R9K-Discuss-Direct City Manager To Meet w- Miami Concerning Watson Island -G�ng~ MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Jimmy Morales, City Manager and
FROM: Michael Gongora, Commissioner
DATE: June 27, 2013
SUBJECT: Discussion Item for July 17, 2013 Commission Meeting
Please place on the July 17 Commission meeting agenda a discussion to direct
the City of Miami Beach Manager and Attorney meet with City of Miami
concerning the Watson Island development proposed by Flagstone Property
Group and Related Companies and to take any and all steps necessary to
safeguard Miami Beach residents quality of life including taking legal action, if
necessary. This development will cause increased traffic that will clog the
MacArthur Causeway as a result of the reconfiguring of this public/private
venture. According to a traffic analysis study done by Parsons Brinckerhoff in
2009, that says about 16,000 vehicles travel each day to and from the Port of
Miami through downtown streets -which 28 percent or 4,480 vehicles are cargo
trucks. The volume is expected to increase to 70,000 vehicles per day by 2033.
The proposed Watson Island development has been recently re-configured to
more than qouble the amount of proposed retail from 220,000 square feet to
500,000 square feet; add an additional 100 hotel rooms (from 605 to 705) and
add a 100,000 square foot convention center. There is no regional traffic study
or analysis supporting this increase in usage.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact my aide Diana Fontani at
ext 6087.
MG/df
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Agenda Item R 'i K
Date 1-ll-13
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