2008-3617 OrdinanceORDINANCE NO. 2008-3617
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE LAND
DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS OF THE CITY CODE BY
AMENDING CHAPTER 130 "OFF-STREET PARKING," ARTICLE II
"DISTRICTS, REQUIREMENTS," BY CREATING SECTION 130-38
"MECHANICAL AND ROBOTIC PARKING SYSTEMS" TO PERMIT
MECHANICAL PARKING DEVICES AND ROBOTIC PARKING
SYSTEMS TO BE USED IN ORDER TO SATISFY PARKING
REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR REPEALER; CODIFICATION;
SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the regulations governing off-street parking spaces contained in Chapter
130 of the City Code, Sections 130-61 through 130-65 of Article II "Design Standards"
delineate the requirements for parking space dimensions and layout; and
WHEREAS, the use of robotic parking systems, to be used within parking garages in
order to increase parking capacity in Miami Beach has come into question; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission is concerned that the approval of mechanical
parking systems could have the effect of increasing density and intensity of development
within the City; and
WHEREAS, The City wishes to permit main-use stand-alone parking garages using
robotic parking mechanisms in order to increase parking capacity, and not to allow robotic or
mechanical parking systems in garages to be used to satisfy off-street parking requirements;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA:
SECTION 1. That Chapter 130, Off-Street Parking, Article II, Districts, Requirements,
Section 130-38 entitled "Mechanical And Robotic Parking Systems" is hereby created as
follows:
Sec. 130-38. Mechanical and Robotic Parking Systems.
1) Definitions
a) Mechanical Parking means Mechanical Parking Lifts, Robotic Parking Systems,
and/or Vehicle Elevators.
b) Mechanical Parking Lift means an automated mechanism that lifts vehicles to make
space available to park other vehicles below it in a vertical tandem fashion.
c) Robotic Parking System means a mechanical garage using elevator systems to hoist
individual vehicles from receiving areas to separate auto storage areas.
d) Vehicle Elevator means an elevator used for motor vehicles in lieu of ramps within a
parking structure.
2) Parking spaces to be used to satisfy accessory off-street parking requirements must
conform to the provisions of Article III "Design Standards" of this chapter, with respect to
all-weather surface area, minimum parking space dimensions, drive width, interior aisle
width, and required markings. Therefore, the use of mechanical parking devices, robotic
parking systems and vehicle elevators to satisfy accessory off-street parking
requirements shall not be permitted, except as hereinafter provided.
3) Exceptions to the mechanical parking prohibition may be permitted if the proposed
project meets the following conditions:
a) Commercial main use parking garages on a separate lot.
i) Commercial main use parking garages, open to the public, may utilize
mechanical parking devices, robotic parking systems and/or vehicle elevators,
subject to all other provisions of Section 130-68.
ii) Parking spaces within commercial main use parking garages utilizing mechanical
parkins may be used to satisfy off street parking requirements for residential or
commercial uses required within the building by Section 130-68 for the cladding
of such garaqes, as may be required by the design review procedures.
iii) Parking spaces within commercial main use parking garaqes utilizing mechanical
parking, constructed on land:
a. located within in a local historic district (except not within the Ocean
Beach local historic district); and,
b. on land which was vacant as of October 17, 2008; and,
c. on land within 300 feet of a proposed new hotel development;
may be used to satisfy off street parking requirements for the proposed new hotel
units and the following hotel accessory uses: retail (at a maximum of 75 square
feet per hotel unit), auditorium, ballroom, convention hall, gymnasium, spa,
meeting rooms or other similar places of assembly (not including restaurants or
alcoholic beverage establishments). However, in order to utilize mechanical
parking to satisfy off street parkins requirements for the foregoing uses, the
following conditions must be satisfied:
(1) At least one-half of all parking spaces within the commercial main use
parking garage shall be reserved for use by the general public (not to be used
for valet storage for offsite valet services);
(2) Mechanical Parking permitted under this subsection shall be for the sole
purpose of New Hotel Development. For purposes of this subsection, New
Hotel Development means newly constructed hotel units and the following
hotel accessory uses, provided that such hotel accessory uses are part of the
same development project as the newly constructed hotel units: retail (at a
maximum of 75 square feet per hotel unit), auditorium, ballroom, convention
hall, gymnasium, spa, meeting rooms or other similar places of assembly (not
including restaurants or alcoholic beverage establishments);
(3) A restrictive covenant in a form acceptable to the city attorney committing the
parking garage to providing parking for the related hotel propertv, and
maintaining such hotel propertv as a hotel, for at least thirty (30) years,
subject to release by the Planning Board if such board determines that the
restriction is no longer necessary, shall be recorded prior to the issuance of a
full building permit; and
(4) Suite hotel units, as defined by Section 142-1105, cannot satisfy their off
street parking requirements by using mechanical parking.
iii) Except as described above in Section 3(a)(ii) and (iii), mechanical parking
system within main use parking garages, operating either as commercial garages
open to the public, or, as private noncommercial aarases, may not be used to
satisfy off street parking requirements for uses on a separate lot. This provision
may be waived through the procedures detailed in subsection (c), below.
b) Existing multifamily buildings
i) Existing multifamily buildings with a deficiency of parking may utilize mechanical
parkins devices within the space of the existing parking structure area. All
parking lifts shall be located within a fully enclosed parking aarase and shall not
be visible from exterior view. No outside parkins lifts shall be permitted.
ii) The increased number of parking spaces as a result of mechanical parking under
this provision shall not be used to satisfy any accessory off-street parkins
requirements.
c) Proiects proposing to use mechanical parking devices, robotic parkins systems
and/or vehicle elevators to satisfy accessory off-street parking requirements.
i) Proiects proposing to use mechanical parking devices, robotic parking systems
and/or vehicle elevators to satisfy accessory off-street parking requirements shall
prepare schematic floor plans prior to site plan review by the applicable land use
board. Two sets of schematic floor plans shall be required:
(1) One set of schematic plans sufficient to show the proposed development
proiect with accessory off-street parking requirements satisfied by traditional,
non-mechanical means, meeting all aspects of the design standards for
parkins spaces required in Article III of Chapter 130, and other provisions of
these land development regulations, and requiring no variances from these
provisions; and,
(2) A second set of schematic plans, sufficient to show the same proposed
d__eyelopment proiect, utilizing mechanical parkins devices, robotic parking
systems and/or vehicle elevators to satisfy accessory off-street parking
requirements.
The first set of schematic plans shall be reviewed by Planning Department staff
for zoning compliance prior to the site plan review hearing by the applicable land
use board. If it is determined that these schematic plans meet the requirements
of the design standards of the city code, then the total number of parking spaces
shown on the plans shall be noted. Henceforth, the project may proceed to site
plan approval based on the second set of plans, using mechanical parking.
However, the allowable residential density, and the intensity of the uses
permitted for the proposed project, shall not exceed that which would have been
permitted using the number of parking spaces noted on the first set of plans
using traditional parking. No variances to these provisions shall be permitted.
4) Use of mechanical parking devices, robotic parking svstems and/or vehicle elevators
under any of the provisions of this section shall require Conditional Use approval from
the Planning Board. The Planning Board shall consider the following review criteria
when considering each application for the use of mechanical parking svstems:
a) Whether the scale of the proposed structure is compatible with the
existing urban character of the surrounding neighborhood;
b) Whether the proposed use of mechanical parking results in an
improvement of design characteristics and compatibility with the
surrounding neighborhood;
c) Whether the proposed use of mechanical parking does not result in an
increase in density or intensity over what could be constructed with
conventional parkins;
d) Whether parkins lifts or mechanisms are located inside, within a fully
enclosed building, and not visible from exterior view;
e) In cases where mechanical parking lifts are used for self-parking in multi-
family residential buildings; whether approval is conditioned upon the
proper restrictive covenant being provided limiting the use of each lift to
the same unit owner;
f) In cases where mechanical parking lifts are used for valet parkinq~
whether approval is conditioned upon the orooer restrictive rwenant
provided for such .parking for so long as the use continues;
g) Whether a traffic study has been provided that details the ingress egress
and circulation within the mechanical parking facility and the technical
and staffing requirements necessary to ensure that the proposed
mechanical parking system does not cause excessive stacking waiting
or backups onto the public right-of-way;
h) Whether a proposed operations plan including hours of operation
number of employees maintenance requirements noise specifications
and emersency procedures, has been provided.
i) In cases where the proposed facility includes accessory uses in addition
to the parking garage, whether the accessory uses are in proportion to
the facility as a whole. and delivery of merchandise and removal of
4
refuse, and any additional impacts upon the surrounding neighborhood
created by the scale and intensity of the proposed accessory uses, are
adequately addressed.
j) Whether the proximity of the proposed facility to similar size structures
and to residential uses creates adverse impacts and how such impacts
are mitigated.
k) Whether a cumulative effect from the proposed facility with adiacent and
nearby structures arises, and how such cumulative effect will be
addressed.
5) Mechanical parking systems must also satisfy the following conditions:
a) The noise or vibration from the operation of mechanical parking lifts car elevators or
robotic parking systems shall not be plainly audible to or felt by any individual
standing outside an apartment or hotel unit at any adiacent or nearby property. In
addition, noise and vibration barriers shall be utilized to ensure that surrounding
walls decrease sound and vibration emissions outside of the parking garage~
b) For mechanical lifts, the parking lift platform must be sealed and of a sufficient width
and length (minimum of 8' by 16') to completely cover the bottom of the vehicle on
the platform to prevent dripping liquids or debris onto the vehicle below
c) All free-standing mechanical parking lifts must be designed so that power is required
to lift the car, but that no power is required to lower the car, in order to ensure that
the lift can be lowered and the top vehicle can be accessed in the event of a power
outage; robotic garages and vehicle elevators must have backup generators
sufficient to power the system;
d) All mechanical lifts must be designed to prevent lowering of the lift when a vehicle is
parked below the lift;
e) The ceiling heights of any parking level with parking lifts within the parking garage
shall be a minimum of 11'-6":
f) All parkins lifts shall only be operated using a spring loaded Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) approved Key Switch Control. No push button is allowed
g) All electrical components of the lifts shall be Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
approved;
h) All mechanical parking systems, including lifts elevators and robotic systems must
be inspected and serviced at least once per year with an annual safety report signed
by a Licensed Mechanical Engineer; and
i) All parking lifts shall be maintained and kept in good working order.
SECTION 2. REPEALER.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances and all section and parts of sections in conflict
herewith be and the same are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. CODIFICATION.
It is the intention of the City Commission, and it is hereby ordained that the
provisions of this ordinance shall become and be made part of the Code of the City of Miami
Beach as amended; that the sections of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered to
accomplish such intention; and that the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section" or
other appropriate word.
SECTION 4. SEVERABILITY.
If any section, subsection, clause or provision of this Ordinance is held invalid, the
remainder shall not be affected by such invalidity.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Ordinance shall take effect ten days following adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 7th
ATT S
CITY CLERK Robert Parcher
First Reading: June 25, Zoos
Second Reading: October ~, 2oos
day of October , 2008.
M R Matti er era ower
APPROVED AS TO
F M AND LANGUAGE
QR EXECUTION
,~
tZ .Z ~$'
Attorney D to
Verified by:
r G omez, C
tanning Director
Underscore notes new language
S#e~# denotes deleted language
T:\AGENDA\2008\October 7\Regular\Mech parking ordinance final adopted version rev.doc
6
COMMISSION ITEM SUMMARY
An Ordinance proposing an amendment to the Land Development Regulations of the City Code by
creating Section 130-38 "Mechanical And Robotic Parking Systems" to permit mechanical parking devices
and robotic parking systems to be used in order to satisfy parking requirements.
Condensed Title:
Key Intended Outcome Supported:
Increase satisfaction with neighborhood character; quality of life.
Supporting Data (Surveys, Environmental Scan, etc Development construction was ranked No. 5 by
residents as one of the changes that will make Miami Beach a better place; 77% of residents say
availability of parking across Miami Beach is either too little or much too little.
Should the City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance, to allow mechanical parking devices to satisfy
City Code required off-street parking requirements for developments within the City.
Issue:
Item Summary/Recommendation:
SECOND READING PUBLIC HEARING
The proposed ordinance would permit mechanical parking systems in the following cases. Main use public
parking garages and existing multifamily buildings with a deficiency of parking could use mechanical
parking, but with restrictions to prevent extra density or intensity. New construction proposing to use
mechanical parking to satisfy parking requirements would have to demonstrate that the mechanical parking
would not result in extra density or intensity. Conditional Use approval from the Planning Board would be
required in all cases to utilize mechanical systems.
As recommended by the Planning Board, the ordinance would permit some private hotel developments in
historic districts to use mechanical parking to satisfy parking requirements without the requirements limiting
additional density or intensity, by providing 50% of the spaces to be available by the general public.
The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the Planning Board Version of the
proposed ordinance, as amended by the Land Use Committee, upon second readin public hearin .
Advisory Board Recommendation:
At the April 22, 2007 meeting, the Planning Board recommended by a unanimous vote (7-0) that the City
Commission approve a different version of the ordinance, including modifications permitting some private
hotel developments in historic districts to satisfy required parking with mechanical parking. The
Transportation and Parking Committee also recommended that the City Commission approve the
ordinance, at its August 4, 2008 meeting.
Financial Information:
Source of Amount Account
Funds: ~
2
3
OBPI Total
Financial Impact Summary: The proposed Ordinance is not expected to have any fiscal impact upon
the resources of the Ci
City Clerk's Office Legislative Tracking:
Jorge Gomez or Richard Lorber
Sian-Offs:
I Department Director I ~ A~sis~ant City Manager ~ City Manager
T:\AGENDA\2008\October 7\Regular\Mechanical
summary.doc
/~ ~ ~ ,~ /~ I ~ C AGENDA ITEM ~~
~ / ~/ Ii / ~(t `~~ H DATE I~ ~ l)
m MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachH.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
SECOND READING
DATE: October 7, 2008 PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: MECHANICAL AND ROBOTIC PARKING SYSTEMS
AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT
REGULATIONS OF THE CITY CODE BY AMENDING CHAPTER 130 "OFF-
STREET PARKING," ARTICLE II "DISTRICTS, REQUIREMENTS," BY
CREATING SECTION 130-38 "MECHANICAL AND ROBOTIC PARKING
SYSTEMS" TO PERMIT MECHANICAL PARKING DEVICES AND ROBOTIC
PARKING SYSTEMS TO BE USED IN ORDER TO SATISFY PARKING
REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR REPEALER; CODIFICATION;
SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the City Commission adopt the Planning Board
recommended version of the proposed ordinance, as amended by the Land Use and
Development Committee, upon second reading public hearing.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, more interest has been shown in the possible use of mechanical parking lifts
or robotic type parking systems, to be used within parking garages in Miami Beach. Since
the City Code does not make provision for mechanical lifts, and such spaces created by the
lifts would not be in strict conformitywith the parking design standards in the Code, requests
for mechanical lifts had been in the past directed to the Board of Adjustment as variance
applications. These variance requests were denied by the Board, in part because of
concerns raised by Planning Department staff.
However, interest has continued to grow, and last year the Commission adopted an
ordinance permitting the use of robotic parking systems in main use public City garages.
This could encourage the use of new technology to increase the availability of parking
spaces within the City, which otherwise would be constrained and limited by land availability.
The Planning Board has held a number of parking workshops, and has requested staff to
draft an ordinance addressing mechanical parking. This proposed ordinance could extend
the use of such technology to enhance parking availability, while guarding against the
potential of overdevelopment which might be connected with the use of such mechanical
parking systems.
City Commission Memorandum
Mechanical Parking Ordinance
October 7, 2008 Page 2
ANALYSIS
Positive benefits
As the City is perennially short on parking, and allowing more parking spaces to be
constructed would help address the parking shortage, the idea has been put forward that the
City should permit the use of mechanical parking systems.
Design Considerations
The Historic Preservation Board has recommended parking lifts in certain
development approvals within local historic districts, in part, so that the architecture
of new development could be modified to reduce the appearance and profile of
parking pedestals or structures.
Public Parking Garages
Certainly, for public parking garages, whether operated by the City or by private
parking operators, the use of mechanical systems could greatly increase the amount
of parking spaces that are available for use to the general public.
By using robotic mechanical parking elevator systems, in order to place many more
cars into a smaller space than would normally be feasible for a traditional garage,
main-use commercial parking garages would be able to maximize the number of
parking spaces offered to neighborhood businesses and residents.
Planning concerns about overdevelopment
In spite of the positive benefits detailed above, the Planning Department has been
concerned that the approval of mechanical parking lifts could set a precedent, and could
trigger a wave of such requests, which could have the effect of increasing density and
intensity of development within the City. Especially in cases where parking lifts are used to
satisfy the parking requirements for new developments, the use of lifts could double ortriple
the amount of dwelling units or commercial floor area a new development might be able to
construct. This scenario would have the negative effect of increasing density and intensity
of development, which runs counter to the City's growth management goals.
Often, it is the parking requirement that is the limiting factor on new development, where a
certain FAR or maximum building height could not be reached without the ability to provide
the requisite number of parking spaces. The Department's concern has been that through
the use of parking lifts to satisfy parking requirements for new construction, great increases
in density and intensity could be the result.
Planning Department staff has recommended that any ordinance permitting the use of
mechanical or robotic parking mechanisms in order to increase parking capacity be crafted
in such a way that would not allow these systems to be used to satisfy off-street parking
requirements. Alternatively, if the City were to permit the use of mechanical parking to satisfy
parking requirements, it should be limited in such a way that increases in density and/or
intensity over and above what could have been realized through conventional parking would
not be permitted.
Draft Ordinance Permitting Mechanical Parking Systems
The draft ordinance that has been prepared is an attempt at balancing the beneficial uses
for mechanical parking with the complex issues related to zoning, development regulations,
City Commission Memorandum
Mechanical Parking Ordinance
October 7, 2008
3
historic preservation, traffic and congestion, and other areas of importance to the City and
the Planning Board.
Definitions Created
The draft ordinance creates standardized definitions for each aspect of the new
parking technology.
a) Mechanical Parking means Mechanical Parking Lifts, Robotic Parking
Systems, and/or Vehicle Elevators.
b) Mechanical Parking Lift means an automated mechanism that lifts vehicles to
make space available to park other vehicles below it in a vertical tandem
fashion.
c) Robotic Parking System means a mechanical garage using elevator systems
to hoist individual vehicles from receiving areas to separate auto storage
areas.
d) Vehicle Elevatormeans an elevator used for motor vehicles in lieu of ramps
within a parking structure.
Permitted Mechanical Parking Systems
The ordinance would permit mechanical parking systems in the following cases. In
each case below, Conditional Use approval from the Planning Board would be
required to utilize such mechanical systems.
Proposed Criteria:
Planning Board Conditional Use review of mechanical parking systems
Use of mechanical parking devices, robotic parking systems and/or vehicle elevators
under any of the provisions of this section shall require Conditional Use approval
from the Planning Board. The Planning Board shall consider the following review
criteria when considering each application for the use of mechanical parking
systems:
a) Whether the scale of the proposed structure is compatible with the
existing urban character of the surrounding neighborhood;
b) .Whether the proposed use of mechanical parking results in an
improvement of design characteristics and compatibility with the
surrounding neighborhood;
c) Whether the proposed use of mechanical parking does not result in
an increase in density or intensity over what could be constructed
with conventional parking;
d) Whether parking lifts or mechanisms are located inside, within a fully
enclosed building, and not visible from exterior view;
e) In cases where mechanical parking lifts are used for self-parking in
multi-family residential buildings; whether the proper restrictive
covenants limiting the use of each lift to the same unit owner has
been provided;
City Commission Memorandum
Mechanical Parking Ordinance
October 7, 2008
4
f) In cases where mechanical parking lifts are used for valet parking;
whether the proper restrictive covenants stipulating that a valet
service or operator must be provided for such parking for so long as
the use continues has been provided;
g) Whether a traffic study has been provided that details the ingress,
egress and circulation within the mechanical parking facility, and the
technical and staffing requirements necessary to ensure that the
proposed mechanical parking system does not cause excessive
stacking, waiting, or backups onto the public right-of-way;
h) Whether a proposed operations plan, including hours of operation,
number of employees, maintenance requirements, noise
specifications, and emergency procedures, has been provided.
i) In cases where the proposed facility includes accessory uses in
addition to the parking garage, whether the accessory uses are in
proportion to the facility as a whole, are planned to address delivery
of merchandise and removal of refuse, and any additional impacts
upon the surrounding neighborhood created by the scale and
intensity of the proposed accessory uses are adequately addressed.
Additional criteria for mechanical parking systems:
Added by Land Use and Development Committee -September 22, 2008
The Land Use and Development Committee met on September 22, 2008, following a
field visit by Mayor Bower to a parking garage in Sunny Isles Beach using
mechanical lifts. As a result of the Mayor's concerns, the following additional
requirements for mechanical parking systems were added to the proposed
ordinance:
a) The noise or vibration from the operation of mechanical parking lifts, car
elevators, or robotic parking systems shall not be plainly audible to orfelt
by any individual standing outside an apartment or hotel unit at any
adjacent or nearby property. In addition, noise and vibration barriers
shall be utilized to ensure that surrounding walls decrease sound and
vibration emissions outside of the parking garage;
b) For mechanical lifts, the parking lift platform must be sealed and of a
sufficient width and length (minimum of 8' by 16') to completely cover the
bottom of the vehicle on the platform to prevent dripping liquids or debris
onto the vehicle below;
c) All free-standing mechanical parking lifts must be designed so that power
is required to lift the car, but that no power is required to lower the car, in
order to ensure that the lift can be lowered and the top vehicle can be
accessed in the event of a power outage; robotic garages and vehicle
elevators must have backup generators sufficient to power the system;
d) All mechanical lifts must be designed to prevent lowering of the lift when
a vehicle is parked below the lift;
City Commission Memorandum
Mechanical Parking Ordinance
October 7, 2008 Page 5
e) The ceiling heights of any parking level with parking lifts within the
parking garage shall be a minimum of 11'-6";
f) All parking lifts shall only be operated using a spring loaded Underwriters
Laboratories (UL) approved Key Switch Control. No push button is
allowed;
g) All electrical components of the lifts shall be Underwriters Laboratories
(UL) approved;
h) All mechanical parking systems, including lifts, elevators and robotic
systems, must be inspected and serviced at least once per year with an
annual safety report signed by a Licensed Mechanical Engineer; and
i) All parking lifts shall be maintained and kept in good working order, and
use up-to-date parking lift technology; at a minimum, chain driven lifts
shall be prohibited.
Main Use Public Parking Garages
Commercial parking garages as a main use on a separate lot would be permitted
to utilize mechanical parking devices, robotic parking systems and/or vehicle
elevators, subject to all other provisions the City Code, regarding such issues as
design, screening of parking spaces and cladding with active uses.
However, such garages would not be able to use the mechanical parking spaces
for satisfying required parking for uses on a separate property. This idea is to
reduce the potential for overdevelopment through the use of mechanical
garages. The provision may be waived through the use of the procedures
detailed below for approving new developments.
Existing Multifamily Buildings
Existing multifamily buildings with a deficiency of parking would be allowed to
use mechanical parking devices within the space of the existing parking structure
area. All parking lifts would be required to be located within a fully enclosed
parking garage and would not be permitted to be visible from exterior view. No
outside parking lifts would be permitted.
Also, importantly, the increase number of parking spaces as a result of
mechanical parking permitted by this ordinance will not allowed to be used to
satisfy any accessory off-street parking requirements, for example, for new
accessory restaurants, retails stores, or other uses requiring parking. This
provision is important to prevent unwanted density or intensity of development,
while still allowing buildings to address their parking deficiencies for their
residents.
New Projects - To Satisfy Parking Requirements
Projects proposing to use mechanical parking systems, either as robotic parking
systems, vehicle lifts, and/or vehicle elevators, to satisfy parking requirements will
need to follow a specified procedure, in order to ensure that no increase in density or
intensity will result from the use of mechanical parking.
City Commission Memorandum
Mechanical Parking Ordinance
October 7, 2008
6
Under this plan, the applicant will need to prepare two sets of architectural plans for
review by the applicable Land Use Board (Design Review or Historic Preservation
Board).
(1) One set of plans showing the proposed development project with accessory
off-street parking requirements satisfied by traditional, non-mechanical
means, meeting all aspects of the design standards for parking spaces
required in Article III of the City Code, and requiring no variances from these
provisions; and,
(2) A second set of plans, showing the same proposed development project,
utilizing mechanical parking devices, robotic parking systems and/or vehicle
elevators to satisfy accessory off-street parking requirements.
The first set of plans will be reviewed by Planning Department staff for zoning
compliance. If the conventional plans meet the requirements of the design
standards of the City Code, then the total number of parking spaces shown on the
plans will be noted. Then, the project would through the approval process using the
second set of plans, using mechanical parking. However, the residential density and
the intensity of the uses permitted for the proposed project, will not be allowed to
exceed that which would have been allowed using the number of parking spaces
noted on the first set of plans using traditional parking. The ordinance contains a
provision whereby no variances to this rule would be allowed.
This procedure would also be applicable to projects which proposed to use parking
in an off site main use garage using mechanical parking systems to satisfy parking
requirements.
The idea behind the procedure described by the ordinance would be to allow the use
of mechanical parking, in order to address design issues such as the height of
pedestal setbacks, while avoiding the potential for overdevelopment inherent in the
use of more efficient mechanical parking systems.
Planning Board Modifications to the Draft Ordinance -Hotels in Historic Districts
During the Planning Board discussions, representatives of a new hotel project proposed that
the ordinance be drafted in such a way that new hotels in historic districts could utilize main-
use garages using mechanical parking to satisfy parking requirements. Planning
Department staff has analyzed this concept, and determined that if it is the intention of the
City to encourage more new hotel construction within historic districts, then this kind of
provision would provide an incentive for such development. It would remove potential
obstacles to development and make it easier to satisfy required parking for new hotel
projects in the historic districts.
The Planning Board reviewed the proposal from the hotel developers, represented by Mr.
Michael Larkin, and agreed to recommend the inclusion of their desired changes to the
Commission. The Planning Board's recommended version of the ordinance would permit
mechanical parking spaces to be used to satisfy required parking for new hotel
developments within historic districts, as long as half of the spaces in the parking garage are
reserved for use by the general public. The mechanical parking would be allowed to satisfy
parking requirements for the hotel rooms, and for accessory uses such as retail, auditorium,
ballroom, convention hall, gymnasiums, spa, meeting rooms or other similar places of
City Commission Memorandum
Mechanical Parking Ordinance
October 7, 2008 Page 7
assembly. It could not be used to satisfy the parking requirements for restaurants, alcoholic
beverage establishments, or suites hotels (hotel rooms with full kitchens).
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Ordinance is not expected to have any fiscal impact.
PLANNING BOARD ACTION
At the April 22, 2007 meeting, the Planning Board recommended by a unanimous vote (7-0)
that the City Commission approve the ordinance including the modifications proposed by Mr.
Larkin described above, permitting some private hotel developments to satisfy required
parking with mechanical parking. That ordinance language is contained attached ordinance,
entitled "Planning Board Recommended Version".
TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING COMMITTEE ACTION
At the August 4, 2008 meeting, after a presentation of the proposed ordinances, the
Transportation and Parking Committee recommended that the City Commission approve the
Planning Board version of the ordinance, which includes the modifications proposed by Mr.
Larkin described above.
CITY COMMISSION ACTION
At the June 25, 2008 meeting, the City Commission, approved the Planning Board version of
the ordinance on first reading and referred the matter to the Land Use and Development
Committee between first and second reading.
At its September 10, 2008 meeting, the City Commission also referred the matter back to the
Land Use and Development Committee for further refinement.
LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
At the August 14, 2008 LUDC meeting, the Committee discussed both versions of the
proposed ordinance; the discussion centered on the desire to encourage new hotel
development in historic districts, and the public benefit that would result by requiring 50
percent of the mechanical parking spaces to be provided as general commercial parking
available to the public. The Committee voted to approve the Planning Board version of the
proposed ordinance, with a further modification limiting the use of mechanical parking in
stand-alone garages to satisfy parking requirements for specified private hotel developments
to within 300 feet of the subject hotel projects, in order to discourage speculation and
demolition by neglect of contributing structures within historic districts.
At the September 22, 2008, LUDC meeting, the Committee discussed a field visit by Mayor
Bowerto a parking garage in Sunny Isles Beach using mechanical lifts, and added additional
requirements for mechanical parking systems to address concerns with noise, vibration and
maintenance, which are detailed above and included in the attached ordinance.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends that the City Commission adopt the "Planning Board
Version" of the proposed ordinance upon second reading public hearing. Pursuant to
City Commission Memorandum
Mechanical Parking Ordinance
October 7, 2008
Page 8
Section 118-164(4) of the City Code, an affirmative vote offive-sevenths shall be necessary
in order to enact any amendments to the Land Development Regulations.
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T:\AGENDA\2008\October 7\RegularUVlechanical Parking memo 2nd 10-07.doc
~~ -
°~ m MIAMIBEACH
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
a NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
N
NOTICE IS HEREBY given that second readings and public hearings will be held by
~;
- the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, in the Commission
J '!
~ Chambers, 3rd floor, City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida,
__ ' on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, to consider the following:
~I
x 10:40 a.m. V
i
An Ordinance Amending The land Development Regulations Of The City Cade By
Amending Chapter 130 "Off-Street Parking; Article II "Districts, Requirements,"
$ ~ By Creating Section 130-38 "Mechanical And Robotic Parking Systems" To Permit
.~ .:
Mechanical Parking Devices Attid'fbbotic Perking Systems To Be Used In Order To
o ' Parkin R wrements.
Satisfy g eq
~i
A
= i Inquiries may be directed to the Planning Department at (305) 673-7550.
.q
~ . 11:00 s.m.
m An Ordinance Amending Chapter 106 Of The City Code Entitled "Traffic And Vehicles";
E;
By Amending Article X, Entitled "Pedicabs" By Amending Section 106-465 Entitled
"Operations" To Require Pedicab Driver's Permits And Providing Regulations,
Enforcement Provisions, And Fines And Penalties Relative Thereto And Renumbering
The Subsections In Section 106-465, Accordingy.
Inquiries may be directed to the City Manager's Office at (305) 673-7010.
INTERESTED PARTIES are invited to appear at this meeting, or be represented by en
agent, or to express their views in writing addressed to the City Commission, c/o the
City Clerk, 1700 Convention Center Drive, 1st Floor, City HaN, Miami Beach, Florida
33139. Copies of these ordinances are available for public inspection during normal
business hours in the City Clerk's Office, 1700 Convention Center Drive,1st Floor, City
Hall, and Miami Beach, Florida 33139. This meeting may be continued and under such
circumstances additional legal notice would not be provided.
Robert E. Percher, City Clerk
City of Miami Beach
Pursuant to Section 286.0105, Fla. Stet., the City hereby advises the public that 'rf a
person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Commission with respect
to any matter considered at Rs meeting or its hearing, such person must ensure that
a Verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony
and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. This notice does not constitute
consent by the City for the introduction or admission of otherwise inadmissible or
irrelevant evidence, nor does ft authorize challenges or appeals not otherwise atknved
by law.
To request this material in accessible format, sign language interpreters, infomtation
on access for persons with disabilRies, andlor any accommodation to review
any document or participate in any city-sponsored proceeding, please contact
(305) 604-2489 (voice), (305) B73-7218 (TT Y) five days in advance to initiateyour request.
TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).
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