Item Coversheet


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

 Item 12.
COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

TO: Land Use and Sustainability Committee

FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager

DATE: February 18, 2020
TITLE:DISCUSSION ON BANKS LOCATED ON FIRST-FLOOR RETAIL SPACES

ACTION REQUESTED:
Discuss the item and provide appropriate policy direction.

ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:
Conclude the item with a recommendation to the City Commission, if applicable, or continue the item to a future date with direction to staff to draft an ordinance.

HISTORY:

On October 16, 2019, at the request of Commissioner Ricky Arriola, the City Commission referred this Item to the Land Use and Development Committee (Item C4 S). The item was placed on the January 21, 2020 agenda of the newly created Land Use and Sustainability Committee; the item was deferred to the February 18, 2020 meeting.

ANALYSIS:

The administration has researched cities like Miami Beach, but did not locate any specific regulations or prohibitions on banks located at the first floor of retail spaces. Within Miami Beach, one approach in lieu of banning banks at the first level of stores city wide would be to create defined areas where first floor banks would be prohibited. Alternatively, banks could be disincentivized as a use on the ground floor; some potential options would include the following:

1. Revise the parking requirements for banks at the first floor in certain areas. This could include either incorporating a minimum parking requirement or increasing the parking requirement.

2. Placing maximum size limits on banks located on the ground floor in certain areas. For example, the maximum square footage could be limited to 2,500 SF.

While not all banks create undesirable sidewalk connections, when multiple banks coalesce within an urban corner it can have an impact on the sidewalk and pedestrian character of the streetscape. In this regard, if there is consensus to create regulations for banks at the first floor, the administration recommends that the item be continued, with direction to prepare a draft ordinance.

Applicable Area

Citywide
Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-14? Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds?
Yes No 

Departments

Planning