2001-24349 RESO
RESOLUTION NO. 2001-24349
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA APPROVING AN
AMENDMENT TO THE 1998 CONCEPT PLAN FOR THE PARCEL
KNOWN AS SSDI NORTH IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE OPEN
PEDESTRIAN PLAZA TO HAVE A MAXIMUM ELEVATION OF
SEVENTEEN (17') FEET N.G.V.D.; AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on September 23,1998, the City of Miami Beach/RDA approved a Concept
Plan pertaining to a Settlement Agreement to resolve pending litigation regarding the ssm North
and South parcels located on Alton Road in the South Pointe Redevelopment Area; and
WHEREAS, a significant element of this concept plan was the view corridor and pedestrian
plaza in the center of the SSDI North site, which was approved with a finished floor height of eleven
(11 ') feet N.G.V.D and this finished floor elevation of the pedestrian plaza was subsequently
increased to fourteen (14') feet N.G.V.D. as a non-substantial amendment to the Concept Plan, in
order to address flood plane elevation issues related to the first level of the parking garage; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2001 the Design Review Board (DRB) approved the construction
of phase I of a two (2) phase development project for the ssm North site, consisting of a 263 unit,
36 story condominium with accessory townhomes and marina parking; and
WHEREAS, as part ofthis approval, and at the request ofthe City's tenant at the subject
site, the Miami Beach Marina, additional modifications to the finished floor elevation of the
pedestrian plaza at the center of the site were evaluated and approved by the DRB; and
WHEREAS, specifically, Condition No. l.d ofthe DRB Final Order for the project states
the following:
The elevation of the pedestrian plaza, inclusive of the entrance ramp from Alton Road, shall
not exceed seventeen (17~ feet N G. V.D.; however, this seventeen (17~ foot elevation shall
be subject to approval by the City Commission, if determined to be a substantial
modification to the Amended Concept Plan. The elevation of the pedestrian plaza is also
approved at an elevation of fourteen (14 ~ feet N G. V.D., without the necessity of City
Commission Approval, and the applicant may proceed to submit construction drawings for
and receive a Building Permit at such elevation, without delay, and to modify such plans in
the event the City Commission approves, if required, the above noted seventeen (17~ foot
elevation; and
WHEREAS, the administration believes that the proposed increase in height of the finished
floor elevation of the pedestrian plaza from fourteen (14') feet N.G.V.D. to seventeen (17') feet
N.G.V.D. does constitute a substantial amendment to the approved Concept Plan, which must be
approved by the City Commission; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Department has some reservations relative to the increased height
of the pedestrian plaza, and the impact it will have on the very important view corridor in the middle
of the site; and
WHEREAS, specifically, when the Amended Concept Plan was first approved in 1998, after
much discussion, analysis and citizen input, the subject pedestrian plaza and ramp were originally
approved at an elevation of eleven (11 ') feet N.G.V.D., which provided an adequate view corridor
from the sidewalk on Alton Road thru to the Bay; and
WHEREAS, this view corridor was slightly compromised when the pedestrian plaza was
raised to fourteen (14') feet N.G.Y.D., in order to address flood plain issues associated with the first
level ofthe parking garage and by now raising the finished floor of the pedestrian plaza an additional
three (3') feet, for a total of seventeen (17') feet N.G.Y.D., the net increase in the finished floor
height of the pedestrian plaza is six (6') feet and is spread throughout the entire driveway ramp and
pedestal plaza, thus negatively impacting the view corridor from Alton Road; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding this concern, the developer of the site has made some very
significant improvements to the overall site plan and pedestal design, which has resulted in a much
wider view corridor, as well as a lower overall height for the parking pedestal; and
WHEREAS, there are certain proprietary interests the City has, relative to its tenant on the
site, the Miami Beach Marina and, in this regard, the Marina has made it clear that it considers the
proposed increase in height of the pedestrian plaza critical to the operation and usability of the first
level parking area, which has been designated solely for marina use; and
WHEREAS, the Design Review Board agreed with the ,applicant for the development
project (Murano Grande) and the Marina, that the prop-osed increase in height of the pedestrian plaza
to seventeen (17') feet N.G.Y.D. would not negatively impact the view corridor and approved the
new project pursuant to this revised finished floor elevation; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission herein approve an amendment to the Concept Plan to the Development Agreement, by
and among the City, the Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency and South Shore Developers, Inc.
(such amendment being hereinafter referred to as the "1998 Concept Plan" ) for the SSDI North
property, pursuant to the attached Resolution. I
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of April, 2001.
'J/J;L
MAYOR
ATTEST:
~~f~
CITY CLERK
API'ROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
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CIIy Attorney
Date
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami~beach.f'.us
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM NO. '2..'+ 2-0 I
TO:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Date: April 18, 2001
FROM
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
d~
SUBJECT:
A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach,
Florida Approving an Amendment to the 1998 Concept Plan for the Parcel
Known as SSDI North in order to allow for the open pedestrian plaza to have
a maximum elevation of seventeen (17') feet N.G.V.D.; and Providing an
Effective Date.
ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends that the City Commission approve the proposed Resolution.
ANALYSIS
On September 23, 1998, the City of Miami Beach/RDA approved a Concept Plan pertaining to a
Settlement Agreement to resolve pending litigation regarding the SSDI North and South parcels
located on Alton Road in the South Pointe Redevelopment Area, A significant element of this
concept plan was the view corridor and pedestrian plaza in the center ofthe SSDr North site, which
was approved with a finished floor height of eleven (11 ') feet N.G.V.D. This finished floor
elevation of the pedestrian plaza was subsequently increased to fourteen (14') feet N.G.V.D. as a
non-substantial amendment to the Concept Plan, in order to address flood plane elevation issues
related to the first level of the parking garage.
On March 20, 2001 the Design Review Board (DRB) approved the construction of phase I of a two
(2) phase development project for the ssm North site, consisting of a 263 unit, 36 story
condominium with accessory townhomes and marina parking. As part of this approval, and at the
request of the City's tenant at the subject site, the Miami Beach Marina, additional modifications
to the finished floor elevation of the pedestrian plaza at the center of the site were evaluated and
approved by the DRB. Specifically, Condition No. l.d of the DRB Pinal Order for the project
states the following:
The elevation of the pedestrian plaza, inclusive of the entrance ramp from Alton Road, shall
not exceed seventeen (17') feet N. G. V.D.; however, this seventeen (17') foot elevation shall
be subject to approval by the City Commission, if determined to be a substantial
modification to the Amended Concept Plan. The elevation of the pedestrian plaza is also
approved at an elevation of fourteen (14') feet N.GY.D., without the necessity of City
Commission Approval, and the applicant may proceed to submit construction drawings for
and receive a Building Permit at such elevation, without delay, and to modifY such plans
in the event the City Commission approves, if required, the above noted seventeen (17') foot
AGENDA ITEM ({.7.J
DATE f{-/i'-O/
Commission Memorandum
April 18, 2001
Amendments to SSDI Concept Plan
Page 2
elevation.
The administration believes that the proposed increase in height of the finished floor elevation of the
pedestrian plaza from fourteen (14') feet N.G.V.D. to seventeen (17') feet N.G.V.D. does constitute
a substantial amendment to the approved Concept Plan, which must be approved by the City
Commission.
The Planning Department has some reservations relative to the increased height of the pedestrian
plaza, and the impact it will have on the very important view corridor in the middle of the site.
Specifically, when the Amended Concept Plan was first approved in 1998, after much discussion,
analysis and citizen input, the subject pedestrian plaza and ramp were originally approved at an
elevation of eleven (11') feet N.G.V.D., which provided an adequate view corridor from the sidewalk
on Alton Road thm to the Bay.
This view corridor was slightly compromised when the pedestrian plaza was raised to fourteen (14')
feet N.G.V.D., in order to address flood plain issues associated with the first level of the parking
garage. By now raising the finished floor of the pedestrian plaza an additional three (3') feet, for a
total of seventeen (17') feet N.G.V.D., the net increase in the finished floor height of the pedestrian
plaza is six (6') feet. While seemingly minor, this increase is spread throughout the entire driveway
ramp and pedestal plaza, thus negatively impacting the view corridor from Alton Road.
Notwithstanding this concern, the developer of the site has made some very significant
improvements to the overall site plan and pedestal design, which has resulted in a much wider view
corridor, as well as a lower overall height for the parking pedestal. Further, there are certain
proprietary interests the City has, relative to its tenant on the site, the Miami Beach Marina. In this
regard, the Marina has made it clear that it considers the proposed increase in height of the pedestrian
plaza critical to the operation and usability of the first level parking area, which has been designated
solely for marina use. The Design Review Board agreed with the applicant for the developmen1
project (Murano Grande) and the Marina, that the proposed increase in height of the pedestrian plaza
to seventeen (17') feet N.G.V.D. would not negatively impact the view corridor and approved the
new project pursuant to this revised finished floor elevation.
Based on the foregoing analysis, the Administration recommends that the City Commission approve
an amendment to the Concept Plan to the Development Agreement, by and among the City, the
Miami Beach Redevelopment Agency and South Shore Developers, Inc. (such amendment being
hereinafter referred to as the "1998 Concept Plan") for the SSDI North property, pursuant to the
attached Resolution.
~f
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