LTC 062-2008 Results of Neighborhood Discussions re: 28th St & Prairie AveZOQB FE8 Z O ISM 1 ~ 18
MIAMI BEACH ~E~ ~ ~~~~~-f~; ~ ~~}~~~~.
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
No. LTC # o62-Zoos LETTER TO COMMISSION
To: Mayor Matti H. Bower and Members of the City Commission
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FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: February 15, 2008
SUBJECT: RESULTS OF NEIGHBORHOOD ISCUSSIONS RELATIVE TO THE
INTERSECTION AT 28T" STREET AND PRAIRIE AVENUE
At the January 3, 2008 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee meeting, the Administration was
asked to meet with residents in the vicinity of the intersection of 28th Street and Prairie Avenue to
discuss an intersection improvement project. The intersection improvement was being discussed as
apart of the Par 3 and Scott Rakow playfield issue, which has subsequently been addressed by the
City Commission. The members of the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee believed that
there was insufficient knowledge among the affected neighborhood about the intersection
improvement project as most of the focus of the conversation to date had been on the Par 3 and the
playfield development.
The intersection improvement that was proposed realigned the intersection at 28th Street and Prairie
Avenue to eliminate the angle in the intersection and to create two 90 degree intersections at both
the north and south leg of the intersection of Prairie at 28th Street. This proposal would have
created additional green space by eliminating existing paving and a traffic calming effect by creating
two 90 degree intersections as opposed to one curving intersection at Prairie and 28 Street.
The Administration met with residents in the area on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, and again on
Wednesday, February 6th to discuss the proposed project. The meeting on Feb. 6th was added to
insure that notice to all of the residents could be broadly provided and that all persons had an
opportunity to learn about the project and communicate any concerns.
At both of the community meetings, the Administration clearly explained the nature of the
construction and what was viewed as benefits associated with the construction both in terms of
traffic calming and additional green space. Both of the community meetings were well attended with
20 to 30 persons at each meeting. Residents attending the meetings included several that were
involved in the Par 3 and the Scott Rakow playfield conversation, as well as a group of residents
previously not engaged in the project conversations.
The intersection feedback received by the Administration was largely not supportive of proceeding
with the improvements as proposed. Residents expressed their opposition to the improvements
even though they recognized that additional green space would be created. Perhaps the most
consistent theme expressed by residents was that the improvements were not sufficient enough to
justify what they viewed as a substantial change and negative impact on the neighborhood quality of
life.
It also became apparent during the community meetings that the item was proving to be divisive
within the neighborhood, as a smaller number of residents also attended the meetings to express
their support for the intersection improvements.
While the proposed improvements to the 28th Street and Prairie Avenue intersection have a solid
engineering basis and would indeed enhance the intersection and create additional green space,
the Administration does not believe that with the level of community concern expressed, the
magnitude of improvement achieved is enough to off set the concern expressed by affected
residents. Leaving the intersection in its current configuration doesn't pose a safety hazard, so a
change is not required. As such, the Administration will be recommending to the Finance and
Citywide Projects Committee that the intersection modification at 28th Street and Prairie Avenue not
be undertaken and that planned neighborhood improvements in the area proceed without this
design feature.
As the high school drainage project and the neighborhood CIP project proceed, improvements to the
area would include reduced width on Prairie Avenue from 28th Street to Dade Boulevard to 20 feet
permitting two ten foot travel lanes; no change in the alignment of the roadway and the paved
parking surface that previously served as the parking lot for the Par 3 would be removed and
replaced with grass.
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