The Urban Forum Newsletter of The Urban Environment League March 2006 Issue No. 17 Website: www.uel.org Email: [email protected]UEL was founded ten years ago. To celebrate, we are updating our history of activism. It is enlightening to examine the League’s glowing record. UEL was on the early cusp, creating awareness on issues that continue to be major community concerns. Most astounding is that some of the most troublesome issues of UEL’s past agendas are just beginning to surface in government as critical matters. We question whether this is indicative of prevailing lethargy in government leadership, or just a lack of grand vision for Miami Dade County. In compiling UEL’s history, I relied on past board agendas, the UEL Core Values, and UEL’s award-winning newsletter, The Urban Forum. I ask you to judge for yourself whether progress has been made in this county or where we need change. UEL began ten years ago advocating for open space, good urban planning, smart growth, waterfront access and respect for parkland and its use. Throughout those years, we held forums, marches, dinners and tours. We have written to our public and appointed leaders about a myriad of troublesome issues. We have appeared at countless public hearings and a vast number of public forums. Below, I am highlighting the results of some of those issues. The Urban Development Boundary The League’s Urban Forum warned about the water crisis in 2003 in Got Water, an article by Alan Farago. In November, 2003, a guest speaker at the Tug of War Forum was Honey Rand, author of Water Wars. Additionally, UEL sponsored workshops and forums to enlighten the community about urban planning, zoning, growth management, affordable housing and successful urban infill. We have spon- sored educational tours showing the fragile Everglades and rural areas of South Dade and the importance of the agricultural industry in Redland. We did this to advocate for “Hold the Line”. We suggested that the County Commission create a masterplan for successful urban infill designs, acceptable to the diverse neigh- borhoods in each municipality. In April, the County Commis- sion will vote whether or not to move the line. Victory is still far from reach despite the public outcry to “Hold the Line” from thousands of Miami Dade citizens, Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Governor Jeb Bush. The County Commission also received stern warnings about out of control water consumption from the heads of the South Florida Water Manage- ment District and the State Department of Commu- nity Affairs (DCA). The DCA did not approve any of the UDB changes that the County Commission sent to Tallahassee for review. Parkland Five years ago, the League advocated that parkland was not surplus land for schools and other public buildings. UEL was instrumental in stopping both a school from being built in Haulover Park, and horses from being moved into Sewell Park. However, we were unable to stop the egregious plan to put police horses Lethargy or Lack of Vision? A UEL Dinner at the Miami River Inn URBAN ENVIRONMENT LEAGUE OF GREATER MIAMI MEMBERSHIP & RENEWAL APPLICATION NAME________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS____________________________________CITY___________________ST.______ZIP______________________ DAY PHONE____________________EVE. PHONE__________________________FAX_____________________________ E-MAIL___________________________ OCCUP._________________INTEREST__________________________________ Signature__________________________________Date______________ (All fees are tax deductible.) Membership $35 Preferred Mem. $50 Board Members and Sponsors of UEL $100 Donations: Urban Environment League of Greater Miami 945 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite 100 Miami Beach, FL 33139 Phone: 305 532-7227 Fax: 305 532-8727 [email protected]Website: www.uel.org NOTICE: The UEL accepts articles/letters from its members and members of the public. These articles/ letters do not always reflect the views of the Members of the UEL, or its Board, or the views UEL Advisors. To submit articles/letters, con- tact: nancy88@ bellsouth.net Students: $15 To receive information on upcoming UEL events such as dinners, forums and conferences send your email address to: [email protected]Grow Denser...Better Forum: Monday, April 3rd Friday, March 24 Agriculture Bus Tour UEL Annual Meeting & Awards Presentation Monday, May 22nd - 6pm 1 8
Transcript
The Urban ForumNewsletter of The Urban Environment League
UEL was founded ten years ago. To celebrate, weare updating our history of activism. It is enlighteningto examine the League’s glowing record. UEL was onthe early cusp, creating awareness on issues thatcontinue to be major community concerns. Mostastounding is that some of the most troublesome issuesof UEL’s past agendas are just beginning to surface ingovernment as criticalmatters. We questionwhether this is indicative ofprevailing lethargy ingovernment leadership, orjust a lack of grand vision forMiami Dade County.
In compiling UEL’shistory, I relied on pastboard agendas, the UELCore Values, and UEL’saward-winning newsletter,The Urban Forum. I ask you to judge for yourselfwhether progress has been made in this county orwhere we need change.
UEL began ten years ago advocating for open space,good urban planning, smart growth, waterfront accessand respect for parkland and its use. Throughout thoseyears, we held forums, marches, dinners and tours. Wehave written to our public and appointed leaders abouta myriad of troublesome issues. We have appeared atcountless public hearings and a vast number of publicforums. Below, I am highlighting the results of someof those issues.
The Urban Development BoundaryThe League’s Urban Forum warned about the water
crisis in 2003 in Got Water, an article by Alan Farago.In November, 2003, a guest speaker at the Tug of War
Forum was Honey Rand, author of Water Wars.Additionally, UEL sponsored workshops and
forums to enlighten the community about urbanplanning, zoning, growth management, affordablehousing and successful urban infill. We have spon-sored educational tours showing the fragile Everglades
and rural areas of South Dade andthe importance of the agriculturalindustry in Redland. We did thisto advocate for “Hold the Line”.We suggested that the CountyCommission create a masterplanfor successful urban infill designs,acceptable to the diverse neigh-borhoods in each municipality.
In April, the County Commis-sion will vote whether or not tomove the line. Victory is still farfrom reach despite the public
outcry to “Hold the Line” from thousands of MiamiDade citizens, Mayor Carlos Alvarez and Governor JebBush. The County Commission also received sternwarnings about out of control water consumptionfrom the heads of the South Florida Water Manage-ment District and the State Department of Commu-nity Affairs (DCA). The DCA did not approve any ofthe UDB changes that the County Commission sentto Tallahassee for review.
ParklandFive years ago, the League advocated that parkland
was not surplus land for schools and other publicbuildings. UEL was instrumental in stopping both aschool from being built in Haulover Park, and horsesfrom being moved into Sewell Park. However, we wereunable to stop the egregious plan to put police horses
Lethargy or Lack of Vision?
A UEL Dinner at the Miami River Inn
URBAN ENVIRONMENT LEAGUE OF GREATER MIAMI MEMBERSHIP & RENEWAL APPLICATION
NOTICE:The UEL accepts articles/lettersfrom its members and membersof the public. These articles/letters do not always reflect theviews of the Members of theUEL, or its Board, or the viewsUEL Advisors.To submit articles/letters, con-tact: nancy88@ bellsouth.net
Students: $15
To receive informationon upcoming UEL eventssuch as dinners, forumsand conferences send youremail address to:
in historic Lummus Park. New concrete stalls nowblight a once beautiful open-space historic park.
To our dismay, the city of Miami recently signed offon an agreement with the Miami Dade School Boardto “agree in concept to create schools in parks”, mostnotably, Bicentennial Park: An adjunct to the museum.
Bicentennial ParkWhen the League threatened to not support Ballot
Question 8 of the 2004 County Bond Issue, a greatcompromise was made among the City of Miami,County and bond supporters. UEL signed a pact thatprovided a seat at the table for the Bicentennial ParkOversight Committee and the promise of publicoversight for the park’s planning phase. To date, therehave been 3 “closed door” meetings, the last oneOctober, 2005. Where is the “open public planningprocess”? Is this happening behind closed doors, or isthe general lack of progress on the part of the consult-ants? The public is entitled to see the plan as itprogresses.
Parcel BThe hard-fought battle to stop a high-rise from
being placed on Parcel B was successful. UEL thenurged that Parcel B be included in the comprehensivedowntown waterfront park plan. In October, 2004,UEL held a very successful Downtown WaterfrontPark Forum. The good news is that Parcel B owner,the County, has agreed to place Parcel B into the Cityof Miami’s Bicentennial Park planning strategy. UELwill continue to bring that plan to the public.
Engaging The PublicThroughout its ten year history, UEL has advocated
that all local branches of government need to provide atransparent process. The public needs to be able tofollow and participate in issues. We have encouragedcitizens to attend public forums and to speak out onissues at public meetings. This is an awesome fete forgrassroots groups to organize. We all remember thethree minute gag order on the public during the UDBhearings. Recently, the County approved an onerousordinance to “correct” the spoken word of citizens iftheir words are considered “incorrect”. Applause toMayor Carlos Alvarez who vetoed such an egregiousassault on the public’s right to speak. We also applaudthe county commissioners who voted against theordinance to begin with.
Preserving Public AmenitiesFive years ago, the UEL’s Urban Forum ran articles
about neighborhood gentrification; Virginia Key’smaster plan; the Trust for Public Land’s study foradditional waterfront access; and the Miami RiverCommission’s River Plan. Progress has been slow onall fronts on the Government’s side, despite the non-profit private sector’s planning process. Each of theplans have hit bumps in the road. The Virginia Keyplan was suppose to be HOLISTIC of the entireisland. However, it was almost upstaged when the Cityof Miami Commission - in a piecemeal approach toplanning - almost approved an expansion for the RustyPelican complete with a piano bar floating in the bay.The Miami River Plan is being upstaged by the City ofMiami’s attempt to replace the River’s water depen-dent, commercial entities with high-rise condomini-ums. The Trust for Public Land’s study for waterfrontaccess appears to be overshadowed by endless high-risedevelopments on Miami’s only remaining waterfrontsites. As for a solution for neighborhood gentrificationand incentives for affordable housing, the CountyCommission is beginning to hold workshops on thesubject.
Good Urban Planning StrategiesPerhaps Miami 21 will get there. Miami 21 is billed
as a true vision for the city’ of Miami’s future wherehistoric preservation, zoning and design guidelines willbecome the tools for revitalizing existing neighbor-hoods. UEL’s April 3rd Urban Infill Forum at theUniversity of Miami will highlight important conceptsof good infill projects. Miami 21’s progress appears tohave stalled while new highly-insensitive mega-condoscontinue to overshadow historic neighborhoods, clogthe roadways and irritate the neighbors.
UEL will continue its mission to stop sprawl intothe Western and Southern environs of Miami DadeCounty. Perhaps one day, developers will stop mas-querading as affordable housing builders beyond theUDB and work with the citizens through Miami 21and other master planning efforts in urban cities toredesign the urban core.
This is where we were 10 years ago, and these arethe mountains we must continue to climb to create ahealthy and prosperous future for our community.
- Nancy Liebman - President, UEL
Bus Tour / Mobile Workshop March 24thSouth Miami-Dade Agricultural Community
The Urban Environment League isconducting its third Bus Tour / MobileWorkshop which will feature the agricul-tural community, history and economy ofRedland, Florida - the South Miami-DadeAgricultural Community. This is thethird annual UEL Bus Tour / MobileWorkshop conceived as a vehicle todiscuss and visually present the complicated andcomplex issues that underlie our support for the Holdthe Line Campaign and now expanded to highlight theimportant economic, social, historic and environmen-tal aspects of South Florida’s rural agricultural commu-nity.
In the fall of 2004, UEL joined with the SouthFlorida National Parks Trust in hosting a trip out to theEverglades. We traveled 15 miles into the vastness ofthe Everglades on the Shark Valley tram tour narratedby park rangers. As we traveled from Miami, we sawthe burgeoning subdivisions, marked the currentdevelopment boundary, and gained a greater under-standing of the interrelationship of the existing builtenvironment and the surrounding natural environ-ment.
Then in the Spring of 2005, UEL hosted the Hold
the Line Bus Tour in order to more substan-tially overview the quality and character ofurban, suburban, rural agricultural andnatural lands from downtown, to
Kendall, along Krome Avenue, intoRedland, and on to Florida City and
Homestead.At our upcoming March 24th
tour, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez will be afeatured highlight for the day, joining us at MotesOrchids for remarks and reflections.
A grand team of resource interpreters will beassuring that we have a relevant, interesting andimportant day’s journey: Rod Jude, Chair of MiamiSierra Club; Paul Mulhern, historic Grove Inn; Dr. Patand John Wade, our chief planning facilitator; Maryand Dr. Martin Motes of Motes Orchids; SteveGarrison, Almond Tree Nursery; Idena Burr, Burr’sBerry Farm; Wayne Worthley, Worthley Grove andRedland agricultural teacher; Lonna Hord, Homesteadresident and community activist; Lloyd Miller,resident of Redland and founder of Biscayne NationalPark; the Park Rangers at Biscayne National Park; andthe Miami-Dade Transit Authority. We thank them allin Advance for their help. -Denis Russ
At the Annual Meeting the UEL membership willelect and install new board members and officers. Ifyou are not a member, become one on May 22nd,we will be signing up members on that day!
The League will also present its annualOrchids and Onions Awards.
The following seven Orchids will bepresented:
1. The City of Miami Historic PreservationBoard and the Urban Arts Group for theirefforts to designate the Miami MiMo historicdistrict on Biscayne Boulevard.
2. The Miami Beach Development Corporation fortheir work in creating affordable housing.
3. Cite for its innovative infill concept developed onBiscayne Boulevard and 20th Street.
4. Commissioner Katy Sorenson for her valianteffort on behalf of growth management and urban
development issues in Miami Dade County .5. Pat and John Wade, Dewey and Lee Steele
and the Redland Community Association fortheir staunch support in preserving the ruralfarmlands in South Dade.
6. Mayor Carlos Alvarez for his strongsupport of the Urban Development Boundary.
7. The Miami Woman’s Club Members whosaved the historic club from development and areworking diligently to restore it to its former glory.
UEL Annual Meeting & Awards PresentationMonday, May 22nd - 6pm
Join us at the Miami Beach Golf Club, For Cocktails (cash bar) and Hors d’oeuvresAlton Road and 26th Street, Miami Beach
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8:00 A.M. Coffee Reception — Registration8:30 A.M. Welcome And Program Overview
URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE INFILL DEVELOPMENTCharles C. Bohl Director Knight Program in Community Building, Research
Associate Professor, University of Miami School of ArchitectureSubrata Basu Assistant Director for Planning, Miami-Dade Department of Planning and Zoning
Benefits of Density Locations Favoring DensityCharacteristics of Good Urbanism Attributes of Livable CommunitiesPublic Spaces, Meeting Places Pedestrian Friendly EnvironmentPromoting Vibrant Economy Affordability and DiversityArts, Culture and Entertainment Historic Preservation
BEST PRACTICES:INTERESTING CONCEPTS OF URBAN INFILL DEVELOPMENT
The Art Deco District: Denis Russ, Miami Beach CDCBiscayne Shores Village: Steve Nostrand, Project Director, Codina Realty ServicesRedevelopment of Downtown Hialeah: Honorable Raul Martinez/Jaime CorreaCite Condo: Sandy Peaceman, Cohen Freedman & Encinosa, ArchitectDowntown Kendall: Paul Vrooman, Project Committee CoordinatorMiami 21: Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Duany, Plater-Zyberk & Company
Monday, April 3rd8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Jorge M. Perez Architecture Center, Glasgow HallUniversity of Miami School of Architecture
1215 Dickinson Drive, Coral Gables
Grow Denser...Better
Sponsors: Tropical Audubon, Sierra Club Miami Group,University of Miami School of Architecture
This forum explores best practices for meeting the challenge of continued growthin our metropolitan area by focusing density in urban centers and along mass trans-portation corridors in a manner that enhances the quality of city life.
There will be discussion of urban design principles to guide infill developmentusing increased density as means for creating livable urban neighborhoods.
We will hear from those who are developing such best practice models.
Friday, March 24 - 8:30 am to 4:30 pmLeaving from Trinity Cathedral,N. Bayshore Drive at Northeast 16th Street(Parking is available at the Omni garage or Cathedral)Cost: $30.00 per person/UEL members $25.00Includes a delicious lunch!Reservations: REQUIRED 305-532-7227
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:8:30 a.m. - Park in the Omni garage or in the Cathedral lot if that is available, register and board the bus.
9:00 a.m. PROMPTLY — Leave Trinity Cathedral 464 NE 16th Street, Miami. Bus speakers: Rod Jude,Chair Sierra Club Miami Group, Paul Mulhern, owner historic Grove Inn, Nancy Liebman,UEL President, Ernie Martin, UEL Vice President and Denis Russ, UEL Tour Chair.
10:00 a.m. — Visit Burrs Berry Farm located on the edge of the Urban Boundary. Meet owner andfounder Idena Burr who will talk about the history of the farm Dr. Pat Wade, chair of the RedlandCommunity Council will moderate the tour through Redland.
10:30 a.m. — Travel on historic Redland Road through the heart of the original Redland Village to theAlmond Tree Nursery. Owner Steve Garrison will conduct the tour.
11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. — Travel through the agricultural district to the historic Grove Inn. Lunchhosted by owner, Paul Mulhern and learn about the myriad of Redland’s agricultural products.
1:00 to 2:00 p.m. — Visit world-famous Motes Orchids.Mayor Carlos Alvarez will join us for remarks at the Motes’ home.
2:15 p.m. — Redland Middle School agriculture teacher Wayne Worthley will board the bus at his youngavocado grove and speak about the challenges and importance of agriculture in today’s world.
2:30 p.m. — The tour will visit one of the new developments in East Homestead. Resident, Lonna Hord,will provide commentary about the myths of affordable housing in today’s construction boon.
2:45m to 3:15 p.m. — Travel to Biscayne National Park while Lloyd Miller tells the story of the birth ofthe Park and his role in its development. Park Rangers will continue the story once at the park.
4:00 p.m. — Arrive back at Trinity Cathedral.
The Urban Environment League PresentsIts Third Bus Tour / Mobile Workshop
The Agricultural Community,History and Economy of Redland
Urban Environment League 2005 Officers, Board Members, and Advisors
President Nancy LiebmanVice-President Ernie MartinTreasurer Kay Hancock ApfelSecretary Richard KormanPast President Gregory Bush
Ernest MartinRobert McCabeDan McCreaArsenio MilianJimmy MoralesEnid PinkneyAlberto RuderDenis RussPaul SchwiepHoward SlotnickFortuna SmuklerMax StrangDavid TurnerJason UyedaJohn Van Leer
Board of Directors:
Officers:
By Nate Geisler South FloridaCommunity Organizer
Clean Water FundOver the past year there has been
much coverage about the heated de-bate over the Urban DevelopmentBoundary (let’s say it together: “TheU-D-B”). Not just developers, butCounty Commissioners as well haveemployed a dizzying array of tacticsto discredit and silence the vast ma-jority of residents who realize the ex-treme folly of allowing the Boundaryto be moved.
Proposals at the County Commis-sion Chambers have ranged from at-tempts to erase from public recordany “misleading” statements from thepublic, stemming from the impas-sioned pleas of people at last year’sUDB hearings who were concernedabout Everglades encroachment (ap-parently a “dangerous exaggeration”worth whipping away from poster-ity). Thank goodness Mayor Alvarez’sveto was recently sustained on thatone. There was also the attempt toprevent Community Council mem-
bers from appearing or commentingbefore the Commission on planningand zoning matters. And the goodproposals, such as a move by Com-missioner Carlos Gimenez to preventmunicipalities from being able tolobby to move the UDB, were shotdown as fast as you can say “annex-ation.”
But let’s stop griping over theCounty Commission’s lack of resolveor outright viciousness toward pub-lic dissent and concern over theUDB. Let’s transform our com-
Everyone in Miami-Dade County must play a Role in Preventing the UrbanDevelopment Boundary from Being Rolled Over in 2006… That Includes You!
March 21, 2006 - An evening with Washington Post Reporter andauthor of THE SWAMP, Michael Grunwald.
April 18, 2006 - In conjunction with Dade Heritage Days, the topicwill be: “The Miami River: Historical river or a condo canyon?”
May 16, 2006 (Tentative) - An Update on the County Bond Issue thatwas approved a little more than a year ago.
Admission $25 for UEL Members, $30 Non-MembersProgram only: Free 7:30
Seating is Limited: You must Reserve!
Note: Tentative dinner schedule (At times, things come up and speakersthat have confirmed cancel and at other times, the UEL itself is confrontedwith a more pressing issue and has to change things around). When youRSVP we can confirm the speakers.
The Urban Environment LeagueDine & Discuss Dinners
Are held at:� The Historic Miami River Inn
118 SW South River Drive6:00 PM – Wine Reception
6:45 PM – DinnerFollowed by Program
Limited Seating, RSVP a must:Miami River Inn:305-325-0045
plaints into action. We need you tohelp load the Chamber in April andto keep letters to the editor and emailsflowing to the Commissioners. TheTENTATIVE dates for the MasterPlan and UDB amendments are cur-rently April 18, 19, and 20. Thesedates are subject to change but as ofthe date of this publication’s drafting,they “hold”. April 18 will be the dayof focused pressure so mark your cal-endar!
UEL and campaign partners
have helped elevate three words to alevel of universal recognition in theMiami-Dade vernacular:
“Hold the Line”.It’s time to put familiar words
into steadfast involvement. CallCounty Commissioners. WriteLetters to the Editor, get others upto speed on the UDB and mostimportant: Show up this April!Call (305) 485-5949 if you can domore and remember to checkwww.udbline.com for the latest.
Cut Me Out!
UEL Dates toRemember:
DinnerMiami River InnMarch 21
Ag. Bus TourSpecial GuestMayorCarlos AlvarezMarch 24
Grow DenserBetter ForumApril 3rd
Dinner, April 18
Hold The LineCounty Commis-sion MeetingsApril 18, 19, 20(Tentative)
Dinner, May 16
Annual Meetingand AwardsMay 22
Renew YourMembershipToday!
Come and get to know UEL Members and make new friends in theCommunity. The meals are delicious and the wine reception is a greatnetworking opportunity. Dinners are held the third Tuesday of the month.
