Countering the pro-development developers

This was a comment left on the NCD story. 

I am the resident who called out Grove Beautiful as a political pac posing as concerned residents [at Wednesday's meeting]. They are funded and backed almost exclusively by pro-development developers, architects and attorneys who directly benefit from increased density and higher prices, like $1M in the West Grove - Developer launches sales for luxury homes in the West Grove.

We need a strong show of opposition at the next meeting to counter them bringing more money to the table to back their agenda at the next PZB meeting. 

Below is a transcript of a motion put forth by Andy Parrish o April 18, 2018 to the Planning and Zoning Board regarding the City's NCD Proposed Changes affecting all of Coconut Grove. Although the City argued that Intent is open to interpretation, this motion clarifies the intent for any reasonable person to understand and would go a long way to protecting the Grove and supporting sustainable growth of our community.

"I move approval of Item 2, with the following changes to section 2.1 Intent:

2.1 The intent of the Coconut Grove Conservation District is to establish a protective series of legislative elements that enhance the preservation of the overall low density nature of the District by including specific regulations to protect green space and tree canopy, encourage the preservation of existing single family residential houses, and to guide new residential and commercial development by protecting the scale, character, and architectural variety within the District's established neighborhoods. Together, these neighborhoods make up the community of Coconut Grove, which is distinguished by the diversity of its residents, its character, derived from lush landscaping, and naturally occurring vegetation and trees, its unique property sizes and shapes; its bay views; geologic features; proximity to Biscayne Bay; public open space; recreational opportunities; commercial services;and a special character imparted by its tropical vegetation and cultural contributions to the City of Miami, which it predates.

The Coconut Grove Conservation District has three over-arching principles which shall guide the reading and application of these regulations. They are:
1. Protection, preservation and enhancement of Coconut Grove's green spaces and tree canopy, especially its specimen native trees at their present locations so long as consistent with public safety.
2. Encouragement of architectural diversity within a generally applied maximum FLR of 40% for T3R and 60% for T3O;
3. With regard to new construction on any Building Site where an existing principal structure has been demolished after the effective date of this legislation, there shall be denial of all applications for any waiver, exception, bonus or administrative relief that increases the generally applied maximum FLR unless the applicant for such waiver, exception, bonus or administrative relief demonstrates a primary purpose consistent with the intent of this Section 2.1 that would justify an increase in the maximum FLR.

The effect of these regulations shall be to modify transact regulations included within the District's boundaries to the extent indicated herein"

Carol Lopez-Bethel