of the building, and the potential neighborhood traffic problems. 

Commissioner Barreiro stated that we are in the very early stages of the review and development process and suggested that the developers and residents discuss the issues and attempt to come to a better community and development resolution.  Dick Bunnell advised that this is yet another good reason to develop a “banking” of boat slips on the river.  He suggested that should this boatyard be lost, the slips associated with the boatyard should be allowed to be placed at another location of the river.  Janet McAliley made a motion to defer the MRC decision on this development and direct staff to facilitate a meeting between the developer and residents.  Commissioner Barreiro seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

V.        Terrazas de Miami River Development

            Jim Murley advised the MRC that this proposed development does not require any zoning or land use amendment as the property is zoned R4 and the developers are building “as of right”.  Lucia Dougherty started the presentation and introduced Alan Lester who is the project manager for the principle, Mr. Angel Barb Gallo.  Lucia advised that this project does not require any zoning amendments and they are not asking for any variances.  The project is 200 units and it immediately west of Sewell Park , which will enhance the park by increasing usage and have “eyes” on the park to reduce crime or other illegal activities.  It is designed to maximize the number of trees onsite and the setback from Sewell Park is 50 feet.  Alan Lester then advised the MRC that this is a 2.1-acre site on the river and they have designed a riverwalk area that may connect to Sewell Park if allowed by the city.  The building design is tall and narrow to minimize the building footprint and allow the maximum number of trees to remain.  The building will have 6 levels of parking facaded with townhouses so the parking structure is internal and not visible.  The residential tower will be 30 stories above the parking levels and have 200 units.  The ground floor facing the river will have multi-use spaces that may include a restaurant.  This is a very lush site and the developers will maintain this tree canopy.  Discussion ensued with a question of the building casting a shadow on Sewell Park .  The landscape architect, Steve Lefton, stated that this was reviewed and yes it will cast a shadow, but the building is tall and somewhat narrow and the shadow would not be detrimental to the Park trees and plants.  Commissioner Barreiro recommended approval of the project Terrazos de Miami River and Henry Sori seconded the motion.  It passed unanimously.

            Steve Lefton advised the MRC that the Urban Infill Plan won the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Planners Association Award of Excellence.  Also, the Urban Infill Plan was selected to be the subject of a panel discussion at the American Planners Association annual meeting.  This will give the Plan wide visibility with both government officials and the planning community.

VI        Committee Reports

            No reports

VII      New Business

There was no new business.  David Miller advised the MRC that there would be no meeting in August .