Coversheet


		City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov


		Item 4. COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

TO: Land Use and Sustainability Committee

FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager

DATE: January 21, 2020

TITLE:

DISCUSSION: LIMITING BIG BOX FORMULA RETAIL AND FORMULA RESTAURANTS IN SUNSET HARBOUR.

HISTORY:

On June 5, 2019, at the request of Commissioner Ricky Arriola, the City Commission referred the discussion item to the Land Use and Development Committee (Item C4 Q). The item was discussed at the September 18, 2019 LUDC meeting, and continued to the October 30, 2019 meeting with direction to include copies of existing formula establishment regulations for reference.

On October 30, 2019, the item was discussed and continued to the December 2, 2019 LUDC, with the following direction:

1. The City Attorney will draft an ordinance for review by the LUDC.

2. The Administration will place a C4 referral item on the December 11, 2019 City Commission agenda, as a place holder, in anticipation of a recommendation for referral to the Planning Board.

The December 2, 2019 LUDC meeting was cancelled, and the item was moved to the January 2020 agenda of the newly created Land Use and Sustainability Committee.

ANALYSIS:

UPDATE
On October 28, 2019, a town hall meeting was held in Sunset Harbour to discuss the above proposal. The discussion, led by Commissioner Arriola, focused on (i) the current mix of restaurants and retailers that primarily serve residents in the Sunset Harbour neighborhood, and (ii) the appropriateness of adopting regulations on formula commercial establishments. Sixteen residents attended the meeting, and a consensus of the residents present expressed support for placing restrictions on formula commercial establishments in the neighborhood, in order to ensure that restaurants and retailers in Sunset Harbour continue to serve the needs of local residents.

The following is a summary of additional issues raised at the meeting:

• The need to achieve a balance between zoning restrictions vs incentives to businesses and property owners;
• The need for a diversity of uses;
• The high rents in the area; and
• The need to ensure a proper mix of retail and restaurant uses around a vision for the area.

The following additional suggestions were proposed:
• Consider hosting a focus group with restauranteurs;
• Consider additional activation of the area through special events; and
• Conduct a survey of residents on what they would like to see in their community;

The administration and the City Attorney’s office have retained a land use consultant to study the appropriateness of regulations on formula commercial establishments in Sunset Harbour. The attached draft ordinance reflects a preliminary outline of the regulations proposed and was referred to the Planning Board at the December 11, 2019 City Commission meeting.

Prior to review by the Planning Board, the administration and the City Attorney’s office would recommend that the City's land use consultant finalize their planning analysis and that such analysis inform the final version of the draft legislation. Additionally, the administration recommends that a companion comprehensive plan amendment be made part of the legislative package for consideration by the Planning Board at their February 2020 meeting.

For the final version of the draft legislation to include the planning analysis, it is recommended that the item be continued to the February 2020 LUSC meeting. Additionally, it is recommended that the boundaries of the district be discussed, in order to address the parameters of a ‘small town’ feel.

CONCLUSION:

The Administration recommends that the Land Use and Sustainability Committee continue the item to the February 2020 LUSC meeting.

Applicable Area

South Beach

Is this a Resident Right to Know item?		Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
Yes		No

ATTACHMENTS:
	Description	Type
	Draft ORD	Memo