Zoning Board turns down Mercy request for rezoning
Last night, the Miami Zoning Board voted 5 to 2 against allowing a zoning change for Mercy Hospital and the Related Group. They were requesting a high density R4 zone, for the monstrosity they want to build on the Mercy land. The tallest building was planned for 410 feet, blocking the sun and ruining the neighborhood. This structure would be twice the size of Grove Isle! And there would be three of them!
Chairperson Ileana Hernandez-Acosta and Juvenal Pina, a board member, were the only two who voted for the high density change. Luckily everyone else on the board has a conscience.
Mercy and the developer had nothing to offer the community and were literally scratching their heads on what they can offer for the land rape. They lied about putting in new sidewalks and sewers, when it turns out that the county is already taking care of that project.
The only reason Mercy and the Related Group could come up with for the project was money, even one very greedy nun stood there before the zoning board, rubbing her greedy hands, agreeing that the project was overbearing for the area, but the money was more important. That was very sickening.
The head of Mercy kept going on and on about needing money. Well, guess what: WE ALL NEED MONEY. BUT WE ALL DON'T SELL OUT OUR NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITY TO GET IT. Mercy Hospital is a bully and so is the Related Group.
I want more money for my house, too, should I ask for a change in zoning to R4? Then I can make tons of money by selling it, just like Mercy.
I was proud to see many of my neighbors, people I actually know, standing up against the insane project. Thank you Constance, Mary, Pam, Jason and the rest of you who really made a difference by standing up in front of the zoning board.
Thank you to the zoning board for the recommendation on not changing the zoning and giving some respect to the neighbors and the Grove.
posted by Tom Falco at 8:13 AM
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6 Comments:
Anyone opposing this project should go to the PAB meeting at 6:30pm on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, at City Hall.
The following is in response to the September 12 Blog andis being written by:
Alicia Cuervo Schreiber
Sr. Project Manager
The Related Group
R-4 Zoning Request - The Grove Bay project has limited its density to 300 units, via a covenant, which is below the allowable density under an R-3 zoning designation. This is consistent with the abutting zoning density. The R-4 zoning request allows the project additional height, with units of a larger size, aimed at a super luxury primary and secondary home market, somewhat similar to Grove Isle, where part-time residency prevails.
Height Limitation - It is clearly understood that Mercy will utilize the site for some development; be it a sale to a developer, or the construction of medical offices and accessory uses. The G/I zoning allows unlimited height and any buildings allowed under G/I may be built at Mercy as of right.
As for shadowing issues, the tallest of the 3 towers stands 410' high - The project is setback 1300 feet from South Bayshore Drive and 50 feet from the bay and therefore will not block the sun from adjoining neighbors, and will have little impact on the view corridor.
Community Improvements - The Grove Bay project will formally convert Halissee Rd - the current Mercy Emergency road - from private access, to public access. Halissee will become a lushly landscaped road, leading to the public bay walk which will contain curvy-linear parks with shaded benches and water features. This will be available to the public.
Neighboring residential communities that have long suffered from hospital and school related traffic intrusion will be assisted by the developer in the creation and execution of traffic solutions and security improvements.
Impact fees from this project have been committed by Miami Dade County to fund their approved - but as yet unfunded - Bayshore Drive Improvement Project, which costs will exceed $6 million. This county project will improve drainage and traffic flow without widening the roadway, provide pedestrian connections on Bayshore Drive, and create re-alignments to improve operations and capacity at the dangerous and unsightly SW 17 Avenue intersection.
Community Participation - The developers have made countless community presentations, worked with neighborhood associations to change and improve the project, and displayed a sense of commitment and care for the community. As a result the developer has limited the density of the project to only 300 units, has committed the bay walk for the public use and has obtained a commitment from Mercy Hospital to limit expansion for the next 10 years. The developer continues to be available to meet with any neighbor groups or associations - please contact acuervo@relatedgroup.com, 305 460-9900 x. 383 or visit our web site at www.relatedatthegrove.com
Our Commitment: The Related Group and Ocean Land Equities have a long track record of quality residential developments and community interaction and participation. We stand ready and willing to continue meetings with individuals, groups and associations.
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Jorge Perez is a land raper and asshole. A 410 foot high tower does not belong in that area. He has no conscience and neither to you "yes" men and women who will sell your souls for a dollar.
There are several points in the recent posting by Alicia Cuervo Schreiber, Sr. Project Manager, The Related Group, which warrant a response: (pardon the lengthy response)
R-4 Zoning Request - Ms. Schreiber states that the R-4 request: "...is below the allowable density under an R-3 zoning designation. This is consistent with the abutting zoning density." Related Group's zoning request is an up-zoning from R-1 to R-4. The current allowable residential zoning for the G/I (Government/Institutional) zoned site is "the least intense abutting residential zoning" which happens to be R-1, single family. R-3 zoning is the underlying zoning for the Bay Colony Condominium located at 3581 E. Glencoe St which backs on to Halissee St. and abuts the G/I site, but so does the R-1, single family zoning, which runs from 3541 E. Glencoe St to 2600 S. Bayshore Dr. Clearly, the abutting R-1 is less intense than the R-3. The Related Group and their attorneys persist in their misrepresentation of this fact.
Issue should be taken with another point Ms. Schreiber makes, namely: "Grove Bay project has limited its density to 300 units, via a covenant,..". Unfortunately and glaringly absent, is that there is no covenant for the balance of the Mercy/Archdiocese G/I zoned site and therefore no limits for more R-4 up-zoning on the adjacent 60+ acres. What Related Group and Mercy want are R-4 towers for their site today and tomorrow perhaps R-4 towers on the other waterfront Mercy parking lot next to the Archdiocese church property and in a couple of years more R-4 towers on the underutilized portion of the church owned that LaSalle high school presently occupies, etc, etc, ad nauseam. The point being that the approval of R-4 on Related Group's 6 acre site would set a precedent and enable them to argue that R-4 zoning would now be "of right". You can see it coming, a Brickell Avenue canyon of condominium towers along S. Bayshore and Biscayne Bay.
Height Limitation - Ms.Schreiber wrote: "As for shadowing issues, the tallest of the 3 towers stands 410' high - The project is setback 1300 feet from South Bayshore Drive and 50 feet from the bay and therefore will not block the sun from adjoining neighbors, and will have little impact on the view corridor." Related Group's proposed density (1,200,000 Square Feet and height (416' high) is massive in size even in the context of Brickell Avenue buildings but being adjacent to one and two story residential it is outrageous to suggest that the buildings will not block the sun or have little impact on the view corridor. The buildings are almost due east of the adjacent neighborhoods who will be lucky if they see the sun by mid-morning if lucky. To get a sense of the scale of these buildings, go to the Brickell area along Brickell Bay Dr. where you have four story parking pedestals and 40+ story buildings.
Community Improvements -Ms.Schreiber wrote: "Halissee will become a lushly landscaped road, leading to the public bay walk which will contain curvy-linear parks with shaded benches and water features. This will be available to the public." A narrow strip of land in the shadow of a 4 story parking pedestal with a 40 story building towering over-head that is described as a "park". This is a perfect example of how desperate this developer is to find something of benefit to the public. All of this along a road that the neighborhood all actively uses now. Ms.Schreiber continues: "Neighboring residential communities that have long suffered from hospital and school related traffic intrusion will be assisted by the developer in the creation and execution of traffic solutions and security improvements." What exactly are the Developers offering?? Much of what they offer is already in process with the DOT. They propose yet another stop light on S. Bayshore at the Halissee St intersection and a suggestion that the DOT synchronize the lights. They also suggest that the intersection at 17th Av be widen - again a project already in the works. Unfortunately, it does nothing to address the increase in congestion and load on a historic road that is already classified as "F" for failure by the DOT. The impact fees to be paid by Related amount to a token contribution for the actual costs of a project of this magnitude, size and density on the community.
Community Participation - Ms.Schreiber wrote: "The developers have made countless community presentations, worked with neighborhood associations to change and improve the project, and displayed a sense of commitment and care for the community." Unfortunately for the community, the developers have entered into several secret or confidential settlement agreements with the Neighborhood Association Boards of the Bay Heights and Natoma neighborhoods in exchange for their backing of the projects or more importantly to circumvent their opposition to the project. The terms of these settlements are being guarded zealously by the Developers and their attorneys. What are they afraid of – neighborhood opposition due to the fact that it is too big, too tall and the wrong location??
Ms.Schreiber wrote: "The developer continues to be available to meet with any neighbor groups..." The community needs to let the developmer and the City Commission know that this type of over-development is wrong and should not be permited in our R-1 neighborhoods!
The proposed project is too large.
On Nov 7th and again on Nov 21st the voters voted for a "quality of life" candidate and against the "business as usual" machine. We see no benefit to the massive Related/Mercy scheme. In fact, the 1,200,000 sq ft of new residences could create havoc.
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