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Along
the Waterfront: City Commission postpones granting special exception
permit to Grove Harbor Marina & Caribbean Marketplace.
On Thursday, January 25th, 2001 the City Commission's Planning & Zoning Meeting heard a request by Grove Harbor Marina & Caribbean Marketplace to be granted a special exception permit. This permit would allow the developer of the long-time vacant property commonly known as the old Merrill Steven's Boatyard to operate a marina, retail shops, a restaurant, raw bar and banquet hall on the premises. Several residents addressed the Commission of their concerns regarding the plans of the developers. Area boaters raised their concerns that the current plans of the developer did not coincide with the original Request for Proposal, which states that the primary use for the property is to be a full service marina and boatyard. Opinions were expressed as to the feasibility of having a full service marina and boatyard as well as restaurant and dining facilities on the premises. Other residents informed the City Commission of their opposition to another restaurant which would possibly have late night music in their neighborhood. Commissioner Johnny Winton made a motion to continue the item until February 22nd, 2001 so that the issues raised by the residents, specifically regarding the RFP, could be studied and addressed. All residents who are interested in speaking out about this matter to the City Commission are urged to attend the Feb. 22nd meeting. The matter will not be discussed before 5 pm. Resident appeal of Myers park project may jeopardize it altogether.Early in December 2000, the City of Miami began work on a project to improve the Seminole Docks and Boat Ramps adjacent to Kenneth Myers Park, home to a few homeless people and a couple of glorious Banyan trees. After years of planning and receiving state grant money to fund the project, the Waterfront Advisory Board and the City Commission went ahead in early December with the project, which was slated to be finished in four months. However, Coconut Grove residents, specifically inhabitants of the Grove Towers and Yacht Harbor condominiums which overlook the park , have appealed the permit for the project after seeing the devastation of the ancient Banyan trees and their view. However, if the appeal is not resolved soon the entire project might be halted, leaving an unsightly bare lot with mounds of dirt where familiar banyan trees, modern art sculptures and useful boat ramps used to be. This is because the City of Miami received a grant from the state to fund the project, but the money must be used by a certain amount of time or else it will be lost. The appeal is set for a public hearing on Jan. 22, 2001, however the residents and the officials in charge of the project presented a revised plan to the Waterfront Advisory Board at City Hall last night, Jan. 9, 2001. The Board heard arguments from Coconut Grove residents who complained that they had not been notified of the project before its commencement, and expressed their concerns over losing more green space to parking lots, the loss of the view of the water from the street, and the seemingly unnecessary nature of the project. One of the architects responsible for the project, Mr. Alan Diaz, made a presentation which clarified many questions for residents present at the meeting, explaining that the purpose for the project is to improve parking, provide better lighting, improve the ramps and docks, and provide better drainage of the parking lot, eliminating asphalt runoff into the bay. A few of the ways that the parking would improve is by increasing the number of spaces for trailers from 27 to 55, and have a parking attendant monitor the influx of cars with trailers, who sometimes would take up more than one space, or park on the grass. Mr. Diaz, the architect who made the presentation, demonstrated how by using a high tech plastic product under the newly planted sod to help the grass withstand the cars, some of the extra spaces will actually be grass, thereby increasing the amount of green space and not decrease it. Furthermore, the view of the cars would be partially blocked by a small rise running along the center of the park which will have a paved walkway shaded by trees. The modified plan improved the canopy of trees and eliminated 8 parking spaces, reducing the new parking lot to 47 spaces. The access to the ramps and the dinghy dock was not in jeopardy and not an issue of the meeting, which primarily discussed the aesthetics of the park and parking lot. The meeting last night reached a point of impasse when officials were uncertain if they should take any recommending action towards the modified plan, which would give the residents and the project officials something to work with in terms of reaching an agreement before the Jan. 22hearing. Board member Jack King was adamant about the plan going forward because the grant monies had to be used by a certain time, or else they would be lost. It was unclear how soon that time was, but it could be as early as within 20 days. The meeting ended with the Board voting and passing a motion to approve the modified plan and to encourage residents to work with the project managers in meetings to work out the details of the modifications before the date of the hearing. Boat Yard Developer presents plans, some Grove residents angry at changes The developer of Grove Harbor Marina and Carribbean Market presented its completed proposed plans to the Waterfront Advisory Board last night, January 9, 2001. The plans include the restoration of the two Naval hangars which are on the National Register of Historic Places, the construction of an additional building, a promenade and plaza, and the installation of a working boat yard and marina. The developer came under fire from Board members and residents because the scope of the marina and boat yard plans seemed to have been reduced from the original specifications, which were determined in chirettes and planning meetings with local residents and boaters. Some key items were the amount of boats that could be serviced at the boat yard at a given time, the type of services offered by the boat yard, and the facilities allocated for different boating services such as sail lofts, carpenters, mechanics and the like. Principals of the development company were unable to give specifics on these issues, except the new number of boats that could be serviced, which they stated to be between 10 and 14, depending on the size. The Waterfront Board was not required to take any recommending action last night, and as residents came to the podium to question the developers on their proposal, the board informed them that the time and place to raise the issues is at the City Commission meeting where the developers will appear to request a special permit for marina use. The next City Commission meeting is January 11, 2001, at 9:30 am. Residents and boaters are recommended to call City Hall to find out if the Special Permit for Grove Harbor Marina and Carribbean Marketplace is on the agenda. If it is not, then the developers will most likely try to put it on the agenda for the next meeting. Miami's landmark stilt homes threatened Nov.
29, 2001. For the past four years, Stiltsville owners have been
negotiating with The National Park Service to find a way to preserve one
of Miami?s most unique, cultural and historical assets, Stiltsville. The
National Park Service has recently taken a heavy handed approach against
Stiltsville, and has avowed that its ultimate goal is ?the removal of
the Stilt homes?, despite overwhelming public and Congressional
sentiment and support for preservation. The National Park Service has no formal management plan, no idea of the extensive maintenance required, and no budget to for proper preservation, for the houses. With a December 1, 2000 deadline imposed by the National Park Service, as a last resort to try to preserve this precious piece of South Florida history for generations to come, the Stiltsville owners had no alternative but to commence a lawsuit today in Miami U.S. District Court against the National Park Service requesting that the Court deny the National Park Service the right to remove the Stiltsville homes, and for a determination that Florida, and not the Federal Government, has the right to decide the fate of Stiltsville. Florida has stated it would renew Stiltsville leases for 20 years like it did in 1999 with all other similar campsite leases. This would assure preservation of these Florida treasures, at no cost to any tax payer. For More Information, Call: Bill Tuttle (305) 371-9575 or Duff Matson (305) 662-3852
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| Margarita Bar becomes artificial reef. Donated by Jose
Cuervo, the bar is
eight feet high and made of concrete and steel. It lies 20 feet below the
surface and is about 200 yards offshore from Ocean Drive and 3rd Street on Miami
Beach. For
more information call 305-672-1270
There is a new law in effect as of April 20, 2000 regarding PWC's in Biscayne Bay. PWC's or Waverunners, as they are commonly known, are now banned from the waters of Biscayne National Park. Severe fines and other penalties will be levied against all who commit infractions of this law. |